Chapter Thirty-Three
Three days ago . . .
Victor is nervous as Clarence saunters over to him. “It’s because . . . umm.”
Clarence places their hands on their hips, stopping just inches from Victor. “You’re not planning on another attempt to visit the astral plane, are you?”
Victor swallows dryly. “It would be better if I had one, just in case I happen to visit there again.”
Clarence squints their eyes as they study Victor.
“Follow me.” They take Victor into a back room.
As they are about to pass through a second set of dark curtains, Clarence holds out a hand and places it on Victor’s chest. “What you’re about to see cannot be discussed with anyone.
These artifacts can only be seen by those who are empathic.
If your ability is not strong enough to walk past that curtain, I cannot help you. ”
Victor nods and proceeds to walk through the curtains. He enters a small room with three crystal cases against the walls. The cases contain various artifacts, including rings, wands, belts, and daggers. Victor can feel the energy in the room change as a glow surrounds each artifact.
Clarence walks up behind Victor and softly says in his ear, “Can you feel them?”
Victor nods slowly. “Yes. It’s almost like they are trying to speak to me.” He looks over to Clarence, who stands between two cases. “Are you an empath?”
“No,” Clarence responds coyly.
“Then how were you able to come through the curtains?” Victor asks as he continues looking around the tiny room.
“I created the wards in this room; that’s why,” Clarence responds with a hint of snark. They slowly walk around the room, inspecting everything in the cases. “I wanted to make sure anything empaths can use was protected. Especially after what happened when empaths were being killed off.”
“Leo mentioned that. He said it wasn’t that long ago,” Victor remarks.
Clarence slides a hand across a case and looks inside it. “Anyone with an ability was targeted and demanded to help change things back to the traditional ways of witchcraft. It’s also written that those with abilities can easily become the next Grand Witch or Warlock.”
Clarence glances at Victor’s reflection in the case as he examines a small dagger. “Others don’t want to be ruled by someone who could be more powerful than them. The survivors are protected, but if they try to excel more with their powers, it will put a larger target on their backs.”
Victor becomes worried. “I already have a large target on my back, and I’m not even that powerful.”
“You’re more powerful than you think.” Clarence opens the case and pulls out a silver necklace with a charm.
The charm has five circles lying unevenly on top of each other.
The points where each circle overlaps another resembles a pentacle.
“If you are anticipating or planning on revisiting the astral plane, you’ll want to ensure you are wearing this. ”
Victor takes the charm in the palm of his hand, letting the necklace dangle down.
He notices small symbols etched on the bottom of each circle.
“Slán leat. It means ‘Safe Journey’ or ‘Safety with you’ in Irish. It’s written in the Theban alphabet as it was commonly used among the Wiccans,” Clarence explains.
“How much for it?” Victor asks as he gazes at the swirling aura coming off the charm. Light blues and soft silvers intertwine against one another as they swim around the circles.
Clarence closes Victor’s hand into itself and places their other hand on top. “No cost for it. It was meant for you. Just be careful.”
Two nights ago . . .
Victor is sitting up in bed, reading a book Leo gave him. His dirty dishes from dinner are sitting on the table. There’s a knock at his door. “Come in.”
The maid enters the room. “Oh, Mr. Russo, please pardon the interruption. A letter came for you. It’s from the library.”
“Thank you.”
She picks up the dirty dishes. “Good night, Sir.”
Victor sees it’s a message from Wren.
Victor,
I might have found something for you. Meet me in Eduardo’s mirror room in five minutes after you read this letter. It’s important.
–Wren
Victor folds the letter and gets out of bed. He hides the letter in his suitcase and gingerly walks over to the mirror room. When he enters, Wren walks through a mirror.
Wren is holding a small, worn book. “I think I found what you are looking for, but you’re not going to like what it says,” Wren says softly.
She opens the book and holds it out for Victor.
“The blood oath Leo and Derek took can only be broken by either trial by the High Priest or Priestess or blessed by the Grand Witch or Warlock. Unfortunately, neither of those exists right now.”
“Are you sure it’s safe to speak here?” Victor asks.
Wren brushes off the question. “Eduardo has wards placed around this room. He’s had many private conversations here.”
Victor takes the book from Wren. “How are you sure this was Leo’s oath to Derek?”
Wren takes out her phone and plays a video of Leo and Derek taking the blood oath.
Victor takes the phone and watches closely.
Leo starts to speak in Latin. As he speaks, a younger version of Superior Charles slices Leo’s palm with a dagger.
Derek places his hand on top of Leo’s cut.
When Leo finishes, Derek begins talking.
Another warlock slashes Derek’s palm. While Derek continues, Victor notices a change in Derek’s voice.
“I might not be able to speak Latin or Spanish, but I have some idea of how the words are enunciated. He’s pronouncing the words in a Spanish dialect while the oath is in Latin.”
Wren nods. “That’s right. The only person who took the oath was Leo. I’m surprised he didn’t notice it right away.” Wren makes a disgusted face as she watches the video. “I’ve never liked Derek.”
Victor hands the phone back. “Get in line. Where did you find the video?”
“Superior Charles had a copy saved in the archives. Most covens need a safe place to keep their files, so they bring them to the library’s archives.”
“Do you think you could find anything on my grandmother?” Victor asks.
Wren shrugs. “I can take a look. But I can’t promise anything.”
Victor looks at the page Wren opened the book to. “I take it even though it was a marriage, it doesn’t matter if only one person took a blood oath?”
“You’d be shocked how common it is for only one to take an oath. Yes, you are correct.”
Victor’s eyes move across the page. “How do we break the oath?” Wren points to the bottom section of the second page. “I have to go to the astral plane?”
“And I guess it’s a good thing you got that charm yesterday,” Wren comments nonchalantly while looking over the page.
Victor looks bewildered. “How did you know?”
“Clarence likes to keep records of every artifact purchased at the library. They know it’s the safest place to keep all their records,” Wren states while still glancing at the book in Victor’s hands with her hands behind her back.
Victor raises an eyebrow. “Noted.”
“Were you planning on revisiting your mother?” Wren questions slyly.
Victor turns sheepish. “N-N-No. I wanted to make sure I had something on me if I went back. I’ve been there twice already.”
Wren grins while looking at Victor from the corners of her eyes, “Mmhmm.”
Victor brushes her remark aside and returns to the book.
As he scans a section, his expression grows somber.
“It says here that in order for the oath to be broken, the one who spoke it has to die. Then, they can be retrieved from the astral plane.” Victor looks up in shock, and Wren nods. “I don’t accept that.”
Wren places a finger to her lips. “Not so loud.” She looks over at the door. “There is something else you can do in the astral plane.” She hands Victor another book, which is already open to a page Wren wants to show Victor. “If you take Derek there with you, you can find out who is after you.”
“It has to be his superior who—” Victor cuts himself off and gives Wren a suspicious glare. “How did you know I was going after Derek?”
Wren smiles wickedly as she takes back a book from Victor.
“There’s a rumor through the grapevine that he was after another empath several years ago and pulled the same tactics as he did on you.
” She changes her demeanor to be more subtle.
“And as for Derek’s superior, it wasn’t him.
Superior Tederich might be a complete dick, and his coven prefers the traditional ways, but they were never involved in any of the senseless killings of anyone who has abilities.
It has to be someone much more inclined to stop you for some reason. ”
“Why me?” Victor asks.
Wren shrugs and shakes her head quietly to say, “I don’t know.”
Victor ponders, moving his jaw from side to side. Then, something dawns on him. “Have you heard of Florence Maryweather?”
Wren tilts her head to the side as she ponders the question.
“That name sounds familiar. If you give me some time, I’ll see what I can find for you.
In the meantime, I’ve compiled a list of things you need to complete your task.
As soon as you get Derek, you must ensure he’s completely knocked out. ”
Victor points to a line on the page. “What’s this about ‘going to a place where two of their ancestors met?’”
“You’ll have to ask a seer for that help,” Wren suggests.
One day ago . . .
Victor takes off his dirt-covered suit after a hard day of lessons. He groans from the pain. As soon as he senses someone’s presence, he turns to the door to his room. “Come in, Superior.” Superior Charles and Madame Jeanette walk into the room. “I’m glad you two could make it. Did anyone see you?”
Superior Charles shakes his head. “Eduardo doesn’t know we’re here. Your letter sounded important.”