Page 74 of The Fifth Soul

Klause begins his entry by stating he has come to understand many things in the past few days.

My efforts to free those ruled under the Red Book have been misguided. The Fates have done them a favor, not a disservice. It has saved them from themselves. Capping their magic to the safest amount they can handle is for the best.

I continue to read. He doesn’t explain who was looking to undo the establishment of the Red Book, but they were bad people. Klause refers to them as coals. The Red Book didn’t affect people like him who possessed his type of magic, which he soon realized made them stronger. Their strength also made them a target. He soon found himself having to flee to survive.

The last entry states that disappearing from the enemy is the best way to save the world from war. The story doesn’t end there. He simply runs out of space in this book. He most likely sealed this one and moved on to another one.

I trace over his words with my finger, but pause at a specific line. “What does he mean by his kind?”

“Raw magic,” Mel clarifies. “Klause is not like you. He’s an immortal with dark, endless magic. His kind are born here in the underworld.”

“What kind of being?” I ask. It doesn’t make any sense. “How is his magic not affected by the Red Book?” I know the book rules over all magic creatures, not just witches and wizards.

“No.” Mel shakes his head like the answer is simple, but I’m not getting it.

“I forgot about them.” Gabriel scratches his head. He’s standing in the doorway. I’m not sure how long he’s been there. “It has been so long since they walked this earth.”

Mel gives his brother a knowing look. “They never cease to exist, but they ceased to bring attention to themselves.”

Bianca holds her hands up. The brothers stop talking to look at her.

“Are you saying that around the time the Red Book was created, another type of magic used to exist?”

They nod in unison.

“Raw magic isn’t a type of magic a person practices, it’s the magic a person is. People born with raw magic aren’t like you. At one point, they were viewed as gods because of their immortality and a never-ending source of power.” Mel sits behind his desk and threads his fingers together. “Don’t worry, they did not procreate like your kind. There have only ever been a handful of them at any given time.”

“Okay.” Bianca’s voice sounds more confused than ever. “So, Klause and his people went into hiding after the Red Book was created?”

“The creation of the Red Book did nothing to those with raw magic. The Red Book only caps your magic.” He taps the desk with his index finger.

“I’m sorry, what?” I shake my head.

Mel shares a look with his brother. “You mean to tell me you will soon inherit a crown, yet don’t know the history of your own people?”

“What my brother means to say,” Gabriel interjects, “is that it surprises us you are unaware of the variety of reasons behind the creation of the Red Book. We were alive to see it, so we have a different view of the situation. An unbiased one.”

“Because we don’t care.” Mel crosses his arms.

“For you to prosper is for all of us to prosper.” Gabriel shoots his brother a side eye.

“If I’m going to teach you your history, I want an extra day.” Mel’s finger is pointing at Bianca expectantly.

She nods, and I’m sure she must be more confused than anyone.

“Your magic can be linked to the elements. Some houses have a higher power over one element than another,” Gabriel starts. He walks into the room and takes a seat.

I know this already. I don’t need him to explain how magic works in Puerto Quinn. What I need is to know what the Red Book changes. I raise my hand to stop him.

“The Red Book is the rules and bylaws of magic in the world,” I state. My words come out confident, but I don’t feel it. Something tells me I’m about to find out what I have been wondering for so long, but I’m not ready for the answer. “What am I missing?”

Mel knows exactly what I am seeking. “The Red Book caps the maximum amount of magic a person can do. Before its creation, a person could train and gain more access to as much as they wanted.”

“That’s great,” Bianca jumps in. “Why would anyone stop that?”

“The Oscuro house has always ruled because they tend to have high control over all.” Mel rolls his eyes at the statement before his eyes focus back on me. “The Fates allow your superiority complex to prosper because you answer to them, and your family tree never went rogue.”

“Rogue,” Bianca echoes.

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