Page 194 of Castings & Curses

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“I am a witch,”murmured Bellatrix. Her fingertips tingled and her arms trembled. An awakening soared throughout her body, and she felt the magic within her looking for a way to be released. She held Jinx in her arms and stroked his soft fur.

“A princess witch,” added Eryx as he stepped closer to her.

“I am sorry. This must be quite a shock to you. To think I believed I was one of the village inhabitants who had lost her way during the time I had forgotten my past.”

“To be honest, my dear, I always believed you there was something extraordinary about you. The whole world can see you are truly special.” He leaned forward and kissed her forehead.

“You do not fear my background?” asked Bellatrix.

“I feel I am the luckiest man in all of Maldinia.”

The princess’ heart fluttered, and she opened her mouth to reply when she was interrupted by Grünholz.

“I hate to break up this touching moment, but the ongoing eclipse is only a few days away, and you have much to learn, Princess.” Grünholz was a tall man with dark hair, defined jawline, and brooding expression. He had an air of command about him, and, although he was young, Bellatrix felt he had years of wisdom and magic flowing in his veins.

“Ugh! All this love language is making me sick!” chimed in Jinx as he jumped out of her arms.

“I am sorry, Grünholz,” replied Bellatrix.

The handsome wizard held up his hand, “You may call me Grün, and no need for apologies. With each passing moment, the lunar orbit comes closer to our realm, and once it falls into the sun’s shadow, your chances of love will be marred forever.”

“What do we need to do first?” asked Eryx.

Bellatrix locked eyes with Grün, and a silent knowledge passed between them. “We need to find my twin Jaiyana,” she answered. “B-but I am not sure how.” She picked up Jinx and put him in her satchel that was strung across her body.

Grün chuckled, “You do know. You and your sister are connected to one another. You share the same blood, and the fact you were born under the Blood Hunter Moon makes your connection even stronger. After all, you are the same person descended from one womb. Close your eyes and look inward deeply into yourself; there you will find the location of Jaiyana.

Taking a deep breath, Bellatrix closed her eyes and drowned out the sounds around her. The vision flooded her mind of the last time she had seen Jaiyana. She was holding her sister’s hands as she promised she would return. Her sister stood before her, tall and thin with long dark hair and amber eyes. A duplicate of herself except for the slight limp. Her twin gripped the long gold staff.

“Jaiyana, where are you?” Bellatrix called forth her powers to find her beloved sister.

The scene changed within the eye of her mind, and the maiden found herself standing in the shadow of a stone tower far away in a different cluster of woods.

Through the open tower window, the princess could see a figure inside. Walking with a slight limp, the silhouette passed through the vision, and looked outwards surveying the landscape. In her hand she gripped a golden staff. As Bellatrix drew closer, the face was that of Jiayana. She was safe!

With a gasp, Bellatrix opened her eyes and found herself back in the woods with Grün and Eryx. Engraved in her brain was the exact location where her sister was hiding.

“I know where she is,” the witch princess grinned. “She is living in a tower on the eastside of the mountains, deep in the woods.”

Eryx scratched his head, “Why, that is about a two days’ ride from here, even longer on foot. We will never make it in time before the eclipse.”

“Ah, dear armorer, what you speak of is the time it would take ordinary villagers to arrive at the east mountains.” Grün snapped his fingers and a speck of red glistened on his thumb. “We have magic.” He flicked his wrist and the light extinguished. “By means of spells, we shall be at the tower in a thrice! We will fly through the veils and mists of Time with Princess Bellatrix leading the way.”

“I do not know how to disappear and reappear,” replied Bellatrix.

“Ah, your powers have been unleashed; there is nothing you cannot do. You simply need to know how to use your own brand of magic,” advised Grün. He motioned for Eryx to come closer. “Stand between us,” he commanded the armourer. He spread his arms outward and motioned for Bellatrix to take his hands. Once their fingers were interlocked, they formed a circle with Eryx in the middle and Jinx comfortable in his satchel.

“You know in your heart, where you need to go. Close your eyes and envision the location, then ask your powers to bring you there. You are stronger than you think, and I will guard you along the way.”

Squeezing Grün's hands tightly, the witch princess called forth the image of the tower and her sister looking into the distance. A tingle in her feet made her toes grow hot, and the sensation wove its way up her legs to her chest and then spread into her arms. Through the vibrations she could feel her sister’s soul in connection with her own. Feelings of sorrow, worry, and wondering filled her heart. Her sister missed her with a sense of loss as powerful as her own.

“Take me to Jaiyana,” she whispered.

From the ground, sparks of white shot up and began to encircle the trio as Bellatrix called forth her magic with Grün’s guidance. She felt her body begin to break down as she became one with the wind and air. In a woosh, she was on the coattails of a breeze, light and graceful until her feet made contact with the ground below.

Coming out of the spells, Bellatrix stumbled and had to grab onto a nearby tree trunk for support. Grün appeared at her side, his strong arms encircling her shoulders and keeping her upright as her knees buckled.

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