Page 32 of A Touch of Madness

The sound of my name from her lips makes my breath hitch. I step forward, unsure of what to do, my legs stiff and unsteady.

“Sit,” the silver-haired woman commands, gesturing to a chair near the table. “We have much to discuss.” She gives me a knowing look. “My name is Eldara.” She motions to the second woman, the one who reminds me of Nicole, and says, “That is Calidora, and that is Etta,” she says gesturing to the woman with the long silver hair.

I nod at the three women before me and then glance at Nicole and Rebecca, who stay back near the door. Ravenna gives me a slight nod, urging me forward. My legs carry me to the chair, my footsteps echoing loudly throughout the room, every step feeling like I’m wading through quicksand.

Calidora leans forward, her voice melodic but firm. “Your mother came from a long line of original witches—the Everdawns. It is a name spoken with reverence among the witches in these walls. Your lineage is one of power, resilience, and great sacrifice.”

I blink, caught off guard from their immediate compliment of my lineage. “I wasn’t aware of any of this until recently,” I manage to get out.

“That’s because your family shielded you from this world,” Eldara cuts in. Her tone carries no malice, only a matter-of-fact certainty. “But shielding does not erase destiny. The blood that runs in your veins carries a weight few can bear.”

Etta nods slowly. “Your ancestors were more than witches. They were architects of balance, protectors of the fragile peace between mortals and immortals alike. They were also known for being the first great healers of our kind.”

My heart pounds in my chest. The idea of my family being so important to the supernatural world feels impossible to reconcile with the quiet, ordinary life we led before everything fell apart.

Eldara folds her hands on the table, and I admire the rings encasing her fingers. “Your sister, Lara,” she begins, her voice cutting through my spiraling thoughts. “Ravenna has informed us of her particular issue. Restoration of her humanity is possible—but it is not simple. Nor is it without risk.”

“I’ve been told as much,” I admit. “What kind of risk?” I manage to ask, my voice barely above a whisper.

The three women exchange a glance with each other before answering. “The ritual requires immense power, precision, and sacrifice. It demands more than just magic. It demands the blood of a vampire and an artifact of great significance—one that is now tied to the Solstice Society.”

I stiffen. “The Solstice Society? They have it?”

“They guard it jealously,” the storm-eyed witch says, her tone sharp. “And retrieving it will not be easy. Without it, the ritual is impossible.”

“I was told this has been done before. Was there a different artifact used?” I ask, suddenly feeling my cheeks heat. Maybe I shouldn’t have told them I know anything about it at all.

“We had one of our own join Solstice, and she brought it with her. They can be very convincing, especially with their dark magic. It was a nightmare. Still is,” the silver-haired witch says.

My chest tightens as their words sink in. “Will you tell me what happens if the ritual fails?”

Eldara leans forward, her piercing gaze holding mine. “If the balance is not perfect, the magic could turn on you. You could lose yourself entirely. Or worse, you could lose Lara forever.”

Her words hang in the air, heavy and smothering.

Eldara speaks again, her voice softer now. “Thirty years ago, a young witch attempted a similar ritual to save her brother. The magic consumed her. She was lost, though her brother survived. It is not a path to tread lightly.”

I clench my fists, forcing myself to breathe through the storm of fear rising within me. “But it is possible,” I say, my voice firm despite the tightness in my throat. “You’re saying there’s a chance.”

Etta, once again, nods slowly. “There is always a chance, Sylvie. But you must understand the stakes because they are quite dire. Once you begin, there is no turning back. You cannot start the incantation and decide you’d like to back out. That will shift everything as we’ve ever known it.”

Ravenna places a hand on my shoulder, grounding me. “Sylvie,” she says gently, “you must be certain. This isn’t just about saving Lara. This is about whether you’re willing to risk everything—for her and for yourself. This will affect many more than just your sister. It will affect you, these three women before you, and me as well. All of us who are helping you with it will be subject to peril.”

I take a deep breath, meeting each of their gazes in turn. “I’ll do whatever it takes,” I say, my voice steady. “I’m prepared for the consequences.”

I don’t know if it’s true. But I don’t see any other way out.

The witches exchange a look, a silent conversation passing between them in the same way Nicole and Rebecca converse. Finally, the eldest nods. “Very well. Then you must prepare yourself—for what lies ahead will test you in ways you cannot yet imagine. We are privy to your recent studying, your recent classes you’ve taken. Those will surely help you, but we also need to meet with you again as well.”

Ravenna takes the lead and explains how I will study with her and a fellow colleague of hers and we will learn the incantation.

“After we feel you’re strong enough to handle it, we can reconvene with our elders and move forward. We will need to get our hands on the stolen artifact, which will be a challenge in itself. I have a feeling you won’t have a problem with the vampire blood, though.” She looks at me, giving me a soft smile, and I nod.

As we leave the chamber, the weight of their words presses heavily on my shoulders. The path ahead feels impossibly daunting, but I don’t have a choice. I’ll find the artifact. I’ll face whatever comes next.

Because failure isn’t an option—not for Lara, and not for me.

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