Page 46 of Bedrest Blues & Otherworldly Clues
"They're getting closer to something," I said, showing Jean-Marc the images. "Each site shows progression in her experiments."
He nodded, his expression thoughtful. "If we can identify her latest research focus, we might be able to disrupt whatever she's doing more effectively."
Another crack of thunder split the air. It was followed bya bizarre sight. Fish began swimming through the sky above our house. They left trails of glowing magical residue in their wake.
"That would be Melaina," I sighed, recognizing my daughter's distinctive golden energy signature infusing the anomaly. "I wonder if that means she’s going to be a water baby."
"It’s going to be fun to find out. The barrier is holding," Mom reported as she scanned the area. "But for how long? Between the triplets' magic and these things pressing from outside..."
"We need more power," I realized. "Or rather, we need to redirect what we already have more efficiently."
Jean-Marc tackled the ward at the side of the porch. "You mentioned using the celestial alignment for our purposes."
Nodding, I explained, "We need to create a counter-ritual? One that strengthens those same barriers instead of weakening them and makes our bloodline magic impossible to extract, no matter what she does."
Jean-Marc's eyes widened. "That's... actually brilliant. We'd be using the same celestial energy she's counting on, but inverting its purpose."
"It would require massive magical reserves," I acknowledged, "but we've got three magical powerhouses right here." I patted my belly where the triplets shifted restlessly. "And if we combine everyone's unique abilities in the ritual, we could create something Lyra has no defense against because she's never considered cooperation a strength."
"Can you develop something like that in just three days?" Mom asked, her expression hopeful for the first time in weeks.
I nodded firmly. "With everyone's help, yes. We'll be actively sabotaging her ritual before she even begins. She'll reach for the triplets' power and find it completelyinaccessible."
The triplets kicked in unison, as if signaling their agreement. Their combined power sent a ripple of golden light cascading from my belly outward through the protection barrier. "I think they approve of the plan," Jean-Marc said with a smile.
Taking control of the alignment's power rather than just defending against it gave us an advantage that would keep us away from her ritual site. Lyra was expecting us to hide behind our walls. She wouldn't expect us to weaponize the very cosmic event she was counting on.
CHAPTER 15
The planning session moved from the porch to the kitchen as the Forgotten Ones continued their vigil at our property's edge. Nana had insisted we needed ‘sustenance for scheming’, and nobody was foolish enough to argue with her when she was wielding her shotgun and bordering on hangry. For the first time in days, I was actually hungry as well. My appetite had taken a mini-vacay with my anxiety.
Jean-Marc and Mom were poring over various books he’d spread across our dining table while I shifted uncomfortably in my chair. My back was killing me from the weight of three babies who were now taking turns practicing their powers inside my uterus. It felt like they were playing patty cake with my organs.
"For the love of all things magical, would you three settle down?" I muttered, pressing my hands against my swollen belly. "Mommy's trying to eat while Gammy and your brother save all our asses."
Clio looked up from the herbal mixture she was grindingin a mortar. "They're responding to the energy in the room. Everyone's anxiety is feeding them."
"I’d ask everyone to settle the hell down, but their anxiety is justified," I countered as I accepted a cup of tea from Nina. "We've got ancient horrors camped at our doorstep and a psychotic witch planning to steal our babies' power. Add to that, there are only three days until a celestial alignment that could make all of that worse."
"When you put it that way, I'm impressed by them," Nana remarked as she slid a plate of her famous cinnamon cookies toward me. "These little nuggets are more composed than half the adults in this house."
I grabbed a cookie and bit into it. Closing my eyes for a brief moment, I allowed the familiar comfort to briefly wash over me. "So, what do we know about counter-rituals that we can use to stop this before the alignment?" I asked through a mouthful of cinnamon goodness.
Jean-Marc pushed a weathered book toward me. "Most documented cases involve redirecting the energy rather than blocking it entirely. Think of it like a river. Now that Lyra had started, you can't stop it. However, you can change its course."
"Okay. Sounds like we need to create some magical levees," I mused as I scanned the text. "That way we can channel and direct the alignment's power where we want it instead of where Lyra needs it."
Mom nodded, adding another book to the growing pile. "Exactly. And if we tie those channels to the triplets' innate protective instincts, we could create a feedback loop that strengthens our defenses with every attempt Lyra makes to breach them."
"I love it. Using one of her methods against her is poetic justice," I praised them. I was impressed by the elegance and simplicity of the solution.
A sharp stabbing pain in my lower back made me wince. The triplets responded with a surge of protective magic that briefly lifted me an inch off my chair. "Okay, that's new," I gasped and gripped the table's edge.
Clio was at my side instantly. Her healing magic probed for problems. "They're getting stronger physically and magically by the hour," she observed.
"Is that bad?" Nina asked, worry etching her features.
"Not necessarily," Clio replied in a tone that wasn’t all that convincing. "I think we need to incorporate their power surges into our counter-ritual. Otherwise, there’s a good chance it will disrupt our work at a critical moment."
