Page 22 of Deliver Us from Evil

I then saw another woman, not in a holding cell but in a tiny house carrying an infant in her arms. She paced back and forth, jumping to every sound she heard. Upon closer inspection, I noticed how eerily similar she looked like me. From the tanned skin to the raven black hair that she pulled up into a messy bun. Her plump rosy lips and full cheeks. Honestly, we could pass for twins. Was she an ancestor of mine? I wasn't sure what she was doing until a burst of swirling flames erupted from behind her, taking form before snuffing out to reveal an ebony shaped being standing in place. A devil?

It dawned on me who it was the moment I spotted the long hair, spikes shoulders, and double pairs of horns on top of his head.

Deimos.

The image blurred and it suddenly felt like a burst of air pushed me back as soon as I found myself back in the present. I gasped as I tried staying on my feet. Helios rushed to me and held me up as I regained my breath and concentrated on slowing down my racing heart.

"Easy." Helios spoke softly. "Are you okay?"

I stood there panting like a gaping fish who couldn't breathe on land while trying to make sense of what all I just saw. "What... what was that?" I finally managed to get out. "I-It was like I was seeing things. Visions."

"What did you see?"

"I don't know I—" My brow furrowed as I mentally pieced together everything that flashed in my head. "I-I think I saw the past. The Salem witch trials. I saw women locked in a holding cell, and one that was burned alive. It was horrible! A-And then I saw a woman with a baby, and then—"

"Okay, okay, you can stop now." Helios coaxed me in a way one would try to calm an animal who was on a rampage. He took me through the process of taking deep breaths and slowly exhaling them. It took a few rounds before I felt like I was no longer hyperventilating, but my mind was still a mess. I'd never be able to get those visions out of my head. Those poor women who were huddled together in that holding cell. The one who was burned to a crisp while the townspeople watched. Her screaming still rang in my ears.

And Deimos, why was he there? Who was that woman, and what was her connection to Deimos?

"Was that supposed to happen?" I asked.

"Not sure." Helios' brow furrowed as he pondered over this development that seemed out of the ordinary. "It's possible the book revealed what transpired back then because of your ancestry. You have an ancestor who was around during the Salem witch trial, correct?"

I nodded, which helped me confirm what I already assumed about the woman with the baby. She was my great-great-grandmother; the one who escaped before she was burned alive for being a witch. That didn't explain what Deimos was doing with her. I needed to ask him about it.

"The book's been used by many witches and warlocks over the years," Helios explained. "Maybe it recognized you as a descendant and chose to reveal its memories of your ancestor who last used it."

That may explain why I felt compelled to reach for the book. It noticed the magic that was passed from my great-great-grandmother down to me. Looking down at the book, seeing the crimson vapors of magic undulating around its square form, I thought of how many times my ancestor read through the contents of it. Skimming from page to page, practicing and studying. Like I was about to do now. It was literally in my genes to continue the tradition that was lost in the passage of time.

"Are you okay?" Helios asked.

I didn't answer in the form of words. Instead, I held out a hand, hovering it above the book. I didn't feel any different, but I could feel the flow of magic from the book, sensing my presence. The book opened on its own, pages flipping swiftly before stopping at a passage.

Helios regarded me like I'd grown a second head before shifting into a sense of awe. "I guess we know what your first lesson will be."

I read the page the book stopped at. Igniting fire.

A witch's spark is ignited within the depths of her soul, like a fire. To bring that spark to life and learn to maintain it, practice by kindle fire to existence with a wave of your hand. Simply visualize an open flame flaring to life wherever you wish to light it. Imagine the warmth of an open flame and bring forth your magic to the palm of your hand. Direct it to the spot and watch as the magic you release sets your vision ablaze.

"A spell for starting a fire," I mumbled to myself once I was done reading the passage.

Helios walked to one of the wall cabinets, opening it up, and pulling out two candles on Victorian-style holders with clear crystals dangling off the edges. He brought the candles forward and set them on the table, one in front of me and the other in front of him.

"We'll start with something small. We'll practice with these candles, so you get a feel for how the magic works and feels. Then we'll gradually move you to larger objects."

"Sounds like a plan to me."

"Good. Now I'll demonstrate it once, and then you try for yourself. Remember, the source of your magic is your core." Helios pressed both hands to the center of his chest. "Think of it as a storage system that houses all the magic in your body. To cast magic, you have to release portions of your magic from your core to other parts of your body. In this case, your hand. So, you have to will it to move from your core to your shoulder, down your arm, and expel it through your hand."

Helios closed his eyes in what I assumed was him transferring some of his magic to his hand like he explained. I couldn't see any difference, but when he waved his hand over the candle, the wick lit up with a tiny ember. If I had blinked, I would've missed it. He waved his hand back in the opposite direction, snuffing out the fire and leaving only a wisp of smoke as proof that the candle was lit.

"You see? It's simple enough. Now you may struggle with it in the beginning since you've never done magic before, but the more you practice the easier it'll be."

Now that I witnessed it happening, a part of me was curious to try and see if I could do it too. Dare I say I was even excited for the prospect. If nothing else came of my magic lesson, at least I would've gained a new party trick. I reached out my hand, letting it hover over the candle, then closed my eyes. I imagined an open fire in my mind, visualizing the nascent putting on a show by dancing and flickering. I thought of the heat wave it radiates, how it would warm my hand the closer I got to it. How the faint light was a beacon in endless darkness. It felt cozy and welcoming. A hug that would have my inside feel toasted.

It also helped to relax me as my eyes slowly drift open to see the unlit candle below my open palm. With a gentle wave of my hand moving from left to right, I expect to see the wick lighting up just as Helios' candle did. To my disappointment, it didn't. The candle remained unlit.

I frowned in disappointment. "It didn't work."

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