Chapter Eighteen

Madeline slammed down the bow in frustration and anger, just as a heavy leather book slipped under her door. She stroked the cover, picking it up. It was very familiar…

''Madeline was five, and playing with Varian. Angel had died recently, and Quirin was a mess. Madeline was in their house, for the time being. As they chased each other around the room, she bumped into a bookshelf. With a thud, a book clattered to the ground.''

''The children scrambled to the shelf, looking curiously at the book. “What is it?” little Maddie whispered.''

''They heard Quirin’s footsteps, as he came and tucked the book back onto the shelf. “Nothing,” he said, his exit as abrupt as his entrance.''

''Later that night, Madeline felt the book calling her, pulling her. She crept downstairs and, stepping on a chair, removed the heavy book from the shelf. It seemed to glisten with magic. She understood few of what was inside, but she saw the words “Moonstone” and “rocks”, repeated many times, both of which seemed to call her.''

''She heard footsteps. The small child looked around, and, gasping, shoved the book back in place, scrambling under a nearby desk made of polished wood and yet… no one appeared.''

She fell asleep under there, and she never saw the book again.

Madeline gasped and dropped the book, the mysterious object that called to her and never appeared again. Trembling, she picked it back up, looking at the drawings of the oh-so-familiar rocks on the cover. She sat at her new desk, flipping the cover and pressing her fingers to the first yellow, worn page. It was an introduction, talking about the mysterious energy of the Moonstone. Specifically, this:

''This compendium contains information on powers that energy in the Moonstone may inset. The Moonstone cannot be touched save for a select few, for whom taking it is their destiny, and if it is attempted, it will throw back the person who touched it and instill everyone in the vicinity with its energy.''

''While this energy should not give the holders its power, it is very likely that, should they choose to have children, those children will carry on the energy. This compendium will instruct the prevention of powers and, should it be too late, the controlling of them.''

Madeline flipped the page apprehensively. The next section contained information on an intricate potion to stop the prevention of powers, and the section after that an arcane incantation:

So that none but I and my child shall hear

And I myself may one day be gone

I beg the Gods for the protection of my little dear

I hold my little one

Because I truly know

I’m running out of time

I try to hide the danger

The powers that are thine.

As she read the words, tracing her fingers over them, she could hear a voice reciting them. Specifically, her father’s voice. She didn’t even know what his voice sounded like, but somewhere, down deep, she knew that was who it was. She flipped the page.

''This incantation will allow anyone who has had their powers taken by the previous curse to retake their powers- but beware, the anger may consume you. It was very hard to come up with, but it is a variation on the Decay Incantation. Chant the following under the moonlight:''

Something called to her. Almost in a trance, she moved to the window. Undoing the blinds and unclasping the latch, she barely felt the night breeze blow over her as she sang:

“Wither and Decay,

Open up my heart

Take these powers mine

It is time to start

It is time… to start…”