Visions of Skyfire

Chapter 32

They spent two days in Aladdin’s cave, as Teresa thought of it. And during that time, they pushed the mating brand into showing itself fully.

“Lightning bolts,” Teresa murmured, glancing down at the tattoo on her bare breast. There was one complete bolt jutting up from the edge of her nipple and beginning to curl into yet another bolt that was just starting to bloom onto her skin. Linked together, they would make a chain of sorts, like a storm cloud of lightning on her skin.

She smiled at the brand and, running her finger over the tattoo, she felt caged power within her, humming in the design itself. Ancient magic was sliding through her system with every passing moment, settling itself into her body at the cellular level.

Teresa felt stronger, more vibrant somehow. As if she was becoming what she’d always longed to be. She could feel her body waking up. Everything in her was reaching, stretching and growing. Her soul was sparklingly alive for the first time, awakening even as the magic within arose.

And the magic was breathtaking.

Rune had been right. She was gaining control of it, beginning to know how to wield the massive electrically charged bolts that seemed to dance to her whims. The thrill of magic sliding through her was something she thought she would never get tired of. This time with Rune was bringing her closer and closer to the witch she was destined to be.

And she hungered for it.

Just as she hungered to know more. To remember more.

Her Eternal had become the center of her life. She hadn’t expected that. But there was more to him than his nature as a warrior. He protected her. Taught her.

She cared for him. His quiet voice. His steely eyes. The patience he showed when he taught her the very magic she needed to survive. His quick smile and fierce lovemaking. He was so much more than she had thought he would be.

Glancing over her shoulder to make sure Rune hadn’t returned unexpectedly, she turned her gaze back to the mirror hanging over a low marble-topped table against the cave wall. She looked into her own eyes and realized that she was in some danger here. Yes, she was stronger, and her powers were blossoming like a waterstarved flower experiencing spring rain.

But there was something more, too. A seed of something dark that scratched at the edges of her soul. Niggling temptation. Seduction. She felt it every time she called on her powers. Something as dark as the lightning was bright. And it knew her. Teresa felt it.

“You won’t give in,” she told her reflection, lowering her gaze to the tattoo on her mirror image’s breast. She had come too far. Lost too much already to surrender herself to the past. Whatever attractions the pull of dark power had over her, they were nothing compared to the need to find justice for Elena and everyone else hurt by those chasing after this Artifact.

Feeling her twisted nerves settle, she pulled up a chair in front of the table. She had already laid out six of the white votive candles they’d gotten at the store what seemed like a lifetime ago.

While Rune was out gathering supplies and checking to make sure no hunters were near, Teresa was going to work a spell. Enlightenment. That’s what she needed. Knowledge of the past, and of the future. A smidgen of help from whatever gods happened to be paying attention.

Gently, she reached out and laid one fingertip atop the wick of a solitary candle. Instantly, a spark shot from her skin, setting the wick ablaze. Smiling, she did the same for the other five until the ring of light burned in her reality and in the reflective-glass world as well.

Twice the candle-magic power.

She sat on the chair naked, and curled her legs up beneath her and squared her shoulders. Taking a deep breath, she closed her eyes, waved her open palms over the candle flames and chanted, “Light to light, I call. Remember me and answer. I search the past to gain the future. Light to light, I call.”

Eyes still closed, she felt a wind sigh into the room, lift her hair from her shoulders and tangle it around her head. A tingle of awareness prickled her skin when she sensed a presence in the room. It wasn’t Rune—she knew that, because if it had been, her body would have simmered with the raw hunger that tore at her whenever he was near. But Teresa couldn’t risk stopping her spell and opening her eyes to confront whatever was with her.

If it was a helpful spirit, she would have what she asked. If it was death, she would know that soon enough. She took a breath and continued to move her hands in graceful arcs and designs in the air above the lit candles. If she interrupted the spell now, there was a possibility of a backlash of magic that she wasn’t strong enough yet to combat.

So she went on, gathering her strength. Knitting together the tattered ends of her courage and holding on tightly.

“Light to light, I call,” she chanted again, her voice louder this time, more insistent. Her hands moved faster now, in intricate patterns over the candles. She felt the heat of the flames against her palms but didn’t let that deter her. She knew these hand gestures well. Had learned them from her grandmother when she was a girl.

The gestures represented sacred symbols meant to call down the attention of the old gods. Teresa focused on her task and tried to ignore the unseen presence. She felt the candle flames wavering now with the growing wind. Goose bumps rose on her arms and along her spine. Magic sizzled and snapped. She felt power dancing all around her as the presence came closer, until it was only steps away. The small hairs at the back of her neck stood straight up as she finished the spell.

“I seek answers,” she murmured, her voice little more than a whispered prayer. “I seek to know. Let the light guide me to the right path for knowledge and power to fight the enemy’s wrath.”

The wind abruptly died.

She opened her eyes.

The candle flames whooshed three feet high, then extinguished in a blink.

And in the mirror someone moved up behind her.

Teresa lifted her gaze, felt tears well and whispered, “Elena?”