Chapter 3

Angelica

Emery and I closed The Shoppe for the day so we can watch as our beautiful daughters have their powers awakened. We’ve waited twenty years for this day, and there’s no way in hell we’d miss it.

The Swap Shoppe, which everyone knows simply as The Shoppe, is our store of all things odds and ends relating to magic. Unlike most of the shops in Azreth catering to magical artifacts, ingredients, and readings, our shop accepts exchanges of goods, as well as monetary compensation. That means that almost anyone can come in and find what they need at a price they can afford, from favors to spell components and more.

Emery also reads the cards and stars, providing fortune telling services while I glance into the future when time and circumstances permit. They call me a prophetess, though the only actual earth-shattering prophecy I’ve ever provided is locked behind an excessively powerful geas, forced upon me the day before my husband was ripped from me.

Ever since we met in the hospital twenty years ago, Emery and I have been soul sisters. Our daughters were born minutes apart, and while Emery’s delivery was traumatic, I had the pleasure of spending time with her little Adreanna while she was recovering. Both of our girls spent time in the incubators of the NICU, side by side, for the first week of their lives. Emery made a quick recovery, and was able to join me as I fawned over our two beautiful babies within a couple of days of delivery. It was there that we bonded, deciding that we’d take care of each other since there was no one else to do it. Emery and I ended up purchasing the building where The Shoppe is now located. Above it sits four spacious condos. We each live in one of the three-bedroom, two-bathroom, two-story units and rent out the other two. The three-story building is one of five nearly identical buildings on the same block, built at the same time by the same developer. We got lucky, purchasing the last available structure.

We’ve raised our girls there their whole lives, and though life doesn’t usually go to plan, I know that they plan to stay for the rest of their lives. They’re always talking about taking over The Shoppe when we retire, and working there after they finish their Becoming.

“Come on, Ange, we don’t want to be late.” Emery says, ushering me into the small, red sedan we share.

“Of course not, but it’s only eight, the girls haven’t even left yet.”

“True, but their seats are saved, ours aren’t. And remember, the heirs are participating in this Becoming as well, so there’s bound to be more spectators than usual.”

Groaning, I smack my forehead.

“How could I forget! You’re right, we should hurry.”

Emery smirks as I hastily buckle up, peeling away from the curb the second my belt clicks shut.

The traffic is heavier than usual, likely due to the fact that the heirs are part of today’s ritual. Emery merges in and out of traffic, dodging sketchy drivers and oblivious pedestrians as we search for parking close to The Ritual Center. As always, she manages to find a space near to the main spectator entrance. It’s like the parking gods smile upon her or something, which is why she’s usually the one to drive.

We hop out of the car and queue up, getting into the line just before the flow of people has it stretching around the block. Emery whistles as she looks behind us, stretching to the side to get a better view.

“Looks like we got here at the right time.”

“Definitely.”

Once we get to the window, a bored looking teenager stares at us for a moment before speaking.

“How many tickets?”

“Two please, we’re the mothers of two of the soon-to-be awakened,” states Emery.

The teen grunts and asks for ID before issuing us two tickets for the front spectator section, which is reserved for parents and siblings of those undergoing the ritual. Thanking the teen, we make our way inside, searching for our seats. It doesn’t take long to locate them, and before I realize it we’re making ourselves comfortable and watching as the kids undergoing the ritual filter in, bit by bit.

“Look, there,” I say, elbowing Emery to get her attention while I point towards the red section of seating on the arena floor.

There, looking as radiant as always, Aila and Adreanna are taking their seats in the center of the second row of the red cohort.

“Ah, they’re so precious,” says Emery with a peaceful smile.

“They’re amazing, how could they not be, we raised them, after all!”

Emery chuckles at my words, nodding her head in agreement. We chat about mundane things for the next half an hour, quieting down when The Council of Elders filters out onto the arena floor, raising their hands. A hush falls over the arena as they begin chanting. You’d think there would be some fancy speech or something, but there never is. Emery and I watch intently as group after group of 10 enters and leaves the rings with newly unlocked powers, clapping when everyone else does.

Finally, it’s time for our girls to enter the circle. In their group of ten are the four heirs and their assigned consorts. Emery chuckles, shaking her head.

“That’s some serious power in one group… think the rings can handle it?”

“I’d imagine so… surely they wouldn’t risk their heirs of all four Domains if they didn’t believe the ritual rings could withstand the combined abilities, right?”

“In theory.” Responds Emery, a twinkle in her eyes.

Shaking my head at her amusement, I turn back to watch as our girls enter the rings last, heads held high.

“Don’t forget, our girls are in that circle with them…”

“Oh, I’m not worried about them. Our girls are fighters… resilient and powerful, I’ve no doubt… but I can’t say the same for the four air-heads.”

“True… I’ve never got too much of a read on them… that could just be good warding from their parents, though.”

“I hope, for their sakes, that you’re right.”

Nodding gravely, I focus on the group of ten young adults standing in the center of the ritual rings. Once they’re each in their designated locations, the elders begin chanting again. For the first time all day, the wards of the circle are visible.

“Guess they are taking some extra precautions,” I murmur as the strength of the wards smacks me in the face with a wave of energy.

Everyone around us shifts, clearly uncomfortable from the thick swell of energy in the air. Wall after wall of protective energy shoot into the sky from each ring, then elemental energy begins leaking out of the pentagram and triquetra centered in the rings. Emery whistles and shakes her head.

“This is going to be interesting…”

“No shit…”

I watch in awe as the chanting reaches a crescendo, the power visibly leaking out of all ten children, each a unique hue. Finally, the chanting stops, and each elder slams their fist into the ground, releasing an overwhelming wave of energy which ricochets through the room. Before the energy reaches the spectator stands or seats of the kids waiting to undergo their ritual, several mages around the edges of the room snap a protective ward into place with a shout.

Emery looks at me, the first sign of fear on her face.

“Whoa… that’s…”

“Intense?”

“Yep.”

“They’ll be fine…”

“I know… but look, just as much power is wafting from them as the others, Ange… You know what that means…”

Sighing, I nod, startled by Emery’s gasp.

“Look!” she points toward the circle, drawing my attention to the lights of our lives.

“No,” I say, horror filling me at the sight causing murmuring throughout the crowd.

There, in the center of the rings, six figures are floating, energy writhing around them. The Earth heir has leaves and soil swirling about him, the ground beneath him writhing. The water heir is surrounded by rain, a small thunderstorm swirling around him as he laughs. The fireling has flaming horns sprouting from his head and sparks jumping from his fingers as he smirks, eyes, literally, flaming. Then there’s the airling… a tornado surrounds him as he glares out at the crowd, arms spread as if daring anyone to challenge him.

And yet, none of that is what I hear the crowd murmuring about. No, instead they’re fixated on the other two figures, one arches back as if in pain, and the other crumpled forward, also seemingly in pain. Adreanna’s back is arched as she screams, the power echoing through the room, cracking the wards. Ebony flames sprouting from her back like dark wings. Black thorns are climbing her legs, blood dripping down onto the soil. Then there’s Aila. My precious Aila. She’s curled into a ball, tears leaking from her face as blood drips from her eyes and nose. Brilliant, white light appears to be cracking her skin, the sight reminding me of how an earthquake breaks the ground. From her back are two plumes of ivory flame, speckles with gold and silver energy, again, looking like wings of fire. Both girls’ hair floats about them at their clothes rattle, as if picked up by a powerful vortex of wind.

“Aila!” I hear Adreanna shout, the pain in her voice making my heart ache.

At her voice, Aila’s eyes snap open. She looks at Adreanna, the movement seemingly stiff. Tears of blood have begun to streak down Adreanna’s face as she looks at Aila, a pleading look in her dark eyes. Aila slowly reaches out her hand, a piteous look on her face as she reaches for Adreanna. Adreanna visibly swallows before stretching her fingers to reach Aila’s, both girls shouting as if in pain when contact is made.

A brilliant flash blinds us when their fingers touch, the sound of pure agony echoing from the girls’ throats as the elders, mages, and everyone standing inside the secondary wards are thrown back. Blinking my eyes open, I first notice that only the heirs seem unaffected. Second, I notice that the four consorts are glaring at Aila and Adreanna, who are no longer hovering in the air. Blood is dripping down Aila’s arms and Adreanna’s legs, pooling on the ground beneath them as the elders shake themselves out of their shocked stupor, helping one another back to their feet before turning back to the ritual circle.

There’s a quiet murmuring through the crowd as everyone wonders just what the hell happened. After several minutes of quiet discussion between the elders and royals, the group nods, seemingly having come to a decision, before dropping the wards of the ritual rings and ushering the group out.

One elder stops the girls, whispering to them with a soft smile. They nod before being escorted out of the arena.

I stand up, intent on finding my babies and making sure they’re ok.

“Any clue where they took them?” asks Emery.

“Yes. Let’s go.”