Pressing my finger over my phone's side button to turn it off, I slid it into my front pocket and headed toward my grandmother. I had walked out of earshot for some privacy, unsure of whether I would call Savi or text. My shaking hands and dry throat made the decision for me.

I knew what I had to do—for my coven and my grandmother. They needed me to gain Savi’s trust for a reading. Unsure if she’d agree, I was on high alert, brainstorming ways to convince her.

Meeting her for coffee wasn't the coven’s ideal approach, but it was a start, and I desperately needed coffee. I hadn’t slept at all before they summoned me to the basement for an update and to help search historical records. Tear filled hours had left me drained and sluggish.

The mood in the room had changed drastically. It was no longer quiet and ominous but bustling with lively conversation. A cacophony of crunching old papers and the cracking of ancient texts being opened for the first time in decades rang through the air.

A few Elders stood close together, poring over an old scroll and discussing it as they read. Another Elder flipped through a large tome, her brow furrowed as she murmured to herself. I approached the grand oak table where my grandmother examined an ancient coven logbook.

“Ok, abuela, it's done. Savi has agreed to coffee. I know it isn’t what the coven wants, but hopefully coffee will help set us on the right foot.” I could see the disappointment on my grandmother’s face. I touched her arm as I sat in the chair beside her. “Which in turn will help lead to convincing her to come meet you guys so you may test her. I promise, abuela, I won’t mess this up. I will get her here. I swear to it.” I tightened my grip on her arm and smiled. She turned back to her tome, continued looking it over, and sighed.

“We shall see," she stated matter-of-factly.

“Are you still angry with me over last night? The Elders are forgiving me of my crimes; why can’t you? Please don’t be angry with me.” I leaned in and laid my forehead on her shoulder. “I was only doing what I thought was right, to help someone in need.” I held back a tear and loosed a lengthy breath.

My grandmother sat her book on the table and placed her left palm on top of my hands. “Mija, I love your big heart, I truly do, but I fear one day you will show your abilities to the wrong people and it will spell trouble for us all.” She moved her palm to my cheek and tilted my head to her. “You are the last of our bloodline and our magic will pass through you. I need you safe and healthy. All is forgiven, mi amor.” She kissed me on the nose and returned to her book. “We have lots of texts to search through, so if you’re looking for someone in need of help, grab a book and get to reading.” Chuckling at her own wittiness, she pointed to a sizable pile of tomes and scrolls in the center of the table.

I let out a small sigh of relief and relaxed my shoulders as I giggled at my grandmother’s teasing.

“Sí, abuela, I’d be happy to help. But what is everyone looking for?” I leaned over the table, stretching my arm to its limit, then sat down with a book in my hands. I inspected the cover, rotating it and blowing away the dust. “How do you know we’ll find answers in ancient texts?” I asked, waving the dust away from my face and trying not to cough.

“Our coven has kept records since its founding centuries ago. Our ancestors pass down not only their magic but their wisdom from around the world as our bloodlines merged over time.” My grandmother flipped through her tome. “They can guide and show us if we listen. Reading is a way to listen to them through these pages and scrolls. Even trinkets can hold magic that we can unlock with the right words. Their knowledge is all around us.” She paused, glanced around the room, and resumed her reading.

“Okay, look for literally… anything… got it," I said sarcastically as I opened the book and flipped through the worn pages. A page filled with names caught my attention. As I read through the peculiar names, it piqued my interest further. I turned back a few pages to the beginning to find out what it was for. ‘Invocatio Daemones’ read a script font heading a few pages earlier. Underneath the words was a paragraph written in a language I didn't recognize.

I could tell the heading had been Latin, but this other language was unique. It was also written in a very different handwriting from all the names on the pages after. I glanced over to my grandmother to ask what the language was, but she was engaged in another conversation. I kept flipping through the pages and waited for her to finish.

The further I went through the list, I noticed how some had red lines through them with a regular name written beside it, also crossed out in red.

‘Curious.’

Marking the page with a spare piece of paper, I turned to another section of the book and scanned the writing. As I did, a voice called out in the room.

"High Elder Mora, I think I found something!”

The room went silent as everyone turned to see Elder Luciana on all fours beside the table. Beneath her was an outstretched scroll. High Elder Mora stood from her chair, deposited her own tome back on the table, and began shuffling everything out of the way.

“Come, come, you must bring it up for all to see. Make room, everyone, make room.” She waved her hands for all to help make a place for the scroll.

Elder Luciana carefully folded the scroll over itself and lifted it off the ground. She placed the ancient paper on the table and unrolled it to display the writings she had found. High Elder Mora adjusted her glasses as she leaned to view the document. A few other Elders nearest her were also reading the text when they gasped in unison.

High Elder Mora said nothing, peering over her glasses at Elder Luciana and then at the other women who had read the scroll with her. She removed her glasses, furrowed her brows, and stared at the scroll. The others fell silent, watching and waiting for her to speak, while the Elders who had not yet seen the scroll stood anxiously.

“Could this be possible? Could it be the same power as before?” A small voice broke the silence of the room. I watched as the Elders all turned to the woman standing beside Mora, and as they all looked to Mora for her answer.

She set her glasses on the table, and I watched as she gathered her thoughts to give the correct response. She took a deep breath and paused before she spoke.

“We can't jump to conclusions without more information. While this text mentions a powerful daemon, it doesn’t name it. However, I agree that the presence felt in Aster’s vision from the girl does seem similar to what’s described here.” She paused, glancing around at the Elders as they whispered among themselves.

She raised her hands to quiet the room and regain their attention. “This text recounts a failed summoning with a most unpleasant outcome. While nothing like this has happened here yet, we must proceed with caution if this is a similar situation. As for the girl, whatever presence there is would not have appeared to an ordinary mortal. I believe that a strange magic surrounds her, and she must come before us at once. Aster, where are we with that?” She glanced at me for a response.

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I stiffened in my chair, and as I started to speak, another woman across the table spoke instead.

“Would we have anything to fear as Shades have summoned and made pacts with demons for centuries? Why would this be any different?” questioned one of the others.

High Elder Mora took her seat and crossed her hands in front of her on the table. She turned to the Elder and said, “There are various reasons this could be different. When a Shade bargains into a pact with a demon, they are aware they are doing so as they are actively summoning it for a purpose. If what Aster has spoken is true and the girl has no memories, we cannot be clear on whether she knows or not.”

She leaned in, adjusting her position on her chair to sit higher and continued. “Secondly, in most cases, the demon only agrees to the pact if it is for mutual gain. So in this case, because we do not know the demon’s identity, or in fact if the presence is a demon at all, we cannot know the circumstances surrounding it.”

She scanned the room, ensuring everyone grasped the situation to avoid further confusion or questions. “Finally, we can be certain that whatever this presence is—demon or not—it has the power to disrupt Aster’s dreamweaving. Also, it left behind enough residual power to break our scryer’s spell. This leads me to conclude that we must tread carefully until we understand the full details about the girl and what she possesses. So again, Aster, where are we with bringing the girl in?”

I hadn’t expected the attention to come back to me so soon, and it took a second for me to clear my throat and answer. “I meet with her on Tuesday, and I'll do everything in my power to get her here as soon as possible afterward.” I hoped it would satisfy the High Elder for the time being.

Disappointment crossed Mora’s face. “I hope you can convince her to meet with us soon. As mentioned, doing so will absolve you of your unauthorized practice. Meanwhile, we will search for more references to this scroll to gather information about what happened long ago.” She rose from her chair, adjusting her dress. “The rest of you continue your search; I need to speak with Aster privately.” She scanned the room for any further questions from the Elders. When no one spoke, she looked at me and motioned to follow as she walked toward a cupboard against the wall.

I rose and joined her out of earshot of everyone else. "Yes, High Elder?”

"Aster, I wanted to speak with you privately. As you know, our coven has a unique history and traditions diverging from others'. We're among the last covens with such a long lineage, and I want us to endure. This girl is unpredictable and could disrupt our order. It's crucial you gain her trust so we can understand her. Your grandmother has served us well these last decades; soon you'll join us as an Elder if this is resolved swiftly."

Mora turned from the cabinet, her eyes full of intensity as they settled on mine. "I've watched your training closely over the years. Your skills are almost flawless, but you need more dedication to your path. You're capable and equipped to handle this situation with poise and care. You know what it's like to be without parents; use it to earn her trust. Family bonds are powerful, especially when someone longs for one. Do you understand?" She held my hands as she spoke.

I glanced down at my hands and then back up to meet Mora’s fiery gaze and nodded. "Yes, ma’am. I understand. I will not let you down, High Elder. It would be my honor to join you with a seat at the table.” I smiled at her, but my stomach knotted over itself inside. The guilt of my transgressions weighed heavily on me in that moment. I needed to clear my conscience. I needed to explain what else had been going on last night.

Mora noticed my unease as I was getting the courage to speak. “What is it, child? You’ve gone pale. What is the matter?”

“I - I - I have something to tell you. More happened last night, and I haven’t been honest with you, High Elder. Please forgive me," I stammered.

“What on earth could you mean? Did you see more than you told us? You couldn't have; it would have shown in your scrying. What else are you referencing?" Her eyes blazed with a knowing look. “What other magic did you practice, Aster?”

“Well, it’s not about the magic, but something… else. Yes, I did practice magic, but again it was only to help someone in need. Someone in true need. I promise. But then everything went to chaos with the spirit, and then the Templar showed up and… and… and—"

“Everyone leave us. Now!" Her tone was cold, colder than I had ever witnessed. A stark difference from the motherly love she had shown only moments earlier.

The elders halted their research, and everyone scurried out of the room, whispering to each other as they walked down the long hall. A silence befell the chamber now as High Elder Mora kept hold of my hands and guided me to the table, gesturing for me to sit. I obeyed the silent command, and my gut wrenched at the verbal lashing I knew would be coming.

"Begin, child. Explain. Leave no details amiss.”

I wrung my hands in my lap, thinking of where and how to start. “I know using magic in front of people is forbidden, but there was a man in desperate need of our help. See, his elderly father had committed suicide in his home, and his spirit was stuck wreaking havoc on everyone who entered. I decided, after reading his plea for help on a forum online, that I would contact him anonymously and offer assistance.” I paused, watching for any sign of fire in her blood which would likely spill out, but nothing. Nothing but stillness as she listened to my every word.

“Well, while trying to help him cross over, he called my name and said demons were waiting for me. I don’t know how to describe the feeling, but I knew he was telling the truth. I could feel another presence there I had never felt before. Something sinister. But before I could make anything of it, a group of Templar soldiers stormed the house.”

“This was before you met the girl, Savi, yes?”

I found the question to be quite odd, but I continued on. “Yes, High Elder Mora, before Savi. But the Templar? I had no idea how they found out about what was going on. I overheard one of them say they tracked magic use to the house. How is that possible for them to do?” I studied her expression for answers, but it gave none. She stared at the table before us, deep in thought.

After a moment, she spoke. “Have you told anyone else of this encounter?”

“No. No, I haven’t told anyone.” I lied, and it killed me, but I knew the alternative. Zoe was on bad terms with the coven already with all the chaos surrounding Luca, and I could not bring her into this. I hadn’t been able to get ahold of her yet to see if she was okay. I didn’t seen her dragged away like Mr. Brooks, so I knew she had to be safe—probably hiding somewhere, hoping the coven didn’t know.

High Elder Mora gripped my hand from my lap and brought it to the table. “Thank you, child, for your honesty. I will look into this information you have given me as far as the Templar’s use of magical tracking, but for now let’s keep this between us. The most important thing right now is Savi. Above all else, we need her.”

‘What? No yelling, no screaming, no punishment? I had broken not one but two sacred vows of our coven and had attracted the attention of one of our greatest enemies, and nothing?’

My stomach twisted as I peered into her solemn stare.

‘What is she not telling me? What is it about Savi that makes everything I just told her okay? I don’t understand this.’

“Yes ma’am. I understand. I’ll do everything in my power to bring her here as promised.” I nodded, trying to hide my concern, but I couldn’t let it stop screaming from the inside as I asked, “Should I worry about the Templar? For my safety?” My words chosen carefully.

“Leave it to me, little one. You have given me much to process and much to tend to, but do not fret. You will have no further consequences.” She paused again, and after another long breath, she squeezed my hands for a moment and smiled. She leaned in closer and gave me a long hug, then whispered in my ear, “The coven will once again be thirteen strong; I can feel it. The universe is making right the wrong of losing your mother so young.”

She squeezed one last hard squeeze before releasing me and fiddled with a tome sitting next to her on the table. “That is all, dear child. Go now and rest; you have had such a long night and we still have much to prepare for.” Mora took the dusty tome from beside her, tucked it beneath her arm, and stood.

I shivered as I walked away, feeling the pit in my stomach grow larger. I wanted to shout, demand to know what she was hiding. Encounters with the Templar were significant, so why was this brushed aside? Nothing added up. Despite the anxiety, I headed for the exit to avoid saying or doing something rash. Leaving was the only way to shake the sense that something terrible was looming.

I returned to my apartment, careful to close the magical doorways behind me, and slammed my door shut. My mind raced, replaying every word the High Elder had said. It was madness—senseless madness. The idea of Mora withholding more from me turned my stomach. I rushed to the bathroom and retched into the toilet.

Shaking, I leaned over the bathroom counter and glanced into the mirror. When my eyes met my reflection, memories of my connection with Savi in her dream flooded back. A bolt of lightning cracked outside my bathroom window, followed by thunder, mirroring the rupture in my vision. Dread washed over me, and I turned away, heading for bed. Collapsing on top, I fell asleep instantly, as if I hadn't rested in weeks.