“Any more, and I may have lost control,” he replied as he gently moved me over to the bed to help me sit down.
“Were you able to see anything?”
“Yes. Though you truly are just as confused as I am.”
“Told you,” I whispered, gripping my wrist and using magic to heal it.
“You did.” He kissed my forehead. “You truly do know how to bring out the mortal in me. Never have I been so anxious in my immortally. Though now I do feel better.”
“Better? Even after seeing everything? Did you miss the part with blazing sword-wielding ghosts?”
“No, I caught that part clearly.” He chuckled. “The end of the world is hard to miss even in another’s mind.”
“You’re chuckling? Theseus, it was horrifying—”
“Relax,” he had the nerve to tell me. I glared at him, and he nodded. “Yes, I know it is hypocritical of me to say that now. Nevertheless, relax. You will find the answers you are seeking.”
“Where? How?”
“There.” He nodded to the book, still where I had let go of it on the bed though it was now closed again. “It answers you. And I believe it only wants you to understand it. Even in your memories, it locks me out. I saw you reach for the book and open it, but I could not make sense of what is inside of it. Next thing, you were looking back up at me, and time had gone by. It is clear it is no friend of mine.”
“But why?”
“You could ask it.”
Once again, I felt the urge to glare at him. Instead, I crawled to the middle of the bed to reach for it but stopped.
“What if I disappear again?”
“It will be disconcerting, but at least I have some knowledge as to where you are,” he replied. “Here but not here.”
I chuckled, too, and I was glad he was here, that I wasn’t alone. Picking up the book again, I ran my h
ands over the leather, feeling the magic under my fingers again. “Wraith? Why did I disappear?”
Once more, the book opened, and instead of opening back to the origins, I saw writing. I didn’t understand what was written, and as if it knew, the shapes and symbols changed into English.
Wraith, protect yourself. Let none but the chosen one call upon you. Let them neither touch nor hear nor see what is within you.
I closed the book after that and glanced up, checking for Theseus quickly. He was standing in the same place.
“Did I disappear again?” I asked.
He nodded, truly amazed. “Before my very eyes, but only for three seconds.”
“Wraith was ordered to protect itself from anyone who isn’t the Chosen One?” I explained.
His head tilted. “Is this chosen one you?”
“God, I hope not! But let me ask. Hold on one second.” I glanced down at the book again. “Wraith? Who is the Chosen One?”
You, said the book. It opened, and the image sketched on the cream-colored page staring directly back was of me, my hair down and curls all around me.
“Why? Why me? What is it about me? Why is my magic different?”
Words appeared under my image.
It is not known when the one should be chosen. For it is the earth and its magic to decide. Just as time collects until there is an intercalary phase, so does magic. When the earth is full, its plethora is conferred onto the weakest and humblest of the Wiccan born. For the weakest shall become the strongest, bound by nothing, as the seas, the skies, and the grass upon lands.