A L M I R A

Chapter 7
Almira Davenport

I stared at the note and the key in my hand. Who on earth left this for me? Does this key go to the maroon and navy locked one? I shook my head and put the key in a safe place along with the note. The woman I asked for help came back in and I smiled.

"Let's break this curse, yeah?" She smiled, setting a bunch of candles and oils down.

She began drawing the pattern in her book down on the ground with salt before tracing her tracks with an oil. I looked around to make sure no one was in here and to reassure myself that everything was going to be okay.

The witch snapped her fingers in my face. "You want this hex removed? Get in the middle and close your eyes and clear your mind. You'll feel a burning pain, at least that's what the book says is supposed to happen if the Goddess grants the wish to remove it," She explained, grabbing a bowl of blood.

Where do people find blood like this all the time? Is it even sane to have blood on hand at all times?

I shook my head and walked into the middle of the circle, trying to clear my mind. Just don't think of anything. Just blank. I closed my eyes and heard her light a match, lighting the candles. She began chanting a spell and I felt a burning sensation on the back of my shoulder.

Oh thank you, Goddess.

I opened my eyes once the pain went away and she nodded at me. The candles where smoking from just being blown out and the salt and blood was separated, like oil and water. "You should be able to perform magic now. Do you even know how?"

I thought about it for a moment. "Uh, not exactly."

"Well when you get home, or whatever, just practice small things. That maroon and navy book you have? I don't recommend touching it until you know for a fact you're fully capable of performing magic without messing up. That's why it's locked: to prevent incompetent people from ending the world. The consequences of these spells are grave and no laughing matter. Promise me that in return, you'll be careful and take the witch life seriously?" She lectured, holding my hands in hers.

I looked at her for a moment before nodding. "Yeah, I promise."

~-~

After risking my life to get back to my room, I eagerly opened the spell book and looked for a communication spell. I flipped through the pages and finally landed on one. I skimmed the spell and then read the ingredients. The spell wasn't hard, actually. It just required lit candles, vinegar, a couple drops of blood, and an item that belonged to the person you're communicating with.

I could get all of those ingredients except for the item. I didn't have an item of Calix's or Ambrielle's. I bit my lip and sat on the floor, contemplating how to reach them. I decided to take a shower. I went into the bathroom and stripped down, looking at my exposed self in the mirror. I ran my fingers through my hair and caught a glimpse of something sparkly.

Earrings.

I got a spark of hope as they could've belonged to Ambrielle from the festival night. I thought of that night and smiled, thinking of the two boys, the music, food, and the bliss I was in before Alastor came.

I snapped back into reality, realizing I could have a chance of going back. I took a quick shower and changed clothes before stepping outside. I looked at the required ingredients one last time before walking along the ledge of the castle to the library. The woman was still in there and I knocked on the window.

Her head snapped up and her brows furrowed into confusion. I smile sheepishly and pointed at the latch for her to open the door, mouthing a plead to her. She shook her head and laughed before unlatching it and letting me in. "What do you need this time?"

"Uhh, candles, matches, vinegar, and a knife," I replied, rubbing my arms.

"Communication spell so soon? Think you can handle it?" She asked, glancing at me curiously.

"I'd like to try," I smiled.

She nodded and left to get me the ingredients. She cane back and handed them to me and I smiled, thanked her, and carefully made my way across the ledge, back to my room.

When I got in there, I set them all down in the
proper place. Three candles in each corner, the vile of vinegar set carefully in a holder, and the spell book and I in the middle of it all. I took out the earrings and dropped them into the vinegar before taking the knife and pricking my finger. I let the blood drip into the vinegar before grabbing the spell
book.

Στο άτομο στο οποίο ανήκει αυτό το στοιχείο,
Σας ζητώ, μόνο για απόψε,
Επικοινωνείς μαζί μου και φωτίζεις το φως σου

The floor fell out from beneath me and I gasp before standing in a black void. Across from me was Ambrielle and I smiled, happy tears flooding my eyes. "Ambrielle! Oh, you have no idea how happy I am to see you!"

"Almira? Almira!! Where are you? What happened? Are you okay? Oh, it's so good to see you!" She gushed, smiling.

"I'm okay, I'm okay! It's a long story that I should probably explain later, I'll tell you all about it in person. Look, I'm at Lord Wryler's castle, and him and Alastor both have something against Calix, and they mentioned his other four mates, but that's not of my business I guess. Anyways, there's a forest not too far from the castle, past the town. If I make it to the forest, can somebody meet me there and take me home? Please? I'm tired of being treated like this, I'm locked in my own room!" I rambled, running my hands through my hair frustratedly.

"Of course, you poor girl! I know it's not easy being his mate, at all.. Look, I'll go get Calix and ask him about sending someone out there to get you. Tomorrow night, okay? Be in the forest with a couple magic products just to be safe. Look for a finding spell and put in on yourself, only people who you want to find you will be able to see your glow, okay?"

"Okay, so how do I get out of this?" I asked, pointing around the dark void.

"It'll wear off. It's a time limiting spell. You only have so long before you just cut out of it. You'll feel tingly and then you'll feel like your falling, and you'll be back to where you casted the spell," Ambrielle explain, playing with her hair.

I nodded and smiled. We talked for a little bit before I felt tingly and I fell through the void, back into a kneeling position in the room. I cleaned everything up and hid the spell books before crawling in the bed.

~-~

I watched the sun set and turned around excitedly. I changed dresses and slid on some sandals, tying my hair with a white ribbon. I took a breath of relief and quickly casted the finder's spell on myself. I twisted the door knob and it turned, opening. I smiled and decided to go out this way. I could try and find a cloak along the way to conceal myself better.

I ran out of the door with the bag of spells and some ingredients in it that I took earlier. I ended up running into the maids and panicked inside. "Are you lost, ma'am?"

"No, I think the best runaway route to the village is this way, but I appreciate you concern!" I smiled before booking it out of there. I had to hurry before she alerted guards or worse, Lord Wryler.

After running for some time, I made it out of the castle and into the village. I made my way through the streets, occasionally stopping by a booth or stand to look at something that caught my eye, which was often. I looked at the sky and seen the sun was almost gone. I was running out of time.

I quicker my pace before my heart dropped. "Hey, you in the green dress and black cloak! Stop what you're doing!"

I panicked, looking behind me to see two of Lord Wryler's guards. Oh no.

I held on to my bag tight and made a run for the forest. I prayed to the God and Goddess above to grant me the strength and speed to get to the first border in time for someone to save me. I prayed and hoped and wished.

My legs throbbed and ached due to how hard and fast I was running. Sandals weren't helping my case that much, either. Luckily, I wasn't that far from the forest, just a little further and then hopefully, whoever is here to get me would see my finder's spell.

The guard were hot on my tail, continuously yelling orders for me to stop, give up, and that I was commuting a huge felon to run from the Lord. I seen the trees and pushed myself to go even farther before I made it into the forest.

The challenge now was the trees and leaves on the ground. I had to dodge everything and everyone until I found someone I recognized. I ran for what seemed like hours, even thought it was mere minutes, and finally ran into something hard. I assumed it was a tree, but when I looked up, I suddenly wished it was a tree.

Calix looked down at me with a bored expression before helping me up. "Care to explain what all of this is about?" He seethed, glaring at me.

"Can we talk about this at the castle? I'm being chased by guards because I escaped. So either help me or get me out of here, please," I begged, looking at him with pleading eyes.

The guards finally caught up and took sight of me and Calix. They immediately pulled out their swords, some going into a fighting position instead. I wondered what was going through Calix's mind, fight or flight?

"Gentlemen, surely we can agree you know challenging me would be a bad idea, right? One of you is surely smart," Calix taunted, his eyes boring into theirs. I subconsciously stepped behind him, not wanting anyone to hurt me anymore than what I've already endured.

One of the guards stepped closer, his sword and armor shaking with his body. "I-I'm not scared of you!"

Calix looked at him with amusement and laughed. "You look like you're about to piss your pants, but I guess you can be an example to your buddies."

In on swift motion, Calix snapped the man's neck in half and stabbed his own sword through his chest. The guard fell onto the ground, a pool of blood forming around him.

"Does anybody else want to join their little friend here, if so, be my guest. However, I do believe I'll be taking my mate with me," Calix declared, acknowledging my small presence. The other guards shook their head, withdrew their swords, and ran back in the direction of the castle.

I let out a breath of relief and we started to walk through the first together, heading back to his castle. "Thanks for that back there," I smiled.

"Oh, don't think you're off the hook because I saved your ass. You still have a lot of explaining to do."

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