Spell for the day :

Vola anima per aeterna

Spell used for astral projection. What do you think of it?

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***Ingrids' POV ***

Lili is nowhere to be seen after school. Em and I wait for her to show up. We go looking for the car when we realize that the car is also gone. I call her too, but she doesn't answer. This wasn't like Lili.

Like what the hell is going on!!

The temperature dropped by every minute and it sure wasn't because of me. I see Em rubbing her palms to keep herself warm.

"Mom, we are stuck at school," Em says on the phone.

There talk for about five minutes and she mostly replies with one word answers.

I remember the night I started a fire and slowly try on doing the same.

I concentrate my mind on a spot on the ground a few feet away from us and hope to kindle a fire.

Unfortunately, since I ain't an expert the flame kindlesdisappears just as quickly as it started.

"Urggghh. This is frustrating. I hate the cold," I shout and pace over the parking lot, trying not to lose my patience.

I see Mrs. Roses' car approaching us and watch  Em running off towards it, with me right by her tail. We welcome the warmth of the heaters.

"Mom, what took you so long?" Em asks warming her hands.

"Your granny kept me. Ingrid stay by our place, until Lili comes. Okay?"

"Sure, Mrs. Rose," I say, more than happy to stay anywhere with heaters. 

We reach her place and I get a very different vibe from it. Like the one from the trees in the woods that day. Weird yet powerful.

I dismiss all thoughts and walk-in following Em.

"Grannyyyy..." she yells.

Maybe she was the reason the vibe was so different.

I go and greet Mrs. Smith, who insisted I call her Elizabeth.

I love how strong and bold she was back in the day. Well, she still is quite fierce for an old lady. She isn't your typical granny who bakes cookies and tells fairytales she'd rather talk about her trips and teach you how to fight.

" Oh my god!" Mrs. Smith exclaims.

"Granny, you alright?" Em asks holding her.

"Yeah, but what is it with you kids."

We turn to look at each other.

"What about us?" I ask sensing something weird happening.

"Not here, let's go talk in my room," she says in a whisper, signaling us to follow her.

I watch her walk across the corridor to the farthest room. I sense a  calm vibe coming from it which was clashing with something odd. The vibes are powerful yet unknown.

" I get a different vibe from you both. What have you guys been up to," she asks, directly hitting the point. 

"Nothing !" we both answer a little too quickly.

Our expressions are like that of a deer caught in the headlights.

"Don't lie to me," she says turning around.

"I  see you guys wearing the rings and Ingrid your vibe changed, it seems powerful. v--very powerful. Have you guys been doing something you shouldn't be doing?" she says in her low croaky voice.

"Granny, Ingrid just did a few spells unknowingly. That's all."

" Did you guys start the circle?" She asks, in a reprimanding manner. 

I remember the circle on the book spinning the minute it touched Lilia's blood. I was now scared of what I did. The things done in the past came back haunting like a bad dream.

" What circle, we just started a group granny. And it's nothing serious. " Em says.

" No, I think I know what you mean. The circle in that book?" I ask looking at Em's granny.

"It touched your blood, didn't it," She asks, looking at me pointedly. 

"Not mine but Lilias',"  I say and Em looks at me confused.

"So the group has been revoked.  There was a reason that book was thrown away and why you were warned to not go anywhere near that tower dear," she says choking on her words.

"What reason?" I ask, eagerly wanting to know more.

" The circle shouldn't have been started. There was a reason we had to abandon it. And by the looks of it, the circle is almost complete, it never was and it shouldn't have been." she says in an angry voice.

Okay, she is scaring me.

"Why shouldn't it have been?" I ask. There is something about the way she is talking about this that makes me want to know more about it. 

"The consequences are much more dangerous than you think. How many members are in the circle now?"

"Four that we know of."

"Actually five," I say, remembering Kevin's ring from that day at the football practice.

"Oh no, The circle will be complete soon. Is Edward's grandson a part of this?"

"Edward's grandson who?"

"Jake, Jake Moose. You should have read that journal I gave properly." Em says, turning to look at me. 

"Jake as in Kevin's friend Jake. The football jock?" I ask, still not sure how is he a part of this. 

"Yeah. And who is the Fifth one that I don't know about?" Em asks giving me her stinky glare.

"Umm Kevin," I say, feeling bad that I didn't mention it before.  

" This isn't good. The circle is almost complete. They will be here soon. Do you guys know what have you started?" Mrs. Smith says in a low, angry whisper and it sounds threatening.

I unconsciously take a step back and hit the bed. I sit down, just to cover up my fear and drag Em with me. 

"And do you guys even know how to use your powers?" She questions.

" Ingrid is the only one with power," Em answers, looking just as confused as me. 

"Oh no. You guys haven't even found your - - -"

"Ah kids, there you are. Here come on, have some cookies"

We turn around to see Emily's mom, with a platter full of cookies.

From the corner of my eyes, I see Mrs. Smith, feeling uncomfortable and she gets up excusing herself.

It feels weird, I can sense it in my bones. Something isn't right.

"Have you called Lili yet, any idea where is she?" She asks, concern etching her voice. 

"Not yet, Mrs Rose. I'll ring her up now." I say and excuse myself. I go put to their balcony and see that it started raining. Little droplets of rain hit me as I stepped out. 

I wonder where is Lili stuck now?

 I call Lilia, who finally answers the call after what seemed like an eternity.

"Lili where are you?" I ask and slowly get up excusing myself.

'Enroute home,' she answers. 

"We have something to tell. About the Secret Circle."

" Me too, I have something important to tell," she says sounding scared and I could hear her voice quiver.

"By the way, come to Emilys' place. We met her granny."

"Okay," she says and I hang up the call.

"Ingrid, they will come after you guys. You have to be careful," says Mrs. Smith, from behind me.

"I didn't know you were here all the while," I say shocked. 

"I wasn't. There is a lot more you kids need to learn about the circle and time is running out. And you haven't even learned how to control your powers. "

"Yeah, could you teach me how to?" I ask, hoping there is a way out of this mess.

"I wasn't the witch of my group dear, your granny was. But I think I learned enough to help you. I'll definitely teach you now that you've already started the circle there is no going back. " she says in a sad, distant voice.

I was lost in my thoughts. How could I learn it, can I even learn it. What is going on? Why are we running out of time? So many questions filled my mind.

"They will come hunting for you. Be careful " Elizabeth says going back the way she came before I could ask her any questions.

I run behind her but bump into Em and we both land on the floor.

I get up dusting my dress and straightening the creases.

" I have to tell you something. " Em says giving me the innocent, yet terrified look.

Oh god, what bomb would she drop on me now?

"Something is up with me. Something strange."

Wait, is she also different, like I am??

Oh god, please not her too. I mean wasn't I enough, why should she also have to go through all this.

'Consequences dear, consequences.'

Whispers a voice in my head and I'm positive it wasn't mine, but sounds familiar. Not the horrible voice I used to hear, but more humanly, like I know them.

Oh yes, you do. Whispers that voice again.

I feel goosebumps rise on my skin and my hair standing up. The air around changes direction and it was noticeable or was it only me. Who is this playing tricks on my mind?

Authors note :

Hey guys, please do tell me what do you think of this chapter. Every feedback given would help me build a better book. And all suggestions are welcome.

Hope you liked reading this, as much as I loved writing it.

Hit the star and drop a comment ☀️

Until the next update

Lots of love
           ~Vaishnavi.