Chapter 25: Dagger & Tale
Through the window in Maddox's office, shined the light of the moon, which was high up in the dark midnight blue sky. Blair had gotten off the couch and was on the floor near the open window, as Maddox laid on the floor after they exhausted themselves going through hundreds of books and journals. Blair couldn't find anything relating to the entity in any of the books. The only piece of information Blair was able to gather was that this entity was so old, that even the books hadn't documented about it yet.
Under the moon, the pages of her Grandma's journal illuminated. The cursive letters were written in elegant handwriting with ink and quill. Blair downed the last sip of wine, before the light on her book started to shift in a strange way startling her.
Blair gaped at the journal when this extraordinary spectacle occurred. The glint of the moon acted as a pointer, she flipped the page until the light stopped her. The light moved onto the day dated back all the way to 1975. On that midsummer's night, Grandma wrote about a dream she had where she visited her ancestral sister-witches. They were preforming a ritual under the waning gibbous moon- the very same one outside today, Blair thought. Her grandma joined the ritual as her sisters purified a dagger with the light of the moon and a very old wolf spirit.
Blair flipped the page when she saw a quick sketch done by her Grandma of the dagger named the Silver Fang of the White Wolf. It was a silver blade, long and thin like a fang. The handle resembled starlight diamonds, that surrounded the elegant handle and metal cross guards. There was the rose insignia of the Lightwood family on the handle as well. But what caught Blair's eyes was the quote engraved onto the blade.
"When you need me, I shall show and fight," she read quietly. "I conquer evil and protect the light." Blair wondered if the moon spirit wanted her to look her this dagger, but she had never seen it before, and quite frankly, Grandma saw it in her dream only. It probably doesn't even exist in the living realm.
Blair was about to close the book in defeat when the light started to move once again stopping her. She turned the pages following the light's guidance to the day of black moon. It was the day her grandma had travelled to Paris, where she met a family who took great care of her during her duration of the trip. The family had the blood of Wicca but didn't know about it, her grandma wrote.
Blair knew that many people had the blood of Wicca in their pedigree, just that many didn't know about it or cared more frankly. She continued to read her grandma's journal entry. Grandma talked about this particular girl who she was quite fond of. The young woman was named Sienna who was wildly spirited and had big ambitions to travel the world. But the traditions and rules of her home and family forbid her. Grandma continued to speak about the young woman as if they had become great friends. But it all changed when the family found out that Sienna had psychic powers. Grandma knew the moment she saw the young woman, because Sienna had a golden aura as bright as the northern stars itself. Grandma was thrilled for the Sienna but the family was not quite so. Grandma cautioned the girl from exposing her powers to people who didn't deserve to see it. The family's hopes of a normal life had diminished but Sienna saw an opportunity. A way out, so to speak.
Grandma warned Sienna that life on the road was tough, but it was even more fun than being locked up in a house only to be married off with a pathetic dowry. Sienna heeded those words and told her parents of her plans, they approved that it would be for the best if she went off on her own, but her siblings disapproved but they had no say in the matter. Grandma and Sienna travelled through the rest of Paris together for a couple of months. They separated at the Strait of Sicily and Grandma had only hear about Sienna through the papers once. Sienna had gotten married to a rich business man, Lachlan Steele who was from Scotland and had come to America for work. Grandma remembered what a spectacular couple they made, because the man was young and looked strong beside beautiful Sienna Aria Steele.
Blair's mouth dropped open when she looked at man sleeping on the floor beside her. Lachlan Steele and Sienna Steele could be Maddox's grandparents. It was a long shot but backed with a lot of evidence. And Blair recognized that golden aura her grandma saw in Sienna; it was also in Maddox and Melinda. They truly did have Wicca blood in them. And her grandma had sent them right to Blair's doorstep.
They next day at the shop, Blair was bustling her butt off to see if she had the dagger anywhere in here, but there was no hope. The dagger wasn't in the shop or in any of her grandma's old stuff.
"So, you really think Maddox's family has Wicca heritage?" asked Anastasia from the front desk.
Blair came out from the back and sat on the stool in defeat. "That's what I figured from the journals."
Anastasia shook her head in awe. "I cannot believe that one of the richest bachelor of America is a witch," astonished her cousin.
"More like a dormant witch," said Blair. "That's why he was able to see the entity and travel through my portal."
"Did you tell this to Maddox?" asked Anastasia.
"I was going to this morning, but then we got busy with something else," smirked Blair slyly.
Anastasia grinned. "You wicked witch," she said, "having your way with that poor mortal."
Blair laughed. "I still need to find that dagger though," she told her cousin.
"What was written on the blade again?" asked Ana.
"When you need me, I shall show and fight," she repeated to her cousin. "I conquer evil and protect the light."
Anastasia contemplated for a moment. "I can ask my mom," she said. "And call our cousins if they know anything about it."
"I didn't think about that," Blair clapped her hand together in glee because she forgot that she had her family to get some answers.
"Excuse me," a customer called out for Blair and immediately she went back to work, when only she was interrupted by a phone call.
"Your man's calling," Anastasia whispered to Blair. She stepped aside and her cousin helped the customer.
"Hello," she answered.
"Hi," Maddox's voice put a smile on her face.
"I didn't think you'd miss me that fast," she remarked.
Maddox laugh was low and very hot. "I missed you the moment you left me in bed all alone," he said. "But this isn't a happy call."
Blair stiffened. "What happened?"
"I need your help," he told her. "I've got a problem."
"I'll be there in a second," she said and cut the phone then turned to her cousin. "Ana, I have to go. It's an emergency."
Anastasia understood Blair's grim look. "I got here. Go."
Blair sneaked into the closet, so no one would notice and she portalled back to Maddox's home, where he was waiting for her on the other side. She opened the portal door and hugged Maddox. "What's wrong?" she asked him.
His stern look told her it was serious. "A few guests think their room is haunted," he told her. "I went to investigate myself thinking it was old pipes or something. But it's there-"
"A ghost," she interrupted.
"Yeah," he said. "There's a ghost inside my guest's hotel room."
Blair couldn't help but chuckle. "I'm at your service, Mr. Steele," she jested. "I'll be your personal ghostbuster for the day, but I have to warn you that I charge for my services though."
Maddox raised a brow and smirked. "Well, Ms. Lightwood, I think I can find us a deal we'll both be satisfied with."
Blair titled her head and challenged; "And what would that be?"
Maddox was quick to act. His hand cupped her nape and pulled her into him, his lips founds hers and she was transfixed, lost by his touch and passion. He held her close to his body, close enough he could get her like he kept wanting more. Blair combed her fingers through the soft locks of his hair. She closed her eyes and swooned over his dark taste that sent shivers down her body. Blair and Maddox forgot about everything and only knew this moment. The sweetness that was enough to kill them was overbearing but completely irresistible.
Maddox pulled away first. "Satisfy you enough?" he asked teasingly.
Blair smacked his shoulder. "I'll need more of wherever that came from to satisfy me," she said.
"That was just the down payment, sweetheart," he grinned, "if you get rid of the ghost, I think you'll be satisfied by the rest of the payment."
Blair's cheeks bloomed with heat. "And what would that be?" she dared to ask.
Maddox's dangerous eyes were all fired up. "Me," he declared boldly. Maddox's business persona was showing clear as day right now, and Blair had to admit it was really alluring.
Blair clapped her hands. "Let's go then," she said. "I can't believe I'm actually excited to go bust a ghost."
Maddox lead her through the hotel. "Better excited than bored, right?"
Blair smiled. "That's for sure."
They reached the ninth floor where a couple stood outside room 909 with pale expressions. From what Blair could see was that they looked like a married couple, either on an anniversary trip or honeymoon. But that wasn't the only thing she noticed as she got closer to the grim door with an even dingier aura.
"Mr. and Mrs. Granger," said Maddox. "I'm Maddox Steele, the owner of the hotel."
Mrs. Ganger was a kind woman with unruly dark hair and even brighter brown eyes. "Mr. Steele," she stuck her hand out, "it's nice to meet you."
Maddox accepted her hand. "I'm sorry for the trouble we've caused," he said. "We will compensate you for the inconvenience and I've arranged your stay in one of our suites on the top floor."
Mr. and Mrs. Granger's mouth dropped open. "Are you sure?" asked Mr. Granger.
Maddox nodded, he pulled out a key card from his pocket. "You can head down to your new room," he said. "My staff will bring all of your luggage in a few moments."
Mr. and Mrs. Granger didn't look back twice, they excitedly ran to the elevator to their new suite room.
"That was kind of you," said Blair.
"I had to, otherwise my hotel would've gotten a bad review," said Maddox as he opened the door to room 909.
Blair chuckled. "And here I thought you were a knight in shining armour for this couple," she remarked.
Maddox smiled charmingly. "You feel more like the knight in shining armour," he rebuked. "Always swooping in to rescue me."
Blair broad smile died when the door behind them closed and she got the whiff of the dark energy. All the lights had been turned off, but the sunlight poured through the sheer curtains and onto the white tiles. But that didn't stop the shadows in the room from growing tremendously. She didn't need to guess where the spirit was; it left a trail that reeked of the undead all over the bedroom area.
"So, can you sense it?" asked Maddox.
Blair strode into the bedroom. "Yeah," she answered. "It's a drifter spirit."
Maddox tilted his head. "A drifter?"
"A spirit that moves with the wind and gets lost on this realm because it's trying to find its family," she told him before she followed the trail to the long closet cupboards. She opened the two doors and there sat a ghost crouched down on the floor.
"It's just a boy," said Maddox.
Blair crouched down to her knees. She inspected the small, young boy who was barely over nine. He had dark murky hair and big eyes but they were afraid and sad. He sat in the corner with a red and white striped shirt and some white board shorts. But that sickly grey cast over his entire body gave away that he had been dead for only a short period of time.
"Hello," said Blair very softly making sure not to startle the boy. "I'm Blair, what's your name?"
The boy met her gaze. "Ronnie," he answered.
She smiled. "What are you doing here, Ronnie?"
"I'm lost," sobbed Ronnie.
Blair's heart ached for the boy. "Do you know what happened to you, Ronnie?" She asked. "I mean, why you're-"
"I know I'm dead," he interrupted.
Blair and Maddox were caught off guard. "Okay, Ronnie," said Blair. "I'm going to help you find the place you need to go."
Ronnie shook his head and snuggled deeper in the closet. "I'm not going, it's too scary," tears welled up in his eyes again.
"No, Ronnie. It's the best place in the world," she reassured. "It's so much better than this old dark closet."
Ronnie lifted his head from his knees. "Really?"
Blair smiled. "I promise," she held her hand out. "Come with me to a magical world, that's only meant for you."
"What do you mean?" asked Ronnie.
"Well, I can't go in it and neither can he," she pointed at Maddox behind her. "This place is only for special kids like you."
"But the monster in the dark told me not to go," said Ronnie.
"There is no monster," reassured Blair. "It's safe while I am here." Ronnie hesitantly took her hand and climbed out from the closet. Blair knew that the portal to the afterlife had opened behind her.
"I see it," Ronnie smiled up at her. "Is that for me?"
"Only for you," said Blair and Ronnie bolted into the bright light to start another adventure of life.
"That was quick," said Maddox obviously impressed.
Blair put her hands on her waist. "Yeah, like riding a bike," she said. "Once you get the hang of it then it's easy."
"I feel bad for the kid though," said Maddox. "To die at such a young age and to be so alone."
Blair laid her hand on Maddox's shoulder. "There is a better place for him now," she said. "That is what I believe in. All spirits, entities and ghosts have a better place to go to in order to heal the wounds they received from their life here."
"Even the entity that attacked us?" asked Maddox. "Do you think he deserves peace?"
Blair had to give it a moment. "Who am I to say that he doesn't," she countered. "That entity has chosen a dark path, but I believe it can change once it sees the light."
They left the hotel room after Blair cleaned the air with a few spells and returned it back to full glory. Blair and Maddox went back to his home when Blair got another phone call.
"Hello," she answered.
"Blair!" It was Anastasia. "You need to come back right now!"
Blair's heart dropped. "Anastasia, take a breath and tell me what's wrong?"
"It's the shop," she cried. "Everything is destroyed."
Blair didn't hesitate before she ran into Maddox's office and into the portal to return to her shop. When they had reached it, she could barely recognize it. Anastasia stood in the centre of the disaster Blair called her shop a few moments ago.
"What happened?" Blair barely managed to stay calm.
"The entity came," said Anastasia. "It went berserk when I tried to fight it off."
Glass crushed under Blair's heels. She had no words for the mess that laid before her. "The entity did this to my shop," she stated.
Anastasia wiped her eyes. "I don't know what to say, Blair," her eyes filled with tears. "I'm sorry, so sorry I couldn't protect your shop."
Blair hugged her cousin. "Shhh, Ana," she tried to console her. "It's not your fault." Maddox brought the chair for Anastasia to sit down and relax after something so traumatic.
Blair turned to view her shop; the table were turned over and all the displays were broken. Glass was everywhere and ancient antiques were cracked and broken. Her paintings were ripped apart and the chocolate was burned to ashes. She bent down and picked up a piece of her grandma's Suncatcher that was on the floor.
"I was thinking of going easy on the entity," her voice dripping with icy hot menace. "Not anymore."
"Why would it do this?" asked Maddox. "It wouldn't risk coming to your shop and trash everything just to piss you off."
"It was looking for something very desperately," answered Anastasia. "And Blair, he's got a body now."
"The dagger," said Blair. "It came here for the dagger."
"What dagger?" asked Maddox.
"The only thing on this planet that can kill it," said Blair. "That's why it was so desperate and afraid to face me."
Maddox eyes widened. "Do you think Ronnie was just a distraction?" he asked her.
Blair drew in a deep breath. "That's what Ronnie meant when he said that the monster doesn't want him going into the light."
"That conniving bastard," cursed Maddox.
"You could say that twice," grumbled Anastasia, her sadness was getting replaced with vengeance right about now.
"Attacking my shop was crossing a line," said Blair. "I need to fight it and kill it once and for all."
"Couldn't agree more with you," said Maddox and Anastasia.
Blair collected the rest of the pieces of the Suncatcher when a sharp glint of a light caught her eyes. She looked up the fallen shelf and found a dagger. She held it in her hands and it weighed quite a lot.
Anastasia gasped. "Where did that come from?"
"It just showed up under the shelf," said Blair, when it clicked to her. "When you need me, I shall show and fight. I conquer evil and protect the light."
"It came to you, Blair," believed Anastasia.
"The dagger knew I needed it," she mumbled.
"That's what's going to kill the entity?" asked Maddox.
Blair stared down at the Silver Fang of the White Wolf. "It's time to take the fight to him now," she announced because now she wasn't going to be the usual merciful Lightwood witch. She was going to annihilate this monster that plagued her life.
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