“The Eye of Theia was then stolen from that person who thought to mask their own desires with an altruistic reason, but the Eye of Theia knows a heart, and that person was blinded as well. No longer able to see anything.”
What if her heart wasn’t pure enough? What if she was blinded. Except, what would happen to Chedworth if she didn’t at least try? She might never forgive herself if he faced life as a werewolf.
His mother turned a page in the journal. “It finally came to a witch with good intentions and found its way to this vault.”
“What do you do with it?” Lady Wharton asked.
“First, the person wishing for sight should wear it for protection. If magic is being performed, the Eye of Theia will shield while the witch is most vulnerable to outside forces. The Eye of Theia attracts vanity and greed.”
“Where should we perform the ceremony?” his aunt asked.
“Shouldn’t we first ask Lady Antonia?” Chedworth interrupted. “She is the one risking her sight, not you.”
“I will do the spell,” Antonia announced when everyone looked at her. “Is there a certain spell that I must use? Is there one written in the journal?”
“You should read the one from before,” his mother instructed as she picked up the glass box holding the necklace. “We will take this to the garden, where our magic is strongest.”
“Are you certain?” Lord Chedworth asked.
Antonia looked into his blue eyes, her heart pounding, hands shaking. She wasn’t certain at all but had little choice. “Yes.”
“Then come along.”
“What of candles and crystals?” Petra asked.
“They are in a satchel in my chamber,” Antonia answered.
When everyone had first come into the vault, it had not bothered her as much because they were all curious as to what the Eye of Theia could do. Now, each was filled with worry and fear of what might be discovered, and it was pressing in on her.
“Might I have a moment, please?”
“Yes, of course,” Maia said. Except nobody left, they just stepped away.
“I will go to the garden, please give me time to prepare before you join me.” She didn’t wait for a response but left the vault and climbed the stairs and found a door leading to the outside. Once she was there, Antonia could finally breathe again.
Thank goodness they hadn’t wanted her to perform the spell in the vault because her concentration would have been nil, and she may have ended up blind.
There was still that chance.
She made her way to the center of the garden and placed the book on the stone shelf in the middle and opened it to the correct page.
She then settled back on her heels, closed her eyes, and slowed her breathing and attempted to clear her mind.
There was peace in being alone, except there was a hole, a missing piece and she knew that it was because Philip had not joined her.
Why was he necessary?
It made no sense, but Antonia truly hoped that she found the answer. She did not want to go through the rest of her life with an aching emptiness when he was not around.
“Do you still wish to be alone?”
She glanced up to find Philip standing at the edge of the circle.
“You may join.” She smiled at him.
“Shall I sit across from you again?”
“I think it is important that you do so.”
