“Make certain that the spell is said three times under the new moon and that the spell is completed. Any interruption will leave the person you are trying to change in a state of limbo.”
Philip looked at the book again. Nothing was written, yet Antonia was reading.
“If a spell is incomplete, the person on which it was cast will experience changes each night for a short time at midnight. While this will not make him a wolf, it will eventually drive him to madness as he will never know peace.”
At least he wouldn’t be a wolf all the time and if he were normal during the day and most of the night, why should discomfort for about five or ten minutes each night drive him mad?
Philip dismissed the concern because he would much rather have that than to risk fully turning into a wolf.
Antonia took a deep breath then slowly blew it out as her hands tightened around his.
“If the spell is completed as written, and recited three times under the New Moon, the person on whom the spell has been cast will become a wolf each night of the full moon, and only that night. However, caution is urged. He should not be allowed to roam free, or livestock will disappear, and there is a small chance that humans could be injured or killed, and at the very least, cause more mischief than a witch is ready to explain. Instead, lock him in a cell where they might be comfortable while the changes take place. While in the cage, do not approach and keep your distance for you do not want to risk being scratched or bitten or you may be cursed as well.”
Antonia took another deep breath then blew it out slowly, her shoulders rising and falling.
He waited for her to read further, but she didn’t.
“Does it say anything about repairing an incomplete spell?”
She shook her head and her exhaustion and disappointment flowed from her fingertips into his.
Was this what she experienced all the time?
Antonia then withdrew her hands from his and settled back, sighing once again.
“That is all it says.”
“At least you were able to read it, whereas we saw nothing.”
Antonia frowned. “The words were right…” She gestured to the book. “They are right…they are gone.”
“Only you could see them,” Philip said. “But you did see them, so now we know. And you can see me?”
He asked that last question slowly because Antonia hadn’t really looked around, only at the book, even when she settled back.
She lifted her chin, her eyes meeting his. “Yes, I can see you.”
Only then did Philip relax.
Antonia removed the necklace and placed it back in the glass box. “Thank you for the sight,” she whispered to the necklace before closing the lid.
“So, the worst thing that will happen, if we don’t find a reversal, is that Philip will become a wolf each night at midnight, and only for a short time,” Petra announced. “While not pleasant, at least we do not need to worry about him becoming a werewolf and need to lock him in a cage.”
What Petra was forgetting was that such a condition would likely drive him to madness, which could also lead to him needing to be in a cage and something Antonia would not allow.
“We have some answers, but a reversal must be found,” Antonia insisted as she started blowing out the candles.
“You should get some rest,” Chedworth said as he stood.
“We do not have time for me to rest,” she nearly snapped at him. “If you are left in this condition, you could go mad. I cannot live with that.”
She blew out the candles and tossed the crystals into her satchel.
“It is late, Antonia,” Maia said. “We can start fresh tomorrow.”
All she could do was shake her head. Urgency filled her and the longer they stood here meant less time for searching.
“I am going to the vault.”
