Victor nods slowly. “Yes. It’s almost like they are trying to speak to me.” He looks over to Clarence, who stands between two cases. “Are you an empath?”
“No,” Clarence responds coyly.
“Then how were you able to come through the curtains?” Victor asks as he continues looking around the tiny room.
“I created the wards in this room; that’s why,”Clarence responds with a hint of snark. They slowly walk around the room, inspecting everything in the cases. “I wanted to make sure anything empaths can use was protected. Especially after what happened when empaths were being killed off.”
“Leo mentioned that. He said it wasn’t that long ago,” Victor remarks.
Clarence slides a hand across a case and looks inside it. “Anyone with an ability was targeted and demanded to help change things back to the traditional ways of witchcraft. It’s also written that those with abilities can easily become the next Grand Witch or Warlock.”
Clarence glances at Victor’s reflection in the case as he examines a small dagger. “Others don’t want to be ruled by someone who could be more powerful than them. The survivors are protected, but if they try to excel more with their powers, it will put a larger target on their backs.”
Victor becomes worried. “I already have a large target on my back, and I’m not even that powerful.”
“You’re more powerful than you think.” Clarence opens the case and pulls out a silver necklace with a charm. The charm has five circles lying unevenly on top of each other. The pointswhere each circle overlaps another resembles a pentacle. “If you are anticipating or planning on revisiting the astral plane, you’ll want to ensure you are wearing this.”
Victor takes the charm in the palm of his hand, letting the necklace dangle down. He notices small symbols etched on the bottom of each circle. “Slán leat. It means ‘Safe Journey’ or ‘Safety with you’ in Irish. It’s written in the Theban alphabet as it was commonly used among the Wiccans,” Clarence explains.
“How much for it?” Victor asks as he gazes at the swirling aura coming off the charm. Light blues and soft silvers intertwine against one another as they swim around the circles.
Clarence closes Victor’s hand into itself and places their other hand on top. “No cost for it. It was meant for you. Just be careful.”
Two nights ago . . .
Victor is sitting up in bed, reading a book Leo gave him. His dirty dishes from dinner are sitting on the table. There’s a knock at his door. “Come in.”
The maid enters the room. “Oh, Mr. Russo, please pardon the interruption. A letter came for you. It’s from the library.”
“Thank you.”
She picks up the dirty dishes. “Good night, Sir.”
Victor sees it’s a message from Wren.
Victor,
I might have found something for you. Meet me in Eduardo’s mirror roomin five minutes after you read this letter. It’s important.
–Wren
Victor folds the letter and gets out of bed. He hides the letter in his suitcase and gingerly walks over to the mirror room. When he enters, Wren walks through a mirror.
Wren is holding a small, worn book. “I think I found what you are looking for, but you’re not going to like what it says,” Wren says softly. She opens the book and holds it out for Victor. “The blood oath Leo and Derek took can only be broken by either trialby the High Priest or Priestess or blessed by the Grand Witch or Warlock. Unfortunately, neither of those exists right now.”
“Are you sure it’s safe to speak here?” Victor asks.
Wren brushes off the question. “Eduardo has wards placed around this room. He’s had many private conversations here.”
Victor takes the book from Wren. “How are you sure this was Leo’s oath to Derek?”
Wren takes out her phone and plays a video of Leo and Derek taking the blood oath. Victor takes the phone and watches closely. Leo starts to speak in Latin. As he speaks, a younger version of Superior Charles slices Leo’s palm with a dagger. Derek places his hand on top of Leo’s cut. When Leo finishes, Derek begins talking. Another warlock slashes Derek’s palm. While Derek continues, Victor notices a change in Derek’s voice.
“I might not be able to speak Latin or Spanish, but I have some idea of how the words are enunciated. He’s pronouncing the words in a Spanish dialect while the oath is in Latin.”
Wren nods. “That’s right. The only person who took the oath was Leo. I’m surprised he didn’t notice it right away.” Wren makes a disgusted face as she watches the video. “I’ve never liked Derek.”
Victor hands the phone back. “Get in line. Where did you find the video?”
