Evermoon 2: Fate's Toy

The Key

----The Key----

***Lanie’s POV***

My eyes scanned the pages of the book as it talked about the history of witches. Alec came over and rubbed my shoulders, sitting next to me. Arsen had excused himself to go check on Sophia and our mother.

“ Find anything yet?” Alec asked quietly.

“ Not yet… so far it just talks about our history. How the Salem Witch trials hysteria was because one of our kind used a spell to heal one of the children and another child became jealous. The child managed to get that witch convicted but then the other children joined in the hysteria and started to accuse any and all adults that they didn’t like. A lot of innocent human life.”

I shook my head sadly. “ We were banned from using magic in places that humans would be able to see it from then on. We didn’t want to see another one of us being burned at the stake for trying to help the humans. I suppose that’s also why we are only supposed to marry our own kind. We’ve been demonized by the humans and it’s supposedly to keep our magic pure and not to have halfbreeds everywhere.”

“ The Moon Goddess brought us together for a reason. There is a reason why she chose you, a witch, as my mate.” Alec squeezed my shoulders comfortingly.

“ I wish I knew what the reasoning was.” I sighed a little, my shoulders falling.

Flipping through the pages, my enthusiasm fell with each page I went through. Resting my head on the palm of my hand, I let out a loud sigh of frustration.

Suddenly, something had caught my attention on one of the pages as it took up a full page.

Turning back, I noticed a full color page of a beautifully stunning flower. It grew low to the ground, much like a lotus but the petals reminded me of pillows, plump and soft looking. The color of the petals reminded me of a dragon's breath; warm and red hot. A few long stamin protruded and stood at least half a foot tall from the flower as it looked like the pollen glittered off of it in a purple-blue hue. It was truly breathtaking to look at.

Reading about the flower, my eyes widened and I read it aloud.

" Witch's Blood is an extremely rare magical flower that blooms during the night. The growing conditions for this flower are extremely particular with it needing to be near areas of extreme magical concentrations as it uses the ambient magic as food to grow. To tell if the flower has fully bloomed, the pollen will shimmer in a blue-purple tone that reminds one of glitter. If the flower hasn't fully bloomed, it will not release the pollen, which is full of magical essence. It has long been regarded as an elixir for witches who have had their magic waning."

" The flower looks like it may be a cure for your mother!" Alec looked excited.

" We can help her!" He hugged me tightly while I stayed quiet, trying to figure out areas of high magical concentrations.

" We should talk to my mother. See if she knows where high levels of magical concentrations are." I got up while my mind wandered.

Alec nodded, grasping my hand as I took the book with my other hand.

Going back to my Mother's room, we knocked before entering. Sophia looked up, her eyes hopeful for good news.

" I think I found something that may help. I just don't know where to find it."

My mother opened her eyes, looking over at us.

" Mother… Do you know what Witches' Blood is? It's a flower."

" Witches' Blood… that grew a lot near the Witches' Guild. You mustn't go there though. Not for me. We ran from the guild when you were younger. You won't have your free life anymore if you go back to ask for the flower." Mother warned but quickly succumbed to her weak energy and fell asleep again.

" I'll sneak onto the grounds and try to steal a flower. I'll be okay. I can morph into animals. They won't suspect me." I spoke confidently as I stood up.

" I'll risk my life to save yours, Mother. Just hold on."

" Lanie, I'll go with you." Alec also got up before I put a hand on his shoulder, forcing him down again.

" No. You're a werewolf and they will be able to sense you from miles away. If they see a witch and werewolf of opposite genders traveling together, they will find out about us and we will be killed." I refused.

" But it's dangerous!" Alec growled, his eyes flickering with hurt and helplessness.

" It will be a million times more dangerous if you came. Especially if they saw my mark."

I saw a look of recognition in Sophia's eyes and a small gasp but she decided now wasn't the right time to barrage us with questions.

" So you expect me to stay here while my mate risks her life?" Alec grew angry. I knew he probably felt useless.

" I promise. I'll hurry, go grab the flower, and come home. I'll be fine and it will take a lot less time if I can shift into a bird and fly there."

Alec's jaw clenched. " Fine. But if you're not back in four days, I'm coming to find you. If I have to go over there and learn that they harmed you, nothing will get in my way to get to you."

" Okay. I'll come back though. I promise." Leaning forward, I kissed him softly before I realized just how tense he was.

" I promise, baby. I'll come back to you. Just keep your pack going until then, okay? Then we can discuss all of that Luna business, Loverboy." I grinned as his eyes shimmered with hope.

" Now I need to pack a small travel bag." Smiling, I kissed him softly before leaving.

I hoped, deep in my heart, that I would be right. Mother seemed very adamant about me not going there. Why was she so concerned? That look of worry in her eyes ate at my soul as I gathered stuff for my journey.