Casters

Chapter 6

"These sandwiches smell amazing," Blake commented.

"You are going to the town later, Blake. Those sandwiches are for us." Aunt Annalise said.

"Just one bite," he pleaded. Annalise stared at him and said, "Oh, alright. Have two," as she picks up a plate and placed two sandwiches on it.

Grace enters the kitchen with a basket. "Annalise," she said, "Raven, and I would be taking a morning walk to create a protection spell around our land, and pick up some plants for the garden. Matilda wishes to grow her own garden."

She then turned to Blake, who was taking a bite. "Watch out when you go to town. There have been rumors going around the casters in town regarding the chosen one's return," she said, "there might be Gideon's Shadowwalkers following you three around."

Blake held up a finger. As he swallowed his chewed food, he asked, "are there any specific profiles we're watching out for?"

"Rumor has it that these Shadowwalkers who walk around town are the strongest wielder and blood caster; and the slickest shapeshifter," Grace explained, "and one of them is a lightning caster."

Blake nodded.

Grace stood up and bid her farewell.

"I shall wake the girls up," Annalise said, after making the last sandwich

---

"I changed into some nice, decent clothes, and you wore your night robes for a walk." Raven shook his head, "I do not wish anyone to think that I am keeping a terrible secret with my sister."

"What are you thinking, Raven? You are utterly disgusting. I will be casting a spell on our land and you are thinking of absolute nonsense." Grace replied. "You're old but you think like a teenager. I'll tell Annalise about your behavior!" Raven chuckled and waved it off, "it was supposed to be a joke, sister!" Grace crossed her arms and said, "jokes are supposed to be funny. That was disgusting of you."

"Did you cast a charm on that bracelet, Raven?" Grace asked.

"Yes. I would like to tell you something as well." He whispered. "I saw Charlotte wearing the Golden Sun necklace the night I gave her the bracelet."

Grace was stunned, "How could that possibly happen when I disposed of it in Gatlin? I even made sure Matilda bury it deep the earth."

"I am not quite sure. As I gave her the bracelet, there was a faint light underneath her clothes," he said. "The light formed a sun."

Grace let out a sigh of disbelief.

"Should you be happy that our niece is protected by the Oracle, itself?" Raven asked. Grace shook her head. "She may be protected, but she is unaware of her powers. She would not be able to control what she has now."

Grace climbed up a rock and sat down.

"Now, before we continue our conversation, would you be so kind to pass me my bag?"

Raven gave her the bag and left to pick up some plants for the garden. Grace made sure that her brother was out of sight before removing her night robes. She sat down and meditated before starting her spell. She took a deep breath and began to levitate.

Spirit guides, hear me,

Ancestors, come near...

Her eyes lit up and she began her spell.

---

Grace and Raven went back home and saw Annalise waiting for them. "The girls are getting ready to leave. Ma recited another prophecy," Annalise panicked, "As I interpreted the words, I believe something terrible is going to happen to the children today."

"Have you told Blake about this prophecy?" Grace asked. Annalise nodded with a worried look, "after hearing the prophecy, I contacted Sheena and Bridget to accompany them."

"Wait, isn't Bridget that air caster? The lady that our nephew is dating?" Raven asked. Grace turned to look at him.

"Are you interested in our nephew's love life or the safety of our niblings?" Raven let out a good laugh. "You know Grace, sometimes we need to divert our attention to release the tension."

"Now is not the time, Raven. Your niece is turning 18 in a week" Grace sternly whispered. Raven let out a sigh, "I suppose you are right."

"Let's come inside, or Charlotte would be suspicious of our conversation here," Annalise suggested.

As they entered the house, Matilda and Blake were already waiting in the living room. "Where's Charlotte?" Grace asked. Matilda pointed upstairs, feeling impatient.

"I found my camera," Charlotte announced, "Good morning Uncle Raven. Aunt Grace! You look dashing in those night robes." Aunt Grace smiled, "I forgot to change before taking my walk. The breeze was cold."

"Let's go." Blake smiled.

"You could borrow your Uncle's and Aunt's bikes for a while," he motioned to his sisters. "You'll love traveling by bike here."

"Oh Blake, please take good care of your sisters," Aunt Grace said. Blake looked back and said, "Of course, why wouldn't I?" and they left.

Grace went back into the house and said, "let's enjoy our lovely breakfast before discussing our plan."

---

"Here, I prepared some tea for us to drink while we converse," Annalise said. Grace had already cleaned the table and washed the dishes.

"Is Ma still asleep?" Raven asked. "She seems tired after switching into the oracle, earlier," Annalise nodded.

"Alright, shall we start?" Grace asked.

"Revelare!" Grace cast.

Suddenly, from a newly refurbished home made out of bricks and old furniture, the house was filled with grand colors and designs. It was brimming with lavish furniture and shimmering curtains. The creaking stairs were no longer made of wood and were even covered with a red carpet. The place suddenly felt magical. The dishes and cleaning equipment would move by themselves. The paintings would move and talk, too.

"I already have set up the protection spell around our land. I accidentally had a nosebleed after that spell. It was very exhausting.

"Also, Raven said that he spotted the Golden Sun necklace a few nights ago," She continued.

Annalise nodded her head, "I agree. I saw the necklace lying on the mirror cabinet in the bathroom after Charlotte came out."

"I suppose there is nothing we could do," Grace said, "the necklace must have claimed her beforehand."

"What should we do on her 18th birthday, if she's not aware of the claiming ceremony?" Raven asked. Grace sighed upon hearing this.

"That was what I was thinking, too," she was silent for a while.

"Well, maybe a claiming ceremony disguised as a picnic. Matilda sent me an internal message claiming that was what she hoped for." Grace said.

"What about the moon? I checked our calendar. It would be a full moon on her birthday," Annalise wondered. "If she would be claimed, then-"

"She would not be claimed by the moon," Grace said, cutting her off. Annalise looked at her and went silent.

"Once she will be claimed by the dark, there would be a release of power that she could not understand nor control. We would need to cast a containment spell to restrain her," Grace said.

"We would then explain her history and our family to her. However, we would not mention the curse."

"How would she know about the casters who are adamant in attacking her?" Raven asked, "because this plan feels off."

"She would know. However, we could elucidate that these caster battles are endless, especially with the ones that would prove that they are the most powerful." Grace explained.

"That is nonexistent, Grace," Annalise said, "No one has ever done that, except for Gideon."

"Gideon already has followers after his containment during the caster war in Mines de Bruoux. They call themselves the Elemental Posse. Women are known as the Sisterhood of Cipher whilst the men call themselves the Brotherhood of the Curse. The strongest three that I told Blake are known as the Shadowwalkers. They believe Gideon will defeat the chosen one and will reward them with the power to overcome the world, and destroy the balance.

"These casters believe that Gideon has always been right; that casters deserve more in this world than being at peace with ordinary people," Grace continued.

"I understand. However, we should think this one through. Charlotte will feel betrayed after finding out about her history. She does not deserve to go through the lies." Annalise calmly explained.

Grace agreed. "You are right, Annalise. We shall think that one through."

"...and do me a favor," Annalise continued. Grace raised her eyebrows.

"At least make a second plan for the ceremony. You couldn't use your plan if she was claimed by something else."

Grace crossed her arms but admitted she was right. She nodded in agreement.

"Aunt Annalise!" A voice shouted.

"That voice... It's my niece! Sheena!" Annalise exclaimed. She rushed to the door and found Sheena carrying Matilda and Charlotte with her water elemental.

"Charlotte!"

"Corium" Grace cast. The house went back to its old-fashioned state.

"What happened?" Raven rushed to catch Charlotte. "Let me carry her inside."

Raven carried Charlotte to the couch and Matilda followed. "Aunt Grace, it was amazing how I finally got to use my magic in a caster battle!" She shared her excitement.

"Sheena, come in. You and Bridget need to eat," Grace invited, "but where is she?"

"Blake told me to take them both and go on ahead. I am unsure if they followed," Sheena responded. "Alright, come in before they could see us."

"Wait, I need to cast this," Sheena said. "Subsisto."

The mist of evaporated water froze mid-air. Grace was astonished. I rarely meet a water caster who could control the mist. She thought. "I would like them to be guided and protected. Protego." The mist gathered together into a cloud and went to where Blake and Bridget are.

"May I come in?" She smiled.

---

"It has been 15 minutes. Bridget said she should be here by now." Sheena whispered. "Matilda, how is Charlotte?"

Matilda rested her hand on her sister's forehead. "She feels cold."

"May I?" Uncle Raven asked. He put his palm over her head and started to control her body temperature.

"Wait- did you cast a memory charm on your sister?" Annalise asked. Matilda nodded. "I did and that's why she's asleep."

Suddenly, there was a knock on the door. "Blake!" Matilda smiled.

Grace opened the door and the two casters were outside. "Is Cee awake?" he asked, entering the home. "No, not yet. Matilda has cast the memory charm, so please act as if she just fainted during a field activity or something" Grace pleaded. Blake nodded.

"I'm glad you noticed that sly and cunning Tory before divulging any information about your sister," Bridget comforted. "At least I could finally put my arms around the right Bridget," he joked.

"You did what?!" Bridget asked.

"Seems like someone is in trouble today! Poor brother Blake, couldn't use his powers to protect himself," Matilda teased.

"One thing for sure, Matilda," Bridget started, "is that I love you now."

Matilda grinned and rolled her eyes on Blake. "My own sister is choosing my girlfriend over me? Her beloved brother?"

"Love, how is Charlotte?" Annalise asked. "She's doing fine. Her body temperature is currently normal." Raven replied.

"How did this happen, Blake?" Annalise asked.

"Tory pretended to be Bridget and went to the fields. Fortunately, I noticed the inconsistencies of the decoy's responses," Blake explained, "Tory was with the Shadowwalkers you described- Fred and Stephan."

"My first battle was awesome!" Matilda exclaimed in excitement. Annalise smiled over the child's joy. "What did you do?"

"I finally used the spells I learned in a book back in Gatlin. There used to be a book about how a witch escaped the witch trial years, and she wrote down spells for her fellow earth casters in case something happens to her and a caster would find her work." She grinned.

"I cast a spell and a huge hand formed with my earth, throwing the enemy away. Blake blinded that guy with his ray of light! I was honestly surprised that he was the only caster blinded." She continued.

"I bought some tea," Grace said, "and something for Charlotte to smell. She'll wake up, soon." She settled the tea tray and opened a container. She rubbed some oil on her palm and placed her hand above her nose.

"Expergo..." she whispered.

---

Charlotte suddenly rose, "Enough!"

"Charlotte!" Her aunts exclaimed. Blake went and sat beside Charlotte, "Cee, how are you?"

She studied the room and saw two faces she couldn't recognize. "Are we home? What happened? Were we not playing at the fields?

"We were but you fainted when Bridget and Sheena came. Sheena is Aunt Annalise's niece," Blake explained.

"I fainted? How" She wondered, "I was perfectly fine before we left."

"Oh, don't ask. It's more important that you arrived home safely," Aunt Grace answered. Charlotte nodded and smiled.

"I guess we couldn't eat at a fancy restaurant in town." Matilda sighed. Uncle Raven and Annalise laughed at this remark.