Beyond a Reflection

Chapter 5: The Ritual

As I go back to the classroom, I immediately pretend to be asleep so that Vaughn won't bother me anymore about what we have talked about earlier. I don't want that kind of topic especially we are in a public area, and there is a high chance that someone might hear what we are talking about, and if we get that unfortunate, it was the enemy that learned about our existence in this mortal world. I am just keeping my guard up.

There is a reason why my great-grandmother— Isadora Grufinckle, isolated the "other world" from the earth. I'm sure that there are a lot of supernaturals out there who didn't get the word of my great-grandma or they preferred to be on their own. Hunters are the ones who hunt us and they intend to sell us in the black market. How cute.

In my conclusion, this is the first time that someone discovered Vaughn's secret, and he thinks that his suspicions were true that I'm a supernatural also because I didn't react as much as he expected. That's why this is getting him fired up. In my eyes, he is finding a supernatural buddy that he could talk about his deepest secret. Poor volant.

Classes passed immediately and as for me, I really fell asleep but it seems like the teachers don't care since no one even bothered to wake me up. Well, for me it's like time is sped up these days since I'm only sleeping during my classes. Why would I even bother listening to the lectures when I'm not attending college? It's just a waste of time. I couldn't use those math equations if I became a non-showbiz girlfriend... As if.

I slowly lifted my head when I heard the bell ring, indicating that classes have already ended. When I spotted Vaughn's eyes wandering inside the classroom, I swiftly immediately out and headed directly to the faculty room where my brother was.

From the windows here in the building, I saw a familiar build of a man. He is sitting on the flower box while stroking the hair of a dog. It was Drake and he is holding that white dog that I have seen earlier. He is absent the whole afternoon and I guess this is what he is up to?

Weird. Who would've taken their time entertaining a dog?

"Kenny!" I was back in reality when I heard Vaughn's voice calling me not from afar. And again, I could feel the girl's murderous eyes as they block Vaughn's way into my position since they don't want him to reach me.

Good job, girls.

I took the opportunity and walk faster so that he couldn't catch up to me. I didn't look back even though he is calling my nickname many times and the hallway has now a sea of girls, blocking the heartthrob's way towards me. I head towards the faculty room as fast as I can since I don't want to be touched by the ruckus they have created.

I focused my eyes on the door of the faculty room, even though I didn't tell him that I'm giving my answer today, definitely he will still wait and wait and wait for me to arrive. He doesn't care if I'm not coming, he will still wait.

The moment I opened the door, I saw my brother standing up from his swivel chair while panicking. He is full of sweat and he is panting as if he was chased by something. My eyebrows furrowed and put my bag above one of the teacher's tables and head towards his direction while still observing his pale face. He looks terrified.

"What in the world happened to you?!" I asked him with an intensified voice as I look at him from head to toe.

He looks a mess.

He faced me and seized both of my shoulders and he started gulping as he looked from left to right, to ensure that no one is listening to us. He is getting paranoid.

"Keindra. I need your help right now, whether you like it or not. Come with me," he seriously said and started dragging me outside.

Some of the students and teachers are looking at us but Isaiah's face remains anxious as his sweat doesn't stop flowing from his face. I didn't say a word because it looks like this was a serious matter and this isn't a time for me to throw a tantrum.

We arrived at the parking lot. He let go of my wrist and took his key from his pocket and opened the door of the car right in front of us. When it is unlocked, I didn't waste a second and hopped in the passenger's seat. The both of us remained silent as he started to drive and for some reason, I started to get nervous too.

"I had a dream," he started the conversation which shut me up.

I knew it, this is more serious than I expected.

Isaiah has the ability of precognition, which he can see someone's future through his dreams. But the most difficult part in his precognition ability is, that someone is the point of view that's been used in his dream. In short, he is seeing what that someone is seeing in his dream that's why he always had a hard time thinking who might be that someone's point of view.

I didn't respond, my way of telling him that he should continue what he was going to say.

"In my dream... I saw myself, sitting beside that someone. Myself only, no one else. In an empty room... in our house," a tear escaped from his eye as I look at him in the rear mirror.

"And suddenly, everything went black." He went silent for a few seconds.

I get what he is saying. I know who's that someone is.

"You didn't help us, and Mom... Mom ended up dying," he continued and tears started flowing from his eyes. He is trying his best not to let out a sob.

I remained silent. Yes, that's right. I am about to see my brother tell him that I reject his trade. If I really want that mirror badly, then I should do things on my own without his help, but because of the turn of events, the tables have turned and I didn't get any chance to tell him.

There's no guarantee that I can save Kia. I'm not that courageous to risk the magic that I have left.

I didn't speak any words and just looked outside as we go through this unfamiliar route. To be honest, this is the first time I'm going to their house. Ever since they moved out, I've decided to cut my ties with them, but unfortunately, this brother of mine started teaching in our school that's why I need to set aside my personal feelings before interacting with him.

Honestly, it is not a big deal for me to help them since Kia's my mother after all but the only thing that I'm worried about is Grandma's feelings and reaction if I accept or reject Isaiah's trade. I had a condition with Grandma that I won't use my magic if isn't necessary and just stick using my wand to preserve my magic and avoid the worst-case scenario.

"Kia hates me, you know," I said half-heartedly as I avert my gaze.

I could see from my peripheral vision that he glanced in the rear mirror.

"It doesn't matter," he answered shortly and took a turn on the right, and there I saw a big house in modern style, other houses here are small and made of wood as if it is the countryside also,

It was painted in monochrome colors; consisting of white, gray, light gray, and black paint. The walls are almost made up of glass and you could see the great interior of the house. This place is so peaceful and it even has a small pool.

Isaiah get out so I followed him. I stopped admiring the place and just focus my attention on the reason why am I here.

Because in the end, I'll end up being insecure and started wishing that I could live the life that he is living.

"This way," Isaiah said and opened the mahogany double door as he slid the car key in his pocket.

He is walking directly and I'm just following his footsteps until he stopped right in front of the door placed exactly at the end of this corridor we've gone through. He took a deep breath before opening the door and the moment he turned the doorknob, a warm air escaped from the inside, contrasting the cold air in this house due to air conditioners. Isaiah opened the door completely, he didn't move that's why I didn't move either. I can't see what is inside since he's blocking my way. The only thing that I could see is his broad back.

"Mom," Isaiah muttered in a worried tone, which made me uninterested and wanted to leave right away.

Isaiah headed inside, leaving me here in the doorway. There I saw a woman lying on a bed while wearing an oxygen mask. She got so skinny and I could even see her bones in the face, as well in her arms. Half of her hair was already gone, leaving her some bald spots. She can barely open her eyes the moment Isaiah called her.

She's hopeless.

Isaiah held Kia's hands, full of hope. "Don't worry, Mom! You will get better," he assured her and looked at my spot but my attention was focused on the single photo placed above one of the tables here.

It was Kia's photo before Dad married her. She looks so healthy with a smile on her face as her hair was blown in the wind. She got natural rosy cheeks and looks very enthusiastic, totally opposite of her situation right now.

My eyes widened when a pillow was thrown in my direction and good thing I was able to dodge it. I look in Kia's direction, and as expected, she looks angry.

"Mom!" Isaiah said in a warning tone.

Wow, she has some strength left? Amazing.

I saw from here that she's moving her mouth but she doesn't have enough strength to say it out loud but I know what she's about to say. I sighed and turned my back to leave but it seems like Isaiah noticed it when he immediately rushed to my position and grabbed my hand.

"Don't mind her, Kei. Just treat her already... please," he begged.

"I'm not a doctor." I wanted to say that but the moment I looked at his eyes. It was different. His eyes were different from years ago.

Emotions are now lingering in it and I could see his soul this time. For some reason, I visioned his past self. His eyes were no traces of any emotions, it is lifeless. When I stared in the eyes of his past self longer and longer, in the end, there was still a wall. A tall one. But right now, that wall is starting to crumble and I could see his pure soul completely.

He changed.

I sighed and gave in. I put my bag down and started to walk towards Kia who is strangling while looking at me as if I'm going to kill her. I just look at her in a monotone face and looked at her long dress that is stained with blood. I was about to unbutton that part of the dress to see what was causing the bleeding when she tapped my hands away. It was only a simple tap, with no strength at all but it has a different effect on me.

That tap is full of hatred, despise, wishes that she shouldn't have born a daughter like me.

"Mom, don't be so stubborn!" Isaiah said and started restraining his Mom and told me that I should continue examing her weak body.

"How long is she like this?" I asked him when I saw scratches appearing on her arms.

"For about two weeks," Isaiah answered, still trying to hold back Kia.

My eyebrows furrowed when I figured out what was happening. I sighed when she started to strangle again and looked at Isaiah who looked embarrassed. I head towards my bag on the floor but it seems like it alarmed him, probably thinking that I'm going to leave. I took what I need and tossed it to him and he immediately understood, what it is all about.

"How come that you have a Propofol and syringe?" he asked as if I just did something weird.

He started injecting the d**g into Kia and after seconds, she fell asleep. Propofol is a d**g that helps you sleep or relax, it is often used during surgeries. Apparently, the reason why I have that thing in my bag is that for some emergencies just like now, it is pretty useful when the patient is resistant.

"Can you place her on the floor or any flat surface?" I requested and pull out my wand as I shut the door, closed the curtains, and turned off the lights. The environment suddenly became dark.

"Let me remind you again, Isaiah. My magic is now slowly fading and I can't guarantee her recovery. If that's okay with you, I will now proceed," I told him as I looked at him directly.

He gulped before answering as he stares directly into my eyes. "Y-You may proceed."

I pointed my wand to Kia who is in a deep slumber right now. I could feel the wind coming towards my direction, directly in front of my face and that wind blew my hair backward as I feel my eyes glow. Isaiah stepped back because he knew that he might get affected by this ritual. The wind started encircling this closed room and furniture started falling from its places. When I noticed that that picture of Kia above the table is about to fall, I kicked my bag towards its direction as its cushion.

I could feel the magic tingling my whole system as I transfer all the magic I hold on my wand as I started chanting some spells.

I hope I won't regret the outcome.