Demon, Guardian, The Fallen, Oh My mates! Esmerelda's Story

Prologue- Beth’s POV I am in my laboratory again. I can’t help it. There is something that I am missing about all of this. The witches of the dark order are getting bolder. Something is brewing and I can’t seem to get ahead of it. All of my scrying has turned up with nothing on the Fallen. My premonition ability isn’t working at all. If anything I feel as if that ability has left me completely. The more that I think about it, ever since Esmerelda turned thirteen and her powers manifested more, my powers have slowly diminished. I could still feel that I had power, but it wasn’t as noticeable as it was years ago. Esme’s powers seem to be growing in strength though. “That is because her magic is reclaiming the power left behind while you were carrying the triplets. It was always meant to be Esmerelda’s powers, but you required more power to be able to protect her until her magic was fully matured. Your magic is still there, which is strong, but nowhere near as strong as the true heir.” A soft feminine voice whispered in the quiet. I closed my eyes knowing it was Sandra’s spirit lingering still. She has refused to move on until Esmerelda is safe. We have been working together since her death two years ago. She can surprisingly get quite a bit of information in her spirit form, but there are places she can’t go undetected. The witches have traps for wayward souls. They use them in their rituals and spells. Trying to summon their master. This Abaddon. I have done my research on this demon. The Destroyer. We have to stop him and the Witches of the Dark Order before they can get their hands on my daughter. “Is that what is happening? I wonder…Could…could I siphon some of her power to get a premonition? Nothing more, just a bit?” I asked mainly myself. I was trying to figure out if that was even something I would be willing to do. Siphoning a witch's magic is dangerous and could lead to an addiction. Much like with humans and their susceptibility to becoming addicted to chemicals such as alcohol or cocaine. Supernaturals can become addicted as well. Vampires can become addicted to blood and be rippers. Who kill uncontrollably because of their lust for blood. Wolves are power. Dragons treasure, obviously. Witches are addicted to increase in magic. The more powerful the magic the more influential the witch and their family become. “You can’t!” Sandra said more loudly, taking me out of my own thoughts. I knew she was right, and I can’t believe I even thought to do something like that. I wonder if my body and mind was already used to the power and just wanted it back? I will have to be careful and mindful of my actions around Esme. I waved her off before saying, “I have a better idea. I have a protection spell that will cloak Esmerelda from the witches. I also have a tracking spell that will become activated once Esmerelda touches the scroll. I could use your help on this.” I said softly and looked towards Sandra’s spirit. She smiled at me and nodded her head. I think she already knows what I have planned to do. It is the only thing I can think to do to not only protect my daughter from the witches, but from myself too. I can feel as another sliver of magic leave me. The despair I feel at the loss of it doesn’t even make sense. I know it wasn’t mine to begin with, but the loss of it makes me feel as if I am lacking something. That brat is stealing all of my magic. I will make her pay and take it… I stopped myself in my thought process. What the hell was that? I looked towards Sandra and she looked a bit concerned. She can’t hear my thoughts can she? “No I can’t read minds, but Beth? You’re speaking out loud. How long have you been feeling this way about your daughter?” Sandra asked. My face paled. I didn’t want anyone else to know what was going through my mind. It wasn’t a lot at first, but it just started to get worse the last week or so. I know I need to get this spell done and now. I no longer have the luxury to wait. If I do, then I may never have the willpower to stop myself from hurting my baby girl. “Long enough to know that I need to protect her from myself. That is why you are going to help me. I have letters written to each of my mates and my children and the family. I hope you will make sure they receive them. Please watch over them. Especially Esmerelda. Please?!” I begged her desperately. I knew she had conflicting feelings on this, but I knew she agreed the moment her eyes had set in a steely determination. “I’ll help you, but we will be doing this my way. Do you understand? I know what damn spell you plan on using and I am telling you right now that if you are the one to cast it, there will be serious repercussions that you can’t even fathom. So I will cast the spell on you. No harm. No foul. Plus it will give us some hope of reversing your addiction to magic.” Sandra left no room for argument and I was grateful. “Thank you.” That was all I could say. There was nothing more for me to say honestly. She knew. We got to work quickly gathering all the supplies that she would need to perform the spells. Sandra had decided that it was best if I didn’t use any of my magic right now. As that could also flare the addictiveness. So I just sat obediently as I explained the locator spell and why specifically the scroll. Alexi, Ethan, and I had decided a long time ago that we weren’t going to tell the children about the prophecy that surrounded Esmerelda’s mate. They know of the threat of the Witches of the Dark Order, and how they wanted to siphon all of Esme’s magic. That was all they knew. They didn’t know about Abaddon or that the witches were searching for the Fallen. I pray we are doing the right thing. “All right. I have everything. Are you ready Beth?” Sandra asked in a quiet but confident voice. I took a deep breath and released it with a silent whoosh. I nodded my head and spoke a soft prayer, “Please watch over my family, Ares.” Sandra began casting the spells first up, the locator spell. Once the locator spell was placed upon the scroll it disappeared back to its hiding spot. Esme will find it when it is time. Finally the last spell to be cast is the protection spell. I laid down on the floor knowing that as soon as she was done casting that I would pass out. It is the only way to protect my daughter and myself. I closed my eyes as I listened to Sandra chant. I could feel the magic within me wanting to rebel. To stop the spell being cast, but I had a tight hold onto my magic. This spell took longer to cast. Each step in the ritual is more intrinsic than the last. Finally when I thought I couldn’t hold off anymore we were on the last stage. I could feel the sweat dripping down the sides of my face as I struggled to maintain a hold on my wayward magic. It wanted to protest. To stop this madness, but that in itself was madness. I needed to protect my child no matter the cost. As my grip was slipping the last words were uttered by Sandra, and my world became dark and silent. The last things I heard were, “So mote it be.”