Dream State

Chapter Two

Chapter Two

Forging of Hearts

One year later

It wasn’t long before her wedding day came. The sun was shining as if it agreed to the upcoming union. Emma didn’t know that her coven had been working all night. They were making her a gown salvaged from her mother’s wedding gown. Hearing a knock at the door and watching as the door opened, she wasn’t surprised to see her coven on her special day.

“Emma, we have something for you,” replied Anna.

Ushering them in, Emma walked over to the table that held her most prized possession. Anna walked softly toward Emma’s table. Emma walked over and touched the soft cloth and pulled the ribbon that held it together. Emma ran her fingers across the delicate lace and was in awe of the beautiful beadwork on the dress. She could feel the magic that had been woven in the dress, and she knew the strength she would draw from it.

“Anna, I have to talk to Edwin. He has to know what will happen if we do this.” Said Emma.

“Yes, I agree.”

Emma made her way toward the barn that Edwin worked out of. She was scared. The butterflies were terrible as they fluttered in her stomach and she knew nothing would make them go away. “Edwin, where are you?” Questioned Emma.

“Love, I am right here,” he answered.

“I wanted to come and see you before our wedding. There is so much to tell you.” She explained to him that if they had any children, she would have passed along her family’s magic to each child that they would have. How there might be some danger in the future. If that did happen, she wasn’t going to make them hide their powers.

Her mother and father had most of the family magic when they died in the fire. The only thing Emma could do was be a healer and use simple spells. “Emma, I know the magic that your family had. I know you are a healer and that is what I love about you. You want to help people.”

Tears began running down Emma’s cheeks. Throwing her arms around his neck, her heartfelt light.

Daniel was angry. It didn’t get any better after Edwin and Emma were married. Six months passed by quickly and Daniel could see that they had become one. He knew that was a problem, so Daniel walked into her dreams once more. He wanted to see her again without Edwin around.

Her dream was a happy one. Daniel realized it was the proposal that she was replaying. That is when Daniel lost it. He stepped out from behind one of the trees. They yelled and screamed at each other for what seemed like hours. That’s when it happened.

Emma’s full powers came that evening on the night air. Her blond hair moved away from her face as she was lifted off her feet. Daniel watched as Emma’s eyes changed colors as her powers began to fill her and that was when Daniel knew he was in for it. Daniel had taught her a few spells and some simple ways to enter dreams, but now he regretted everything. Coupled with her family's magic, Emma was going to be unstoppable.

“How did you get past my protection spell?” demanded Emma.

“Do you think that simple tiny spell was going to keep me away from wherever you are, Emma?” Daniel’s eyes darted around

In search of Edwin.

“I told you to leave him alone Daniel!” screamed Emma.

“Never. If I can’t have you, then no one can.” Uttered Daniel.

“That is so cliché, Daniel. Don’t you have an original thought?” Taunted Emma.

To show Daniel she meant business, Emma began firing off spell after spell, trying to take him out. She was going to protect Edwin and their baby daughter whom she was carrying at all costs. Daniel fled in anger, but Emma knew that he wasn’t going to give up that easily.

When the village coven found out the next day that her powers had come to her, they started teaching her how to use them.

“Emma, you’re impressive.”

“Anna, I am only that because of what everyone has done for me.”

Spells and potions lined her workshop shelves. There was one spell she was taught to help protect her new family. “Emma, it might not work for long, but it should help keep Daniel at bay,” Anna explained how the spell would work. They would become invisible to anyone with magic. It took her blood, sweat, and tears to master that one spell, but she did. When she told Edwin about the spell, he began breathing easily for a time, but he even knew that would be limited. Emma had explained that it would only buy them a few years of peace.

Three years later

Emma had a dream of her own in which she saw her future. It was something new for Emma, her visions. She saw her oldest daughter with a baby sister. She would be small and with bright green eyes. She was going to be powerful just like her sister. Emma saw them as little girls running in the same field she played on so long ago.

She saw them travel and find their love. Together her girls fought many battles, but Emma didn’t see herself. What she did see was Edwin by their side for many years to come. She smiled when she saw her Edwin with gray around his temples.

This power of premonition was a new thing for Emma and was coming in handy. Emma knew what she had to do now. She had to get ready for the upcoming battle, but for now, she was going to focus on her first daughter.

Lilly Ann was a bright child with clear blue eyes and a sweet face that looked like she was made of fine-boned china. At three years old, she played at Emma’s feet while taking care of her daily chores. It wasn’t too long before Emma became pregnant again. She let Edwin know over a hot meal and a brilliant fire that they were going to have another baby. That night her family was complete, and she felt stronger.

Soon Emma brought Grace into the world. She held her tight and spoke softly to her. “My baby, you are strong and wise. I see your eyes following me and I know you can understand me. I’m sorry, my love, I won’t see you grow up, become the witch I know you will be one day, but I will watch over you from the other plane.”

It didn’t take long for Edwin and Emma to become a strong family. Their girls began to grow and show signs of their power. Edwin watched as Emma taught his beautiful daughters how to use their magic the right way. “Oh, look at that Lilly Ann, you did it!” clapped Edwin as he watched as her teddy bear rose above her head.

He loved the fact they were strong and happy. Emma had told him stories of others going bad once their powers came in. They like the rush and anything to keep that rush is a good thing. Even if that meant killing people.

“Edwin, we need to talk about something very important.”

“I am all ears, my sweetheart,” replied Edwin.

Emma began the story of her long-lost cousin. She told him how Timothy had gained his powers and enjoyed them just a little too much. After Emma's story, Edwin worried about demons and the evil that lay beyond the tree line that had been rumored to be Timothy Quinn. Even as a human, Edwin had begun to feel the evil that had oozed from the tree line, trying to seep into everything that was touched. Part of him thought he was paranoid. The next morning, when five people had gone missing, he knew he had a right to feel that way.

Edwin had talked Emma into gathering the strongest people from the village to form a coven in hopes to protect the village in the future. Emma had come to him late one night.

“My love I have to teach you a few things that you can use in a pinch.”

“Alright. Just don’t turn me into a toad.” He joked.

Emma took Edwin aside and showed him a few spells that would help him. Emma told him what was going to happen when she had to use that special spell. She left out the fact she wouldn’t physically be coming back home to him. Emma begged Edwin not to be afraid because she would see him again soon. They practice healing and light magic. Because Edwin might need to heal himself or the girls.

There was one demon that Edwin was afraid of. He knew Daniel kept sending his demon herd after Emma in hopes of killing her and his daughters. He was simply wiping them all from the earth and it was all because he couldn’t have them. Daniel was pure evil ever since Emma had turned him down so long ago.

Looking out the window of the house, Edwin could feel that something was wrong. Emma came out of their bedroom dressed in a pale cream ritual dress that she and her girls had made. Emma put on her cloak and found Edwin standing by the window staring into the tree, hoping to catch a glimpse of any evil coming their way. She came up from behind and hugged him while laying her cheek on his back. Edwin reached up and grabbed both of her hands in love. Trying to hold her in place, but he knew he had to let her go.

“Sweetheart, I must go now. There is something that must be done. You should sleep now. I won’t be long

“Yes, I know, but I don’t like it. You are going to death, and I know I can’t stop you, my love.” Edwin grabbed his hand and began tracing the scar on his palm. He remembered the night Daniel gave it to him. Daniel had entered Edwin’s dream one night that Emma was away, and they fought. Sometimes the scar burned with pain that took his breath away.

Emma hurried out the door in search of her coven. When she got there, she found her coven in a fight for their life, and it was all over the magic she and the others used. Each woman threw different spells to block or fight. A few of the women disappeared into the night. She wasn’t ready to do that spell yet, so she went through some spells to block. She powered up fast and hard. She went after any close demon, but she was losing her friends all around her.

Emma took a second to hide behind a tree. She tasted the blood in her mouth from being on the run. When she had caught a glance at her dress that her children had helped her make. Emma became angry and looking down she saw the gashes she had in both arms. Blood ran down her arms, and her lungs burned from the fight.

“Emma, you need to come out. Let me see your face, and I promise I will let the girls live.” Screamed Daniel.

“Fine Daniel. You can have your way. Just leave my family alone.” Declared Emma as she made her way to the darkened tree line ducking and hoping to blend into the shadows. She was hoping to bid her time. She had to get to the pieces before he did. She could hear his booted footsteps as he crushed everything in his path. She ducked in time to miss the oncoming spell.

“Now Daniel you know better than that. My girls are safe from your eyes for a very long time. Now, you can come and join me. We have much to discuss.”

“Discuss? We have nothing to discuss. You wanted him, and I can’t have that.” Screamed Daniel in pure frustration.

Daniel looked around, and when he found nothing, he began his search everywhere. He found a small church that seemed to be hiding in some dead trees. He had almost made it to the front door when Emma appeared behind him. Blocking him from coming any closer Emma drew strength from what she was about to do. But she knew that she had to keep her mind closed before he pushed into her mind. He would cause her unmentionable amount of pure hell if that happened Emma knew that she had to be prepared for anything and taking her soul was what he wanted. She would rather die before that ever happened.

“Now Daniel, it’s been years that you have been sending your demons to take my life and my love all because I turned you away. You never understood the word “no.”

Smirking at her Daniel took his time in answering. “No, you b***h. I just feel like it’s your time to die.”

“You could never share your toys.” Taunted Emma as she began her chant. She needed a shield if she was going to let him come any closer.

Daniel began circling her in hopes of finding a break in her shield, but he was having trouble finding a weak spot. She held up her left hand as a shield against Daniel until she fished out the one piece she needed. With a pure smile of satisfaction, Emma pulled the small silver cross that was given to her by her Coven. She had already practiced the spell enough that it had to work.

He could tell she was stronger, but she wasn’t strong enough. In a blink of an eye, Emma was bathed in light. In her hand, was something that he never knew she had. “Where did you get that?!” he demanded. “Oh, this?” questioned Emma as she sweetly smiles as she paced around him.

“Well, my coven and I have been hunting this down to kick your demon ass back to hell and make sure we slam the door shut.” Growled Emma.

Daniel was petrified because in her hand she held a silver cross with three emeralds and if used right could end but if he had it, he could siphon the powers of others. “Looking for this Daniel?”

“Where did you find that?” questioned Daniel

And with that, Emma began her chant to set the wheels in motion. “Oh, I have my ways What makes me angry Daniel is you thought you could have hidden the real you.” Remarked Emma

Emma could hear as the others from the coven came running. Fire and lightning lit up the woods as the fight to take Daniel out. “Anna!” screamed Emma as she watched more her coven die.

She watched as Daniel fired off a spell hitting Anna taking her life in seconds. She knew that she had to finish what she had started. “High in the air, with power and light. Take what I seek and destroy it with all of you might.” In her hands, she had a silver cross with three perfect emeralds. Emma knew what had to be done and she was prepared to make it happen. Gathering all her strength Emma threw the cross high into the air, and with one last blast of white light she shattered it and watched as it rained down around them.

Daniel managed to grab one piece before his rage had gotten the better of him. Taking one last look at Emma, he ended her life with a snap of his fingers. Emma just disappeared into the night. “Emma!” screamed Daniel. Daniel couldn’t see where Emma’s body was. She just disappeared. No matter, he was going to make sure all her coven would be dead.

Edwin had been asleep but was jolted awake by a whisper. Standing before him was his Emma, but there was something wrong. He was surprised to see her standing in their room. She told him what had happened to her. She made sure he knew where she sent her magic and not to be afraid.

“Edwin, do you remember what to do?” asked Emma.

“Yes, my love I remember.” Whispered Edwin as he watched Emma disappear. He didn’t care that tears ran down his cheeks unchecked. His Emma was gone from this world, and his heart was breaking into millions of pieces.

Edwin had to move fast. He began stocking the carriage moving quickly. The last thing he had to do was make sure his girls were safe. “Lilly Ann it’s time to wake up sweetheart.” Said her father as he bent down and tapped her on her small shoulder. At six years old she was wise beyond her age. Her eyes had slowly fluttered open. Edwin watched as his oldest daughter got up without a complaint at the early hour. She had gone over to her sister and began to get her ready to leave. When Grace began to cry, Lilly Ann started to sing a lullaby. “Come on sweetheart it’s time to go.” Urged Edwin.

Edwin knew he had to get to the cave where he and Emma had made love their first time. It took him a few minutes to get the girls ready and loaded in the carriage. It was the still dark out, but he could smell the faint scent of burning wood. Looking up, he saw the woods were on fire. He knew that was where Emma died.

Edwin knew where she had buried the wooden box, he had made her for their first year together. Ducking inside the cave, Edwin found the place where she had buried the box. He dug it up, brushed the dirt from it. Opening the lid, he found the letter at the bottom that she had written.

“My girls. I am sorry that I couldn’t keep your mother safe.” Edwin whispered.

“Edwin you kept me safe. It was my just my time to go, but we have to make sure he doesn’t take our girls away.” Declared Emma.

Edwin held the same letter that she had written years before. It read of love and how much she needed him to take care of Grace and Lilly Ann. She wanted him to take her girls far away, so they could learn the magic of her line. Emma asked him to please prepare them to see her in their dreams. She even left him a few different spells that he could try to help block anyone searching for them, but he must get them out of there right away.

Lilly Ann had wandered into the cave. When she saw her mother, she ran to her trying to put her arms around her. “Mamma what happened?” she cried.

“Oh, my sweet baby. Too much has happened. But not to worry, your dad will keep you safe, and I will see you in your dreams.” Claimed Emma. Even in death the love she felt for her family was consuming.

“Mamma, I know what happened, and I know you're dead. I will make sure everyone will be safe.” Proclaimed Lilly Ann. Emma wanted to hold her daughter and rock her making sure she knew everything would be ok. Lilly Ann stood there her in her cream and blue dress that she had made a few months ago. Lilly Ann went to bring Grace into the cave. They had to help their father perform the spell that would hide them.

“Daddy are you ready? Asked Lilly Ann.

Edwin looked down at his daughter. “Yes, my dear. Let’s get this done,” Stated Edwin.

He must repeat them again when the girls turned sixteen and then at the age of twenty-one. He had a small bag of salt, and he went about making a circle of salt, he placed the girls and himself in the middle of a circle of salt.

Edwin read the spell: Cover thee, hide thee, surround thee. He repeated that three times as tears ran down his cheeks. Grace, his youngest looked at her dad and laid her hand on his face that is when he spoke the spell. “Goddess of protection hear my plea. Keep this person away from sight, and if they found me, may they feel pure pain with every step they take closer may the pain become unbearable. So, smote it be.”

A cloud began to surround them covering as he gathered his girls to his heart. Edwin made sure the carriage was full of their belongings that they needed to survive. He could tell that his Lilly Ann was a strong one. She was the youngest, and she adored Grace. Something stopped Edwin on the dirt path that he had cut through just a few weeks before. His Emma made him do it one afternoon. It had felt strange preparing for his wife to die but he knew that it had to be done.

He could still remember that day. They had taken the girls out for a picnic. They had found a great spot with a small pond. They both had spoken to them about the evil things that roamed the world. That was when Lilly Ann showed the first sign of her magic. She had been playing with her doll one minute and the next she waved her hand, and her doll began to dance, and baby Grace loved it.

Giggling could be heard for miles, and that was what made both of them understand that the only that needed to be protected was the power they had. Edwin knew that the piece of the cross that he had found in the box was something important for keeping them safe. He now knew what he had to do.

They simply disappeared into the darkness. It wasn’t long before Lilly Ann had turned twenty-one. She was to be married to Andrew’s clan. Lilly Ann was a fine healer. She had people lined up for miles to be healed from her.

Edwin knew that he had to do the spell one more time to make sure his baby had more time as simple women with her new husband. Since it was another family that had strong magic and they were given the piece of the crystal for safe keeping. When they became one, they made the family even stronger. Together they became the strongest family in the village.

It wasn’t long before his Grace was to be married. Grace who could handle a sword and a dagger with ease. Her eye was caught by the local store owner who was from the clan Blackwater. Together the families joined, and a white light surrounded the family for many years.