Chapter 60

An electric buzz coursed through Thea as the mages chanted their syphoning spell. Seamus had warned her that she would feel the absorption of the magic but, she had no idea it would feel so…thrilling. Butterflies, more akin to flying rocks, danced around in her stomach, a radiant sensation passed through her body, warming her from head to toe.

The notion that she was absorbing her father’s magic suddenly occurred to her. She had never felt connected to her parents, having no memories of them whatsoever. Moving to the DeBeaux Angelo manor, she thought she would’ve felt a connection, a spark, something but, she didn’t. It just felt like a house.

Now, for the first time, she felt connected, she felt the love her father had for her flowing through his imbued magic. Seraphina couldn’t help the tears that sprung to her eyes as they continued to syphon the magic away.

After what felt like an eternity, objects in the room began to shimmer and glow as the magic was pulled from them, leaving behind an array of trinkets that were previously disguised as herbs, candles and books amongst other objects.

High up on a shelf in the far left corner of the room, a large blue gemstone caught her eye as she clapped a hand over her mouth to stifle the gasp that formed in her throat.

“The sodalite stone,” she whispered, pointing her finger at the enchanting crystal. Its magic washed over her in euphoric waves as she neared closer to the shelf. Stretching her hand outward, she called on air to deliver a wind bringing the stone down and into her palm. She couldn’t stop the gasp that escaped her as the sodalite made contact with her skin.

“Amazing, even with the syphoning spell, it still holds so much magic.”

“We only syphoned the cloaking spell, no spell would ever be strong enough to syphon the magic from that, even if we could, the amount of raw power contained would be enough to overpower and kill 100 mages,” Isobella peaked over her shoulder at the stone in Seraphina’s hand.

Passing the Sodalite from hand to hand, Seraphina’s eyes widened as she marvelled at the sparks that danced across the surface of her skin everywhere the stone touched.

“It recognises you,” Oisin smiled as he stood to the side of Seraphina.

Her brows furrowed as she shot him a questioning look though, her smile still played around her lips as she continued to pass the stone back and forth.

“Sodalite is essentially a homing stone, it is made from pure, light magic. It has recognised you as a one who is pure…That’s why it sparks when it makes contact with your skin, it feels at home,” Oisin smiled down at Seraphina.

Placing the stone down on the table for the other mages to marvel at, Seraphina took to looking around the room to find what else had been revealed by the syphoning spell. A large blue and gold leather-bound book caught her attention on one of the shelves. An unexplainable, almost magnetic pull drew her to it.

Fingers slightly trembling, she pulled the book out and turned it over to read the cover.

‘Le haghaidh mo iníon’ She ran her fingers over the gold imprinted font, her breath hitched in her throat.

“What does this say?” She gestured to Isobella.

Pulling her attention away from the another revealed artifact, she glanced over at the book in Seraphina’s hands.

“It says ‘For my daughter’.” A sad smile played around her mouth.

A pit formed in her stomach as she stumbled to find a chair. Seating herself down on one of the stools at the large table, she opened the book and felt tears immediately spring to her eyes as she read the passage written on the inside page.

‘My dear, sweet Seraphina,

It pains me to be writing this, these are words I wanted to tell you as I watched you grow and mature but, circumstances won’t allow that.

I had a vision, there are people who do not want to see the great dragon sit on the throne again, people who feel they are more worthy of your position and powers. Your mother and I will not survive but, I have ensured that you will.

I am sorry I will not be able to give you the life I dreamed you would have; I am sorry if you will not experience happiness as you should.

I can only hope and pray that you will someday find your way here and that you will know the weight of the love your mother and I have for you.

You are our whole world, our sweet blessed angel.

You have power and beauty beyond compare. You will be a force to be reckoned with and I know you will always do what you believe to be right in your heart.

My sweet baby girl, you are a light in the dark world, a light that is much needed.

Never underestimate your power, your strength or your love.

Please do not mourn for your mother and I, you are our hearts and souls, we live within you and we always will.

I am sorry it has to be this way but, if we do not sacrifice ourselves to this evil, the blood of many innocents will be spilled.

I love you until forever and a day.

You will always be my little girl and I will always be your loving father.’

Seraphina covered her mouth as she tried to stifle the sob that was trying the escape her. Tears ran down her cheeks and dripped onto the page, wetting the ink slightly.

Dropping her head into her hands, her body shook as she silently cried, years and years of agony and pain pouring out of her. All of the tears she had held back. Tears from being beaten, tears from unwanted advances and assaults, tears for every time she was told she was unloved, unworthy of life, hideous, disfigured. Tears from the pain of the cold that’s spread to her bones, the pain of a truly empty stomach, every time she awoke alone, covered in her own blood and afraid.

All of that bottled up pain and misery was finally set free, the flood gates were open as she released all of her heartache.

An arm wrapped around her waist and pulled her against a body.

“Shhh, there, there Seraphina,” Isobella’s voice vibrated in her chest as she smoothed her hands over Seraphina’s hair.

Seamus came to rest a hand on her shoulder. “You father transferred his magic to you before the attack… We sensed it when we first met you but, we felt it wasn’t appropriate to tell you then…”

Seraphina looked up from where her head was rested on Isobella’s chest to look up at the blurry faces of her Aunts and Uncles around her.

“Really?” She whispered.

Oisin nodded ay her. “You were…pregnant with the twins, we didn’t know if the news would distress you but, he’s with you Seraphina, he has always been with you.”

A smile broke out on her face, in spite of the tears that still streaked down her cheeks. A choked laugh came from her lips as she bought a hand up to her chest, placing it over her heart.

“They really loved me, didn’t they?” she asked no one in particular.

Isobella pressed a kiss to Seraphina’s forehead. “More than anything in this world, my sweet child.”

Seraphina fanned her face in a bid to stop the tears from flowing. Picking up one of the mugs of now cold coffee, she took a long drink, finishing the contents of the cup. A grimace marred her face as the cold, bitter liquid passed down her throat. Once she had regained her composure, she stood to her feet and turned to meet the watchful eyes of the mages.

“Right, now that we have the means to locate the children, I will have Achilles and Aurelia assemble a troop of their strongest warriors as the children will most likely be guarded. We will take with us blankets and food. They will be scared and possibly hungry and they will not understand what is going on. There are 6 children and 6 of you, each of you will carry a child on my back and I will fly you all back here where they will be reunited with their families. Is that okay with everyone?” Seraphina looked around at the determined faces before her.

Seamus was the first to speak up.

“That sounds like a plan to me, little dragon.”