Chapter 115: The Tarnished Ring

Shayne was humming as she seemingly danced around the nursery room of the day care. She was patting colicky baby’s back waiting for him to burp. He finally gave in and she felt him begin to drop off to sleep. She carefully placed him in his crib and checked on spit up baby, who was also sleeping soundly.

In the momentary silence, she placed her hand on her tummy and thought about baby Bean. The more she thought about the pregnancy and the future she would have now that she had finally told Jeffrey how she felt, the more excited she was. She found herself genuinely looking forward to the baby.

She began to consider baby names because she refused to have a child named Bean after the pregnancy. Jeffrey was one hundred percent convinced that the baby would be male. Shayne had a feeling that he was correct. She knew that her grandmother held to the belief that all first-born Anderson children would be female now that she has spent so much time going through her journals and ledgers. She also knew that her grandmother believed the children to be cursed.

Shayne had once declared the curse broken and has felt power flow through her. She wondered if she declared her child was a Poynter and not an Anderson, would it protect her child? Shayne decided it was worth a try as she went to sit in the corner of the room in a wooden glider.

As she rocked back and forth, Shayne placed her hand over her tummy and she began to focus all of her will and thoughts into breaking the curse. She was set on making sure her child would have a long healthy life. She took long deep breaths and closed her eyes as she meditated. She felt a warmth and tingling begin in her hand.

She opened her eyes and noticed a purple light shining from the palm and flowing into her abdomen where the child grew. She considered her grandmother’s written adage that all spell casting began and ended with intent. She tried to force all of her love and desire for the child to flow through her body and into the magic. She saw the light intensify.

She spoke softly to herself of all the things she wanted to bless her child with. She mentioned health, a kind heart and compassion for others. She prayed to no one in particular that her child be safe, a good friend and that it always be loved unconditionally. She channeled everything she had into the magic as it flowed.

She began to feel it draining her so she took a deep breath and closed her eyes pushing the magic back into her cells. She felt her head roll back and she dropped into blackness.

Shayne carefully opened her eyes and realized she was not in the nursery. She could feel the air around her and the way the magic all around her flowed as she stood in an empty room lit with an eerie purple light.

Suddenly her house appeared before her and she realized she was standing in her yard but it wasn’t. As she looked closely at the house, she realized it was fairly new construction. The furnishing and the people milling around reminded her of the 1800’s. She looked up and saw a woman in the garden who could have easily been her ancestor. The woman spotted Shayne and waved her over. “Hello, Granddaughter” she called.

Shane approached her cautiously. She knew her grandmother, and this certainly wasn't her. “Who are you and where am I?” She asked.

The woman chuckled softly. “Clearly, I'm your grandmother, with a couple of greats removed. And you are in the place where magic and sleep meet.”

I didn't know there was such a place? Shayne said confused.

“Few people ever reach it,” the woman said. “My name is Glennys and the curse you just removed from that child started with me.”

“Does that mean, it’s over and the curse is truly broken.” Shayne asked hopefully.

Glennys nodded her head and gave Shayne a sad look. “You removed the curse from the child and all others who will follow, but you must understand, great magic has a price. To save the one you love, you must give up the other.”

“Are you saying because I don't want my child to die, I have to sacrifice someone else?” Shayne said in alarm. “That's just crazy, and cruel.”

Glennys clicked her tongue. “Its balance. You cannot be given a gift without someone else first purchasing it.”

“I can’t do this,” Shayne said as she shook her head, “I want to wake up now.”

“It’s already been done. The choice has been made. Now you will have consequences, just as I did.” Glennys warned her.

“Is this future for certain? Is there nothing that can be done.” Shayne pleaded.

“Perhaps,” Glennys said. “Your love has balanced my hate. The hateful magic of centuries has been broken. It could be, that anything may be possible.”

“Has no one tried to break the curse before me?” Shane said troubled. She wondered why her grandmother had not done something long ago. She thought about all the family tragedies that had come and gone over the years. It all seemed like such a waste.

“Others have tried. No one else had the strength or the power that you have.” Glennys explained. “You are my true heir. All I had has been gifted to you.” The sorceress sounded ominous.

“Then how do I save my loved one?” Shayne asked.

“He must be sacrificed.” Glennys said sternly. “You cannot cheat balance. You must carry the pain of a lost life, to counter the promise of a future one. But hope may remain in the unbroken chain.”

Shayne felt like it was a riddle and one that she had to solve no matter the cost. Glennys was trying to tell her something, she could feel it. But before she could ask her any more questions the space around her flashed brilliantly purple. She opened her eyes and was back in the nursery at her job. Instantly one of the babies began to cry.