Chapter 2: Violet

I took a deep breath. “That makes me feel better. Ever since I was a child everyone has been saying I’m going to be great, do great things and be so powerful. But I don’t feel it. I just feel like me.”

“My dear, since the moment you opened your eyes, you were different. My god you have purple eyes for Hecate’s sake! In all history, I have never heard of one of our kind with purple eyes. That means greatness. Not to mention that’s where your parents got your name.” She laughed at her comment.

It’s true. I did have purple eyes and my familiar marking at birth. My parents were so proud. Their own daughter was going to be this powerful witch and possibly rule the coven, in time. Then the uprising happened, and they died. Leaving me in the hands of Uncle Eli.

He wasn’t my uncle. I knew that when he took me in at the age of ten. I remember when they raided my parents’ house, broke all the windows, overturned the furniture, and trashed the place. I could hear my mom scream from down the hall. When the first alarms went off her and my father were on their knees and chanted a spell of protection. They were strong witches, but something blocked the spell and they found us anyway. I could still hear the final blood curdling scream from my mother.

I hid in the closet crying. I was ten, barely a witch, there was nothing I could do. Jeffers was the one that found me. He grabbed me by the collar and pulled me toward him about to take me out. I looked at him with tears in my eyes. He stopped, mesmerized by the color of my eyes. He sat me down and looked at my neck and saw the familiar marking. Even just looking at me he knew I was going to be powerful. He screamed over his shoulder and took me away.

“My dear, you seem a million miles away. Where did you go?”

I shook my head, clearing my thoughts and bringing me back to now. “I was back during the uprising. When my parents got killed.”

“They would be so proud of you,” she cupped my face with her hands. “So, so, so, proud.”

A tear trailed down my face. Even though it’s been nine years, their death still hurt. A knife in the heart. “Thank you.”

“I have something for you!”

I sniffed. “You don’t have to give me anything.”

“Oh hush. Your birthday is coming soon and you’re turning. One familiar witch to another I have some lovely gifts for you!” She pointed to the bookshelf that was across her tiny room. “First, you get the book.”

“Which book? There has to be hundreds here,” I said. I walked over to the shelves.

“You get THE book.” She enunciated the word the.

I turned around and looked at her and stared in shock. The book she was talking about was handed down from familiar witch to familiar witch. No other witch could read it. Whenever they looked at it, it would appear blank. I read about this book in our history books. My eyes fell on the oldest book that graced her shelves. It was at least four inches thick; it was so big it could potentially be used as a weapon in more ways than one. I pulled it from the shelf. My hand drifted over the cover. The cover was old and peeling from use. The Pentagram with a double circle and the ruins of the familiars graced the cover. My mark was a perfect replica.

“Oh Myrtle, I just couldn’t. This is yours.” I opened the cover and like everyone else, it appeared blank.

“You know I love you but shut up. As I fade, I have no use for the book and as you get your powers you will need it more than I.”

I pulled the book to my chest and hugged it. I felt the power seep through the cover that made me shiver.

“You feel it don’t you?” Myrtle leaned forward and smiled.

“Whatever do you mean?” I looked back at her and smiled.

“It’s yours now. When you reach the turning the words will appear and so will the wisdom. I’m not long for this world and won’t be able to teach you what you need to know. This book has it all. Study it and learn it. This will give you all the information you will need and help you grow within your power.”

She beckoned me over with a wave of her hand. I strode across the room still clutching the book to my chest. She grabbed my hand in hers and I held the book against me with the other. “It is only a matter of time before you get your powers, and all the signs point toward you being more powerful than we have seen in decades.” I looked at her and sighed.

“What happens if that doesn’t happen?” Ever since I was a child, I had doubted that I was anything special. I felt normal and bland. When the turning happened, I would have everyone watching me and nothing of significance would happen. Of course, I had my little tricks, things that would randomly happen. But they came few and far between.

“When you held the book, you felt its power, right? That alone tells me you are going to be immensely powerful. You are destined for greatness. And don’t doubt yourself.” Myrtle breathed in and closed her eyes.

“Are you alright Myrtle?”

She exhaled. “Yes…yes. Just got tired all of a sudden.”

“I’ll go and let you get some rest.” I stood up and turned to the door.

“Wait! Before you go, look in the nightstand. I have one other present for you.” She pointed to the nightstand that was on the other side of the bed.

“You are too much.”

“Again, shut it. With your parents not being here I have to dote on you myself. And this is a very important birthday coming up. So let an old woman give gifts to her familial daughter.”

I shook my head at her. I pulled open the drawer and looked inside. A necklace was there, a black pointed crystal with thin leather binds to tie around my neck. Just looking at it I could feel the powerful energy coming from it.

“It’s an obsidian crystal. They are used for protection against negative energy and stimulates growth.”

I picked up the crystal and looked at it. It started to turn in my hand, twisting back and forth continuously.

“I think it likes you.” Myrtle laughed. I looked up at her and her eyes were half closed. “Put it on.” I sat the book down on the bed and lifted the leather straps around my neck and tied it on. It felt warm against my chest, spreading warmth throughout my body.

“Is it supposed to be warm?”

“That just means it’s working.”

I grabbed it and held it in my hand, I felt the power emanate from it. I dropped it, as it hung around my neck, I took a deep breath. I felt as if a weight was taken away and I could finally breathe. “What is this feeling?”

Myrtle gently smiled at me. “It’s protecting you. There may have been a spell on you that could have been blocking your power and energy.”

“I can…I can breathe.”

“That’s what it does.” Myrtle’s eyes closed and then opened quickly. She struggled to stay awake.

“Thank you so much, Myrtle. I love my gifts and I will use them forever.” I picked up my book and walked to the other side of her bed and gently kissed her forehead.

“You’re so very welcome.”

“Get some rest.” I walked out of her room and made my way back to mine. The book in one hand and the candle in another. A clock in the distance chimed midnight. Time will only tell what I will become. And now, I have six days before my turning.