Chapter 30

                                    

                                          
Morgana and Aelys sat at the kitchen table, when Briar came out of an adjacent room carrying a large book. It was magnificent and had a leathery cover the color of caramel. Morgana sat up straighter. A strange force crackled between her and the grimoire, an electric charge that seemed to slow down time. A whisper raced around the room. Briar placed the grimoire onto the table, and after an awed silence, Morgana placed a hand on the cover. She ran her fingertips over the coven symbol, a gold waxing moon encircled by blue and purple gems. The whispering became louder and clearer, it was the voice of witches past. Morgana's hair floated around her face and she felt as if lightning crackled through her veins. 
"Morgana," Aelys's voice trembled. "What's happened to your eyes?"
 There was a large, stained mirror on the wall opposite Morgana. She glanced at her reflection and her irises glowed amber, refracting light like cut crystal. They were strange. Inhuman. 
Briar smiled. "It's been a while since I've seen eyes like that."
"I've read about this," Morgana murmured. "When witches used their magic, their eyes glowed." 
"It's an effect from channeling Elysia's combined elements," Briar said.
"How am I doing this?"
"It is your nature to channel Elysia's magic," said the grimoire.
Morgana swallowed, and glanced down at the grimoire, feeling as if she was on the precipice of something important. Morgana pulled it closer. Then glanced over at Aelys, whose eyes were wide. 
 "Only a witch who is descended from the Maiden Coven can open that grimoire," Briar said. 
Morgana placed both hands on the cover and felt a strange pull, as if the grimoire was sucking her energy. She closed her eyes, and the grimoire began to vibrate. The table shook, rattling the cups and biscuits. Briar's teacup smashed onto the floor.
"Morgana?" Aelys's voice was shrill.
In her mind's eye Morgana raced through a dark tunnel, to where there was a door at the end, a door framed with light. 
It was a way out. 
A new beginning. 
Sweat beaded her temple as she ran through the darkness, chest burning. It got closer and closer, and she smiled, victory within reach. It was like she was on a rocky ship approaching a lighthouse in the dead of night. Morgana slowed to a jog and after what felt like hours she was finally at the door. Everything in the cottage stopped shaking and silence followed. Light pulsed around the door like a heartbeat, and beyond it were hushed voices, warm and inviting. The Maiden Coven. Morgana pushed the door open and there was a loud click of something releasing, of a great weight lifting. She opened her eyes and peeled back the cover of the grimoire. It made a cracking sound because it was the first time the grimoire had been opened in a thousand years. The whispering voices heaved a collective sigh. 
Briar smiled, and Aelys's hand went to her mouth. 
 The smell of herbs and musty pages filled the air, along with the sharp bite of iron because all the spells had been written in blood. Morgana paused, throat tightening, as the full weight of the situation finally hit her. 
She was a descendant of the Maiden Coven. 
This grimoire was a piece of her family, of her history.
 She turned the yellow pages slowly, unsure of what she was looking for. There was spilled wax, dried herbs, and feathers accompanied by strange drawings of animal anatomy and dancing witches. There were various spells that ranged from healing injuries, to making gardens grow, and to strengthening the elements. Morgana reached the middle of the book to a blank page where the latter half was stuck together by a dark shimmery cloud.