Chapter 4

CHAPTER 4

M y mother's corporeal form moved from her position in front of me, gliding over the floor with an ethereal grace that defied the human constraints she once knew. Her feet never touched the ground, yet she moved with purpose, stopping in front of a sparse wall shelf. I watched, transfixed, as she raised her hand.

The items on the shelf and the shelf itself seemed to dissolve, disintegrating into nothingness. I sucked in a breath, the sight unlike anything I had ever witnessed, even in her most powerful moments when she was alive. Magic had always been a part of our lives, but this was something entirely different. This power was beyond the realm of spells utilized by the guardians.

As the shelf vanished, a metal door materialized on the wall where it had been. My mother glanced back at me, her eyes full of a wisdom that transcended lifetimes. With a snap of her fingers, the door unlocked, the ancient mechanisms creaking in protest as it slowly swung open.

"Mother," I whispered, my voice barely audible over the sound of the door. "What is this?"

She turned to face me fully, the flickering light casting shadows across her serene features. "This," she said, her voice echoing with the weight of generations, "is something I kept hidden, even from you. A birthright that only your guide can reveal."

I stepped closer, peering into the darkness beyond the door. My mind raced with questions, my heart pounding in anticipation and fear. "Why now?" I asked, my voice trembling. "Why not show me when you were alive?"

Her gaze softened, a mixture of pride and sorrow. "Because you were not ready, and my mother only came to me as I come to you. The challenges you face are more than any guardian in our past. It is time for you to embrace your full potential."

I swallowed hard, the enormity of her words settling over me. This hidden door, this secret legacy meant everything was changing, and I had to be ready to meet it head-on. My mother had always guided me, but now she was entrusting me with something far greater than I had ever imagined.

"What is this place?" I asked.

"This is the dark vault. Where artifacts that are deemed too dangerous to be used in the human realm are stored. Come."

I stopped before the metal door. There was no light inside. "I can't open this without you, can I?"

My mother paused just inside the dark vault. "No. This room is a pocket realm of sorts, and it can only be accessed by the dead. Specifically, one of our ancestors. You must petition me for access, and I will decide if your cause is worthy of the risk."

"And you feel mine and Kacey's protection is worth the risk of using the artifact we are retrieving."

"The Necromancer's Soulglass is only a risk to the wielder. It is here to protect the necromancer herself. If she seeks to keep the stone she will be killed by her own coven. Only the head witches and warlocks know of its existence, but they do not know about the dark vault so they will assume it was stolen with the rest."

"So, the most dangerous artifacts were in the dark vault? Why wouldn't the trident, and a dozen other artifacts not be kept in the dark vault? They were dangerous."

"Not like the ones in the dark vault. Also, those items were brought to us, not sourced by the guardians. If we are entrusted with an artifact by the coven then we must log it into the Chronicle of the Guardians. The artifacts in the dark vault have no such descriptions. Some are a mystery even to us, and while we know the damage they have caused, their mechanics and sometimes their origins remain a mystery."

"This is insane. How did you keep this from me? I visited the vault daily and I never saw Grandma open this."

"She only opened the dark vault a handful of times in my entire life. I was turned away on several occasions when I thought my cause was just but was denied. You must find the artifacts that resided in the vault and return them. There is an imbalance, and I don't yet know what it is."

I nodded. "Okay. Show me the dark vault."

I stepped into the dark vault, a shiver running down my spine as the chill of the space enveloped me. It felt vast, but the shadows were impenetrable, concealing the true dimensions of the room. My steps echoed softly against the stone floor, a stark contrast to the suffocating silence that surrounded me.

A single light shone ahead, casting a pool of illumination on a pedestal that held a smooth black stone. The light allowed me to discern a few other pedestals scattered nearby, each bearing an artifact cloaked in mystery. I didn't recognize any of them, their shapes and purposes foreign to my knowledge. They seemed to whisper secrets of a time long forgotten, their presence both intriguing and intimidating.

My mother glided toward the pedestal with the stone, her movements silent and graceful, a specter in the dim light. She raised her hand, and with a fluid motion, the glass case covering the stone disappeared, dissolving into the air as if it had never existed.

"Mother," I breathed, stepping closer, my curiosity piqued and my apprehension growing. "This is incredible."

"This vault," she began, her voice echoing softly, "is a repository of our family's most powerful and dangerous artifacts. Each item here holds a significance, a power, that has been passed down through generations."

I gazed at the black stone, its surface smooth and unassuming yet radiating an aura of untapped potential. "And this stone?" I asked, unable to tear my eyes away from it.

"This is the Necromancer's Soulglass," she said, her voice reverent. "It is a conduit of immense power, a key to unlocking the true potential within a just necro. But it requires a bond, a connection that must be forged with intention and strength."

I reached out, my fingers trembling as they hovered above the stone. The air around it seemed to hum with energy, a subtle vibration that resonated deep within me.

I picked up the stone and inspected it. Other than being completely black like polished onyx, it looked like any other stone that had been worn smooth over time. "What is it made of?"

"It is glass but only a necromancer can activate its magic. The wielder must have a connection to the veil of the dead."

"What do I need to do?" I asked, my voice barely a whisper.

"Nothing. You cannot wield this artifact. You will bring the necromancer to me, and I will give her the soulglass. She can use it to find the Temporal Echo."

"How do I find a coven necromancer? If they are persecuted as you say, then they would keep their powers hidden."

"That is true, but an artifact was created that detects many types of power and one of those is necromancy."

As the light from the soulglass illuminated the vault, my attention was drawn to a newly revealed display case only a few feet away. It looked like some kind of charm bracelet, lying elegantly on a piece of black velvet. An inexplicable pull urged me forward, compelling me to investigate.

I moved toward it, my steps almost involuntary, until I was close enough to touch the glass encasing it. The bracelet itself was exquisite, a silver chain adorned with an array of charms, each one unique and meticulously crafted. My eyes scanned the trinkets, taking in their intricate details, but one in particular stood out.

This charm glimmered with an unearthly sheen, a subtle glow that set it apart from the others. It depicted a shield, with a skull etched into its surface. The lines were so fine and precise that it seemed almost alive. I pressed my fingers against the glass, drawn to the charm's dark allure.

"What is this?" I whispered, more to myself than to my mother. The tiny shield seemed to pulse with its own energy, a resonance that I could feel in the pit of my stomach.

"That," my mother's voice came from behind me, soft and steady, "is the Guardian's Talisman. It is both a protection and a curse, meant to guard its bearer while reminding them of the weight of their duty. The charm is called the Sentinel's Shield, and it will glow when you are in the presence of a necromancer."

I glanced back at her, the spectral form of my mother standing in the shadows, her eyes reflecting a lifetime of knowledge and secrets. "Why is it here, with the soulglass? Why was it deemed dangerous?"

"Because," she replied, gliding closer to stand beside me, "it is part of your heritage, part of the legacy you must embrace. The charms on that bracelet represent different powers and dark spells. We will only activate the charm you have been authorized to use. The others will remain inert while you possess it."

"But it isn't dangerous," I said.

"Not to you. But the necromancer you call on will be in great danger once you put the soulglass in her hands. We do not put others in jeopardy on a whim. The ends must justify the means and some of those charms are far deadlier than the one you will use today."

I turned my gaze back to the charm, feeling a mixture of awe and trepidation. The skull etched on the shield was a stark reminder of mortality, a symbol of the ultimate price one might pay. Yet, the shield also represented strength, resilience, and the unyielding determination to stand against the darkness. Perhaps it symbolized the veil itself. A barrier between the living and the dead.

My mother glided closer to the case.

Reaching out, I traced my fingers over the glass, feeling the weight of the decision before me. The talisman had awakened a power within me, but this charm, this bracelet, was a testament to the responsibilities that came with it.

"I'm ready," I said, my voice firm despite the uncertainty swirling inside me. "Show me how to claim the talisman and use it to find the necromancer."

My mother's spectral form nodded, her expression one of pride and solemn understanding. "Then let us begin," she said, and with a wave of her hand, the glass case around the bracelet dissolved, just as the one around the soulglass had. "Embrace your heritage, my Tegan. Place the talisman around your wrist."

I reached for the bracelet, the cool metal of the chain slipping through my fingers as I lifted it from the velvet. The charms clinked softly, each one a symbol of my family's secrets. The Sentinel's Shield charm glowed faintly in my hand, a promise and a challenge.

With a deep breath, I clasped the bracelet around my wrist, feeling the weight of my ancestors settle over me. This was a new chapter in my life, and I planned to embrace it.

"You must claim the talisman," my mother instructed, her gaze unwavering. "Place your hand upon the silver links and let it recognize your essence. Only then will the vault allow you to carry it."

Taking a deep breath, I pressed my palm against the cold surface of the silver. A surge of energy coursed through me, a rush of warmth that contrasted sharply with the chill of the vault. I felt a connection form, a bond that transcended the physical and delved into the very core of my being.

The light from the shield charm intensified, illuminating the vault with a radiant glow. The other artifacts seemed to pulse in response, their secrets waiting to be uncovered. I stood there, my hand on the bracelet, feeling a newfound strength and purpose infuse me.

As the glow subsided, I looked at my mother, her spectral form watching me with pride. "You are ready," she said softly. "Embrace this power, and let it guide you through the challenges ahead."

I glanced around the dark vault, but my eye couldn't pierce the darkness after a few feet. "I hope this can help me."

My mother glided closer to me. "You were attacked, and you must find out who is threatening you."

I had told my mother I was in danger but not that I was drugged, "How did you know?"

"I am your watcher, your connection to our ancestors. I monitor you always."

I blew out a breath. "Do you know who attacked me? I should have asked you first. The whole ancestor link is still foreign to me."

My mother shook her head. "My power does not work that way. I know because you feel betrayed and are unsure what to do."

"I'm still not positive the drug was meant for me or Kacey."

My mother's eyes hardened. "You will figure it out, but either way you must get your successor in line. She is even more unruly than you were at that age."

I grunted. "I wasn't unruly; I was in love and so is she."

My mother nodded. "I thought you marrying a warlock of such low power he was practically a mastria was a disgrace. I was wrong. Certain truths have been revealed to me and you could have married a human and our power would still have been transferred to your child. I am sorry I did not give Spencer the chance he deserved."

My lips pressed together. We both had regrets but there was no way to change the past. "So, Kacey is my successor."

"Yes."

"Can you tell me about the Madison family? I know you were close with Marco's wife when she was alive."

My mother seemed to lose her composure slightly; her form wavered, and she became transparent for a moment. "You must be wary of the Madisons. I know nothing of the son, but Marco has skirted the law on many occasions to further his business ambitions. He was a terrible husband, and his disinterest and affairs drove his wife to an early grave."

"Do you have any advice on how to get Kacey to stop seeing Clark? I know his father is bad news, but I can't prove Clark is."

My mother shook her head. "Clark's mother was kind, but she died early in Clark's development. I can't give advice on this predicament. It is your cross to bear. I was unable to change your mind about Spencer, so I hope you have more luck than I did."

I glanced down at the bracelet shimmering on my wrist. "I wish I had listened to you. Things are such a mess now."

My mother glided closer to me. "The events that took Spencer's life were not your fault or his. He has been loyal and continues to be so. Since his death, he is shrouded from me, but his soul is pure."

"I know it is." My eyes continued to inspect the charms on the bracelet. "What do the other charms do?"

My mother was silent for a moment. "One is the Arcane Amulet. It detects arcane magics. Another is the Shadow Shard. It detects dark spells and curses. The Spirit Stone detects the presence of a ghost."

I glanced at her. "It's not glowing around you."

"It has not been activated, but it would never glow for me. The guardians created this bracelet a long time ago and it broke several accords with the council at the time. Keep its existence between those you trust."

"And the other charms?" I asked.

"Only the Sentinels Shield has been activated. The others will not work, so there is no need for you to take an interest in them at this time."

"I understand there are things you can't share but just so you know it sucks. Just tell me I'm on a need-to-know basis and move on from now on."

She nodded and motioned for me to exit the vault. I felt a slight surge of power as I made my way back to the Chronicles of the Guardians book and when I turned around the metal door had vanished, and the sparse shelves had returned.

As my mother's form dissolved before me, I couldn't help feeling that she was keeping far too many secrets.