Filed To Story: Claimed by the Alpha I Hate Book Read Free
“I’m surprised the town hasn’t rallied against him.” Breyona’s good mood was infectious and had
Mason lifting the corners of his lips in a small smile.
We pulled into the driveway, and Mason hopped out of the car. He hesitated, lingering by the passenger door.
“I know you’re doing that séance thing for your mom today…I just want you to know that I hope you get answers.” The wistful edge to his smile made the air in my lungs thin until I was desperate for a deep breath. “I hope you understand why I can’t be there…to see an actual spirit, to know talking to someone after their gone is real…it would just make things harder.”
“Of course I understand.” The knot in my throat was painful to s*****w and sat in my stomach like a chunk of lead. My face burned as I let out a weak laugh and said, “…come to the bake sale afterwards,
I’m sure I can convince grandma to give you the family discount.”
“Family discount?” His smile widened. It was a shadow of that goofy lop-sided grin I had memorized inside and out, but it was the brightest I’d seen him look in weeks. “Alright, you convinced me. I’ll be there.”
Rowena had beaten us to the house for the séance and was inside helping Cordelia finish setting up.
We walked to the very back of the house. Past the living room and kitchen, was a long hallway that led to the den. The furniture was shoved back towards the walls, leaving a wide-open floor space for us to work with.
On the wooden floor in thick, bold lines was a sigil. A small bowl of white paint sat off to the side, it’s paint brush currently in Cordelia’s hand. With long, steady strokes she hovered around the outside of her painted circle and put down the last slashes and dots of her masterpiece.
The magical trunk she used that held all of her spell books and trinkets was propped open against the far wall.
“Welcome, welcome.” Cordelia smiled warmly at the three of us, but it was me she approached. Her eyes crinkled around the corners as she looked down at me, “I hear you had an eventful night yourself.”
“That’s a nice way of putting it.” I chuckled lightly, “…what better way to turn things around than a good old séance?”
“I couldn’t have said it better myself.” Her smile widened. She turned towards Breyona and said, “…
would you mind closing the c******s for me, dear?”
“I’m on it!” She chirped, racing away before Cordelia had the chance to say anything more. “Consider me your witchy assistant.”
“We didn’t go over this yet, but there are seven different types of magic a witch has in her arsenal. Most of the time we’re only successful at one or two of those types, but that doesn’t mean we can’t try.”
Rowena glided forwards and her glossy red sandals caught the light as she moved. “The séance
Cordelia is about to preform is actually a summoning spell, which stems from spirit magic.”
“Can you do more than just call on ghosts?” Breyona cooed, yanking the last of the c******s shut.
Cordelia laughed at her excitement and said, “Spirit magic isn’t my strong suit, but I also get feelings or hear whispers if the place I’m visiting has seen d***h. It’s a powerful form of magic, I just have limited access.”
As Rowena placed seven thick candles on the floor all at various points inside the circle, I knew the time for questions had passed. Cordelia flicked the lights off, plunging the room into darkness. Achill passed through me as I felt the curious eyes of the shadows lingering in the air.
“The sigil that surrounds us is to keep us protected, while the smaller ones inside are to thin the veil between the living and the d**d. The ring of candles is to keep the spirit called on contained. It’s crucial we all remain seated and inside the circle until the summoning is finished and the spirit is dismissed.”
Cordelia explained as she and Rowena lit the candles one by one. The pale blue of her eyes caught the glow of the candlelight, making them dance like threads of flame. “Did you bring what I asked?”
“Sure did.” I nodded and pulled the old photograph of my mom out of my pocket.
Cordelia needed a picture, but one that meant something-one that showed the heart of the person we were summoning. This had been after she had the binding spell placed on me, but years before she and I began butting heads. Mom stood with her arms wrapped around Dad’s waist, wearing of her rare but dazzling smiles. It lit up her face and made you notice how the sunlight brought out the caramel tones in her hair. Sean and I stood in front of them, his hair a mess and my wide grin missing a tooth.
After a good look, it was obvious we couldn’t sit still long enough for the picture to be taken.
Cordelia placed the picture of Mom inside the ring of candles, closed her eyes, and took a deep breath.
When she opened her eyes, they were clear and serene.
Her voice was strong, but there was something haunting about the way it echoed, and how that whispered voice sounded different than Cordelia’s.
Each word spoken charged the air with what felt like electricity, until my skin was flushed and the hairs along my arms raised.
“Spirits from the other side…
…hear my words, hear my cry…
Only one of you we do seek…
…a mother of two, whose secrets still sleep…
We ask you to cross the great divide…
…to share the truth you chose to hide.”
“Spirits from the other side…
…hear my words, hear my cry…
Only one of you we do seek…
…a mother of two, whose secrets still sleep…
We ask you to cross the great divide…
…to share the truth you chose to hide.”
I hadn’t realized I was holding my breath until I felt Nolan’s eyes on my face. Still, I couldn’t exhale.
There was this part of me that was terrified I’d be disappointed, that the worst would happen, and she wouldn’t come.
Through all the fights I loved the mother I knew, but I wished she were here to tell me this herself.
Cordelia repeated her chant a second time, and then a third. The air around us was thick and heavy, like a tangible substance that weighed us down. I watched as Breyona wiped the sweat from her forehead with the sleeve of her hoodie. She pointed at it and grimaced, regret in her eyes. Nolan was stoic, his face a mask that revealed nothing. Even Rowena looked a bit flustered and was using her hand to fan her face.
Just when I thought she’d say it a fourth time and s**k the rest of the oxygen from the room, something happened.
They were too light to be shadows. More like whisps of smoke that rolled across the floor, gathering within the ring of candles at the center of our circle. They coalesced, swirling like smoke under glass.
First, the figure of a woman formed.
As the smoke faded, absorbed into the corporeal being standing feet in front of us, I found myself looking into the eyes of my mother.
New Book: Veiled Desires of the Alpha King Novel
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