The Obsidian Crown, page 28
The camera panned to the multitude of reporters covering the live press conference as they dispersed after the speakers left.
There! For a brief moment, I caught it. A man with silver hair talking with my father, a figure I cannot forget. The man they call Simon. He’s Trifama. In my mind, the words of the Sorceress gnawed at me relentlessly, “The Trifama Alliance will fall!”
Another secret I have to keep. I looked away and rejoined the conversation at the table.
I recalled the moments in the cave when I thought I would have to die. I wondered if the conscious act of giving one’s life away for the sake of another was foolish or heroic. I don’t know but it was intense, something I will just keep to myself.
“The one thing I don’t get is that why didn’t they just get the codex on their own. I mean, it was just here at the Black Rose?” Blaise asked.
It was Elmwood who answered. “You see, they can’t go to the Rose, because only white magic is allowed here. They had to send you to get the book. They needed to find out how to activate the stone and they still got it so wrong.”
“I know, but still they have an imbued shard. I’m worried what will they do with that,” I said.
“Whatever it is, we will be there to stop it,” Hailey said. Taylor placed her hand on top of mine and nodded in agreement.
“Speaking of the codex….” I said.
I took my backpack and pulled the book from it. I ran my hands over the gilded edge and let my fingers touch the gem-encrusted cover. I had such respect for it now. I opened it to the page where I had the marker. Inside was the piece of paper I left for Hailey and Taylor that day.
My dear friends,
I cannot take you to the sanctuary with me because the place is bugged. I know in my heart that whoever is working with the Sorceress is not one of you, so I am taking the only person I know who could have betrayed us. I hope I am wrong because I trusted her, but I cannot take any more chances.
On this and the following three pages are spells you will need to learn. I know what you are thinking, that we don’t have time, this is too risky, and you are not Xanas. But you are wrong. I figured out what the shimmers mean. The colors come from magic emanating from each of you. I don’t know why Blaise doesn’t have it. It is possible that it is because he is fully human. I trust your abilities and your courage. Please have faith in yourselves as I do. I know you will do your best, and that is all that can be asked of anyone. Take this letter to the Black Rose. The Brotherhood will be waiting to give you all the assistance you need.
I hope to see you again but if I don’t, take care of each other. True friends are worth more than all the gold and power in the world.
Abi.
I felt so sad to be parting with this book. It seemed a little unfair that we just started to find out and learn magic just a few days ago, and now it had all come to an end. But every good story must come to an end. Reluctantly, I closed the book and handed it to Diwatha.
“No, Abi, you are the King Maker and these are the Knights of the Crown. We prepared the book for all of you.” Elmwood pointed at me, then Hailey, Taylor, and Blaise. Blaise pointed at himself as if to ask, “Me, too?” Elwood nodded and mouthed, “Yes, you too.”
“But we don’t—” I started to protest.
“We are here to teach you what you need to know,” Elmwood said, waving his hands to stop me from finishing my sentence.
“Let us show you something,” Raphael said. He gave a short incantation that was not familiar to me. The room changed to a training ground, complete with the same kind of shooting range they had at the Sanctuary. I was impressed.
“This is where Taylor and Hailey trained. This is where you will also train if you wish.”
“Yes, of course. I would love to.”
After walking the grounds and checking out all the weapons available, my friends thought we should say our goodbyes. “It’s getting late; we probably should go home soon,” I said.
“Abi, there is something else you should know,” Elwood said.
“I’m not my parents’ biological daughter,” I answered.
“How did you know that?” stammered Elmwood.
“The book talked about magical lineage. While I didn’t see my name or my parents, I noticed that I can do magic and they can’t. I just assumed, but now you confirmed it.”
“And yet you were still willing to die for them?” Elmwood asked.
“Because there are bonds stronger than blood. It may be thicker than water, but there certainly is something stronger and thicker than blood. I love them and they love me. Yes, I am adopted. But it is precisely because they loved me that much, despite the fact I am not their real daughter, that I was ready to exchange my life for theirs. They will always be my family.”
“I see why you were chosen to wear the crown,” Diwatha said.
“About that...” I started to peel away the bandage from my right hand and showed it to the Brotherhood.
Raphael took my hand and examined it closely. “Your suspicion is correct. The shard that has been pulled out of this has been imbued with your blood. The shard is active. But there is nothing to be done right now but to find where the Sorceress is and what her plans are.”
After a long silence, Diwatha asked, “Do you think you can help us with another task?”
We all nodded and eagerly followed the Brotherhood to the third floor.
The place was immaculate. Everything was dusted off and gleaming.
In the middle of the room, on top of a table covered with a white cloth, was the Obsidian Crown except for the missing piece.
“The crown!” exclaimed Taylor.
“If you look closely, the Crown is made of hundreds of tiny shards of obsidian. Like a jigsaw puzzle, the pieces were painstakingly put together,” Diwatha said.
“What’s holding it?”
“Magic,” Elmwood said.
“But it won’t last. Only the rightful...” and this time, everyone joined in with “bearer”, and we laughed.
“…can have any permanent effect on the crown,” finished Elmwood.
He took the book and opened it to a page. There under liquid fire, was a spell to create the sustained flame the Sorceress used on me. I must have looked worried about casting the spell.
“It’s ok. We are here to help but you will need to lead us,” Elwood said, lightly touching my arm.
I nodded in assent. “Ok. Everyone stand in the circle with your hands over the crown.”
“You too, Blaise. We need all the power we can get,” Diwatha said.
“No, wait. I don’t think we should fuse the crown together without the missing piece,” I said.
“Abigail, whatever you think is right, do so and we will follow,” Raphael said.
I summoned my inner strength and concentrated on the black and silver metal holding the stones together. A whoosh of intense heat rushed from my hands. The sharp tacks and spokes of the metal began to glow red hot. Then it started to melt and form into small tiny sinews traveling through the bigger cracks.
They understood what I was trying to do and joined me. Power slowly covered the crown, the air around the table rippled with excited molecules. We kept chanting, and fire shot out our hands to the crown. After a few minutes, Elwood asked us to stop.
There on the table was a crown of obsidian but with veins of silver passing through its cracked surfaces. Where the missing shard was supposed to be, it remained broken. It was to be a permanent reminder that the danger is not gone but merely postponed. The crown was just as disturbing and haunting as it was when I first saw it, if not even more so now with the constant reminder that our job is far from done.
“Thank you, everyone,” said the Brotherhood to all of us. Diwatha pulled the Kerberian Box out and placed it on top of the table. Elwood carefully picked up the crown and, slowly and with reverence, placed it inside and covered it with a velvet cloth embroidered with golden sigils. Raphael closed the lid and placed his hands a few inches from the top of the box. He murmured a few words under his breath, and the carvings on the outside of the box started to dance and writhe as it did before. Once they stopped, Raphael opened his eyes. “The Crown is now secured.” He gazed at all four of us, beaming with pride.
We left the Black Rose at sunset. Walking back to Taylor’s car, I looked back at the imposing structure and then at my friends. I subconsciously touched the wound on my hand. I slowly pulled the gauze off, and I stared at the darkening scar.
Yet another secret to keep.
There was a time when I would have doubted myself, would have questioned what it all meant and when I couldn’t figure it out, I would have lashed out at myself and everyone around me. But at this moment, I didn’t entertain any doubts. I know whatever happens next I can handle it. We can handle it.
We got in the car. Taylor started the engine. I lowered my head on the headrest of my seat. I couldn’t wait to get home to see my mom and dad. We’re going to have dinner, a normal family dinner. This was something I took for granted in the past, but not anymore. Life was finally back to normal. I closed my eyes and folded my hands on my lap. I traced my fingers over the gauze covering the wound left by the Crown. I opened my eyes, intending to inspect the injury again but thought better of it. I didn’t have to look at it to know that underneath that milky-white gauze, there was a web of darkness spreading. I closed my eyes again, this time, to prepare for the next encounter with the Sorceress.
The End.
Akira Knightley, The Obsidian Crown
