Madamme Nira rubbed her hands in childish excitement.The final ingredient for the potion had been procured and now, it was just a matter of some careful mixing before it was ready.At last.In its totality.
Grabbing a ladle from an ornate stand,she went to the mixing room.Looking around cautiously, she took out a little vial from under her coat and emptied its contents into the pewter cauldron in front of her.She hummed a little song while adding the valerian dust into the vessel and mixing it ever so carefully.
The serum turned a pale lavender and began to bubble over. Nira ladled it all into the same tiny vial and knowing that Laura’s life as she knew it was going to change very soon, stuck a little label on it: " Only when you are ready"
***
Laura was in the forest, talking to her friend.She was as jolly as ever,thrilled to meet someone around her own age.
She was listening to the other girl chattering on, "So you see, it is a pretty big surprise I have arranged for him tonight by the beach. Whoever would imagine lobsters and caviar at this time of the year? And I've taken so much trouble getting everything ready..I’ll show you the gourd lanterns that I made…but maybe some other day..I should be going now.What if he turns up at camp while I’m here?"
***
Miroven knew that he had to find Laura as early as possible.Now that he had given Oblivion his final decision not to join her,she’d have become all the more determined to have what she wanted.And since the option of getting him was out, Laura would be her next target.
If not him,one of him.
Miroven felt a surge of guilt.He hadnt prepared her for anything of the sort.Nor had he allowed Cassandra to ever mention anything to her.He had told his wife that the lesser the children had to know,the better.
He had been overconfident of his own powers and ever certain that no harm would ever befall his children as long as he was alive.But no longer.Oblivion was strong.But that wasn’t it.She was reckless.
Miroven realized that he had hardly ever been there for his elder daughter.He had been ever so busy earning for the family that he hadn’t realized that she was growing up.She was so silent too,seldom speaking and always lost in her own world.Never proclaiming or asserting her presence.
He remembered the day when Cassandra had told her the old lore.He had come home as she was nearing the end of the tale.He was furious that Cassandra had gone against his words and had conjured up a haze lulling both mother and daughter to a state of grogginess.Laura had never gotten to hear the end.The bit about the prophecy.The part that had become of utmost importance now.The bit that could change everything.
It was nearing her nineteenth birthday,the day she’d be of age.The powers that had lain dormant within her,would be fully developed and ready.She would be a newling,or in the language of the other world,a mageling.
A newling’s powers would be at their zenith,uncontrollable and extremely difficult to channel.It’d take years before they were safe to be around. Of course, people whom they trusted wouldn’t have anything to worry about,it was just the others.
Does she remember me?I’ve not been in her life for so long now.And even when I was…
Miroven covered his face with his hands.
If Oblivion was indeed fixated on whatever it is that she was up to,Laura would be in danger.Mirōven had the inkling of an idea developing in his head ,a possibility of what she was up to.He doubted if she were really as heartless as that,but he recalled the death of his parents and also that of his wife and child.Eaten by flames.All of them.It did add up although he still had the nagging doubt if whether the old folklores could really be believed.
If it were true,a lot was at stake.Much more than his daughter’s life.
Oblivion hosted in her,the fire spirit.Now,the water and the air spirits too were to be located.And destroyed.All three of them at the same time.Miroven realized that the other spirits could be anywhere;in any part of the world.
The final line of the prophecy rang in his ears:
"By One of Air once wrapped by Fire;
Vanquished will be Air,Water and Fire”
***
Oblivion rarely slept.The night helped her think better.All the galaxies of the universe were moving slowly into position.And soon,they would align.Like they had a million years ago.Before that,she had to befriend the mageling.She would be her weapon.All those who dared oppose her would know her wrath.
She conjured up a bed of flames;lay on it clutching tightly the locket on her neck and continued to plan.
***
Andrew was so not enjoying being a werewolf.
Why? he wondered,sniffing at himself and wincing in disgust.There was a tiny movement to his left and instantly he felt his ears pricking up.Before he knew it,he was sprinting madly after a little rat and the funny thing was that,disgusted though he was,there wasn’t anything he could do about it.Such overpowering was the urge to stick his teeth into any form of life that appeared before him.And his olfactory senses had grown manifoldly stronger too.
He hoped hard that no human would come before him.
***
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