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chapter 51
old challengers, new friends
teizel
There’s something different about Mei today. I’ve spent over thirty-years alongside the meddling ghost, and yet I can’t describe what exactly has changed — I just notice a subtle shift in the way she carries herself, in the brightness in her gaze. I could ask her, but I have a feeling whatever it is, Mei won’t share it with me.
Not that it matters; what does matter, right now, is that I need to get her alone, away from Esme. I’ve waited all day for my little witch to go to sleep — now’s my chance.
“Mei,” I call out as she passes me in the kitchen.
She turns to me with a cold glare, but doesn’t stop to acknowledge me. I haven’t been her favorite person, lately, and I can understand why. She must believe I’m perfectly ok letting Esme sacrifice herself to end my curse. It’s not like she’s asked me to deny it, and historically I’ve proven myself to want nothing but my own well being.
“Mei, please. We need to talk.”
“I’ve got nothing to say to you,” she snaps. “You’re getting what you want, right? What else is there to say?”
“Except I’m not,” I growl in a whisper. “Can we please talk about this outside? I don’t want to wake Esme.”
Mei looks back to the shut door of our bedroom, then points to the balcony and beelines for it. I follow. Once we’re outside, I shut the sliding glass door behind me to give us some privacy.
The ghost stands at the edge of the space, putting as much distance between us as she can. “So? What is it?”
“At this point, I’m sure you know Esme thinks the only way to break the curse is for her to die.”
Mei waves a hand in the air. “Yes, she’s made that exceedingly clear.”
“What if there was another way, though?”
Her eyes narrow. “Esme says there isn’t enough time for her to master the spell that could create the trinket through magic.”
“On her own, she’s right. Optimistically, I think she could do it in a month or two. She’s bright and she’s talented, but she’s not a goddess.”
“Then what are we talking about, Tei?” Mei groans.
“I said on her own.”
“You’ve already been feeding her your blood though, right?”
“Right. That’s not the only power from the Beyond that I can gift her, though.”
I’ve been mulling over this option for days, now. It’s not like I was hoping to find a different one — the moment I thought of it, I realized it was our only chance. And in that same moment, I was willing to do it. No hesitation. I just needed to come up with a plan of execution.
Mei uncrosses her arms, shifting her weight. “What are you talking about?”
I press a hand to my chest. “My core sigil. If I give that to Esme, she would have access to all of my power.”
“She would own you, Tei. Isn’t that exactly the reason you betrayed Isabel in the first place? Because she wanted your mark?”
She needn’t remind me; the events are still very clear in my brain. I’ve thought this through, though. With my mark, Esme would have all my power at her disposal; there’s still a chance that might not be enough to execute the spell, but it’d be slim. I’m the most powerful creature in the Beyond; while I may not be able to access those powers through spells, Esme could. My magic could fuel the spell, if it cursed through her.
It’s worth trying.
Yes, Mei is right. Esme would essentially own me. If she wanted to, she could command me. It was the reason I refused Isabel the mark — our relationship was, at its core, a struggle for power; once I’d give her the ultimate weapon to have the upper hand over me, she’d use it in every way possible. Even blinded by my infatuation with her, I knew that deep in my core.
My little witch would never. I trust her with that power, knowing she’d never use it. And sure, adding my magic to her own might make her a more powerful being than myself. It might mean that, if she crossed into the Beyond, she’d be found worthy of ruling it.
I’ve considered that, too. She’d take my throne.
