“Yes!” Kiara gushed. “It’s an Unseelie grimoire!”
“A what?” I asked, confused.
“Faeries used to keep grimoires. They’re books of spells and invocations. They’re usually filled with all kinds of neat tricks and tips,” Kiara said. “It was a very private and personal thing for a fae to have.”
My heart glowed with respect for whoever had authored this grimoire. It must’ve meant a lot to them. For some reason, I felt an unspeakable connection with the writer of this book I couldn’t explain. “Okay, then why isn’t it written in Malovian?” I asked.
“Because Malovian is a Seelie tongue. This book is written in the Unseelie language!” Kiara burst excitedly.
“Can we get any books on the Unseelie language at the library? We might be able to translate.”
Kiara frowned. “No. They’ve all been banned from the library.”
Well, so much for that. I’d lost hope I’d ever figure this thing out, until Kiara tapped her chin. “Siona has a book on Unseelie translations.”
“I’m guessing it’s contraband?” I asked.
“It’s not something you should get caught with. Come on. Let’s go.”
Kiara and I hustled off campus. Spring was beginning to venture into Malovia now, and most of the snow had melted, leaving fresh grass to bloom beside the cobblestones, which were full of puddles from the recent rain. We hurried toEnchanted Whispersand gave the password to the stone griffin guarding the door. It moved aside.
As usual, the shop was bustling with customers. I smelled the fresh brew of coffee beans mixed with the pages of books wafting throughout the shop. Siona waved to us. “Hey, sis,” she called Kiara. “What brings you by?”
Kiara tucked a curl behind her ear. “Do you still have that book on the Unseelie language?”
Siona tilted her head. “I just might.” She handed a customer a coffee, then slid out from behind the counter. She browsed the shelves until she pulled out a small purple book that was thick with pages. “I believe this is what you were looking for, but I only have one copy. For you, it’s half off.”
“Thanks, Siona,” I said. I paid her the cash, then Kiara and I got two caramel lattes before we slid into two chairs by the window. I put both books on the table, while Kiara got out a notebook and quill.
“Where should we begin?” Kiara asked.
I wasn’t sure. I flipped through the grimoire, trying to get a feel for what I should translate first. Common sense said to start with the first page, but I didn’t want to do that. It didn’t feel right. I turned the pages until I came upon the picture of an apple tree branch, wrapped with some kind of ribbon. The blossoms on the apple tree were drawn so beautifully, and I felt bewitched by the artwork.
“Let’s start here.” Kiara and I got to work. It took an hour to translate the page, letter by letter. Sometimes we got things wrong and had to restart. But eventually, we got it. I sat back in awe and took in the book with wonder.
“A spell to ward off hexes,” I read. “To destroy any curses against you cast by fae or otherwise, take the branch of an apple tree and wrap a ribbon from your clothing or hair upon it, chanting the words, ‘The negative energy sent to me by another is bound to this branch. No dark power can harm me.’ The branch and the host tree will therefore absorb the curse, leaving you unscarred. Carry with you for ultimate effect. Spell lasts until the branch turns black.”
My heart beat frantically. My first Unseelie spell! I couldn’t believe it.
“Do you want to try it out?” Kiara asked.
“Why not?” I said. Kiara and I waved goodbye to Siona, then hurried out the door. We walked the streets of Dolinska, looking for an apple tree, until we found one lingering near the square.
The tree had shed a few branches from the storm the night before. Kiara and I picked up two small ones. I took a ribbon from my hair, while Kiara plucked one of the black strands out of her head. We wrapped it around our apple branches before I said, “Ready?”
Kiara nodded, and we chanted together, “The negative energy sent to me by another is bound to this branch. No dark power can harm me.”
Nothing happened. “Do you think it worked?” I asked.
“I don’t know,” Kiara said slowly. “I guess the only real way to find out is to hex each other, right?”
“I’m not going to curse you,” I said in revulsion.
“Me, either.” Kiara pocketed the branch. “I guess we just have to wait and see. In the meantime, we can work together on deciphering the rest of that book.”
My heart pounded in anticipation at her words. It was going to take me a long time to learn and translate the grimoire, but it would besoworth it.
“Emma!”
