“What in the entire hell is on your face?” I gasped. She snatched her eye mask up glaring angrily at me with layers of bags and mangled lashes. Then she peeled the lip masks off before reaching to cut her lamp on from the nightstand.
“This better be a God damn emergency or I’m calling this in as sexual harassment–––”
“Sexual wh––What are you talking about?” I flipped. “This is an emergency–––”
“Well then spit it out!”
“What…what is all of this on your face and–––”
“Maggie?”
“I’m leaving,” I blurted out. Her mouth fell open as if I had the audacity to waste her time. She dropped back on the bed and turned over with her back facing me. “I’m serious Clem–––”
“You broke into my room to tell me you’re leaving.”
“I didn’t break into your room, I simply opened the door and yes, I’m leaving. I want you to cover for me,” I said as I shook her shoulder again. “I’m going to find a way to break this spell on my family. I just need a few days–––”
“Tuh!” She snorted. “If the most powerful mythics have no idea and they don’t or else it would have been a book about it–––”
“I’ve done some pretty powerful shit too,” I reminded her. “I can do it. I just need time.”
“Where is Namir and why aren’t you telling him?”
“Because he would tell me no and stay here and blah blah…He treats me like a child–––”
“Well you act like one so that’s not surprising.”
I stayed quiet and stared at the back of her head until she groaned before turning around. Flashing a quick smile at her like, she groaned.
“What do you want, Maggie?”
“I told you. Just make sure they know I’m fine,” I said. “I’m leaving after this. I should be back by Monday. I just want someone to know.”
“Your friends don’t know? Not even…Asha?” She asked with a hint of spiteful hope in her voice. Anything to have one over Asha, I guess.
“I’m telling you,” I said with a stern voice. She and I stared at each other before she turned over in the bed. With a wave of her hand, I knew I had her blessing and confirmation.
“If you do something stupid or you’re caught up in something dumb, I’m not covering for you. I swear to God I will act like I don’t know a thing.”
“Thank youuuuu Clemmy Clem…”
“You’re leaving right now?”
“I’m about to go back and pack my bag.” I said over my shoulder. “I’ll be back before you know it.”
The Alchemy of Souls–The journey between who you were born to be, and who you choose to become. It is the shift of the spirit through trial, truth, and self-discovery. For some, the path leads to power and for others, purpose.
Chapter Eighteen
Maggie Grey
I gasped as the air returned back to my lungs and my eyes snapped opened to the stars hovering above. My body fell limp as I slumped back before leaning over to the side to cough. I felt like the wind was just knocked out of me. When I saw the bits of sand breeze by, I slowly looked out amongst the hilly sand dunes. I could see Ayira’s body as the wind picked up around her and our things scattered about in the distance. Slowly, I put my weight on my hands as I pulled myself up. My shoes sunk into the deep sand as I looked up at the night sky. The clouds were faint, and the stars twinkled. My hair began to blow against my face as I scooped the white strands back to tuck behind my ears. Just in the distance, I could have sworn I saw something in the middle of the sand but as the wind picked up, all I could see was rolling dunes.
“Hellooooooo!” I called out, cupping my mouth with my hands. I’ve seen enough scary movies to know the last thing my black ass should be doing is calling out to the danger and greeting it with a hello. Foolishly, I tried to call out his name instead. “NAAAAAMIRRRR!?”
My voice called back to me, echoing throughout the dunes as I tried not to let panic set in. It’s only been a year, but I’ve gotten so used to Namir being behind me, beside me, or in front. Danger, fear, and anything unsettling was obsolete. I didn’t haveto worry about the unknown because he was always there. Him and that damn nose of his. I forgot what it felt like to be by myself but even then, I always had my mom and grandmother. I was never really by myself until now. Looking back at Ayira, I tried to thicken my skin and toughen up.I looked around with squinting eyes before looking up at the dark clouds slowly fading further into the night. I felt like I was in some sort of storybook until I spotted something moving. A dark shadow with wings spread wide above the clouds as it glided across the night sky before disappearing.
“Nope…nope nope nope.” I stumbled with my hands stuck out trying to keep my balance. “Ayira!” I hissed. I kept my eyes on the sky, but I managed to reach down and shake her body. “Ayira! Get up! We need to go!”
