Page 74 of Queen of the Crimson Throne

I shook my head. “Not all of it. I recognize some of the markings, but I never tried to learn the language in its entirety.” Part of the reason why it died out was because the language had no true key. Every story had its interpretations and new words had to be created. There became too many inconsistencies across covens for the language to be worth upkeeping.

I ran my fingers over the marks, scanning for one I did know, “This one stands for the Goddess.” The symbol in the middle resembled a woman’s form, with a small waist and full hips and three stars dancing above her head with a crescent moon on each of her sides. I ran my fingers over another symbol of the seven-pointed star appearing as it was exploding. “This one is for Hecate.” I didn’t recognize any of the other symbols. If only I had thought to bring a text with me. But none of my research had said anything about having to read or decode messages in the ancient language. Or anything about the ancient language at all.

“I wonder if it’s the story of Hecate and the goddess?” Kara offered.

I moved from the walls, turning my attention back to the group.

“Shall we?” Luka gestured toward the stairs.

“I suppose,” Lennox, Kara, and I responded in unison.

One by one we filed down the steep red stairs toward the bottom. Making our way towards the large stone structure in the center. It was on a raised dais, the same markings from the top of the chamber were etched into the outside of the square structure, but these etchings had colors added to them. Even in their old age, the vibrant purples and blues remained as they told a story we were unable to comprehend. Stars above did I wish Icould decode it. I tried to etch the markings into my mind so I could try to decipher them later.

“Do you think the book is in here?” Luka assessed the stone structure.

“Maybe.” I moved my fingers over the markings on the stones. I could feel a pulse of magic emulating from them. A small tug, like I had in the tunnels that guided us here. But this tug, this pull, was stronger. The sensation in the tunnels had come from my gut, this one tugged at my heart, like there was a delicate string wrapped around my heart urging me forward.

I brushed my fingers over the marking of Hecate carved into the stones.

“Luce?” Lennox questioned hesitantly. “What is it?”

“It’s Hecate’s magic. It’s here.” The pull in my chest tightened in response, as if to say,yes it is her magic.“The book is in here.”

“How do we get it out?” Kara asked. They all turned their attention to me as I pulled a dagger from my side. “According to my research, we need to deactivate the spell encapsulating the book using blood from Hecate’s bloodline. She sealed the spellbook with her blood, like a form of Ichor magic before it even existed, to ensure the other half of the book wouldn’t get into the wrong hands. The spell ensures only descendants of her bloodline can access it.”

“Witches are rather paranoid aren’t they,” Luka commented.

I pricked my finger with the tip of my dagger. “You have no idea.” I let the blood from my finger drip onto the top of the stone structure. It hissed as it hit the stone, the red liquid pooling in the carvings, but nothing happened.

We all waited with bated breath, but still, nothing happened.

“Were there any other directions?” Kara asked hopefully.

I shook my head. “No, I never found any specific details as to how to deactivate the spell.” I balled my hands into fists. “Fuck!” I slammed a fist on the makeshift altar.

“Maybe I should try my blood?” Lennox offered.

“Do you think that would work?” Kara’s eyes were wide. If only I could have a smidgen of her optimism.

“It’s worth a try.” Lennox pricked her finger with the dagger, letting the blood drop onto the stone next to mine. Still, nothing happened.

“Well Kara might as well try.” I huffed, crossing my arms over my chest. I racked my brain, reminding myself of everything I read last night as Kara dripped her blood onto the stones. I had no intention of leaving the cave without the other half of the book.

The stone hissed as Kara’s blood dropped. The three drops of blood moved across the surface, smoke rising as the blood pulled together in a perfect drop. The dot moved precisely through the etchings in the stones like water moving through a stream before it disappeared into the stones.

The chamber around us shook. I placed a hand on the wall to steady myself, but the shaking stopped as quickly as it started. I looked up to find Luka with his arm around Lennox’s waist, holding her up as she thanked him softly.

He gave her a soft smile before letting her go.

Small fissures worked their way through the stone covering the top of the pillar. Each one branched off into another until the entire top was covered in cracks and the top dissolved in a puff of dust.

I coughed as the dust invaded my throat and blinked back the tears that burned in my eyes. When the dust finally cleared, we all leaned over the structure. A large leather-bound book, identical to the one in my pack, sat in the center of the now open altar.

“Witches tits.” I breathed. “It’s the other half of the book. I can’t believe we found it.”

I reached inside the hole and picked up the book. It was heavy in my hands, but it felt almost identical to the one Ialready possessed. Except this half reeked of power, power so thick it made my head dizzy.

“Stars above.” Kara marveled as I held up the book for us all to admire. I pulled the other half of the book from my bag, I wanted to see them side by side. See if something happened when we combined them.

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