Page 44 of Lunar Diamonds
Did we make it worse?
I slid closer to Isaac this time. “I’m so sorry.”
Isaac nodded slowly in agreement.
Erin opened her eyes, sitting a little straighter. “There is an extensive library here containing texts on the Aurora histories. Please read everything in your own time. Tonight is about your powers.”
At that moment, as if everything was perfectly timed, the Bramble siblings entered the room. Led by April, they each carried a silver statue of an animal.
A bear, a lion, and a rabbit, all looking up to the sky.
The siblings placed them on the coffee table, Alice hurrying off, leaving the other two to stand with their hands folded behind their backs. They both wore black leather necklaces, a black velvet pouch hanging from each one.
“These are your totems,” Erin said. “They are the source of your powers, each one representing you. The bear belongs to The Star, the lion The Sun, and the rabbit for The Moon. IfPreston was dead, his totem would turn black until the birth of his successor.”
Thank goodness the bear was silver!
Erin continued her explanation. “For each of the three indents you see on the totems, a diamond must be present to awaken the powers within you.”
April stepped forward, tipping the contents of her pouch into her palm. Diamonds spilled onto her skin. Isaac and I leaned forward at the same time, in awe of the sparkling jewels.
They were spherical with a hint of golden light to them. Subtle, but there. Apart from one, which appeared to be damaged.
“These are the solar diamonds,” Erin said. “To be inserted into the lion totem. One of the diamonds needs repairing. I’m working on outsourcing help. The fae tend to be good with these things.”
“For you, sir,” April said, offering Isaac the diamonds.
He stood, letting the witch place two of them into his palm. She bagged the other one, stepping back with a bow.
“Insert them into the totem,” Erin said.
Isaac rolled his shoulders, looking down at me with frightened eyes. An instinct kicked in. Kind of like sibling support, coming right out of the left field.
I got to my feet. “You can do this. No matter how insane the situation, we’re in this together.”
My nerves were in a blender, but I also found myself smiling.
Isaac drew some deep breaths. “Thanks.”
“No worries.”
“Does it matter which indent?” he asked Erin.
“No. Just pop them in and gain two of your powers. The third will unlock a bolt at the celestial room. Once every witch has filled their totem with diamonds, the door will open.”
These diamonds weren’t in the history books, along with anything about a celestial room. And I didn’t remember any chapters on the individual powers of the Auroras.
“Without the diamonds, your powers don’t work,” Erin explained. “These jewels were gifted to the very first Auroras by Hecate. Under a full moon, on a sunny morning, and in the late of night when a swathe of stars shone brightly. Treasures to be taken care of, and a condition of Hecate’s blessing. Think it of as proving your worth to her. That you respect your power and your place. At least, that’s how your mother explained it to me.” She took a brief pause. “When the High Coven came, the diamonds were removed and hidden. This deactivated the powers, and sealed the celestial room, along with its contents.”
Wow, this was a lot.
“The room is off limits to anyone other than sacred witches. And greater power lies inside.”
“I like the sound of that,” Isaac said.
Galvanized by the new information, he inserted the solar diamonds into the lion totem. Each one clicked into place, their golden glows intensifying.
“What—”
