* * *
Carefully, they read each page. Even Camille eventually became engaged. When they reached the section on calling Air, Viv stood up and carefully read the words. As she finished, I sent a stream of air around her and her friends.
Laughing, she cried, “It worked!”
When they arrived at the Fire spell, Camille stood up and read the words we had written. Holding her hands out in front of her as detailed in the text, she soon found a ball of orangey red flames flickering in her hands.
Quickly, Michelle read a water spell to douse the flames and Bay called a small rainstorm onto the girls. Giggling and dancing in the rain, the three girls continued to read their spells. Only one sat back not participating – Lucy.
Realizing her friend was not having fun, Viv wrapped her arms around Lucy tightly. “Why don’t you join us?” she questioned.
“I don’t have any magic in me,” Lucy said, as the tears began to stream down her face. “My mother says…”
Interrupting her, Camille took her hands, “Your mother is wrong about many things including anything she has to say about this. Come on. Read this.”
Camille handed her the book open to the Earth spell, Lucy stood up and began to read:
Earth, I call upon you with an open heart
Green Grass
Solid Ground
I beckon you to show yourself.
“See. I don’t have a connection,” Lucy said, defeated. She sat down on the dirt covered ground and began to cry. Hunched over, she wrapped her arms around her legs.
“Lucy,” the girls cried in unison as tall blades of grass began to grow around their friend.
“I am sorry,” Lucy sobbed. “I can’t even read a stupid spell right.”
Pushing their way through the waist high grass, they ran to their friend.
“Look what you did Lucy,” Michelle said, hugging her tightly. “You did all this.”
The area surrounding the fire now looked like a tropical forest with green grass, orange flowers and twisting vines. As Lucy stared mouth wide open, she murmured, “I did this?”
“Yes,” Viv said, holding the book. “We did this. I am ready to hear more? Are you?
Cheers of agreement travelled to us and filled the air around us.
“We need to send a message to Kai,” Blaze said to me. “We have found the answer.”
The Promise
As the girls continued their celebration, we joined them at the campfire. No longer having to maintain a glamour, we returned to the girls in our true fae form. We were meet with warm welcome.
“We are glad to be back,” Blaze said resolutely, “You have learned about the magic and now we need to know if you are ready to join us.
Daisy held out the palm of her hands to us holding four silver chests. We each took one to give to the girls. Inside the boxes, we had placed silver rings that were identical except for the different colored stone in the center of the braided nest design.
“You read the book we gave you and you are ready to protect the magic that you now hold within you?” Blaze asked solemnly.
The girls nodded. Viv stepped forward. “We are ready. What do we need to do?”
“Over the next few days, you will need to practice your gift,” Daisy said to the girls before turning to Lucy. Handing her the box with the emerald ring, she said, “You have been given the magic of Earth. Strength and healing will be your guides.”
Taking the chest with the lavender ring inside, I handed it to Viv. “Your gift is Air magic. Intuition and insight will be your guides.”
Blaze gave the chest with the ruby red ring to Camille. “You have been given the gift of Fire. Passion and determination will be your guides.”
Bay took the last chest with an aquamarine colored ring and held it out to Michelle. “You are the luckiest. You have been given joy and the calming spirit of Water.”
“You all have been given an incredible gift. It is now your turn to see your path,” Blaze commanded. “Open the box you have been given.”
As each girl carefully lifted the lid to their chest, a bright light shone from them. After staring intently into the boxes for several minutes, one by one taking their ring and slipping it on their finger and each declared, “I promise to protect this magic from those who would misuse it.”