silver bracelet. Circles entwined, creating an oval shape that resembled an eye.
When the weaving stopped, Gram held Cole's arm and closed her eyes. The
ocular-shaped silver turned a glowing red. I thought it would burn him,
especially when Gram released her hold on his arm. I expected Cole to cry out in
pain, but instead, he curiously stared at his wrist.
Slowly, the red faded, and then the silver disappeared, leaving his wrist
covered in a black ink tattoo. On the inside of his wrist, he bore an eye. The pupil was a color I had never seen before – a vibrant blue that almost seemed to
change into shades of purple, and then green. It was a peacock feather of colors.
Gram grasped his hand and gently patted it. “Cole, this will protect you,
warding off any harm. Go quickly and gather just what you need for a few days."
“Ok, I will be back soon. I will only grab a few of my things.” Cole kissed
me on the cheek. “We will continue our conversation when I return.”
I watched as Cole walked out the same door my mother had left.
“He will return,” a whisper on the wind told me.
“Mara, do you remember the prayer I used to say over you each night? Go to Meg and sprinkle this in a circle around her bed while saying that prayer.” Gram
handed me the purple bag of the herbs she had just used.
“Gram, I remember the prayer, but I can't create magic like you just did.” I
tried to hand the bag back to her.
“You will do just fine.” Gram held my left hand in front of me. The blue ring
on my middle finger swirled with magic. “Trust your promise. I have been
preparing you for this day all of your life. Now go." She gently swatted me away.
Not feeling confident in my so-called ‘gift’, I climbed the ladder. When I touched my mother's name, anger built up inside me. I was reminded of why I
committed to my promise.
I found Meg tucked in bed and softly snoring. She was deep in sleep. The energy she expended during the day always ensured her night's sleep was deep.
Amazingly, not even the chaos from below had woken her.
I pinched a small amount of the herbs from the bag. They grew warm
between my fingertips. Slowly, I began sprinkling the purple flowers around
Meg’s bed. I recited the words I had heard my grandmother say as she tucked us
in each night.
“Goddess, I ask for your guidance on this night and ask you to aid in
invoking the elements that guide.”
“With my hands to the east, I call upon you, Air, and ask you to blow away
any harm and to clarify my thoughts.” A rush of air sent the herbs I had dropped
up into the air about me and swirled my hair.
“With my hand to the south, Fire, I call upon you and ask you to burn away
any fear I have and burn away those feelings that harm.” Taking more herbs from the pouch from my left hand, I watched as the light purple turned to small,
red embers as they fell to the ground and quickly died out.
“With my hand to the west, Water, I call upon you and ask you to wash away
my fears and cleanse those who wish to harm.” The herbs I dropped from my right hand turned into a droplet of water. When it landed on the floor, I heard a
