Invocation

  INVOCATION

  The Soul Scribe Trilogy, Book Two

  Tera Lyn Cortez

  Copyright © 2019 Tera Lyn Cortez

  All rights reserved.

  ISBN: 978-1-7330171-3-8

  www.teralyncortez.com

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form on by an electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without permission in writing from the publisher, except by a reviewer who may quote brief passages in a review.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

  Original cover art by Violeta Nedkova

  DEDICATION

  For my children.

  My life wouldn't be the same without you,

  and I am so thankful for each of you.

  Robbie, Jordan, Desirae, Hannah & Avery, I love you!

  ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

  It takes a village...

  When I first embarked on this journey I had little idea of what was actually in store for me. I still don't to be honest. But my sincere thanks go out to everyone who has been there for me along the way.

  To those who have read my book, shared and reviewed my work, I wouldn't be able to do any of this without you. Thank you.

  Chapter One

  Consciousness snapped rudely into crystal-clear focus before I had even had a chance to open my eyes, and as soon as awareness found its way to my thoughts, I became overcome with anguish. In spite of my keeping them closed, the tears leaked through my eyelids. They made tracks down my cheeks, leaving tacky trails on my skin and pooling near my ears.

  Every muscle in my body felt as if tied into knots. My very bones ached, and each joint seemed swollen beyond its capacity for function. The bodily pains could almost be considered tolerable, but I would have taken any levels of the physical torment in place of the gut-wrenching emotions that plagued me.

  The air in the study still held a charge as if the magical storm wasn't completely past us yet. The stone floor pressed cold and hard against my back, and the uneven texture pushed against me through my clothes. I could hear Xavier and Taryk, although their voices were somewhat muffled as if they came from far away. The bright glow from above gave a telltale sign that Celeste hovered over me, and all I wanted was for each of them to disappear, so I could pretend this was all a nightmare of epic proportions.

  “Everleigh, I'm so sorry,” she said, “but you must get up. Amara sacrificed greatly to come to you in her last moments, do not allow her gift to be in vain. Open your eyes and look at me.”

  Groaning in response, I turned my head to the side, hoping she would give up and go away. Small, cool hands grasped my own, and pulled me upright. Curiosity got the better of me, and I opened my eyes just to see whose hands I held.

  For the first time, she stood before me, solid, as if she had returned to actual flesh and blood. At this point, I could do nothing more than stare. She had the same look about her as she always had as a spirit, but her hands appeared no less tangible than my own clasped within them.

  “How…?” I breathed. “I don't understand.”

  “Once we have taken care of this, I will explain. But you must get up.”

  Pushing the pain aside, I stood with her help, Xavier and Taryk reaching out to steady me. Looking at them both, I saw pain that echoed my own, the tear tracks running down each of their cheeks were probably the mirror image of the ones on my face. I also saw determination. Unable to help myself, I had to look around once more, hoping to see my mother’s figure in the room. There was no sign of her.

  “Everleigh, your mother has just transferred her power to you. While you cannot perform the invocation until you are in the scribe's ancestral home in Myntas, you must accept the power into yourself. Because you hold two distinct types of magic, you must allow this new magic to become a part of you. Visualize your tapestry, and there will be new, loose, threads throughout. You must weave them in, essentially creating a bond between the magic and yourself. As strong as you can possibly make it.”

  Closing my eyes, I almost lost my concentration, seeing the purple of her threads intertwining with my own. But I did as Celeste said. Searching out each one, I took my time in weaving them into my tapestry as tightly as I could. So many fluttered there, it exhausted me to pull them in, but I was determined to see it through.

  By the time I made certain I had finished, my body had about given out. Closing my eyes again, all I wanted was to find relief from the pain, both in my body and my heart. I opened my eyes to see Xavier and Taryk both watching me intently, and Celeste asking me if I felt all right. My last thought, before I crumpled to the ground was that I would never be all right again.

  The next time I opened my eyes, I saw only the ceiling above my own bed. The physical pain had gone away entirely, but I could hardly bear the crushing weight of the pain in my soul. How had this happened? I just got her back. How could I ever live without her? Her return to my life had been so brief, nothing more than a tease of the relationship we should’ve had. The thought of leaving my bed made me nauseous, and I closed my eyes again.

  I heard no other sounds in the cabin, and had no idea where the guys were or what they might’ve been doing. I didn't bother trying to use our bonds to find out. Rolling onto my side, facing away from the window and the waterfall, I curled into the tightest ball I could manage and wept.

  The feelings of helplessness and loss surrounded me, dragging me back in time to the day I got the call that my adoptive parents had been in an accident. The person on the other end of the line let me know that an officer was on the way to my house and would arrive shortly. I remembered staring at my cell phone in disbelief, still thinking they were taking me to the hospital to see them.

  I waited on the front porch swing that day, not knowing how drastically my life was about to change. I watched the patrol car as it made its way up our drive. Two officers exited the car, and I can remember being surprised that they felt two were necessary. I grabbed my purse, heading down the steps to meet them.

  “Please hurry. I need to see them!”

  The officers looked at each other, and one of them gently took my arm, guiding me back to the swing. “Ma'am, I'm so sorry, but neither of them survived the crash. The driver of the other vehicle never even hit the brakes. They died on impact, and if it makes you feel any better, they did not suffer.”

  I remember wondering at that moment how anything they could say would make me feel any better. The world around me began to spin, and everything went black at that point also. Apparently, I'm not very skilled at dealing with emotional trauma.

  My bladder insisted I get out of bed, and yet I found it hard to believe there was any liquid left to empty, seeing as how it was all coming out my eyes. They felt grainy and full of sand. Tears made my vision blurry, but I had a choice to make. I was either getting up and crossing the hall to the bathroom or wetting my bed for the first time since I turned three.

  I elected to get out of bed just to use the toilet, simply to avoid having to lay in a wet smelly bed for the next few days. I had no intention of getting up when I barely wanted to continue living.

  Struggling to gather the willpower to sit up, I managed to swing my legs over the side of the bed. The physical strength of my body shocked me. Had it not been for the pain in my heart, I would have felt like a million bucks. Crossing the hall, I took a quick glance into the main room, but saw no sign of either Taryk or Xavier. After performing the necessary bodily functions, I stood in front of the mirror and stared at myself. My eyes, so much like my mother’s, stare
d back at me. I leaned forward, hands resting on either side of the mirror.

  “Mom… How did this happen? What am I supposed to do without you? I can't do this alone.”

  “Everleigh…”

  My head snapped around, positive I had just heard her voice. Of course, she was not there, but I wanted to believe she was so badly. And then I heard her again.

  “Everleigh, you are not alone. You will never be alone. Remember that. Xavier and Taryk will be by your side, and I will always be with you. You were born for this. You have everything you need to be successful. You just have to believe in yourself. I love you.”

  Her voice faded away before I was ready to let her go. I called for her again and again, but she did not answer. The next thing I knew there was knocking at the bathroom door.

  “Ev… are you okay in there?”

  I cried so hard, I couldn't get the words out to answer him. The door opened a crack, and Taryk peered in. He managed to catch me just as I sagged to the floor, sitting with me and pulling me gently into his lap. He seemed to know that I needed—no words, just wrapped his arms around me and held me while I mourned.

  His chin rested on the top of my head, and at some point, I became aware of his heartbeat beneath my ear. As my sobs quieted, I noticed that my heart matched the rhythm of his perfectly. My breaths calmed to be even and deep, again, matching his.

  After a while, I was sure he had to be sore with the hard floor digging into him and my added weight on top of that. Yet, he never once complained or attempted to move. He just sat there, arms wrapped around me as I tried to gather the strength needed to not only move on with my daily life, but somehow be the person the realms needed me to be.

  Pulling back slightly, I looked up at his face, reaching out to cup his cheek with my hand and meeting his deep blue eyes. I had no words for him, but I knew in my heart we didn't need any. Had I any doubts before about my magic's choice in a mate, they were no longer. And while I had zero interest in a romantic relationship right now, it gave me strength to know that I had a partner to help get through the dark days ahead.

  Xavier would stand beside us, and we would prevail. I could not let my mother down, not when she had sacrificed so much for me. Her entire life had been lived to ensure mine could be all that it was meant to be. Her sacrifices gave me the push I needed to move forward, and I would do my best to make her proud. Wherever she existed now, I hoped she was at peace.

  Just as we made the effort to rise off the floor, my stomach let out a noisy growl, causing Taryk to smile.

  “Well, apparently your appetite hasn't changed.”

  I had to give a little grin in return. The truth of the matter was that I needed to keep on living, and in order to do so, I needed food. He took my hand, giving it a quick squeeze, and led me to the living room, settling me on the couch.

  “I've got breakfast handled. You sit and rest.”

  “Where is Xavier?” I hadn't seen nor heard any sign of him since opening my eyes.

  “He went out.” Taryk's forehead wrinkled as he told me. “I think he just needed some time to process things. I'm sure he'll be back.”

  I reached out to him along our bond, searching. I felt him out there, sadness washing over me in waves that made me catch my breath. His pain very nearly mirrored my own. He sat next to the waterfall, and I wanted to go to him, but couldn't decide if it was safe for me to do so.

  Although at this point, someone, somewhere, must’ve known that my mother had given her powers over. I hardly figured the fact that she had an heiress remained a secret. We probably didn't have long before evil would be knocking at our door.

  Deciding it was best to give him time, I sent love and comfort through our bond as best I could and left him to his grief. Taryk brought me a plate heaping with my favorite breakfast foods, and I did my best to open our bond and let my feelings pour through, so he knew just how grateful I felt. The bonds were allowing me to connect with those I loved when words failed me.

  Xavier came through the front door just as I put my plate in the kitchen sink. He came straight to me, wrapped me in a hug, and we just stood there together. I leaned into him with my head against his chest, feeling the rhythm of his heart beating, and knowing we were hurting in a way that only time would lessen.

  These two would be my strength as I would try to be for them. I needed all the help I could get to come out the victor in the battle looming ahead, and there was no time like the present to begin preparing.

  Chapter Two

  I let them know that I needed to go to the study to talk to Celeste since she had promised to give me some answers, before I so rudely passed out on her. I wanted to see what she had to say about the situation, and I really wanted to know how she had managed to manifest herself physically right after my mother had appeared.

  First though, I decided to have a shower. Not only would it make me feel a little better, I admit I hoped to hear my mother’s voice again. I’m not sure why the bathroom would have been her choice of places, but I wasn’t going to argue. I’d take whatever I could get at this point.

  Stopping in my room to grab clean clothes, since I had been in these same ones for far too long, I headed into the bathroom and turned on the shower. Once I had it running, and I could be relatively sure the guys wouldn’t hear me from the front room, I said her name very softly.

  “Mom? I don’t know what I am going to do without you. Are you in here? Can you hear me?” I stood in front of the mirror in the growing cloud of steam for what seemed like hours, but I received no response. As sad as it made me that it had been a one-time thing, I realized how blessed I felt to have heard her voice that last time. And maybe, if I got really lucky, it wouldn’t be the last time after all.

  I had planned to take a long, hot shower, but realized I couldn’t spend too much time in there with nothing to occupy my brain, or I would sink to the floor and weep. Get out. Dry off. Get dressed.

  I had to remind myself repeatedly to put one foot in front of the other so I could keep moving forward. I didn’t have the luxury of dawdling. I needed to keep a tight rein on my emotions, or they would get the better of me in a heartbeat, and I couldn't allow that. If I lost control now, who knew how long it would take me to get it back.

  Leaving the bathroom, I headed down the hall to the study, hoping to have a conversation with Celeste. The door swung open silently, as it always had, and I first looked for her presence. Since I didn't see her, I called her name softly.

  “Celeste? Are you in here?”

  Nothing but silence greeted me, and I began to wonder if something had happened and she could no longer remain in the study. I couldn't accept losing someone else in such a short time and called her name again. I was stymied by the silence, as she had never neglected to answer me in at least some way.

  I glanced around the study, taking it in as if I had never seen it before. Staring at the spot where I had last seen my mother’s image almost drove me to my knees. At least I had not watched my adoptive parents go. The phone call and police visit I received was horrific, but nothing like watching the life fade from the eyes of someone you loved.

  I ran my fingers along the edge of the scribe book as I passed, taking comfort from the fact that I could open it and see my mother's handwriting there. I wondered if the date of her death would automatically populate, or if I would be responsible for writing it in the appropriate spot.

  There had been no mention of a cemetery for scribes, and I wondered where their final resting place ended up being. In this case, at least, there would be no funeral. Although I felt like a celebration of her life would be in order once all was calm in the realms again.

  As I walked down the stone tunnel to the training room, I passed the vault that held all the items from my father. So much of it still needed to be gone through, and I knew important things waited to be discovered.

  As I passed the second closed door, I wondered what it held. Jiggling the door handle, I found it locke
d, and made a mental note to ask Xavier if he knew what the room held.

  I trailed my hand along the rough stone wall as I walked the remainder of the tunnel. I attempted to connect with the Earth and the mountain itself. I drew in a sharp breath to see Celeste seated in the middle of the cavernous room, looking as if she was meditating.

  She had returned to her more ethereal appearance, but nothing indicated that she struggled to maintain herself visually. Her eyes didn't open immediately, but she smiled as I approached her.

  “Please, sit down, Everleigh.” She opened her eyes and waved me to the spot directly in front of her.

  “I can see you.” Articulate I may not have been, but I excelled at stating the obvious.

  “Many things changed when your mother appeared before us. I know you have many questions, and I will answer what I can.”

  “You were here. Really here. I could feel your hands as if they were as solid as my own. How?”

  “In order to project her appearance here, your mother wielded an immense amount of power. Her spirit crossed the realms, and in doing so, she brought much of that intensity into the study. As I explained to you before, manifesting myself visually requires great expenditure of power. I simply did not have the amount required to become physically present. When your mother returned to her body, much of the magic she used remained in the study, trapped, for lack of a better term. I harnessed it and employed it to give myself a physical presence because I believed you needed it.”

  For a moment, I just stared. I vaguely recalled feeling the magic stirring the air around me as I came to. I hadn't realized at the time that it was residual.

  “I did need it, thank you. The shock of seeing you actually in front of me is what propelled me to return to the present. Had I been given a choice at that moment, I think I would have chosen to shrivel up and disappear.”