“No,” Tom answers. “Ryanne’s the only one strong enough to do the enchantment, and she’s a little occupied right now.”
“I could try it,” Natalie suggests.
“No,” Liam gives a firm response. Natalie looks up at him surprised but doesn’t argue with him. I don’t think Natalie’s strong enough. Her presence is calming, but I don’t think she has enough magic to push out like that. “Sorry, I just don’t think it’s a good idea.” Natalie nods and turns around. She bites her lip and tries to hide a slight smile. I look toward Conner and see that he sees it too.
“I’ll do it.” I look to my right and see Ryanne leaning against the wall. She does look better, but I can tell she needs to rest.
“Ryanne, I don’t think—” I stand up and start walking toward her.
“I have it memorized, so I’ll do it even if you guys don’t think it’s a good idea.” She crosses her arms and stares up at me defiantly. Stubborn little girl. Kyril laughs behind me. Her gaze is unwavering and she doesn’t back down. In fact, she takes another step forward and glares at me.
I shake my head but take a step backward. “Fine, but at least get some rest first. You need it.”
“I’ll do the enchantment first and then I’ll rest. I’m fine,” she says, but she steps back, leaning against the wall.
“Ryanne, you’re not fine. You can barely stand on your own.”
“I’m fine. Just let me do this. Please,” she pleads with me. When I don’t say anything, she whispers, “I’m scared right now, Colton, and if this enchantment will keep us safe, I’m going to do it.” I know it took a lot for her to admit that she was scared.
“Let her do it, Colton.” I look past Ryanne and see Emma looking at me, nodding. Like me, she understands how important it is to Ryanne to do this. She needs to know that we are protected. I nod and pull Ryanne over to the couch. She’s getting a little unsteady on her feet.
I don’t like this, but I don’t like arguing with her more. She is determined to do this, and I will lose this argument anyway. We might as well get it over with so she can finally get some rest.
“Well, we know who wears the pants in that relationship,” Larkin says. I turn around and glare at him but don’t say anything.
“I’m going to do the enchantment now,” she says to me. Her eyes tell me that she is sorry. I nod because I do understand. If the role was reversed, I’d probably do the same thing. I am about to ask Tom to get the spell for her but stop as I watch her. She takes a deep breath and starts saying it from memory.
Chapter Eleven
They didn’t believe I actually memorized that spell. For some reason, I am great at remembering facts and lines which is how I am able to recall movie quotes all the time. However, my memory outside of facts and quotes is not very good. I take a deep breath and start calling my magic to me.
“Magic come forth, I call you to me.” The magic flows through my veins, moving through my body. I grab small strands of the magic and start pushing them out. “Protect our home from danger, so evil cannot see.” I push more magic out.
I can feel my magic flowing through the room, but I don’t open my eyes. I need to remain concentrated or the spell won’t be completed. I only have one shot at this. “Hide the lines through an invisible veil, so those who happen upon us will believe they failed.” The magic is bubbling to the surface, boiling through my veins, trying to get out and protect us. It knows what I’m asking for it to do, and it’s obeying.
“Protect our home from those with eyes, who only seek for our demise.” I picture my magic cloaking the house, turning it invisible from random onlookers. Those with a clean, pure heart can find the home, but no one wishing us harm will ever stumble upon it.
“I call you to me during this time of need to protect those within from anger and greed.” The magic is just flowing out of me now. I don’t have to push any longer. It is willingly leaving me and dispersing throughout the house. “Protect our home from danger, so evil cannot see.” The magic leaves me much easier this time, and I don’t feel like I have to repeat the enchantment a second time. I keep imagining the magic covering the house. The house is invisible to those on the outside. No one can see anything.
All of the sudden, I am thrown backward as my magic snaps back to me. I gasp for breath as it continues to flow back into my body. It feels like I am being pelted with paintballs. Well, this is what I assume being hit with paintballs feels like. It stings, but the pain recedes after a little while. When the onslaught stops and the magic continues to slowly flow back into me, I open my eyes. Everyone is staring at me with awed looks again.