Page 119 of The Unbound Witch

“Do you know why the witches severed the original Grimoire?”

“Because the witches became so plentiful, the power was diluted, and they thought that splitting the book into seven parts would consecrate the power and replenish it.”

Meliora smiled, leaning forward as if she had the juiciest secret to tell and the most captivating audience. “Or so they would have had the world believe.”

“Go on.” Raven moved forward, playing the role the wraith expected of her.

“Power, girl. It always comes down to wanting more power. Not because the original source was weakening, but simply because there could never be enough. The Harrowing is a curse cast for the same reason. A group of witches eager for more. They did not learn from the mistakes of the past.

“Long ago, a single witch was sacrificed in a spell to split this world. Of mind and body, spirit and sound, of heart and voice and power, the original Grimoire was always seven points of magic. When those foolish witches placed the Book of Omnia on a pedestal directly in the center of this world, they poured the blood of that poor witch over the book as if it were a poison and cursed it seven times until the Grimoire was thoroughly broken.

“Born of deadly curses, how could they have ever expected the power to remain, the books to be safe? That is why they cannot be near each other and the origination of a spell. They are as alive as you know them to be, and they despise the magic that severed them. They are a danger to this world, in their current form.”

“How can you know that, if no one else does?”

Meliora lifted herself from the dais, floating over the few steps, moving until she was so close to Raven, had it been me, I’d have moved away. “Because I was the sacrificial witch. I have watched the world fall to pieces every single day since and I have enjoyed every last second of it. I’m done answering questions for the day.”

47

RAVEN

My mind raced with a thousand emotions as the wraith had relived her story. I wanted to believe she was lying. That the truth I’d heard my entire life wasn’t a falsehood, but the witches were not to be trusted, not even with our own sordid history. Still, I had more questions, and I couldn’t let her go just yet. I walked a fine line, pushing her.

“I am sorry that happened to you. I know it changes nothing, but if you want to be released from this world, we can repeat the spell that was cast over the wraith before the isles fell. If you wish it.”

The room filled with haunted echoes of laughter. Confused, I searched the dim light for something I didn’t see, but there was nothing beyond black cave walls and the racing of wraiths high, high above us, eavesdropping.

“Do you know what a whispering pearl is, Miss Moonstone?”

I shook my head slowly.

“A beautiful product of the isles that no one but the wraiths cared about. Laced with magic of the earth and not from the hands of a witch. They were special to us. Unique in that, they could only be found within the heart of the islands that never truly touched the Earth.”

I sucked in a sharp breath, understanding dawning on me. “The isles fell … the pearls are gone.”

“Indeed, they are.” The ancient wraith floated backward. “So, you see, the witches disregarded the wraiths for so long, your ignorance has become our eternity. We have no other way to leave this world.”

“Unless I can find a way to restore it.”

The whispers began again. As if the books finally found a way to solidify their words, though none were near. Creeping up my spine and over my ears. Speaking over the ancient wraith with murmurs that felt like poison. Louder and louder they grew, filling my mind with urgency.

They won’t like it.

They won’t let you do it.

You mustn’t tell them.

Shaking away the thoughts that were mostly within my mind, I lifted my shoulder again, wishing I could block them out. Wishing I didn’t know that I’d die soon.

“Something wrong?” the wraith said, mocking me as she mimicked my movement.

I tried to stoop to the level of the wraiths, adding inflection into my voice that imitated that of a gossiping old crone. “I’ve heard a story that I think even you won’t have. I’d love to share it with you, if you have the time.”

She rested her hand below her chin, leaning in as another wraith appeared from the wall and whispered in her ear.

“Not now. I’m busy,” she said, trying to swat them away.

But when the messenger completed his secret, her face lit with delight as she gestured for me to continue.