Page 24 of Voyage of Magic and Malice (The Vampires of Charleston #3)

TWENTY-FOUR

saving the world…again

“Do we really need anything else to be responsible for?” Nyssa asks. She and Cam got about two hours of sleep before Thorne and I woke them to share the news. “Can’t someone else save the word for once?” She yawns, running her hands through her normally perfect hair.

“I agree,” Cam says, wandering around the room.

“What is a crack in the void?” Fran asks.

“Aaron explained that the crack was caused by the unbalance of the void,” I try to explain, using my brother’s words, hoping I do them justice. “When Brayden took Serafina to the void, I don’t know if he realized it was a real place not something he created. The void is not meant to be entered by anyone bound to the mortal or immortal planes. It exists as a neutral, timeless realm—a boundary rather than a destination. By bringing Serafina and us into the void, he introduced elements that didn’t belong—her power, her emotions, her very essence.

“The void thrives on neutrality, but Serafina’s presence, driven by her thirst for vengeance, disrupted that balance. Her energy rippled through the void, shifting neutrality. Brayden’s druidic magic, tied to the earth and life, clashed with the void’s emptiness, creating a volatile reaction, introducing forces that were never meant to coexist and, in turn, the barriers that keep it separate from the other realms.”

“Basically, the unbalance was a consequence of two incompatible energies—Serafina’s destructive power and Brayden’s life-bound magic—forcing their way into a realm that exists outside the laws of their world.” I pause, proud of myself for remembering most of his words. “Aaron said the void doesn’t forgive disruptions. Instead, it shifts, reacts, and seeks to restore equilibrium, often at great cost.”

“Holy shit. That was impressive,” Cam says, wearing a huge smile on his face. “I felt like I just sat through a science lesson mixed with a little woo-woo.” He wiggles his fingers with his last words.

“Thank you?” I’m not sure how to respond to that. I give myself a metaphorical pat on the back.

“What happens if it cracks completely?” Nyssa asks.

“If the balance isn’t restored, it will unravel the boundaries between realms, allowing chaos into creation. Mortal and immortal worlds would collide, the laws of time and space would fracture, and magic would become unstable and destructive.”

“What do we do about it?” Fran asks the magic question—no pun intended.

“A spell,” I answer, holding the grimoire tight to my chest. “Aaron says a spell will show itself for what we need.”

Nyssa sighs. “Some grimoires have that ability.” She looks up. “My energy is gone. Did Aaron give us a timeline?”

“He said the longer we wait, the more the void will crack.”

“So, in other words, now,” Cam answers.

“It’s going to take all of us,” I add.

“What if I’m not strong enough to help?” Nyssa asks. “I’m human for the most part. My body is tired. I don’t know if I’ll be much help right now.”

“The children,” Fran announces. “We need the children.”

“Aye, but we don’t know where they are.”

“Call them, acushla,” Thorne answers. “Call Alex. He’ll come.”

I fight the urge to argue that Alex deserves his life and freedom. His job isn’t to save the supposed adults, but Thorne is right. We need them. I close my eyes. “Alex?” I’m met with nothing in return. “Alex? We need you. I need you.” Several minutes pass with no response. I try one more time. “Alexander, answer me.”

“Elsie, I hear you. What’s wrong?”

Relief fills me at the sound of his voice. “The void is cracking, and we need to fix it.”

I’m met with silence on the other end for several minutes. “What does that even mean?” he asks, making me laugh. Thorne, Nyssa, and I spend the next few minutes explaining what the void is and how we need to fix it. I repeat Aaron’s words, hoping to do them justice.

“How can we help with that?” he asks.

“By lending your powers.” He’s quiet for longer than before. “Autumn, Everly, I know you can hear me. I’m so sorry for Brayden. He was braver than anyone I’ve ever met. He saved us all. It’s our job now. We need to fix this and continue what he started. I loved him, and I love you.”

“We’re on our way,” Everly’s soft voice answers.

……

True to their word, the children’s energy reaches me a few hours later. “They’re here,” Thorne announces before I do. A soft knock on the door follows his words.

I open the door a heartbeat later, not caring that it’s not my home. Alex, flanked by his sisters, stands at the door. “We’re here,” Alex says.

“Aye, you are.” I step back. “Please, come in.”

The immortal children enter, bringing an energy that feels different than before. “Are you alright?” I ask. My question is horrible. How could they be okay?

“It’s okay, Elsie. Your question isn’t horrible.” Alex turns toward Thorne. “We buried what was left of him.”

“What?” Nyssa asks.

“Thorne wanted to know where Brayden is.” Alex moves further into the house, his sisters remaining at his sides.

“I’m sorry.” I look each of them in the eyes with my words.

“So are we,” Autumn answers.

“What power do you think we can provide to heal the void?” Everly, always the most serious of all of them, asks.

“The three of you hold magic in your blood. It’s why you’re able to do the things you do,” Nyssa answers.

“You mean we’re not uncontrollable monsters.” Autumn fills in the blanks. I stare at the immortal children, not sure why they seem different than before. I’m contemplating asking when Alex interrupts my thoughts.

“We’ve decided we want to live on our own,” he answers my unasked question. “We’re capable and ready.”

“I think that’s a great idea,” Fran answers. “You know you’re always welcome here should you change your minds.”

“Thank you, Fran,” Alex answers. “We will keep that in mind.”

“What do we need to do?” Autumn asks. “We’re here to help.”

Pulling the grimoire in front of me, I open it to a blank page. “There is a spell that will help us heal the void.”

“That page is blank,” Everly states the obvious.

“Aye, but it won’t be,” I answer.

“Set the grimoire in the middle of the floor,” Nyssa announces, taking the leadership position. “In order for this to work, everyone has to open themselves and freely release their power.”

“How do you know what to do?” Cam asks.

“I don’t,” she answers. “I’m going purely off instinct.”

“That’s better than nothing,” he adds.

“Form a circle and hold hands. Elsie, go to the grimoire, and we’ll circle you,” Nyssa continues her instructions. I do as she says, kneeling in front of the singed book while the rest form a small circle surrounding me. “Open it.”

The book seems to hear her words and responds without much effort from me. A blank page looks back at me as I stare into the heavy grimoire. The energy shifts as Nyssa begins chanting in a familiar yet unfamiliar language.

Mimicking her words, I send my energy into the grimoire, willing it to show the spell I need. The energy surrounding me is palpable. Every hair on my body stands at attention. The feeling reminds me of the moment before a lightning strike, when inanimate objects seem to take on a life of their own, waiting for the strike that’s about to come.

The children, Fran, and Cam join the chanting until faint writing begins to form on the page. Several minutes later, the words completely form, filling the page with the familiar penmanship found throughout the grimoire. Silence surrounds me.

“Read the spell, Elsie,” Nyssa says from her place in the circle.

Moving closer, I begin to read the words aloud. “From the depths of chaos to the edges of creation, we call upon the forces of balance and restoration. With earth, fire, water, and air, we mend the tear and repair the despair.

“Through blood and bond, through power and pain, let harmony rise, and chaos wane. Void of shadow, light, and strife, we return to thee the breath of life.

“By our will, let balance be restored. By our sacrifice, the realms be moored. Bound by the ancient, sealed by the new, void, be healed—we summon you true."

I finish the spell and sit in silence. I’m not sure whether I expect a sonic boom or something a little more subtle, but when nothing happens, I’m convinced it didn’t work. I wait a few minutes before interrupting the silence. “Nyssa? Did it work?”

“I don’t think so,” she answers. I glance at the druid lycanthrope to see the room behind her disappear into darkness. This time, the fracture is larger than the ones I witnessed earlier. It covers most of the room, changing the energy with it.

“No,” I confirm. “It didn’t work. What did I do wrong?”

“You have to believe it, Elsie,” Everly says. “You have to become one with the words.”

I hold my hand toward the immortal child who has the ability to mimic others power. “Help me, Everly. Can you mimic Brayden’s power?”

“I think so,” she whispers.

“Do it.”

She doesn’t argue. Moving to my side, we join hands, surrounding the grimoire that lies between us. “Cast the spell again,” Alex says. “It’s going to take all of your power.”

“Say it with me?” I ask the immortal child in front of me. She nods, and we begin to recite the spell again, this time in unison. With her boost of power, the energy is stronger this time. Energy fills my body as we finish the spell. On our last word, the room explodes in what reminds me of a blast wave, echoing through the room, knocking down furniture, and exploding windows as it exits.

Everly and I are breathing way harder than vampires should. “Did we do it?” she asks. Her soft voice filling the silent room.

“Yes,” Nyssa answers. “I can feel it. The void has been mended.”

“Aye. Me, too,” Thorne adds. “I don’t know how, but I can feel the balance.”

“The druid blood in you feels it,” Nyssa answers.

“Well, damn. What is it with my homes and windows?” Fran props her hands on her hips. “Why didn’t we go outside?”

“We saved the world for the second time today, and you’re worried about windows?” Cam’s words are meant to tease rather than chastise the older vampire.

“That’s a good point,” she agrees. “Good job, ladies and gentlemen.”

“Now what?” Cam asks. “Is that it?”

“That’s it,” Nyssa answers. “Now we rest.” She sits down heavily, more drained than before.

Cam joins her. “I’m worn out, and I didn’t contribute magical powers.”

I turn toward Alex. “Thank you.” I wrap my arms around him, pulling him close.

Small arms wrap around my waist as he buries his head into my abdomen. “You want to know if we’re going to stay or leave.”

I sigh before answering. “It’s rude to listen to others thoughts,” I remind him. He smiles widely with our familiar banter. “You are welcome to stay with me.” I look between the children. “All of you are welcome to stay.”

“We know,” Autumn answers. “We’ve decided we want to be like Celeste—adults.”

“We’re going to search for someone to help us,” Everly adds.

“I can help you,” Fran confirms, moving to our side. She closes her eyes for longer than usual. “It’s not easy. Celeste dealt with unimaginable pain, and you know the consequence she paid. She’s no longer immortal.”

“We’re ready,” Alex answers, pulling away from my embrace.

“Yeah, immortality isn’t all it’s cracked up to be.” The simplicity of Autumn’s words lightens the energy remaining in the room.

“Stay with me. Celeste and I will put you in contact with people who can help you.” Fran smiles.

“Thank you, Fran,” the children answer in unison.

“On one condition,” Fran adds. “You have to stop doing that. Answering in unison is creepy.” The children laugh, lightening the energy even more.

“I can’t imagine you as adults.” I look each child in the eye as a tear falls from mine. “Each of you holds a special place in my heart. In the short amount of time we’ve known each other, we’ve lived lifetimes full of adventure.”

“Aye,” Thorne adds, ruffling the perfectly styled hair on Alex’s head. My mind flashes back to the immortal child, forced to find food for his siblings and terrorized by Mother , his maker. If anyone deserves to grow and escape his reality, it’s him. It’s all of them.

“Thank you, Fran.”

“Yes, thank you.” The children surround the elderly vampire. In a horror movie, this would be terrifying. In our world, it’s normal.

Thorne wraps a long arm around my waist, and the two of us work our way upstairs. “Elsie?” Alex calls. I turn, making eye contact with my favorite immortal child. He holds his hand in front of him, opening his fingers slowly. “Brayden wanted you to have this.”

“Me?” I’m back in front of him in the blink of an eye. Nestled in his palm is a beautiful blue crystal. The stone resonates with energy.

“This is from Brayden?”

“Yes. He carried it in his pocket even before he was a vampire.”

I take the token from his hand, rubbing my fingers over the smooth edges of the stone. “It’s beautiful.”

“It’s powerful,” Nyssa says from the stairs. “I feel its energy from here.”

“How do you know he wanted me to have it?” Instead of answering, Alex taps his temples, letting me know he used his power. “Thank you.” Closing my fingers around it, the energy of love and joy fills me immediately.