Chapter 24: Shower

My eyes slowly crack open and I see Carol holding out her hand over my chest with my head resting on her lap. Wow, her thighs are soft, nice and supple, why am I thinking about her thighs right now? My eyes open wide enough for her to notice and I see a stern look plastered on her tear-stained face. She has been focusing a lot of energy on trying to heal me. My face feels like it has been hit over and over with a hammer.

"Sam," Carol whispers and she kisses my forehead. "Don't scare me like that," she says and I notice her eyes once more. "What happened to your eyes?" I ask. "Well, evidently, they change colour after your Link establishes a link with you, I wore lenses to hide them but I don't at home, my parents freaked out at first but the doctor said there were no health complications and they left it alone."

"I see, I don't think Unknown will be helping me any time soon," I joke.

"That is strange, he probably does not know we are connected or he was playing us," she says while rustling through my hair.

I have an idea of why the Fomorians are back, now we just need to find out how, where and when. "I am glad you are okay," Carol says with a small warm smile.

"I am glad I got to you in time, who knows what could have, I could have fainted in a place where booty warrior was lurking," I laugh and Carol giggles as we both remember that one scene from a show we like.

"Max I found something while you were out, a text written in ancient Gaelic, Cernunnos said I could open it but we need someone with high enough magic affinity to cast the spell and while I have high reserves, not high enough," she says.

"What kind of text?" I ask.

"An ancient book with all its pages torn out except a ritual, part of the holy Vedas formed as an Aranyakas with more Gaelic mixed in, my link to Cernnunos gives me access to most of it but I can't read it all since our link isn't strong enough," she says.

Gibberish, all I hear is gibberish. "What on Earth is all that stuff?"

"You should learn more about it from Abhartach but the Vedas are an ancient Hindu scripture to put it simply."

"I think it's some form of necromancy or alchemy, maybe a way to summon the dead," Carol says as she runs her fingers through my hair gently, keeping me in her lap. She probably forgot, I'm not complaining but I suddenly feel useless as I realise that I know nothing about this stuff.

"Don't beat yourself up, you've only been a Danann for a few weeks and she has been one for a few years now, regardless, I don't think I've ever seen a person more talented nor as hardworking as her," Abhartah chimes in inside my thoughts.

"Alright, what is the plan?" I inquire.

"We're going to see Max tomorrow and plan more from there, I'm sure she may have found a solution to deciphering the text."

"Alright, fine by me."

"That means you are sleeping over tonight, you'll heal faster if we sleep in the same bed," she says.

"Oh, uh, I like the sound of that," real smooth I say to myself.

Carol holds me tight and I fall asleep taking in her warmth and she took in mine, together, a steamy night.

We head over to Max's house bright and early, we took a shower together in her bathroom and I left through the window to avoid almost dying again the second time. in less than twenty-four hours.

When we arrive, Max's parents welcome us and throw their usual witty remarks, this time about me wanting to start a harem, jeez.

"Max?" Carol utters as we step into her large room. charms are littered all over the floor with ancient markings, some I recognise to be African, others? not so much.

She sits in the middle, meditating and as we enter she opens her eyes and grins, "I've got it!"

"Got what?" I ask.

"The solution, the text is an ancient scripture, depicting a ritual, necromancy, rather, Enochian magic fused with necromancy and surprisingly, natural magic. This means, I can crack it but I need you, Carol. Your connection to Nature with Cernunnos is the key. You up for it?"

"Always," Carol says enthusiastically. "How many types of magic do you know exactly?" Carol asks as she steps beside her.

"All of them," Max says confidently. "Take my hand and step inside the circle, Sam, stand back, this could get... messy."

I take two steps back and realise what she meant, surely it can't be that bad. Her eyes emit a bright white colour and the room rattles. A piece of paper that I now just notice because it begins to levitate turns violently in one place. Carol's eyes follow but hers emit a bright leafy green and her hair floats. two begin to utter an old forgotten language but I can feel it, this is African witchcraft, I've never heard it used like this.

"I have never heard of such a fascinating but scary language," Abhartach says.

"I hope they get through this."

Max says something in two contrasting voices at the same time as if possessed by quickly returns to her own. "Chiroto, Dream," she says and the two break the spell.

I see the power glow as if on fire and falls to the ground.

Max picks it up and looks at us in terror.

"It's a spell to fully reform Ireland into the old lands, a continental scale transmute spell and it will use the souls of all the inhabitants as the fuel or one important to a Danann as well as the Danann itself and they both glare at me.

"Are you sure Unknown didn't figure out who you are?" Carol says.

"Unquestionably, why?" Oh no, I realise, Aunt Kelly!

I storm out of the room and dash out of the house as fast I can. The wind trickles against my cheeks and my eyes focus ahead. I can't let anything happen to her. If I lose her, I would've done it and If I am then I'll slay whoever I have to to get her back.