Total pages in book: 194
Estimated words: 187021 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 935(@200wpm)___ 748(@250wpm)___ 623(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 187021 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 935(@200wpm)___ 748(@250wpm)___ 623(@300wpm)
“It chose you.”
Kierse glanced between them. “What does that mean?”
“It spoke to me,” Gen said with a flush to her cheeks. “Healer to healer.”
She stepped up to the dark box at the center of the room. Kierse stilled in anticipation. They’d been working feverishly for weeks to get to this point. Now it was finally here. The mythical cauldron in all its glory.
Gen opened the box and removed from within a small, cast-iron cauldron with a handle and cover. So it wasn’t a chalice. Just a smaller version of the large cauldron they’d all pictured when hearing the word. In fact, it didn’t even look like much. Though like the spear, it didn’t look its age, either. It could have come out of a Salem gift shop if it didn’t radiate eternal energy.
“Traditionally, small cauldrons like this would be used to hold healing ingredients,” Gen informed them. “Sometimes it was used to make black salt for a banishing, to burn petitions for magical assistance, or incense and herbs for castings. There were many uses for something like this, not just medicinal, all of them ritualistic in nature.”
She cupped the cauldron in her hands, the weight of the cast iron drawing her arms down. Her eyes went wide with wonder as if the cauldron was imparting its wisdom to her.
“But this cauldron was used for so much more than that. Despite its small appearance, it can feed armies, heal the injured, and touch those with magic.” Gen lifted the cauldron up. “When I was healed, the cauldron and I connected. It amplified my powers, drew from its depths for me. I cannot guarantee what it will do for you, but everyone is entitled to try. Who will go first?”
So Gen’s magic had been altered by the cauldron. That was how her powers had been so much stronger last night.
“Kierse?” Nate asked.
“You go first.”
Nate had a specific request—an end to the incubus curse. One he’d been anxiously waiting for. Kierse had always been wary about what the cauldron could give her. If she would have to give up her humanity. If that was even possible. She’d wanted more magic, but at what cost? Now, she had a more pressing concern. And even though she knew that Gen had gotten what she needed and more, it still made Kierse wary to hope that the cauldron could fix what had happened to her.
“All right,” Nate said with a nod. He stepped forward, and Gen handed him the cauldron. He lifted it into his arms easily. For a moment, nothing happened.
A second later, a bubbling sound came from within, and Nate’s eyes widened.
“Holy shit,” he gasped.
He held out the cauldron for everyone else to see. It had filled with a clear liquid. Kierse’s jaw dropped. She’d seen magic done so many times before, yet somehow this was still awe inspiring.
“I need a…cup or something,” Nate said.
Graves stepped into the stacks for a moment and came out with a stoppered vial. Nate carefully poured the liquid into the vial, closing it shut. He held the little thing reverently.
“If this works, then we’ll be able to have a baby. I never… I was never sure it would happen.”
“The cauldron said it would work?” Kierse asked.
“Yes. It said it could break an incubus curse.” He cleared his throat. “I guess…I should go take this to Maura.”
“You absolutely should,” Gen said.
His laugh was tinged with tears of joy. He looked up to Graves when he managed to get himself together and then offered his hand. “Thank you.”
Graves shook his hand. “Good luck.”
Nate clapped him on the shoulder. “Still have to get chosen for the election tonight. Don’t forget to show up and vote.”
“I’ll be there.”
With that, Nate headed out of the brownstone. Kierse’s hope ballooned. If it could do this, then surely it could help Kierse. If anything could fix what had happened to her, surely it was this.
“Your turn,” Gen said.
Kierse chewed on her bottom lip as she walked forward on wobbly legs. Gen’s smile was reassuring, but Kierse felt like spider eggs had been laid in her stomach and they were all breaking open and crawling through her body. What if it didn’t work? What if she was stuck like this forever?
“Can I…even hold it?” Kierse glanced between them. “It’s iron.”
Graves considered. “Worth finding out.”
“It’s of the gods,” Gen said. “I don’t think it’s the same thing.”
Kierse nodded, searching for another reason to put it off but not finding one. She had to do this. She had to hold an iron cauldron and hope that it would fix what had happened to her. The fear that it wouldn’t be able to help her with anything she needed was overwhelming.
“Kierse?” Gen said softly.
“Right. Yeah. My turn.”
“Do you know what you’re going to ask for?”
Kierse nodded. “Sure.”
“We can do this later,” Gen told her.