Fall

Chapter 39: In The Midnight Hour

Shiela moves around the pyres, lighting them as she goes. "Air. Earth. Fire." 

Bonnie holds up a jar, "Water." Shiela pours it on the ground in a special shape, setting everything up. Elena next to me crosses her arms over her chest, looking at it all skeptically. 

"That's it, just water from the tap?" She says judgmentally, both Salvatores hanging behind her like some weird flock. 

Shiela doesn't look up from what she's doing, creating symbols in the ground with the water. "As opposed to what?" It's cold out, despite the warmth of the pyres, and I hug my jacket closer to me. I should've gotten a better coat, it is December after all. There's snow on the ground, even now. Winter break coming up, I can't believe what our lives have become in a few short months. 

"I just figured maybe you'd have to be blessed or mystical or something." Elena laughs, Shiela giving her a smile in return. 

Damon and Stefan talk amongst themselves behind me, something I half listen to. I pay more attention to Bonnie and Shiela, thoughts running through my mind on how to prevent this, how to fix this. How I hate Ms. Skuld for telling me this. "We're ready." Bonnie's voice breaks me from my inner turmoil. 

I rush over to the two of them as they stand up, about to start the spell. "Shiela, can I speak to you please?" My words are desperate now, rushed, all of me in too much of a hurry and yet too slow. She nods, confusion on her face. "Channel me." 

She blinks a few times before she laughs. "What?"

"I read about it in a grimoire or something, witches can channel things and people, right? I'm a Valkyrie, there's gotta be a ton of mystical magical energy just waiting to be tapped into inside of me. So channel me for this spell. Please." I try so hard to act cool, to give her a smile, to be nonchalant. But the panic quickens in my chest and even though I have a talent for lying and hiding my true feelings, there's something about this situation that renders that talent mute. 

She cocks her head to the side, her brown eyes almost looking right through me. "Don't be afraid, Kara. Bonnie and I will be fine." 

I shake my head so hard it almost feels like I rattled my brain. "Promise me. Please, channel me. I need you guys to be safe, channel me. Please. Please, please promise me." I almost break down, pleading with her, my eyes tight and my lip quivering. I feel eyes on me, no doubt the Salvatores listening in. 

Shiela takes a deep breath before grabbing my hand and squeezing it. "Alright. Alright, Kara, I'll channel you." 

Breathing a sigh of relief, I nod and come forward with her, Bonnie grabbing my hand as well. I'm fine with the two of them channeling me if that's what this is, I just need to stop this vision. They close their eyes and start to chant, and I start to feel something strange. As if something is tugging at the inside of my chest, slowly. Stefan watches me, Damon watches me, Elena too. I know they're all wondering why I'm doing this. But I don't have to explain myself to them. 

"Is Kara going to be ok? What are they saying?" Damon asks, tilting his head and still keeping his eyes on me. 

"Sounds Latin. And I trust them, she'll be fine." Stefan offers up. I move my head to look at them, the effort slightly more taxing than normal. As if my neck is actually beginning to feel the weight of my skull. 

Elena shakes her head as well. "I don't think it's Latin." I stumble a bit, the wind whipping around us and the fires burning brighter. That tug from inside my chest feels stronger, my body feeling weaker, pain blossoming above my breastbone. My head aches and I struggle not to show it, clenching my teeth. 

Something bombs and creaks in front of us, the Bennetts stop chanting and I feel the pain and weakness lessen from my body. It's a rush, the feeling of my strength coming back, that almost leaves me dizzy. "It worked." Bonnie breathes out next to me, releasing my hand. Shiela does as well and I stumble back a bit, putting my hand to my head. Is this what channeling feels like?