For Centuries - Season 4 [Completed]

Noon - 1 PM

"Young Men Dead", The Black Angels

We checked the anomalies with Anna and they had now spread dangerously. There were even more of them now. We could not wait any longer. "Lucas, honey, we will have to try the spell now," I said.

He nodded, squaring his shoulders, but his hands were shaking.

Our best chance was for Aidan to give Lucas his energy to nurture the spell while I would try to support it. It was hard to describe but the idea was that I would offer something like a mental box to Lucas for him to lean on and to help keep him focused. But it was a gamble. Magic always fought back.

I took off Stanislas' chains first. He widened his eyes. "Why are you doing that?"

"If something goes wrong, you have to be able to move. We cannot leave you like this. It is too dangerous for you."

He paused in shock. Then, determined, he said softly: "I won't be a problem."

I nodded. I looked around and I noticed a small crack in the painting of the ceiling near the stairs. My mind wandered. I would have to have this repaired. If the club would be still here tomorrow. If we would still be there.

I did not really know how I had blocked the initial spell. Would I be able to frame this new one for Lucas? Would I be solid enough? This amazingly brave kid was going to put his life in danger, with no guarantee whatsoever. He trusted me. Anna trusted me to protect his brother. My breathing quickened.

"There is a reason why everyone trusts you, pet," Stanislas said. His words took me out of my mental spiraling. I looked at him. "You can deal with it. You can deal with anything."

I stayed quiet, my eyes locked on his stern face. "I do not want anyone to be hurt," I whispered.

"We'll be fine."

I could not help but chuckle at this unexpected pep talk. But it helped me focus and I smiled at him. Without a word, he then walked to the other side of the room where he leaned on the wall, leaving us the space we needed. The bright light in the room seemed cold.

Anna, James, and Amaury were standing at the entrance, looking at us, desperate to be able to help us, but they could not.

Lucas sat on the floor, crossed legs, in the middle of the room. I kneeled behind him and rested my hands on his shoulders. We thought that direct contact should help ground him. Aidan sat in front of him, taking both of his hands in his. We exchanged a quick glance over Lucas' shoulders and I saw a flicker of fear in my vampire's eyes, but before he turned his gaze to Lucas, he composed a reassuring and encouraging face for the young man.

"Whenever you are ready, sweetie," I said to Lucas.

He eyed Anna a last time. She smiled at him, her eyes weary. "I love you, Lucas. You can do this."

Lucas took a deep breath and started chanting. I closed my eyes and tried to sense the structure of the magic emerging from him and to canalize it.

"Keep breathing steadily, Lucas. Do not rush it. Concentrate," I said, hoping that my voice could help him focus. "You are doing great."

I could not see the threads of light behind my closed eyelids but I could feel them perfectly. The energy from Lucas entangled with the patterns around the room. It was too weak though. The original spell was resisting.

"Aidan, he needs you now."

And it did not take long before I felt a new wave of power feeding the spell.