Night Touched

Ruby

Ruby

I had spent the better part of my morning packing up my apartment for the move to Aurora. I had boxes strewn about all over the place, some designated to keep and some to donate. I had worked so hard to get this internship to let anything stop me now, and fate must have been on my side to have my best friend move with me. I was so glad I had convinced her, to go to that club with me! How lucky was it that she had met Asher fucking Thornton; of all the eligible bachelors in our world?

I grabbed my glass of red wine off the end table and took a long sip. I figured, I had packed enough for the day and could take a break for my nightly meditation.  I knelt in front of my makeshift altar, having packed away all, but the essentials I needed. All I had left out was a red silk cloth, a silver candle, a ceremonial dagger and a moonstone.

"Incendio,"  I commanded the energy within the air, lighting my candle.

The wick flickered and a flame erupted from it. I took my dagger and raised it above my head, "Goddess, hear my prayer. A humble servant, I wish to see. What future lies in store for me."

I pricked the tip of my finger producing a well of red blood. I held my hand over the flame, feeling its heat caress my skin. I squeezed my index finger, letting three droplets of blood fall, with a hiss into the flame. The orange color of the flamed shifted. turning red.

That's strange, I thought, usually when I perform a quick augury, I just get a feeling come over me, or even a flash of an image of what's to come within my mind. I had never seen the flame of one of my candles change colors, with this spell before.

The pressure changed in the air surrounding me then, dropping slightly, the sensation rising goosebumps on my flesh. It wasn't even cold in here, but I just knew something strange was happening. I held the dagger steady at my side, just in case. A breeze came in through my open window and wave of green light filtered through it, casting eerie shadows on the wood floor.

"Incendio" I said again, conjuring a ball of flame in my left hand.

I steeled myself for what was coming. No one would take me down without a fight. I had worked too hard climbing through my Covens ranks to get where I was, and nothing would stop me from realizing my dreams.

The green light coalesced; forming a swirling pillar of smoke. I stood up, taking a defensive stance, watching the smoke form into a humanoid figure. The green slowly dissipated; revealing a woman with waist length blond hair with sparkling blue eyes.  She had high cheekbones and a lithe body, like a dancer. She was wearing a white, shiny iridescent gown that clung to her body. The fabric was different from anything I had seen before, and I knew my fabrics .

"Alright, you've got my attention blondie. Who are you, and why are you in my living room?" I demanded my voice strong.

The woman in front of me smiled, seemingly amused. She opened her lips, holding her hands underneath her chin; as if she was going to blow me a kiss. She blew outwards releasing a breath.  Upon the wave of her exhaled air, sparkled tiny stars that travelled over their current. 

"Universum mundus." She said

The stars glittered as the floated towards the flame in my hand. The fire went cold, and the tiny stars condensed together extinguishing the flame and leaving behind a miniature galaxy around my hand.

"What the fuck is happening here? Did I stutter? Who are you?" I demanded, but my voice had lost its bitter edge, and was instead tinged with curiosity and a dash of fear.