The Rose Witch - Chandelle LaVaun Page 0,82

with every movement.

Where’s the chalice?

Malachi pointed over my shoulder. “It’s in there.”

I followed his finger and my breath left me in a rush. “…lake?”

He shook his head. “The chalice is beneath.”

He pulled me to my feet and the ground rumbled. The lake surface rippled and sent little vibrations shooting up my legs. I frowned and looked down just as a black line shot through the water. The water split open, parting like the Red Sea. At first it was just a black hole, but then the blue illumination slipped over the edge and lit up a narrow staircase.

My stomach dropped like we were on a rollercoaster.

“We have to go down there,” Malachi whispered.

I let him half-carry me through the opening in the lake toward the stairs. We didn’t speak as we descended, not that there were words to say. When we got to the bottom, there was nothing but more blackness. Maybe it’s a trick? Except the stairs were still there waiting for us.

Little white beams of light shot up from the ground. The ground gave away in the shape of a flower, sinking farther and farther into darkness. The light grew brighter and thicker until we had to shield our eyes. When it suddenly vanished, I peeled my hand away. My jaw dropped. Sitting there was a chalice.

It was about a foot tall and radiated clean energy. It was bigger than I expected yet smaller at the same time. On the side of the chalice, there was a round purple crystal, and on either side of it were two purple half circles. Then two quarter circles. The moon phase. The chalice itself was a shiny, metallic color that was both gold and silver at the same time.

“This is the one,” I whispered.

“Yes.”

I nodded. I couldn’t have said how I knew exactly. It was simply being in its presence. I felt its power seeping into my bones without even touching it. Malachi dragged me over to it, then sat me down on my feet.

“I can help you hold it but you must drink, okay?”

I must have nodded because he took my hands in his and then reached us out and gripped the chalice, our fingers overlapping. My magic surged with power like I’d been plugged into an energy source. Together, we raised the cup to my face. I looked inside and wasn’t at all surprised to find that blue luminescent water shining up at us. I had no idea what was going to happen after I drank Holy Water, but I didn’t have a choice.

We tipped the chalice and let the glowing water fall into my mouth. I had no words to describe what it tasted like. It was warm and cold. Soothing and stimulating. Sweet and sour. My eyes rolled. Pain shot through my head and down my spine. It was like the worst case of brain freeze I’d ever experienced. My vision blurred until everything went white. I couldn’t see what was around us, couldn’t feel the ground under my feet. All I felt was Malachi’s hand in mine.

Stop fighting it, Chloe. It won’t hurt you, Malachi whispered into my mind.

I hadn’t realized I was fighting something. The white energy burned. I just wanted to shield my eyes from the intensity, but I couldn’t feel my body. There was a barrier between me and the white energy. I took another deep breath, then exhaled everything. Let it in, I told myself.

I felt a pop inside my chest and then blue light exploded out of me in every direction like a firework. The light formed into shapes that looked like people dancing. They moved in rushed lines like they were sprinting. Each of their forms glowed in the dark. Golden light filled the air around me — and then I was flipped onto my back.

My back arched and my breath was knocked out of me.

I lifted off the ground—

Malachi gasped. His eyes went wide and his jaw dropped.

Every ounce of pain I’d felt vanished – like it never happened. I spun in a tight circle like a miniature tornado. I threw my arms and legs out and the spinning stopped. Golden light poured out of me and my skin glowed. Warmth filled my veins like I’d never feel cold again. All of my strength surged and then some. I felt stronger than I ever had. I felt like I could run a marathon or walk on water. I felt like I’d got the best sleep of my life. My