20. Resurfacing

VALERIA

The presence of the amulet did not let me rest. My fingers ached to activate it, and it was only a matter of a few minutes before I succumbed to its pull.

Veronica was sound asleep when I checked on her, so I took the amulet, sneaked out of the bedroom, and went out the back door into the backyard. It was only a few minutes to sunrise and, if I successfully activated the amulet, I would not have to run away from it again. Instead, I would get to feel it for the first time.

I looked at it in my palm, the words for the activation spell ringing in my head. Then I inhaled deeply and held the amulet to my chest as I said the words out loud:

"Like the force of a flood,

wield your power through my blood."

And just like that, what felt like electricity coursed throughout my veins, making my eyes roll to the back of my head as my body vibrated uncontrollably. I could not see anything except a bright, red light in my vision, and my grip on the amulet went tighter, causing m