Chapter Fourteen

Emily's POV 

I stared blankly at Emilianna. My heart was beating so fast, I could feel it in my throat. I didn’t know how to begin. The words were there, but they were stuck. They felt too big, too heavy to say out loud.

"Emily," Emilianna said softly, her voice calm and gentle. "I’m here. I’m listening. Whatever it is, just tell me."

I swallowed hard, trying to find my voice. "I... I know something," I began, my voice shaking. "Something important."

Emilianna nodded, her eyes encouraging. "Go on," she urged, her tone patient and kind.

I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself. "It’s about Maron," I whispered, my voice barely above a whisper. "He... he killed your daughter."

Emilianna didn’t react the way I expected. She didn’t gasp or look shocked. Instead, she remained calm, her eyes soft but steady. "I know," she said quietly.

I blinked, confused. "You... you know?" I asked, my voice full of disbelief.

"Yes, Emily," she replied, her voice gentle but firm. "I’ve known for a long time."

"Then why haven’t you done anything?" I asked, my voice rising with confusion and frustration. "Why are you just sitting here, knowing what he did?"

Emilianna reached out and placed her hand on mine. Her touch was warm, comforting, but her eyes were filled with a sadness I couldn’t quite understand. "I have my reasons," she said softly. "It’s not something I can act on impulsively."

I shook my head, struggling to make sense of her words. "But he killed your daughter! Don’t you want justice? Don’t you want to make him pay?"

Emilianna gave me a small, sad smile. "Justice isn’t always about immediate action, Emily. Sometimes, we have to be patient and wait for the right time."

I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. "I don’t get it," I said, my voice trembling. "How can you be so calm about this? How can you just sit back and do nothing?"

Emilianna stood up, her eyes never leaving mine. "Come with me," she said, her voice gentle but firm. "There’s something I need to show you."

I hesitated, unsure of what she meant. But there was something in her eyes that made me trust her. Slowly, I got up and followed her. We walked in silence, the forest around us quiet except for the soft rustling of leaves under our feet. The air was cool, and the sky was starting to darken as the sun dipped below the horizon.

After what felt like forever, we arrived at a hidden cave, its entrance covered by thick vines. Emilianna gently pulled the vines aside, revealing a dark opening. "This is a place few know about," she said, her voice low. "Come inside."

I followed her into the cave, the air cool and damp. It was dark, but Emilianna seemed to know exactly where she was going. She led me deeper into the cave until we reached a small alcove. There, on a stone pedestal, rested an ancient-looking book.

"This," she said, picking up the book and holding it out to me, "is the Book of Shadows."

I took the book from her, feeling its weight in my hands. The cover was old and worn, the title barely visible. "What is this?" I asked, my voice filled with curiosity.

"It’s a book of knowledge and power," Emilianna explained. "It holds secrets that can help you grow stronger."

"Stronger?" I echoed, looking up at her. "Why do I need to get stronger?"

Emilianna’s eyes softened, and she placed a hand on my shoulder. "Because there are battles ahead, Emily," she said, her voice filled with a mixture of sadness and determination. "And you need to be ready."

I looked down at the book again, my fingers tracing the edges of the cover. "What do you want me to do?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

"Read it," she said simply. "Learn from it. And when the time comes, you’ll understand why I’ve done what I’ve done."

I nodded slowly, a sense of purpose beginning to form within me. "I’ll do my best," I promised.

Emilianna smiled gently. "I know you will, Emily. I believe in you."

We stood there in silence for a moment, the weight of everything hanging heavily in the air. Finally, Emilianna turned and began to walk back towards the cave entrance. I watched her go, my mind racing with thoughts and questions.

Left alone with the Book of Shadows, I sat down on the cool stone floor. The cave was quiet, the only sound the faint dripping of water somewhere in the distance. I opened the book, the pages yellowed with age, and began to read.

The words were strange and foreign, but as I read, I felt a strange sense of understanding wash over me. The book spoke of power, of strength, of things I had never imagined. It was overwhelming, but also exhilarating.

As I continued to read, I felt a new determination growing within me. I didn’t fully understand why Emilianna hadn’t acted against Maron, but I trusted her. And if she believed this book could help me, I was willing to do whatever it took.

Hours passed, and I lost track of time. The cave grew darker, and the air grew colder, but I didn’t stop. The words in the book seemed to pull me in, each page revealing more secrets, more knowledge.

Eventually, I closed the book, my mind spinning with everything I had read. I felt different, stronger somehow. I didn’t know what the future held, but I knew one thing for sure: I was ready to face it.

I stood up, the Book of Shadows clutched tightly in my hands. I walked back towards the cave entrance, the weight of the book feeling lighter now. As I stepped outside, the cool night air hit my face, and I took a deep breath.

Emilianna was waiting for me, her eyes filled with a quiet pride. "Are you ready?" she asked softly.

I nodded, a new sense of confidence in my voice. "I’m ready."

She smiled, a look of relief and hope crossing her face.

"Good," she said. "Because this is just the beginning."

We stood there in the quiet of the night, the stars shining brightly above us.

"Quite a bonding." I heard Maron's voice from behind us and immediately, the air turned cold.