Piece of Me

[Strawberry]

Tuesday, May 25th

There’s a storm on the horizon, as there so often is these days. I’m usually good at weathering it, at least until others get caught up in the ever present dramatics of Life with Karma. It’s them I worry for. Me, I know I can take it. Or if I can’t, I’m not usually too worried about what comes after.

Reckless child.

So I’ve been told.

Just like she was.

Just like she is. You know, I’m not afraid of much in this life… but she… she terrifies me. Caleb picked up on it, he knows, I think. I’m getting markedly worse at keeping anything from him. He’s more observant than anyone gives him credit for.

What is that saying about ignorance is bliss?

Ah, to have bliss.

I stepped through the unassuming door of a small shop on Luna Lane a few doors down from the Lyceum. Perhaps if I couldn’t find what I was looking for here, I could ask Mallory’s people for help. What little I knew of the Archmage told me that she might have more answers than I realized.

What’s the cost?

That’s always the question, isn’t it. And it wasn’t one I wanted to answer just yet. So for now I ducked into the dim lit storefront to see what I could find. It was an unassuming space, glass shelves dotted by knick-knacks and jewelry pieces, a wooden floor needing a bit of polish, an aged counter with an older looking till. Behind a seafoam green curtain, I could hear the quiet, rhythmic tink-tink-tink of metal on metal. Not wanting to interrupt, I tucked my hands into my pockets and turned to peruse the wares on the shelves.

Most emanated some amount of subtle magic. Nothing nefarious as far as I could tell. Soothing, protective, boosting, all positive energies. They were infused into necklaces and rings, statuettes and cute figurines. My eye caught on a particularly adorable cat statue. Angela would have loved it.

If she ever comes back.

She will. I just… don’t know when.

“Good for focus and grounding energy.” An accented, feminine voice came from behind me, making me jump slightly. The metal-on-metal in the background was still tapping out a quiet melody, I hadn’t even realized someone had joined me in the front room. When I turned, I found a small, lovely woman with a kind smile and vivid eyes. Beachy blonde waves were pushed out of her face with a grey bandana knotted atop her head.

“I was just thinking my sister might like it.” I admitted, looking back to the cat figurine.

“She might. Are you looking for something for her specifically?” The woman asked, stepping out from behind the counter. She wore a comfortable looking knit cardigan over a camisole and a bohemian styled skirt that hit at the ankles. Bare feet, I noticed, that was something. Comfort over all else?

“I was um, actually looking for something for someone else.” I answered. The way the woman’s smile grew told me that she already knew this. “I’m looking for… ah, perhaps a talisman of protection?”

“Then you’ve come to the right place. I’m Tessa.” She gave me a politely scrutinizing look as if gazing into me on a deeper level. I couldn’t help but shift uncomfortably. There was nothing malevolent about the way she looked at me but it made me vulnerable, whatever it was. “Tell me about the one you wish to protect? We may have something suitable already made but if not, I am sure I can whip one up in no time.”

Where is that accent from?

I’m not sure. It was familiar though.

“It’s for someone I care about immensely. He’s, um, capable of protecting himself… but I want to give him more. I want to make sure I’m there for him no matter what, that he’s as well guarded as he’s made sure I am…” That was the long of it. Maybe the short of it actually. The long of it was that that silly assassin had become far more important to me than anyone else that wasn’t immediate family.

What a bother.

It’s not a bother, that’s the thing. I would do this a thousand times over for him if I had to. What he’s done for me, despite having no obligation to do so, well, it’ll take me a thousand lifetimes to properly show him just how important he is.

It may very well take a thousand of your lives if what you think is coming comes to pass.

Not now, I don’t want to think about that. It’s not about me right now, it’s about him.

“A shield for a shield. Reinforcement. Hmm.” Tessa looked over the shelves and shook her head. “No, no, these won’t do.”

Abruptly she turned away and stalked into the back room, disappearing for an eternity-long three minutes. When she emerged, she did so with a small, pointed vial that looked decorative more than anything.

“You wish to give of yourself to someone who has given unto you, yes?” She asked, her green eyes bright in the dim light.

“Y-yeah…” I nodded. She drew closer and held her hands out for mine. Only a moment’s hesitation found mine slipping into hers. Her hands were warm, soft, gentle. She turned my left hand up to examine the ring there, her smile softening.

“Ah… a guardian… you weren’t lying…” Tessa laughed quietly, tracing her thumb over the fire opal. “To give of yourself so that he might keep you with him always, I would need one piece of you. Hair, blood, essence… whatever you deem fit.”

To think, you could have just gone straight to the Blood Witch.

“What will you do with it?” I asked. “Hopefully you understand my hesitation. This is Rhydin after all.”

“Ah, of course.” Tessa curled her hand around mine firmly and looked me dead in the eye. The depth in her gaze was a limitless thing, something that spoke of the eternity of the boundless cosmos. I was strangely comforted even before she spoke. “It will be used in its entirety to infuse this piece with your presence, allowing you a connection to the wearer no matter where they may be. It transcends realms and sometimes even time itself. How that manifests is up to you, but you will be by their side as they have for you. My Word, my Bond, my Name, on all three I swear this to you.”

That was Power. Even the nagging little voice in the back of my head was stunned to silence.

I nodded.

“Please. What is most… uh… effective?” I asked.

“Soul essence though it’s harder to capture. Blood is second most. Other flesh, so hair, nail, skin, etcetera, is effective but less so.” Tessa explained.

“Essence then.” I said without hesitation. Whatever it took, I would give it. Tessa held my gaze a few moments longer before nodding.

“Breathe and focus on clearing your mind. Whatever ails you presently, your stressors, your worries, let them go for the next few moments. If you must, focus upon your goal here; protecting your loved one.” Tessa let my hands go and raised them to set them to either side of my face, her thumbs set to my temples. I tried my best to focus as she asked, letting go little by little of all I carried with me. There was no heaven, there was no Hell. There was no storm brewing on the horizon. There was just… acceptance.

And then there was cold.

As though someone had taken a white-hot razor to the inside of my brain, I flinched from the sensation, vaguely aware of Tessa’s quiet, soothing sounds.

“Focus, love. A little more…” She said softly.

Orange blossom... Lavender…

A crooked smile. The smell of breakfast in the morning. Happy squeaks of a raccoon keen on footfalls I can never hear when Caleb arrived home. The taste of vodka. Unwavering calm and determination. Hazel eyes that looked grey in the right light or when he was in certain moods.

The searing sensation stopped abruptly. Tessa made a soft sound of triumph.

“There it is.” She murmured, her hands easing away from my face. One set to my shoulder as I swayed, holding me steady while her other hand quickly manipulated the stopper on the tiny vial. Through blurred vision I barely made out a wisp of pale blue within the hazy glass. It seemed to dance and writhe, spinning about in the vial with erratic motion.

“Is… is that it?” I asked.

“It is… you’ve quite the essence here. It will make for a strong connection. Are we under much of a time crunch?” She asked, slipping the vial into the pocket of her cardigan.

“I’m not… really… sure. But the sooner the better, you know?” I rolled a shoulder, trying to clear the lingering sensation from my grey matter.

“Okay… hmm. Come back tomorrow, same time. I will have it ready then, okay?” Tessa’s smile brightened once more.

“Same time tomorrow. Got it. Um, thank you, by the way. This was a lot easier than I thought it would be…” I admitted.

“I try. But you made it easier, so thank you as well. I look forward to seeing you tomorrow.” She bowed her head to me. I returned the motion and with a few parting words, left the Heart Forge behind. The price tag would be a bit of a hit, I would need to get that together before tomorrow but it would be worth it.

Will it?

I’m sure of it. Every silver, every shred of myself, I’d give it all. Nobody is taking this from me.

Nobody.



((The Heart Forge & Tessa used with permission. Thank you!))