The Kuthun (33 page)

I turn my attention back to Magi. I have to get her help. I try and stand up but my legs are too weak. He moves forward to help me.

‘Don’t,’ I warn.

He stops and a look of concern washes over his face.

I glance at him briefly before I teleport, leaving him to find his own way out.

We land on the kitchen floor. The energy it took to teleport drains me completely.

‘Jo!’ I hear Aunt Lily yell.

I can feel her hands on my face and then all of a sudden I am being lifted.

‘Magi,’ I whisper.

‘Magi will be fine,’ Uncle Jo says softly. His breath touches my cheek.

The soft cushions of the lounge mold into my back as he places me down. I try to sit up but I have nothing left. Aunt Lily places her hand on my leg, looking lost and bewildered. I look across the room to see Uncle Jo placing Magi down onto the chaise.

‘How is she?’ I ask softly. My eyes are swimming in and out of consciousness.

‘She’ll be okay,’ he says. But the look he gives me tells me it is far from okay.

She’s not going to make it
.

I won’t lose her. I gather whatever strength I have left.

‘Ellie, don’t move, you’re hurt,’ Aunt Lily says.

I manage to roll off the side of the lounge and crawl over to Magi. I place my hand on her chest and can feel her short, sharp breaths. Uncle Jo has taken off her Kevlar jacket, and as I trace my hand along her shoulder and down to her ribcage I feel moisture between my fingers.

‘No.’ I shake my head, already knowing that when I pull my hand away I will see the colour of crimson.

He looks at me sadly. ‘Knife wound.’

A part of me is ebbing. The part of me that keeps me going is fading, I can feel it.

‘I can call Vet Miller and get him here at quick as possible,’ he says.

I shake my head. ‘It will be too late. She’s fading.’ A tear falls gracefully onto Magi’s head.

Nothing can bring back a soul once it is this far gone. How do I save you?
What do I do?

‘What about the book?’ he says.

Memories of Magi come flooding back to me from when she was just a pup. The two of us rolling around the backyard wrestling, chasing butterflies in the garden, her making me feel content and safe, and then consoling me after Mum died.

Sister soul mates.

The image of us residing beneath the moon and the sun enters my mind with perfect clarity.

I crouch onto my knees and grab her collar.

‘Ellie, what are you doing?’ Uncle Jo says warily.

‘The only person who can save her is Taqôq Wiyon,’ I say. ‘I have to get her to him right away.’

‘You can’t go, you don’t have the strength,’ he says.

I look at him and notice that his face has lost some of its colour.

‘You’ve been hurt, Uncle Jo. You need rest. I can do this. I have to do this.’

He runs his hand through his sandy brown hair. ‘I’m not in pain because of a little arrow.’ He glances away from me. ‘Damn it, Ellie! You’ve been gone all night.’ He turns back to me and I see that the dark circles under his eyes are from lack of sleep and worry.

I sigh, realising that my absence has caused him the pain he suffers. I reach out to touch his hand. ‘I am so sorry. I will tell you everything that happened, but I need to save Magi first.’

We stare at each other for a moment before he nods reluctantly.

I gather all my strength and ask Isis silently for her help. I feel a rush of adrenalin flow through me and I take one last look at Uncle Jo before I vanish.

The cold air hits me as we land outside the tepee. The smell of smoke and incense invades my senses and I sigh with relief.

I hear Taqôq Wiyon chanting from inside. I try to stand up, my legs shaking beneath me. He stops chanting, and a moment later the flap swings aside. He looks at us calmly.

Without saying a word he bends down and gently lifts Magi up into his arms. She whimpers softly as he carries her into the tepee.

He places her down on the woven mat before the fire and takes up his position on the other side. I sit next to her and place my hand on her side, needing to feel the rise and fall of her chest.

‘Please save her,’ I plead.

He looks at me briefly before returning his attention back to her.

He starts to chant, shaking his stick from side to side. The smoke in the room starts to build. The ghostly images of a lion, a bear and an eagle take form above me. I watch in wonder as they circle Magi’s body, flowing in and out of her aura. I stay silent and unmoving, for fear of disturbing the ritual that is taking place. Time stands still.

His chanting intensifies and beads of sweat are covering his forehead. His eyes start to roll back inside his head and his body shudders forcefully.

I watch him connecting with the spirits of his ancestors, drawing on their healing powers.

The spirits float around me and I can hear their animal sounds. I look down at Magi and the colours that had faded from her now start to reform. Slowly her aura emits her usual purple and green light. I watch the colours glow brighter, stronger, and slowly the wound that nearly ended Magi’s life begins to heal. I let out a cry of relief as I feel her heartbeat strengthen beneath her fur.

The animals move away from Magi and look back briefly, before disappearing into the spirit world where they wait to be called upon again. Taqôq Wiyon has slumped forward in his position and I wait patiently for his spirit to return also.

The minutes pass and I stay still, not wanting to interrupt the magic taking place.

Slowly I feel Magi stirring beneath my hand and I look down to see her trying to open her eyes.

I lower my face to hers. ‘Mags, can you hear me? You’re going to be alright girl.’ I burrow my face quietly into her neck and I feel her stir in response.

I glance up to see Taqôq Wiyon smiling at us gently. ‘She be healed. She will live,’ he says weakly.

I notice that his skin is pale and his breath is slightly ragged.

‘Thank you,’ I say with gratitude.

He nods his head and puts one palm up towards me, the other hand he lays against his chest. He smiles gently and then disappears into the smoke.

The teepee is still.

‘Where did he go?’ I whisper, shocked by his rapid departure.

At the sound of my voice Magi stirs and attempts to stand up. Her legs wobble beneath her like a newborn calf trying to walk for the first time. I grab her around the waist, trying to support her weight. I can see she is still weak but she makes it, lifting her eyes to mine.

‘Hey, Mags.’ I stroke her head. She licks my hand in return.

Looking at the empty space where Taqôq Wiyon was sitting only moments ago, I think about everything he has done for our family.

He is the reason I know the truth about our bloodline; the truth about Magi; and the reason I am standing here today. Had he not saved Isabella all those years ago I wouldn’t even exist, Magi wouldn’t be standing in front of me, and I wouldn’t know who I really was.

Without him, I would probably be dead.

I owe him so much and now he is gone, and I don’t know if I will ever see him again. I am saddened by this last thought
and more
tears blur my vision.

Magi nuzzles my hand and sends me an image of home.

I nod, wiping my eyes. ‘Ready?’ I say.

She sidles closer and I take her by the collar.

We land back in the living room. Uncle Jo is asleep
on the lounge, his arm covering his face. I decide not to wake him, knowing how exhausted he is.

Magi and I walk weakly into the kitchen. Aunt Lily turns from the sink, her eyes red and blotchy from crying. She chokes back a sob and pulls me into her arms.

‘We’re okay,’ I whisper into her neck.

She pulls away reluctantly and wipes her eyes. ‘I’m sorry. I was just so worried.’ She takes a deep breath. ‘Are you really alright?’ Her blue eyes illuminate her meaning. What she is really asking is, is it over?

I nod. ‘It’s over.’

She smiles faintly and touches my cheek. ‘Good.’ She nods her head with slight hesitation. ‘Good,’ she says again, as if to reassure herself.

She bends down and gives Magi a pat. ‘You hungry girl?’ Magi wags her tail. ‘Come on, I’ll get you something to eat, you look too skinny.’ She walks back to the fridge and starts rummaging around.

I know she needs time to calm her emotions, and to be honest, so do I. I send Magi a vision of my room and she glances back at me with understanding. As I turn the corner to ascend the stairs I hear a knock at the front door.

I quickly answer it before it wakes Uncle Jo. As I open it a bushel of blonde hair attacks me.

‘Hey, Phoebs.’ I hug her back.

She pulls away. ‘I was so worried, E.’

‘I know. It’s over now.’ I take in the large dried cut on her cheek that now looks swollen and painful. I grimace. ‘How are you doing?’

She follows my eyes and reaches her hand up to her face to touch the wound. ‘Pretty ugly huh? I figure that when it heals it will probably make me look fearsome, like some sort of superhero.’

I chuckle. ‘I can fix that for you.’

‘Good! That’s what I was hoping for.’ She enters the house and as I shut the door I see Uncle Jo standing in the entryway to the lounge room.

‘I’ll meet you upstairs, Phoebs,’ I say quietly.

‘Hi, Mr. Olsen,’ she says as she walks past. I notice she doesn’t make eye contact—probably unsure whether he is still angry at her or not.

‘Hi, Phoebe. Glad to see you are alright.’ He smiles faintly at her as she takes the stairs.

His eyes fall on me. I nod and follow him into the room.

He turns and gives me a big hug. ‘I’m so glad you are alright, Ellie,’ he whispers into the top of my head.

‘I’m glad you’re okay too,’ I respond, taking in his bandaged thigh and depleted aura.

He pulls himself away gently. ‘Tell me what happened?’

I spend the next few minutes telling him everything that occurred after he blacked out. When I am finished he shakes his head.

‘I can’t believe it. So that’s it! We just let him walk away and hope that the curse is broken?’ He runs his hand through his hair and hobbles towards the fireplace.

I take a few steps towards him. ‘I think it
is
broken, Uncle Jo. I mean, I saw the change happen. I saw how different he was after taking the vial.’

He turns to stare at me. ‘What do you think it was he saw?’ he asks.

I shrug. ‘I’m not sure, but he said he saw the truth. I can only imagine what that means.’

He gazes at me intently for a few seconds. I can see his mind racing.

‘We have to hope that this is done. I trust Isis,’ I say confidently.

He frowns slightly and then moves to face me. ‘What about the power? From what you said it sounds like there is another side of you trying to emerge when you use your magic. Do you think it’s Isis?’

I remember having to fight internally to regain my balance of power when fighting the Venator. I remember seeing myself through Magi’s eyes: suspended in mid-air, red eyes alight, hair swirling around my face, my body ignited with immense magic. A shiver runs through me.

‘I don’t know. Maybe the combined magic is so strong that there is a threat of losing myself in it. Or maybe it’s just me, having to battle my own demons to stay in control. I really don’t know for sure. All I know is, I have to stay grounded, I have to learn how to balance the energies out.’ I frown at the thought.

He nods slowly. ‘And what about Isis?’

I prickle slightly in defence. ‘What about her?’

He opens his palms out to me. ‘Well, what about the light. I mean, that’s what all this was about, right?’

He has a right to know but I’m not sure whether I am ready to reveal all that Isis showed me about the future. I’m not sure he would understand. I also remember telling him that I wouldn’t keep anything from him.

He moves closer. ‘What is it, Ellie?’

I hesitate for only a moment before I realise that I can’t do this alone. I need him by my side.

I sigh. ‘Remember when we were in Egypt and I had to do the last journey alone?’

He nods.

‘Well, Isis showed me the light. She revealed what the light represents and what it all means.’ His frown deepens. ‘When I drank her life-force it strengthened the bond between us from this world to the next. It was necessary to ensure that our bloodline continued and that the New Coming, and Isis herself, would live again.’