Chapter 22: Chapter 22

Fallon POV

I can hear the whispers around me. Ryan is talking with Mother Agnes. I can hear Libby arguing with someone. I think Bruce and Libby are having an argument, but I am not sure. I try to open my eyes, but it is difficult to get past the pain in my neck.

I take a deep breath and try really hard to open my eyes. Nothing happens. Help Me! I scream inside my mind, but no one except Bruce can read my mind. I feel a hand touch me.

"I can hear you," Ryan whispers.

Ryan couldn't hear me before, but now he can. Ryan takes my hand. I feel him next to me. "Help me," I try to scream, but it comes out in a whisper. I move to my side, and I feel Ryan.

"Calm down. Libby and Mother Agnes are working to help you. The ancestors are here. The amulet has an important part of your magic. It is coming out of the amulet too fast. The ancestors are trying to slow it down. Just stay with me," Ryan says.

I nod my head and close my eyes. I try to think of rain, thunder, water, anything that does not involve my neck burning off of my body. I feel lips touch my forehead. It is Ryan. He kisses my forehead, and then I feel his hands go through my hair.

"Relax your mind, Fallon," Ryan says.

Relaxing my mind is not easy when something around my neck is burning a hole through me. I try to relax and put my mind elsewhere, somewhere with waterfalls and beaches, and it stopped. I open my eyes and look at Ryan. He has not left my side. He looks exhausted. I look behind me and see Mother Agnes and Libby, but no Bruce.

I look back to Ryan. "He is angry, isn't he?" I ask Ryan.

Ryan takes my hand. "I am your friend and your protector, and I will always be honest with you, Fallon. Bruce is upset, but I am not sure why. Libby isn't completely sure what is going on with Bruce, either. It will be alright. You and Bruce have been friends for a long time. I am sure it will work out," Ryan says, shining a little wisdom my way. I shake my head.

"She's awake," Mother Agnes says.

Mother Agnes and Libby rush to my side. Ryan moves to allow them time to check on me. I see Ryan out of the corner of my eye, and he is talking to Onya. They both look so serious.

"You have two special visitors," Libby says.

Libby is smiling from ear to ear as she delivers the news of two visitors for me. I have no idea who it could be. I don't really know anyone here except the ancestors and the uncles.

A breeze rushes through the room, and the uncles appear in the room with us. "Can't handle your magic, I see," Uncle Jeb says. Uncle Jeb is shaking his head and his wand. He looks disappointed in me. What did they expect?

Uncle Zeb pokes him and pushes Uncle Jeb out of the way. "Leave the girl alone. She's only been a witch a few days. How long did it take you to take your magic? Years! JEB YEARS!" Uncle Zeb scolds him.

Uncle Zeb sits down beside me. He is smiling at me. Uncle Zeb touches the amulet around my neck. "I made this for your mother. We knew someday you would come for it, and we wanted to make sure no one except you could take this magic," Uncle Zeb says.

Uncle Zeb moves his hand across my neck, and I watch as beautiful colors dance through the air. "NOW!" Uncle Jeb screams. Uncle Zeb grabs the amulet when Uncle Jeb screams at him. The amulet illuminates and begins to float off of my neck. It moves around the room as colors escape the amulet.

The amulet seems to turn inside out and then moves quickly back to my neck. Uncle Zeb and Uncle Jeb touch my amulet, and something begins to move into my body. I am not burning or hurting as the magic from the amulet spills into my body.

The ancestors join us. Onya, Sonya, and Anna place their hands on me. I take a deep breath in as colors come from their body to mine. It doesn't hurt like it did before. This is different.

It takes over an hour for the magic to move from the amulet into my body. When the magic stops moving, everyone backs away, and the amulet lays flat on my neck. I reach up and touch it. It feels like love when I touch the amulet.

Ryan reaches over and touches the amulet, and it shocks him. "Ouch!" Ryan says.

"It is protected, only Fallon can control the magic within the amulet, just as her mother did once," Onya says.

The ancestors and the uncles both look happy that I took the magic, but Libby looks worried. When I look at Mother Agnes, she also looks worried. There is something that no one is telling me. "Let's take a walk," Ryan says.

Ryan takes my hand and helps me to my feet. I am no longer weak or feel uneasy. "I think I got it," I say.

Ryan leads me out of the room with all the worry. "What is going on with them?" I ask Ryan.

"Let's take a long walk," Ryan says.

Ryan leads me out of the house and into the street. Music is singing to me from a distance, and I feel like I am home. "Why do I love it here so much?" I ask Ryan.

"Because this is your home. Keep walking," Ryan says.

Ryan and I were walking for at least a mile when he stops suddenly. "Everyone is afraid you will reject your magic and return to your old life. You have accepted the amulet, and now it is time to accept your mother's magic. It won't be easy. Then you will train to be a reaper. Fallon, it is a lot of responsibility," Ryan says.

"How long do I have?" I ask. I felt like I was asking how long do I have to live. Ryan kicks at the ground and lets out a low growl. He doesn't like the answer I am about to receive any more than he like delivering me the answer.

"You have to decide before you turn 18," Ryan says.

"So now, I have to decide now?" I ask him. Ryan gives me a half smile and looks at the ground. The huge Lycan almost looks vulnerable as he worries for me.

"Yes," he answers, growling.

I listen to the music coming from the distance and think about my mother. I took my amulet. This is my destiny. "I will accept my magic and my destiny," I say.

Ryan pulls me into his arms. "I will protect you with my life," Ryan says.