Story 41/1001

• hemisphere
• remind
• arm

“I’m sorry.” I muttered as I dug his grave. “This wasn’t supposed to happen.”

“Inna? Are you talking to the dead again?” Vincent asked.

“Not like we won’t talk to him in a minute.” I answered, passing him a shovel.

“You can apologize to him then.” Ryder added. “This is just weird.”

“Yes. This is weird. Not digging up our grandpa’s grave to wake him up. No.” I scoffed.

“Well, we wouldn’t have to do that if someone cast the spell correctly.” Ryder said, his eyebrow lifting.

“I did nothing wrong!” I said, redness flushing my cheeks. “It’s easy to blame me, when you’re the one who cooked this whole mess up to begin with.”

“Me?”

“Yes, you. You wanted to impress little Barbie doll.”

“First of all, only her friends can call her that. You’re obviously not one of them. And second, jealousy doesn’t suit you. We’re cousins, not lovers.”

“What? I’m not jealous, you idiot.” I frowned. “I’m just telling you that you used your gifts without practice, and for stupid reasons.”

“Not all of us can become the apprentices.”

“Okay, drop it, you two. Seriously, if we weren’t related I would never hang out with you when you’re together!” Vincent said, extending his arm towards me.

I took it and moved closer to him. He showed me some inscriptions at our grandpa’s coffin. I frowned, not letting him touch them.

“It’s a protection spell.” I said.

“Can we remove it?” Vincent asked.

“Do I need to remind you we have a sorcerer’s apprentice among us?” Ryder said, crossing his arms. “If anyone can do it, it’s her.”

I looked at them, fighting against the urge to slap Ryder. I took a deep breath, focusing all my emotions on the spell before me, just like I was taught. Emotions aren’t bad, they just have to be used properly.

I lifted my hands and closed my eyes. I heard a faint melody coming from the coffin, a melody which was engrained in the spell. In it, I heard my grandma’s voice.

It is hard. The melody is lulling me to sleep, and fighting against it is causing me pain. I yelled out, not sure if anyone can hear me.

But then I felt two arms on my shoulders. Relief passed through my body as I took a piece of Vincent’s and Ryder’s strength.

The spell was strong, but it wasn’t a match for the three of us. After a moment of silence, the ground shook violently, and cracks formed around grandpa’s coffin.

Then, silence.

I opened my eyes, only to see my cousins on the ground next to me.

“How did-” Ryder gulped.

“The whole ground shook.” Vincent whispered. “No. The whole hemisphere. No. The planet.” He got up and looked at me. “Are you okay? That was amazing!”

“It’s-“

“Stop chatting. We have an old man to wake up.” Ryder got up and brushed the dirt from his pants and jacket.

Vincent rolled his eyes, but I gave him a reassuring smile.

The truth is, I didn’t need Ryder to be proud of me. Because in that split second, I recognized the melody my grandma was humming for the spell.

It was the same one my mom used to sing to me. It filled my heart with her love, unlocking a strength I didn’t know I possess.

And I will use it to get Ryder out of his mess.