The Butterfly Effect

By the time I stepped outside, the leaves were on fire. A heat wave hit me like a train, making me take a step back into the cabin. My hair was on my face and the smoke wouldn't let me see more than two feet away. A haze tsunami surrounded me, awakening a deep sense of fright in me while I tried to pull myself together. At this point, my cheeks were burning hotter than the fire on the ground, fueled by the adrenaline rushing through my veins.

Explosions of red and yellow crowned the landscape, but my determination was strong and I felt in my bones the need to find her. That was when I rushed through the flames and into the woods, no compass, no map; my only guide was the hope of finding her alive.

-Silvia! - I screamed, but the only answer I got in return was my own eco. –Silvia, I’m on my way! - I tried again, breathless as the branches hit my arms and body. As I was getting closer and closer to the cliff I heard some footsteps behind me; they were uncomfortably near; roaring aggressive in the distance. -Wolves- I cried.

A rock on the way made me fall on my face as I reached the end of the forest. I could feel the bruises on my skin hurting more than they did before. Out of nowhere, the trees were gone and so was the fire. A deep bright green replaced what had banished in ashes a second ago. My knees were shaking, but I found the strength to rise when I saw her; my sister was standing before my eyes with the Book on her hands.

-I've got it- she shouted. -And I've got you- a second voice raised from behind me. One of the wolves lifted her head revealing an old lady who wasn’t a stranger to me at all. Those eyes were the same as my mother’s; they were in fact, my aunt’s. -You thought you could come out triumphant like your parents did, uh? Stealing the Book from an old woman… how dare you! - She approached me. -We both know you were not proclaimed the guardian of the Book of Shadows- I replied looking at my sister, who was holding to the Book for dear life. -Well, you weren’t either. Your little sister turned out to be the most powerful heir in the family, or so did your parents consider before the car crash… how sad they aren’t here anymore-. She said ironically. Her words tore my heart apart, but this was no moment to show any weakness.

Her wolves started to encircle me, making me feel as if I were miles apart from my sister when in reality we were so close… Fear, I could see it in Silvia’s eyes, she knew she wasn’t ready to cast a spell yet but her blood was the key to the Book’s lock and we had to react now or the old woman would take it from us.

-Didn’t you have enough being chosen as the Head of the Midnight Council? Why would you ruin your life by trying to run away with the Book? - I asked trying to hold back the tears that were menacing to burst from my eyes. –I was rejected by the Deity herself when it was my birthright to become the guardian! Your mother was the youngest; therefore it was her place to become the Head of the Midnight Council and not mine, but she wouldn’t come to her senses and give me what I deserved… so I had to intervene-. Her voice raised above the sound of the sea below us when she started to laugh. –She stole my place as the guardian just as she stole yours by passing the Book down to your younger sister, can’t you see? We are halves of the same soul, I know you can feel it- and she was right, an electric feeling went all over my spine when she revealed herself.

As she walked closer to me it was harder to resist the impulse, I hated her for what she did to the Community and more specifically to us, to my parents, but deep down I felt an undeniable connection between us.

The wolves were all around us, the mist was becoming thicker and colder and my sister was shaking at the edge of the cliff praying for me not to turn my back on her. At this point the chances of us being able to escape the witch were null, but on the other hand, if I joined her, I would be able to set Silvia free, even if it meant giving the Book to our aunt.

-So which one do you value the most: your sister or your life? - She dared me. My sister’s eyes turned bright blue and so did her hands. She was desperately trying to cast a sea-spell for protection by carefully pronouncing ancient words that started to float all around. The earth was shaking now.

-A stupid magic bubble won’t save you tonight, darling- The witch raised her hand in the air throwing a golden ribbon towards my sister’s neck, holding her in the air. –How will you cast your kindergarten spells now, thief?- Her eyes were injected in blood and her wolves becoming more and more impatient by the moment.

The Book fell into the ground making the most terrible sound I've ever heard in my life, almost as if it was screaming in pain when it left my sister's hands; and even in a moment like this, all I could hear was the beating of my heart, pounding so hard it felt like it would tear my ribs apart.

The wolves were now surrounding me, waiting for the right time to get me, with claws sharp as knives. Dazed and dizzy I ran towards the Book when I realized I was injured. One of the wolves had wounded me, making me scream in pain.

I had just caught the Book of Shadows when a drop of blood dripped on the cover. A tornado of pages fiercely came out of it blinding everyone around, including myself. –Only blood is thicker than magic- I smiled as Silvia fell into my arms. The ribbon broke and the Book’s pages turned into a thousand butterflies flying in all directions. By the time the old witch opened her eyes, the Book had disappeared and we were already gone.