“I don’t know much about it except that it can heal anything,” Rachel said.
“How did you even know about it?” his mother asked.
“The last words Benji uttered was about the Red Amulet. He didn’t say much about it and then fell back unconscious. I think it’s the only thing that can save him at this point,” Rachel said.
“What happened to him anyway?” his mother asked seeming unconcerned.
“I don’t know,” Rachel said.
“What do you mean you don’t know?” his mother asked.
“I mean, I woke up next to him and saw that he was bleeding uncontrollably. There was nothing I could do to help him,” Rachel answered.
“You know what happens if we lose all our blood right?” his mother asked.
“No? What?” Rachel asked, suddenly feeling even more nervous than before.
“If we lose all our blood we die and can never be saved, no matter what we use. The Red Amulet won’t save him if he’s lost all his blood.”
“Well, I don’t know if that has happened yet, and I hope there is still time. I have to find the Red Amulet and bring it to him. Do you know where it is?” Rachel asked.
“I don’t know where it is anymore. We sent it away after we used it, and I’m not sure who has it now,” his mother answered. “Sorry, wish I could be more help to you.”
“Please tell me you know who has it!” Rachel begged. “Can’t you remember who you sent it to?”
“I’m sorry young lady, I can’t help you,” his mother replied.
“Yes you can, you’re the only one who can help me decipher the Coven Code. Hunter told me you could. Please don’t walk away now,” Rachel begged. “I need you.”
Rachel reached into her pants pocket and pulled out the folded page from the old Coven book and opened it up. She turned it around and showed it to Hunter’s mother to see.
“Where did you find that?” she asked.
“I found it in the old Coven Book at Hunter’s school. We just came from a party and nearly died trying to get it,” Rachel said. “Now that I have it, it’s useless because I can’t read it. I’ve never seen this language before in my life and Hunter says you are the only one who can help me.”
His mom reached out and took the page from Rachel, scrolling over the words with her eyes and shaking her head and said, “I can read this, but it won’t do you any good. Contrary to what many believe the answers are not found on this piece of paper.”
“What do you mean the answers are not there. I was told that the page tells us how to locate the Red Amulet. Is that not true?” Rachel asked wearily. “Please don’t tell me there’s no information on that page.”
“I’m sorry, young lady. There is nothing here that will help you,” she replied.
“What am I supposed to do now?” Rachel asked.
“You said you are in love with Benji. Is that true?” she asked.
“Yes! Of course it’s true,” Rachel said without hesitation.
“How much do you love him?” she asked.
Rachel thought these questions were a bit irrelevant and out of place in this conversation about the Red Amulet but went along with them as to not upset her, especially after barging in on them without warning.
“With all my heart. I’d do anything for him, which is why I am here right now, talking to you,” Rachel said.
“I can tell that you really care about him,” his mother said. “And while his father and I are not on good terms with him, we are glad that he has found someone like you.”
Rachel felt surprisingly good to hear her say those words. She was glad that in some small way his mother approved of her. That maybe she even liked her. She didn’t know but knew this wasn’t helping her find the Red Amulet.
“So what does this have to do with the Red Amulet?” Rachel asked.
“It has everything to do with the Red Amulet,” she said. “When you truly love someone you are the one that holds the key to finding it. You have the power to find it in this case. Nobody else does. The answer lies in your hands, Rachel. Only you can save Benji now.”
“What do you mean I hold the key to the Red Amulet? What does that mean?” Rachel asked.
“You will learn, young lady. You have all the answers you will need. You have to search within yourself to find them,” she said.
“But I don’t. I promise. I have no clue where to find it. Please, help me out here,” Rachel begged. “I can’t do this on my own. I can’t!”
“You have to. You have no choice. The answer will come to you, I promise. Sleep on it, my dear.”
“Sleep on it?” Rachel asked.
“Yes—if you truly love him, it will come to you in your dreams. Go on now: go to one of our rooms upstairs. Sleep. Find the answer for yourself,” she said. “Trust me, it will come.”
Rachel followed directions. She left the room and went upstairs, winding her wat down the hall into one of the guest bedrooms.
She crashed on the lush bed, and in moments fell asleep, hoping that his mom was right. She fell asleep, hoping and praying that she loved him enough—and that all her answers would come to her in her dreams.
Chapter 11
Rachel lay there in silence staring up at the ceiling, which was beautifully painted with a landscape of a Roman garden with sculptures and fountains. She replayed her conversation over and over with Benji’s mother, but couldn’t figure out what she meant. She knew she didn’t have the answers or the key to finding the Red Amulet and didn’t feel any closer to finding it having spoken to her. She felt at a loss.
Sleep on it she kept saying to herself over and over in her head. Those were his moms words of advice for her. She didn’t quite understand, but wondered if maybe it would just come to her in her sleep.
Rachel felt her eye lids getting heavier by the minute, and then before she knew it, she was fast asleep in a strange bed in a strange room in a new castle.
The walls were a bright white and there was a bright blue pulsing light that hit each wall. There was no artwork, no furniture, no bed, no carpet, just stark white walls. Rachel stood there, alone, spinning in circles humming a childhood lullaby as she swung her arms around her. Her pink and yellow dress was long and flowed in the air around her. Suddenly, red balloons floated up out of nowhere with light blue ribbons which she held in her hand as she stared wondrously at the balloons, she saw a note attached to one of the ribbons.