A few hours before a tragedy would strike their peaceful community, Laurence asked his best friend, Simon, for help. While a party for her daughter was underway at their mansion, they went to his secret room to prepare for a ritual.
He knew he could generate enough energy to create a spell if he could combine his powers with Simon. His friend could help him protect his child from the dangers threatening her future.
"You have to help me. You are the only one I can count on." Laurence told his friend as they stood in front of the old scriptures that his family hid for safekeeping for a long time.
Ever since Gavrielle was born, Laurence had been obsessing about the red birthmark on her shoulders. It did resemble the symbol that their ancestors had mentioned in the prophecy.
An old story passed down to generations that created fear among their species and the other kinds. But as years passed without the fulfillment of the curse, it had become a slowly dying lore, forgotten in the new world.
"Are you sure about your plans?" Simon asked his friend, doubting that it was the only option available to stop the curse. "Maybe we can still find another way."
In his opinion, the mark might not mean anything but a mere coincidence. The scriptures passed to them from different generations were so old. Their translations might not be accurate.
Maybe they were interpreting it the wrong way. Or it was just a tale everyone had come to believe. But interfering with the course of fate was far worse if they made a slight mistake.
"But we are running out of time. The others will soon find out. Words will spread about my daughter's birthmark, and many will speculate about the curse." Laurence began pacing around the room.
Afraid that the congregation would find her daughter a danger to their way of life and decide a grim fate for her. He could not allow that to happen.
"Then, let them. It was an old tale that had not come true for centuries. What made you believe that it is even true?" Simon insisted, not wanting his friend to get frantic when it was not even necessary.
He still believed the congregation would only find an ordinary mark that had nothing to do with the old curse. Discoloration on the skin could not automatically mean the end of all supernatural beings. That was just insane, he thought.
"Because even Rae felt it. The strong aura that Gavrielle is emitting from her mark. It was not an ordinary mark. She has an extraordinary power that Rae and I could not understand." Laurence finally confided to his friend, whispering what had bothered them when they first saw the mark.
He and Rae came from two diverse families of warlocks and witches that had been around for centuries. So, they developed their powers and made them stronger. But what Gavrielle had was beyond what they both had encountered before.
Laurence and Rae were terrified that someone else would learn about her mark and extraordinary powers. Eventually, they would find her as a threat and the manifestation of the prophecy.
He could not allow that to happen. With the help of his friend, he wished to find a solution to their predicament.
"This is a powerful spell. The others might sense this and pinpoint it back to you. Then, how would you explain that to them? They would surely take this as an act of defying the covenant." Simon reminded him.
Using strong magic, especially forbidden and controlled dark spells, was not allowed without the prior consent of the congregation. Once discovered, they might declare themselves traitors for performing such a ritual.
Besides, it was common knowledge that such a ritual also produced side effects. Mostly, in the past, nothing good ever came out of it.
That was why it was only banned in the congregations and would only be allowed as a last resort.
"I know, but if they want to point at someone to condemn, I will take all the blame. I will never put you and your family in harm's way. I promise you that." Laurence sounded desperate.
In the last several centuries that they know of, no one had done the ritual. No one dared to perform it for whatever reason.
They would only discover the consequence of their actions once the process was over. Then, it would be too late to stop or do anything about it.
But usually, it was not something good. Now, Simon knew why Laurence did not want to involve their wives because what they were about to do was very dangerous.
"I don't care about my life. I will take the heat with you if need be. But I want to ensure you are ready for all the possibilities." Simon could not help but think of his friend's safety and family.
"You know I will do anything for Rae and Gavrielle. I can't let anything happen to any of them." Laurence said with shaking hands.
He knew what he was about to do was not as simple as saying some spells. It would be the hardest decision he had to make in his entire life. Nevertheless, he had to do it.
"I know. If I am in the same boat as you, I will probably do the same thing for Julianne and Jaxson." Simon told his friend, knowing how heavy the burden his friend was carrying.
"But if ever something happens to me, I hope you will take care of my family until Gavrielle can manage to survive on her own." He asked his friend, knowing that what they were about to do might put his life in danger and even death.
But he was not afraid to die if it would mean giving his daughter a chance to live peacefully without the danger of death hanging over her head. He would take the burden of the curse off her shoulders.
"You know you never have to ask. I will take care of your family if something ever happens to you. Just the same way, I know you will do the same thing for mine." Simon held his shoulder to give him assurance and comfort.
He confirmed that his friend had already put his mind to this task. He also decided to help his friend with whatever he needed. He would be there to lend him a hand. There was no more changing their minds.
It was time to cast a spell to protect Gavrielle.