Sarah felt weak and dizzy as Edward's words washed over her like a chilling tide. The revelation of the Brigade family's ancient warlock bloodline, steeped in secrets and dark magic, felt surreal. "The Brigade family comes from an ancient warlock bloodline," he explained, his voice steady but laced with longing. "I, Edward Brigade, mastered many forms of ancient magic. My greatest desire was to revive my childhood love, Sabrina. But my mother was a normal human, which barred me from crossing back to the other world to bring her back."
She could hardly keep up with the gravity of his story. "So you asked your son to do it?" Sarah murmured, trying to process the intertwining fates.
"Yes," he continued, his eyes glimmering with a mixture of nostalgia and sorrow. "In return for his assistance, I promised to grant him all my magical knowledge. He agreed and travelled to the other world, where he met Sabrina. But upon returning with her, he discovered she had fallen for him instead."
Sarah's heart sank. "What happened then?"
"Though she kept her feelings hidden, she began an affair with Atlas, my son," he said, the bitterness evident in his tone. "When I found out, I was consumed by rage. I tried to kill Atlas in a fit of jealousy, but Sabrina intervened. In their desperation, they used their magic against me, but they weren't powerful enough. My magic backfired, and in the chaos, Sabrina's soul became tainted."
"In rage, Atlas used his power and trapped my soul here in this library," Edward continued, his voice tinged with sorrow. "I couldn't do much without a body. So, whenever he enters this space, I manage to trap his soul here with me. I can't escape this place unless Atlas frees me."
Sarah frowned, trying to grasp the complexities of Edward's plan. "So you capture his mind and try to change his thoughts to free you?"
Edward nodded slowly. "Kind of, yes… but it's not that easy. He has lost all connection to the magic that once flowed through him. I need to help him revive just enough of that magic to gain his trust and ultimately free me."
"But do you not know he doesn't remember anything that happens here?" Sarah asked, her brows furrowing in concern.
"Yeah, he doesn't remember much," Edward replied, his voice heavy with regret. "But his soul retains imprints—small sparks of memory that linger. That's why I could never trust him around you. The bond we share, the magic that exists in this space… it confuses him, pulls at his subconscious."
She shivered at the thought. "So he's walking around, unaware of everything that's happened? He has no idea what you're trying to do?"
"Exactly," Edward said, his eyes darkening. "He believes he's merely an ambitious man, focused on his career. But deep down, there's a part of him that yearns for the truth. And it's that part I must reach."
"But how do you plan to do that?" Sarah asked, her curiosity piqued. "If he doesn't remember anything from this library, how will you make him see?"
Edward stepped closer, his gaze piercing into hers. "Through you. You're the key to awakening those imprints. You can draw out the magic within him and help him remember. We'll start by creating an environment that encourages those memories to surface."
Sarah's heart raced at the thought. "And why should I help you?"
Sarah recoiled at Edward's words, a mix of disbelief and fear washing over her. "Why should I help you?" she asked, her voice steady despite the tremor in her heart. "I don't want to be trapped between you two. I don't want any part of this legacy."
His gaze softened, but there was an intensity in his eyes that made her pulse race. "You are already trapped, little dove," he said, his voice low and resonant. "Sabrina's tempered soul was divided into parts, and the part that once longed for me—her desires, her hopes—was placed within you."
Her breath caught in her throat. "What are you saying? I don't understand!"
He stepped closer, the shadows of the library enveloping them. "You were just six years old, playing here in the back garden with your mother. I had to keep her soul safe—the one that belonged to me. So I chose you then. The desire you feel for me, the rush you experience in my presence—it's because of that bond, Sarah."
Stunned, Sarah shook her head. "This can't be true. I've lived my life without any knowledge of this… connection. Why didn't I ever feel it before?"
"Because the magic lay dormant within you," Edward explained, his voice rich with emotion. "It was hidden, waiting for the right moment to awaken. Our meeting reignited that spark, pulling at the fragments of her soul that lingered within you."
"So, what does that mean for me?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper. "Am I just a vessel for your lost love?"
"No," he said fiercely, taking her hands in his. "You are so much more than that. You have your own strength, your own identity. But to fully embrace who you are, you must confront this legacy and help me break the cycle that binds us both. You have the potential to reshape our destinies."
The air around them shimmered with unspoken possibilities, and Sarah felt a conflict raging within her. On one hand, the weight of her connection to Sabrina was overwhelming, and on the other, the prospect of reclaiming that power was intoxicating. "If I help you, what will happen to me?"
Edward's eyes held hers, unwavering. "You will not lose yourself. If anything, you will find your true self in this journey. You'll have the opportunity to merge the pieces of Sabrina's soul with your own, creating a new legacy—one that honours the past but breaks free from its chains."
"What if I fail? What if I become lost in this magic?" Sarah asked, the fear creeping back into her voice.
"Then I will be there to guide you," he assured her. "You are not alone in this. We will face the darkness together."