The Book

It was an idyllic summer night. Lilith looked out of the benchseat window of her bedroom in the attic of what used to be her Grandmother's house. The air was warm and sweet, the midnight blue sky was littered with stars and when the moon revealed itself from behind the passing clouds it was full and bright and felt like it was shining just for her. The breeze was cool as it gently caressed her falling tears. She didn't need a mirror to know that she had a black eye, a busted lip and clumps of hair missing. He had viciously beat her again and as usual he had locked her in here to think about what she had done to cause his "outburst".

Despite his intention she knew who was at fault and vowed to the moon that this was the last time she would allow this to happen. She hugged her mother's scarf and gently fingered what was left of her mother's belongings. She had to keep the special box of her mother's things hidden because if her father found it, he would gladly burn it so he could get off on seeing her total despair and anguish. She guiltily wished her mother was still here, mostly because she would do anything to have her mother hug her again and partly because he would have taken the bulk of his cruelty out on her poor mother instead.

She picked up the necklace that had been handed down from her Grandmother, and as always became enthralled by the runic symbol forged from silver. She was snapped out of her trance when a shimmer came off of the little black leather bound book that was also in the box. But when she looked again it was the same plain book it had always been. She picked it up and flipped through the empty pages wondering why this little book was so special other than as an heirloom. Her mother had told her that her grandmother had made her promise to never lose it and to ensure it was passed onto Lilith.

Lilith returned her tear-filled gaze to the starry night sky and whispered "I love you mum and I really miss you". Just as the sound of the last word left her mouth the breeze became a wind and the moon which had been covered by cloud again showed itself, it seemed brighter than before and she followed its silvery light to the book in her hands and was stunned by what she saw.

The book had completely changed, the leather was now new and soft and on the cover in shimmering, rainbow light was the same symbol as on her necklace.

She opened it and the previously blank pages came to life with writing she could not understand. Her mother's voice resounded loudly in her head "Put the necklace on”. Lilith quickly obeyed; her eyes widened in awe as the words in the book morphed into English. She had no choice but to drop the book as the pages began to flip on their own until they suddenly stopped and lay peacefully open.

Lilith read out loud...

Protection Invocation

Under the light of the silver moon,

Read these words and safety will bloom.

Lilith jumped as a giant rose grew from the floor, it bloomed into the most beautiful woman Lilith had ever seen. Lilith didn't know whether to be terrified or bewitched until the deva knelt before her and spoke in such a melodic voice that Lilith could not help but shed a tear from the beauty of it, "I am here for your protection dear one"

The deva turned swiftly and took a terrifying defensive stance as the sounds of yelling and boots climbed the stairs. No sooner had her father unlocked and opened the door the deva struck. In a flurry she had grown a thorn sword and was now holding it to his neck as she pinned him against the wall with his feet kicking the air below him. "You will leave here tonight or you will die here tonight".

With his eyes bulging he looked at Lilith gasping hate filled curses at her. For his insolence he copped a strike to the stomach that would have made him double over if he was actually standing. The deva said again "Leave or Die...these are your choices, either way you are never to step foot on this sacred ground or set eyes on my ward ever again."

With hate over-riding his thoughts of self-preservation he spat at the deva and said "I would rather die than allow this filthy witch rat to live!". Petals bloomed from the deva's arm and she used them to wipe the phlegm from her face before discarding them, then she promptly and swiftly slit his throat and let him crumple unceremoniously to the floor. Lilith watched on half in horror and half in relief, while the hate for her in his eyes drained with his blood. The deva's sword was returned to her being and simultaneously thick vines rose from the floorboards to claim her father's lifeless body and dragged it back through the floor which somehow miraculously returned to a perfect floor once he disappeared. There was not even a drop of blood left behind as if the house itself had swallowed all evidence that her father had ever existed.

The deva turned her attention to Lilith, the change in her demeanor was night and day. She went from terrifyingly threatening to the picture of peace and serenity and Lilith's fear did the same under her gaze. The deva came towards her with nothing but kindness and love in her eyes and lifted her surprisingly smooth hand to Lilith's face. The deva shook her head, "This is unacceptable". She placed her hands on Lilith's cheeks and Lilith felt a warm static electricity move through her face and body. It was far from painful, if anything it felt like pure love. When the deva removed her hands and Lilith's eyes fluttered open, she saw the deva smiling the most perfect smile, "Much better" said the deva satisfactorily. Lilith touched her lip and gasped when she felt it was no longer busted but completely smooth. She moved her hands to her scalp and where he had ripped out chunks of her beautiful hair it had regrown and renewed itself, in fact her whole body felt renewed!

Lilith managed to say "Who are you?"

"I have been known by many names but you may call me Artemis dear one. It saddens me that you have seen so much trauma in your life that you did not run out of here screaming in terror. However, I am also pleased to know that the resilient spirit of the goddess resides strongly in you"

Lilith smiled mournfully; she was strengthened by the compliment but was saddened herself to remember how much horror she had already survived in her life. Then she realised she had so many questions "Will you stay with me, what about my father, what do I do now?" she blurted.

The deva smiled "That is alot of questions dear one. I will answer them in order. I cannot stay but do not despair, if and when I am required to assist you, I will come. Your father was a twisted soul and is now serving his karmic sentence, no-one in this dimension will ever remember he existed, and in time you too will forget him. As to what you do now, your fate is your own, it is time for you to create your new reality, realise your dreams and honour your blood by honouring the old ways."

Lilith frowned "The old ways?"

"You come from a long line of powerful witches, it is your birthright to claim your power, honour your bloodline and forge a truly great existence in communion with the universal source of all that is."

Lilith felt silly when she realised her jaw had dropped and quickly corrected it, Artemis laughed, it was an incredible sound that vibrated the air itself. "Do not fear, there are many more as well as myself who will guide and teach you on your journey, it will be our honour." "Tomorrow night is the last night of the full moon phase, let the book see the moonlight once again and it will also gladly provide for you." Artemis said with a wink.

She gently kissed Lilith on her forehead "Till we meet again dearest Lilith" and with that it was like watching growth in reverse as she disappeared back into the floorboards.

Lilith was left questioning if any of that just happened, and if the door to her bedroom wasn't open, she would have sworn it was all a hallucination! With a surprising calm she walked over to her bed with the book and her mother's scarf, lay down clutching them both close to her heart, and for the first time in her life Lilith closed her eyes without fear and fell asleep.

The warmth of the sun woke her from the most amazing sleep she had ever had. She had dreamt of fae, deva's, gods and goddesses, other worlds and of covens weaving the magic of the universe to create beauty, healing and peace. It was like the entire history of her bloodline had been downloaded overnight. She was still unsure of the previous night's events, until she ventured tentatively out of her room and around the house looking for any sign that her father was waiting to punish her. As she slowly realised he was not anywhere to be found, she began to allow herself to relax. She knew it would be sometime before she would be able to shake the PTSD of the abuse and murder of her mother by her father's hands, and even her own experience of his unrivalled cruelty, but today she actually had hope. It was a completely foreign feeling and one that would take some time to get used too.

The house was different to what little she could remember from the few times she was allowed to leave her room, and she reveled in its new atmosphere. Then as she passed the large bay windows she realised that where there was once only dead grass an entire garden of Eden had grown!

The fences were lined with blood red roses, the grass was a brilliant green, trees with falling foliage gave shade to a pond and ivy had grown up the walls of the Victorian era house. Equally as stunning in its new growth and beauty was the backyard and in its centre was a circle of stone. And while in the back of her mind she wondered about how she would support herself she threw worry to the wind and spent what was left of the day enjoying it all.

As night fell, it felt right to bring the book outside to the stone circle in the backyard garden. Just as it did the night before it began flipping through its own pages before abruptly coming to a halt. Lilith's excitement was palpable as she leant over and began to speak the words.

Wealth Incantation

When money is low and the moon is high,

I humbly ask that money come into my supply.

Lilith jumped with a start as the earth in front of the book began to gently erupt and move as an ornate chest rose out of it. Lilith ran her fingers over the lid and slowly opened it. She gasped with her hand to her mouth as inside was approximately $20,000! She looked up at the moon and cried tears of joy as she repeated her grateful thanks over and over.

With a smile she could not get to leave her face her final thoughts before falling asleep was that life was about to become even more magickal and she could not wait to see what would happen next!