The Taste of Seduction

They were very creative in thinking of concepts such as this in keeping the book safe for such a long time. Indeed, her ancestors are powerful to have made a labyrinth laced with magic.

They even made efforts to make puzzle within puzzle, trivia within trivia to make sure the book doesn\'t fall into the wrong hands.

Traps were also present in the labyrinth, and dangerous places such as lava beneath them appeared. Heck, the effort that they had in finding the clues in Ireland… from meeting the leprechauns there, from defeating the incubi in Svalbard and getting the key before going here…

The dedication and the efforts her ancestors did, especially her mom, to protect the magic and the content of the book.

She does indeed wonder if she is worth it.

She doesn\'t even know how to use magic—she just came here with the men and because she is the key, the important role in opening the book, she joined them.

Without them, could she have ever made it here to get the book without their help?

No… it was not easy. All the more Meredith appreciated her ancestors\' efforts. She hoped and wished that she would meet one of them. It\'s a privilege being a part of their family; it\'s a privilege being the daughter of her mother.

Just as she shook herself from her own thoughts, she opened her left palm. She looked at it for a moment, the golden knife held by her right.

She closed her eyes once more to gather courage, took a deep breath, and opened her eyes the moment she let it out of her mouth slowly. She raised her left hand, high enough that it\'s above the book\'s protective shield.

With her right hand, she held the blade high, looking at both of her hands as light went through the roof of the labyrinth, illuminating her.

"Nnngh!"

With one swift movement, she made a small cut on her palm. She winced at the pang of pain for a moment, but she forced her hand to stay at place so her blood would drip on the pedestal.

Her blood trickled from her palm. When she adjusted her hand to the side, drops of it fell on the pedestal, and the sight that happened before them were beyond words. It couldn\'t even explain how beautiful and magical it was that they witnessed it.

The protection surrounding the book became golden and red at the same time, as if the protection mixed with her blood. Breeze blew in the room even though there was no window, and golden dust flew about in the room as if pixies rained their pixie dust on them.

The protection surrounding the book slowly disappeared, the book now ready for Meredith\'s reach. As soon as the shield disappeared, the book slowly descended on the pedestal, landing on its back part.

Meredith looked at it for a moment. As she was still a bit hesitant to get the book, she couldn\'t help but admire how mystical it is. This was made by her ancestors—her mother is a part of this, too!

She couldn\'t help but smile, Meredith already reaching out to the book. The moment she touched it and held it with both of her hands, she gasped when a swift but short gust of wind blew around her, the book lighting up upon her touch.

Since her left hand still had her blood on it, it resonated with the book, now ready to be opened and to be read by her.

Just as she was about to examine the book, she gasped when she noticed that her left hand was completely healed, her eyes blinking in disbelief for a few times.

"The book… is capable in healing its wielders?" she mumbled to herself, the group now approaching her as they were also overwhelmed and amused in what they just witnessed.

"So… we finally got it? The book?" Atlas asked, Meredith turning to them with a big smile on her face.

"Yes!"

She couldn\'t help but laugh, the three joining with her as they shared her excitement. It was a laughter of pride and amusement, thinking that they have overcome the challenges together and they were finally able to retrieve the book.

"That was an amazing sight, I have to admit," Austin commented, his eyes set on the book. "But for sure, Meredith… you\'d have to learn on how to use magic. You can read the contents… and if we are going to break the soul tie, it will require too much time and effort. And of course, magical energy."

The three nodded in agreement as they were suddenly pulled into their own thoughts. They remembered the conversation they had back in Austin\'s palace. They remembered that it was a man-made ritual and only her mother can undo it.

However, with Meredith being her descendant, Gwen\'s daughter, then they will be able to undo the soul tie if they are ready and have trained for it.

"If it\'s a ritual that sealed the tie between you two, then another trial must be done to end it," Austin reminded, Meredith looking at him with eager eyes.

"Then… teach me," she requested, her hands on the book tight as she was eager to learn from the most powerful fae. "Teach me how to use my powers; teach me how to prepare for the ritual so this can be done."

Austin nodded. With a smile on his face, he tapped Meredith\'s shoulder, making a wholesome comment that she didn\'t expect from him.

"You are just like your mother—powerful and eager to learn. You are indeed just like her in many ways."