The Parchment Scroll Read Online Free

when I think you could be normal.”
    Shoulders tight, Bree cocked her head to one side. “What?”
    “Never mind. What’s the next step?”
    “I am goin’ ta open the Stones.” Bree darted forward, whispering something Jules didn’t catch. She caressed the crystal in the middle, then tapped the others in what had to be some pattern. The woman crooned to each one.
    Jules rolled her eyes.
    Really, this chick is nuts.
    “I need ye ta’ come here,” Bree said after several minutes of repeating her actions with no result Jules could see.
    “Oh yeah? What for?”
    The woman frowned, but said nothing.
    Jules sighed and approached the stalagmites. She buried her hand in her jeans’ pocket, squeezing the small scroll when she found it.
    “Touch tha crystal in the middle, then the others, right ta left one after ‘nother.”
    She did as she was told.
    Nothing.
    Bree made a noise deep in her throat. “It has ta work this time.”
    Jules didn’t answer, but saw frustration in her companion’s eyes when their gazes met.
    “Let us try together,” Bree declared.
    Shrugging, Jules followed Bree’s lead when the woman touched the Stones in order again, one of her hands on each Stone when Jules’ fingers rested there at the same time.
    Humming startled her. It too was a pattern, one echoing the other in order. “Oh my God, is that from the crystals?”
    “Aye. Do it again.” Bree’s words were rushed. Beads of sweat bathed her forehead.
    She didn’t argue, nor did she fight the Irish woman when Bree took one of her hands in hers, moving in the pattern and chanting louder.
    Wind kicked up from nowhere, knocking Jules’ backpack over with a thump. But Bree had her hand, so she couldn’t grab it if she wanted to. “What’s happening?”
    “It’s workin’!” Bree had to shout above the whistling gale.
    The crystal beneath their joined hands lit up. Jules squinted against the radiance. Moving air whipped her pony tail in her face.
    “Put yer other hand on tha’ one.” Bree ordered without looking up. She was chanting again under her breath.
    Jules swallowed and clutched the small scroll to her sweaty palm. She should put it back in her pocket, but didn’t want to take the time. She commanded her shaking hand to the crystal to her right. Finally, her fingers made purchase, the parchment stuck between her palm and the bright mineral. At her touch, it shone like she’d hit some on switch.
    Bree’s chanting became yelling.
    The crystals were humming together now and heating up, like they were water on the stove, on the way to a slow boil.
    A shudder made its way down Jules’ spine, but she forced her concentration on the Irish woman, battling revulsion against the fascination that was creeping up from her gut. Was she seeing magic?
    Real magic?
    “Wha’ ever ye do, doona’ let go!” Bree’s shout brought Jules’ gaze to hers.
    She gasped. Bree was radiant, glowing like the five crystals. Her hair was flowing around her face, and her pants sounded like a parachute as the wind buffeted them.
    “Won’t be long now!”
    Jules didn’t get a chance to ask what she’d meant. Cool air smacked her face and dried her eyes. She had to squint.
    There was a pop, then another, each getting steadily louder until her ears rang. Light shot straight up from the crystal in the middle.
    A triumphant whoop sounded from Bree.
    Jules couldn’t tear her eyes away as a bubble formed and hovered over the rocky ground of the cavern. It was hazy, widening slowly, getting larger and larger. It moved up and down as it grew.
    “Home; I’m goin’ home.” The words were Bree’s mantra, said over and over until the Irish woman switched to the other language again.
    Disbelief whipped through Jules’ form, as sure as the wind still pushing at her body and tearing at her clothing. She shook from head to toe.
    “Come, come, it shan’t stay open long.” Bree gestured. “Ye can let go now.”
    Forcing a nod, she pried her fingers