"Never. What does it mean?"
"Of course, not," she grinned, "they are symbols used on the old world. The Serpent's Lock is the seal of protection, privacy, and invisibility ─can also stamped or marked on documents to protect them from prying eyes, lest the witches' venom befall them. Can also be used to hide oneself from that which walks in the astral plane."
Wait. "Can it block the spirits cries?"
"Yes, it can."
"I want it. I need it, actually. But was it made by witches? I mean, you're not a witch. Do you have any witch in your ancestry?" Like mom's case of having a winged serpent in her ancestry.
A nod, "My great-great-great-great-great grandmother was a dark witch, of the old world. She left records of many cool spells," I could tell she was grinned by the tone of her voice. "All of my other ancestors are vampires though, and I was born one," that much I can tell.
"Awesome. What about the Serpent's Key?"
"It's used to see that which is hidden, ─aiding in the perception of the Unseen: be it spirits, deities, omens, etc. It might also be employed to find lost or hidden objects, and expose secret truths people are hiding. In addition, it can also be used to reverse the Serpent's Lock," this is amazing.
"Hell yeah. You can make it. Bet where?"
She pointed to my hands, "It's a inner palm tattoo. If you're a left handed, the lock goes on your left palm, if you're a right handed, it goes on your right. The key goes on the opposite one."
"I write with both hands," I chuckled.
"Then we go with the classic. Lock on the right, key on the left."
A nod, "Alright. Any other ideas?"
"I do actually. What's your favorite weapon? The ones you like the most to fight with?" Oh?
"Katana. Daggers. Mom made a katana with a blade of midnight blue sapphire and obsidian ornamented sculpted handle in the form of a winged serpent. Plus the set of twin diamond daggers with waved edges and ornamented handles of ruby with a sculpted rose on where the handle meets the blade. Why?" Mom made them especially for me.
"I was think of making special tattoos for the weapons you will use the most, in a special place," a special place? "What do you think of having the katana tattooed in the space between your breasts, and the twin daggers tattooed on your ribs, horizontally under your breasts?"
Sounds… sensual. "I like the sound of that."
She giggled, "I knew you would. It'll look beautiful in your. But I'll make them all in black, alright? Only the tattoo on your back and on your right feet will be colored."
On my what? "On my feet? Which one?"
"The quote of your choosing, it'll give you a amazing look when you use open heels. I'll make them in red ink, you gave me blood enough for that. What do you think of… hm, 'Made in Hell'?"
Of course, a double meaning tattoo with my name. That sounds like something Cosmos would suggest, but I kind like it. "Hell Was Boring, suits me better," Goddess above, I'll leave this place covered in tattoos, sounds like a dream. I've been wanting to make some, since Cosmos told me about it and how it worked.
"Great minds think alike. And what about a compass tattoo on your left wrist that will always let you know your direction, where you are, and where you need to go?" As I agreed on her new idea, she grinned with the tattoo equipment in hand, and came closer to me, excitement burning in her amber eyes. "I have to warn you, sweetheart, it'll hurt!"
Hah, I doubt it'll hurt more than grandma dearest torture. "That's what he said," I joked in the same way Cosmos always did, and she burst out laughing, calling me an idiot. "I'm used to pain, don't worry about it. Paint me like your next masterpiece."
✵ 𖣔 ✵
After five days of pain, all the tattoos were ready, magic on, and all of mom's weapons were guarded into my skin. The ones that hurt the most? The katana in my cleavage, without a doubt. Which one took longer? My back tattoo, took an entire day and a half alone. Her richness in details was what made it all take so long.
But what made it all hurt more? The fact that she was tattooing me with my venomous blood that is burns like hell when she needled me. Like bloody unholy freaking hell. And the fact that I slowed my healing to make the tattoos cool down on my skin, made it hurt more.
However, nothing like the torture I went through, and that's why I held my cry and kept a stoic face the whole time. "I can feel it all on my skin," I told her when I came out of the bathroom, using the same clothes as before, since I stayed on my underwear the whole time.
Cupid by Fifty-Fifty was playing on the living room when I came to her, and she was moving her feet at the rhythm of the song, while laying down on a leather red couch with a bottle of whiskey on her left, and a book called Tomb of Vampire by D. S. Murphy, the 4th volume of the Kingdom of Blood and Ash series on her hands. "What? Never saw a vampire reading a book of vampires?"
"Considering that you're the first alive vampire I've met? No, I have not," I chuckled, using my thunder magic to recharge my phone. "I can feel the cherry blossoms absorbing the natural magic all around me, it tingles a bit."
She marked the page she was reading, and closed the book, "Good, it means it's working. You will get used to the tingles with time. Did you get the three bottles of Balkan 176 Vodka for you to take with you?"
Nod, "Yes. I've guarded on my ring," I waved my gloved hand to her. "How long will it take for my skin to feel normal again?"
"It'll take two weeks for your skin to get used to the magic that's tattooed in you. So, wait at least 14 days for you to use any kind of clothes that show your skin. Stay covered from toe to neck, as your nape is tattooed, okay? After 14 days, you can even run around naked if you want."
Five days were enough to get me used to her sense of humor. "Got it. Thank you, Abellona. Really, you've done a lot for me," way more than I asked. I'm glad mom and Naël had a friend like her. "You've done an amazing job on me." Even though I couldn't look the ones in my back, I know they are outstanding because she doesn't make anything less than spectacular.
She grinned proudly, "Of course, I did. I'm the best tattoo artist of the supernatural world. Many people come to the Himalayas after me, but only a few are able to find me. Speaking of it, whenever you have a friend who wants a tattoo, bring them here. Kids in Belladonna are filthy rich, they make amazing clients."
"I don't think I'll make friends there, but I'll keep that in mind."
"You will, I'm sure of it. Besides, it was a pleasure to give my tattoos life in you, Hel. Anyone who sees your tattoos will know about me and I'll be living from you in a way, my fame will also grow when you get famous. Can you imagine," she looked at the wall as if she was seeing how grateful her vision was, "me as the tattoo artist of the first legendary winged serpent in millennials?"
Rolling my eyes, I smiled at her excitement, "If you say so."
"Anyways, as you said you wanted to know how it felt to travel in a modern plane, did you buy your tickets to Austria and from there to Iceland?" She taught me how to, so, yes.
"I did, thanks to your guidance."
She shrugged, "I just helped you go in first class. It was all you!"
"Still, you helped me and that's what matters. I have to go to the nearest airport in an hour, my plane will be leaving 6 am. It'll have three stops in the way. Madrid, Spain; Milan, Italy; Paris, France; Then, I'll go to Vienna. From there, my plane to Iceland also has two stops on Zurich, Switzerland; and in London, England. I'll arrive in Iceland in three days."
A nod, "Did you put your documents on the bag?"
I held the black bag made of mom's spare dragon scales, "Yes, it's all in here. I'll only be taking the documents, my phone, and headphone on the plane. And of course, the crystal bottle of water mom made for me."
"Good, since everything else is hidden in your necklace and ring, and in the tattoos. When you get to the Academy, tell the old witch that Abellona told her to visit me when she has time." Old witch?
"You mean headmaster Mia-Alexandria Hallow?" A nod. "Are you friends with her? How old is she?"
"Old is an understatement. That witch is ancient," she mocked. "And well, friends is a weird word, given that she almost never comes to see me, but we are close. If you say that to her, she'll know I know you, and she won't be uselessly tough with you," she winked.
"Thank you, again, Abellona."
"Don't worry, kid. Whenever you need some help, call me," she pointed to my phone, "you have my number."
"I will!"
"And you use your hair lose more times, kid. It looks perfect."