Death Will See You Now

                                        

                                              
Key To Magic Contest
Prompt #1: Since childhood you were told to memorize a particular ancient language rhyme. Years later you realize that it was the key to a magical world.
                              


                              
A single candle glowed in the window of Addison Knight's grandparents' house. Weird, she thought, pulling into the driveway. Weirder still was her grandmother's insistence that Addison come over tonight. 
                              
The moon hung round and full in the night sky as Addison got out of the car and crossed to the front door. Tugging the faux-fur collar of her winter jacket high up around her neck, Addison rang the doorbell.
                              
Gram answered almost immediately. "Addy, dear, come in."
                              
"Nice dress, Grams. Are you and Gramps going out?" Addison asked as she stepped inside, shrugging off her coat and hanging it up on a nearby rack. The weirdness was amping up. The only time her grandmother got dressed up was for Christmas and Easter—and both holidays were behind them.
                              
Beverly Fontaine chuckled softly and smoothed out imaginary wrinkles in her flower-patterned dress. Her long, thick white hair was caught up in a bun at the base of her neck; fire opals graced her ears and on a chain around her throat. "No. Tonight's a special occasion, that's all."
                              
Frowning, Addison allowed Grams to lead her into the living room where the single candle glowed on a table. "Where's Gramps?" she asked, peering through the shadows.
                              
"Upstairs. He'll be down in a bit."
                              
"O-kay," Addison replied, drawing the word out and looking around. It wasn't her birthday or her grandparents' anniversary. What was going on here?
                              
"I have something for you," Grams said, scooping up a long, rectangular box from a side table.
                              
"Oh?" All of this for a present? Well, Grams did have a flair for the dramatic. Maybe this was all part of the surprise. Whatever anxiety was building in Addison's chest eased as Grams held the box out towards her.
                              
"Go ahead. Open it."
                              
Addison took the box. It was made of simple, unadorned wood with no branding visible anywhere. She flipped the lid up and gasped. Nestled in a bed of black velvet was a fire opal necklace similar to the one her grandmother wore.
                              
"Oh, Grams ..." she gasped, tears welling in her eyes. "You shouldn't have ..."
                              
Grams clucked her tongue softly. "Let me put it on you." She took the box from Addison's hands and picked up the necklace. Standing behind Addison, Grams lifted her heavy brown hair and hooked the jewelry around her neck.
                              
"There," Grams said, smoothing Addison's hair. "Turn around and let me look at you."
                              
Addison spun slowly, one hand pressed against the brilliant gemstones. "It's so lovely."
                              
Grams smiled. "Do you remember that rhyme I taught you?"
                              
Addison blinked and looked up. What an odd thing to ask. "Yeah? Why?"
                              
"Do you think you could say it for me?"
                              
Addison frowned, but her grandmother had just given her this brilliant necklace; she could humor her. Taking a deep breath, Addison drew on her childhood memories; of sitting with her grandmother while the older woman drilled the strange words into her mind. When she opened her mouth, an ancient language spilled out:
                              
"Death is but an open door
                              
to the chosen few of god.
                              
Walk among the dead