His Dark Obsession

29. My Stance

ZEDKIEL.

I step forward as Ziahra holds her hand out to Evelyn, willing to take her offer.

“Your blood will power the portal.” She explains to her. She’s serious again, the weight of what she needs to do hanging above us all.

“I love creating rivers of blood.” Evelyn replies quietly, but there’s no humour in those eyes of hers and it only darkens the atmosphere surrounding us all.

Ziahra slices through Evelyn’s palm, her eyes staying fixed on hers.

She doesn’t trust her. No one in this room does, but I do.

I just don’t think she’s given that chance…

‘You are a fool.’

“If she pulls away mid-ritual, the chance is over. I will not be able to do this again.” Ziahra says to me as she lets her blood drip across the symbols on the altar.

“I trust her.” I say firmly.

“Fine.” Ziahra shakes her head before turning to Evelyn. “Now place your hand in the middle. It will hurt a little, but you have to bear it, Evelyn. This is absolutely vital.”

Evelyn nods and places her hand as commanded.

Her breath hitches and I see her aura swirling around her.

She’s in pain, but she’s trying to hide it.

Ziahra begins chanting and we’re all on edge. As Evelyn’s breathing becomes shallower, it feels like hours although I know it’s simply minutes.

The torches on the wall are blazing brightly, the power in the room becoming darker and more powerful as Evelyn’s aura keeps growing.

I can sense the one radiating from Ziahra and I can also see Evelyn’s dark aura being sucked from her and the surrounding air, straight into the stone of the altar.

The smell of blood in the room is potent, and the temptation to have a taste overcomes me.

I push the thought away as Ziahra keeps chanting, her hands held palm upwards and I can see the glowing runes burning into the palms of her hands. Her arms are beginning to shake as she does her all to remain steady.

A layer of sweat covers her body, and her heart is beating violently.

“More power!” She groans. “We need more!”

I instantly step forward, slicing my hand with the discarded knife and slashing through my own palm and placing it on top of Evelyn’s.

I feel the faint spark of the bond and our eyes meet before pain rips right through me.

It’s as if every bone in my body is being crushed.

Is this what she’s feeling? If it is, she isn’t showing it.

Coppery blood fills my mouth as I try to focus on breathing steadily.

I gently close my hand around hers as my blood is pulled from me, covering her hand as it is sucked into the stone beneath.

This feeling is unexplainable. I can feel my power and blood being drained from me. Weakening me as we force our hands to stay fixed upon the runes.

to her. Her eyes are blurred with tears, and I wonder if they are because of the pain she’s feeling or because of what I’m

I feel as if something is being torn from my chest, and I fall forward. My knee hits the stone side of

force that is radiating off the altar is

know how Evelyn is holding her own, but she’s far more powerful than

as she keeps her stance, no

fixed ahead, blazing

vision blurs, but I hold on, feeling Evelyn’s body

she?” I ask Ziahra, the doubt suddenly sending a glimmer of fear through

gives me the tiniest shake of her head, or

beating too violently, her hair whipping across her

will be fine.” Comes Evelyn’s

reply, my voice

Barely though.

slumping against me as a blinding light fills the room and

flung into the air before

catches her body. Both were thrown to the ground, getting to her before Gray could. He sits up, instantly cradling her in his

trying to see

make out the outline of a circular portal. The entrance is hazy, as if we

She’s done it.

in opening the

sit up. Her head rests on his chest and only now do I see the dark blood that leaks from her

to.”

no other option but to find the answers we

before it

slowly lift Evelyn

She’s awake but unmoving.

her and go!’

The portal won’t

know… but before I go, I need to reassure her that it’s

“Little Lamb…”

told you… it will be easter… I’m

my arms, hugging her tightly. My arms feel dead heavy as does her body, but I refuse to just let her

empty one…”

stomach churning as Gray stands beside it,

I vow as I slowly lift her limp body

like lead as I drag myself towards the awaiting stone casket, coming

I can’t do it.

I say, turning to Kash as if wanting guidance. “I can’t do this to her. She’s done nothing for us

says, but I shake

killed people. Zerachiel has killed people! She’s not any different, she’s not going in there, not on my watch. Kash, keep an eye on her. Don’t let anyone hurt

she

“Hurry.” She warns me.

thunders ‘You are dooming us

to him. ‘Please, take care of her. Do

of her, for

time the tears are flowing

She whispers, she’s still breathing weakly, her body still limp in my arms. Her hand weakly clutching

best behaviour for

a small smile, glancing at the shrinking

“I will… I promise.”