Dark Curse

by Danielle Rose

  To complete this ritual, we are outside the manor, standing in the front yard. I teeter on the stone walkway that leads from the wraparound porch to the forest beyond the manor. The hunters gather on the porch, watching with Amicia as Holland and Will prepare.

  Ready and eager to begin, I am at the center of a pentagram drawn in the snow with blood. At each point of the star, there is an altar with items and cherished relics to represent each of the five elements.

  Much like the vampires, I too am completely unsure of this process. I did not ask Will for details, because I knew this ritual would come at a cost. For me to break the spell and regain my place within this vampire nest, I will likely need to do things I would not do otherwise. He and I agreed it would be better if I go into the spell unaware of what is required of me. All I can do now is hope for the best.

  The wind picks up, blowing my tresses into a ragged heap at my shoulders. Something catches my eye, and I glance over. It is silky and smooth, shiny and bright red. On one of the altars, I see the crimson ribbon Jasik used to wrap my gift. I smile as I stare at it before I search the onlookers for my sire.

  Jasik is standing beside Malik and the others. His broad shoulders are cast back as he stands tall and stares into the distance. I follow his gaze, spotting nothing but dead, snow-covered trees. I am certain we are alone tonight, but the hunters are strapped with weapons and prepared to defend this ritual space during our most vulnerable moments.

  “Ava, are you ready to begin?” Holland asks.

  I tear my vision away from the forest to find his gaze. I smile at him, feigning confidence, but inside, my heart is pounding in my chest. Holland is the only one I can fool tonight. The others cannot only sense, but also hear, how nervous I feel.

  “I am,” I say loudly.

  Holland and Will are standing just inside the circle that surrounds the pentagram star. Both stand on either side of the northernmost point—the one that represents spirit. The pentagram and the circle that connects the elements, forming one constant energy source, are all lined in the snow with blood. Amicia was kind enough to allow us to use bags from her personal supply to form our circle tonight. I try not to stare at it too long. The stark contrast between the plush white snow and the deep-red blood makes me queasy—yet another feeling I cannot wait to lose when I return to my former self.

  “This ritual will not be easy,” Holland says. He looks away from me and toward the vampires. “At no time are we to be disturbed. No one is to break our circle. Understand?”

  Holland looks from vampire to vampire—from Jasik to Malik to Hikari to Amicia, finally landing his gaze on Jeremiah, who remains emotionless. I watch as Amicia nods sharply, but Holland is distracted, not looking at her. He does not see when she agrees to his terms. Instead, he watches his boyfriend closely before finally clearing his throat and looking back to me.

  “We will begin by invoking the elements,” Holland says. “Ava, you are standing at the center of the most powerful witch symbol: the pentagram. Each point of the star represents one of the five elements: earth, water, air, fire, and spirit. The circle connects each element because you must harness each to work as one if you wish to restore your powers and sever the link to your former coven.”

  My nerves are rapid firing as I listen to him. I feel giddy, excited to know I am only moments away from harnessing the elements, something I feared I would never again do. My enthusiasm for the spell calms my nerves, and I am no longer worried about the sacrifice this ritual will inevitably entail. There is only me, this spell, and the moment I am made whole again.

  “Turn away from us and face the point at the southwest corner,” Holland orders.

  I obey, my gaze landing on the altar positioned at the very edge of the bloodstained point. I know this corner is meant to represent the earth element. I peer at the tree stump that serves as both this corner’s altar and a representation of the element. Atop the cleanly sliced wood is a pentacle necklace, gold and silver coins, stones, a dish of salt, a cauldron with dried herbs, and several green candles.

  “Earth is everywhere,” Holland begins. “A passive element, she is often overlooked, but she is by far the superior element. Though she does not harness the active power that comprises the other elements, earth grants us the one thing the others cannot: life. Earth births us and sustains us on this physical plane. Earth encompasses and carries all magic in her womb. She provides nourishment and protection, prosperity and rest. She offers both plant and animal life, without which we would perish.”

  I close my eyes, letting Holland’s words wash over me. My legs are buzzing as I imagine the power and strength of the earth seeping through the soles of my shoes and into my feet. I am rooted in place as Mother Earth revitalizes all the broken parts of me. When I am scared, when the darkness swirling within me begins to awaken, earth stabilizes me, allowing me a much more powerful force to lean on in this time of need. With earth by my side, I already feel stronger, more confident in my ability to vanquish this evil.

  “Turn to the east, where the water element awaits your connection,” Holland says softly.

  When he speaks, I do not hear him through my ears. He speaks through me, as if his voice echoes within the depths of my soul. I obey his command, turning mindlessly to the east.

  I open my eyes, allowing my gaze to linger on the offerings bestowed before me. The altar here is formed by compact, frozen snow. The shards of icicles are compressed together, forming a mound with a smooth surface for the ritual offerings. A silver chalice filled to the brim with slowly melting snow sits atop the heap, as well as a scrying bowl, a crystal sphere, seashells, driftwood, a mirror, and a blue candle.

  “Water is a partner to the earth, as she aids her sister element in promoting life. Like earth, water appears gentle in nature, but she contains immense power. She cleanses and calms while healing our bodies and nourishing our minds. Water governs magic over love and emotion, intuition and pleasure.”

  I close my eyes as the air becomes heavy with mist. I shiver as the temperature drops, the cool night breeze turning almost icy. Even though I am cold, I feel rejuvenated. I feel stronger than I have in weeks. Connecting to two of the five elements has left me with a renewed purpose, and my excitement to continue this ritual is steadily building. I fear I might actually burst from the frenzy.

  “Turn to the west, and connect with air,” Holland continues.

  I open my eyes, swiftly turning on my heels to face the proper direction. I am facing the forest now, but I keep my sights set on the altar before me. Formed by stacking books, the altar is adorned with an athame dagger, a feather, a bell, incense that burns steadily into the night, a bright crimson ribbon, and a yellow candle.

  “As air passes over the still earth, the world begins to move. Air offers consciousness to all things that call the earth home. Air is the element of communication and ideas, exchanges that are necessary for life to thrive. Unlike the other elements, air is invisible. We are only aware of air through his effects. Close your eyes to completely connect with the element.”

  I obey, closing my eyes. Suddenly, a burst of air swirls all around me, rustling my hair, nearly pushing me over with its ferocity.

  “Air moves swiftly,” Holland whispers. “It is the only element that changes as it is influenced by the other elements. Fire makes it warm, almost too hot to bear. Water makes it hazy, frosty, dangerously cold. Air is ever-changing and always self-aware—two qualities you must encompass if you wish to restore your powers.”

  I nod, keeping my eyes closed as I hold my arms out to my sides. I smile as the air brushes against my skin, working its way through the fabric of my cloak until it caresses my bare skin.

  “Turn to the southeast corner,” Holland orders.

  I open my eyes as I turn, and I face the fire altar. Stacks of firewood bundled together for the altar, with a smooth surface made from a large tile. Flames decorate every inch of it, the bright streaks of paint almost glowing in the moonlight. A
top the altar there is a wand, matches, thorns from a cactus, a pile of ash, dragon’s blood oil, and a red candle.

  “Fire’s power is pure and strong. This element is often considered the most powerful and the most useful of the five. Fire is primal and dangerous. He invokes both life and death. In fire, we find passion and safety, much like the warrior’s spirit. Fire is courageous and destructive. It both destroys and renews everything it touches.”

  The air sizzles around me, ignited by fire’s warmth. I welcome it even when it becomes hard to breathe. I feel the heat deep within my bones, but it stifles the chill. In a moment, when I must release the element, the burst of cold air will settle over me again, and I will miss the heat. Sweat beads at my temple, and my chest heaves as I struggle to breathe.

  “Return north and face us once again, where you will connect with the spirit element,” Holland says.

  Reluctantly, I spin to face him, but I do not watch him. Once again, my sight lands on the offerings he has put out for me. This time, there is no altar. Each item that represents the spirit element is placed on the ground and forms a complete circle at the very tip of the pentagram. There is a golden crown adorned with crystals, a third-eye jewel, a small glass doe, several quartz crystals, a spiral wheel relic, and a white candle.

  “Spirit is the bridge between the physical and the spiritual, between the material and the celestial realms. Spirit connects the body and soul, forming one unique being. All the elements work together, commanded by spirit, to become one within you.”

  Slowly, the elements I released spark to life once again, forming a complete circle within my core, fueling my desire, rejuvenating my strength. I am no longer cold or hot. I am perfectly sated, utterly at peace in this brief moment in time.

  “Do you feel the connection, Ava?” Holland asks. “Listen as each element speaks to you. Obey their command. Submit to their strength.”

  “Yes,” I say, breathing heavily. “I am connected.”

  The bliss swelling within my heart is almost too much to bear. I spent weeks on my deathbed, simply waiting for time to stop, for the darkness to take over. I lost myself the day I hexed my coven, and it has taken far too long to find my joy again. This moment, when I am reunited with the elements I so desperately crave, I am elated. I am at peace. The emptiness is gone, and though the darkness remains, I feel stronger. I feel as though the evil is no match for my fury.

  I open my eyes, and Holland and Will are no longer standing at the tip of the pentagram. They are mere feet before me. Both dressed to match me, they shimmy free, removing their garments to reveal their bare chests.

  “It is time now, Ava,” Holland explains.

  Will snaps his fingers, and all five candles—one for each element—is lit aflame. The ritual has officially begun.

  “Relinquish your hold over the moon,” Holland orders. “Reverse your spell.”

  Shaking and heavy with fear, I look at the moon. I stretch out my arms beside me, angling my head upward so I can stare at her glory. She is bright white with splashes of gray, almost iridescent against the black, starry sky. Her rays shine down upon us, illuminating our ritual space. She looks happy to abide by my wishes, like she has missed me as much as I have missed her.

  I call to the moon, summoning her power, using the circle’s magic and the elemental gain to reverse my spell. I chant loudly, clearly, carefully casting my spell so I may return to my former self once again. My Latin incantation swirls round and round in my mind and echoes all across the silent, sleepy land.

  The trees come to life, swaying as the elements surge through the forest, rejuvenating even what has slumbered since the start of winter. The air is hot and misty, and the snow at my feet quickly melts away. I sink into the earth, the mud coating my shoes as I plunge into its depths.

  The moment I complete the spell, I feel the moon release me. Her hold over my soul dissipates, and raw, pure magic courses through me once again. The evil residing inside of me springs to life, latching on to my magic, sucking the life from it like a leech. I keel over, caught by Will, who struggles to keep me upright as I scream in utter agony.

  With my magic restored, the darkness has found a new purpose. It feeds on my strength, using it to become more powerful. Slowly, it outshines even me, even as I desperately grab on to the elements, refusing to relinquish them until the darkness evaporates.

  “We need to complete the severing spell!” Will shouts.

  I am holding too tightly on to the elements, and the wind is howling now. It experiences my pain, and it screams. Will bellows over it, trying to get the attention of Holland, who is busy chanting his own spell. I do not understand the archaic language he is speaking, and I am too distracted by the gut-churning, stabbing pain in my core to concentrate on his words.

  I fall to my knees as Will leaves my side. When I scream again, the earth shudders. In the distance, I hear something rumble, and I look up in time to see the frozen tundra split in two, an echoing vibration that worms its way up my spine. I know I have done this, but I cannot release the elements. Not yet. Not until the severing spell is complete. Without their aid, I will fall victim to the evil inside.

  Someone grabs on to my arm and yanks it forward. I glance up in time to see Will. I smile at him, but he is not looking at me. The flash of something silver distracts me momentarily, and then I watch as the blade slices into my arm.

  I shriek, screaming so loudly I am certain I have woken all of Darkhaven. Will releases my arm, but only when he has dug so deeply, I will certainly bleed out in only minutes.

  He twists the blade in his hand and uses it to slice into his own flesh. He slaps our wounds together and sinks into the earth as I do. Together, we hold on to each other. Both unmoving, unspeaking, focusing solely on Holland, who still stands over us. His arms are stretched out before us as he recites his spell, chanting the same sentences over and over again.

  Will whispers softly, so quietly I almost do not hear him. I watch his lips, my eyelids growing heavy, but the roaring wind silences him. His eyes are closed, his hand grasping my arm, his fingers digging painfully deep into my flesh.

  His blood is pouring from his wound, dripping steadily into my gaping arm. I have performed a bloodletting spell before, but it never felt like this. Silently, I pray these two know what they are doing, and that by combining my blood with Will’s, we are not invoking a worse evil.

  “Ava! Look at me!”

  Holland sounds so far away. When I turn to face him, everything feels heavy. It takes every ounce of energy I have to open my eyes and stare into his. His irises are murky and brown. They are puddled messes swarming with tears.

  “Drink,” Holland orders.

  Only then do I notice his arm before me. His wrist has been slashed, and blood seeps from the thin sliver of a wound. I lick my lips and never question his order, even as I press my mouth to his arm and suck.

  Holland is still chanting. With every passing second, I hear him better, yet his voice grows quieter. It is an odd sensation—one that alerts me to other things.

  The smell of blood is heavy in the air. It coats it in a thickness, making it hard to breathe. I continue slurping down Holland’s offering, ignoring the steady thumps of his heart, even as they grow weaker by the second.

  The more I drink, the hungrier I feel. When Will falls away, slumping to the ground, his eyes fluttering into unconsciousness, I ignore him, pushing him away in favor of the witch.

  Holland’s blood coats my tongue. He tastes like the elements, if the elements actually had a flavor. He tastes like the earth and fire and water and air. If all four mixed together, they would taste just like Holland.

  Only when he shudders his last breath and the echoing pulse of his heart ceases do I finally stop. I pull away, releasing Holland, who long ago fell limp in my arms. When I drop him, he falls to the ground in a heap beside Will.

  Both men stare back at me, eyes lifeless, yet somehow full of accusations.

  I did t
his. I killed my friends.

  Chapter Seven

  I am lying on my back, staring up at the stars. The moon shines brightly above me, her rays cascading down, brushing against my skin. I was right; she missed me too. I can feel it as she looks down at me now. Once again, I am a child of the night, and I have returned home to her.

  I do not move. Instead, I assess what just happened. The spells cast and ritual performed were powerful but weakening. Yet, I feel more alive than ever before.

  Everything tingles, from the soles of my feet to the top of my head. From root chakra to crown, I am reborn. Again.

  I have waited so long to be reunited with my former self, to once again feel the power of the vampire and magic of the witch.

  The salty air fills my lungs with its tantalizing fragrance, and I scrunch my nose at it. It has been far too long since I experienced the nearby sea. I listen as waves crash against the rock wall separating the woods from the water. When I close my eyes, I swear I can even hear fish swimming within its depths.

  The frozen tundra, which holds me now, is hard and unyielding. After months of hibernation, it feels as stiff and uncomfortable as my muscles. It roots me in place, the cold seeping into my bones, but I do not fear it. Not anymore.

  Something in the distance catches my attention. The tiny hairs covering my exposed skin alert me to a presence, and the sound of creatures scurrying in the woods, fluttering out of sight, fills my mind. I know they surround us. Animals find protection in these woods just like the vampires. We share this space, never venturing too close. We remain at a distance from all life—humans and animals alike. I suppose we have temptation to thank.

  I do not move. I simply lie still, allowing each sensation to take hold of my body, but the moment I allow myself reflection, the reality of my situation swarms at once, filling me with anxiety. My mind is ablaze with my deepest fear and my everlasting regret.

  I roll over, grunting as I move to peer at those around me. While I was lying mindlessly in the shadows, enjoying my newfound strength, my world came crashing down around me. And I didn’t bother to care. I was too consumed by my own revelations and my strengthening hold over the pure, raw energy flowing through me.