I obeyed again and stepped into the charcoal circle full of runes drawn on the floor, past two hooded figures. I tried to make out their faces, but the shadows were too large, and I only saw the greenish glow of their...eyes?
Everyone here seemed to have some sort of issue with their eyes, because that was the only, and at the same time scariest, thing I could make out.
Cautiously, I continued to approach the woman at the altar until I reached her.
She took off her hood and revealed her identity.
Startled, I paused, because Amara’s eyes were glowing green like the other day, even greener than the eyes of the others down here. Not as intense as Julian’s and Emely’s yellow irises, but the fact that they were glowing should be enough to make me throw in the towel and get the hell out of this goddamn place. I probably wouldn’t even be able to find my way out of the first basement floor, as disoriented as I was.
“Welcome to the temple, sister.”
I was definitely not her sister, and if she thought we would become best buddies, she could forget it right away.
Amara placed her hands on my shoulders, smiling. Then she nodded at me and put her hood back on.
With a hand on my shoulder, she escorted me to the altar. Now, I could see more exactly what was lying there.
Red blossoms, a small crystal-clear shimmering stone pendant on a golden chain, and a... dagger?
My eyes widened, and the warmth in my chest disappeared instantly, as quickly as it had come.
What on earth were they going to do to me? If I was going to die tonight, it was too late for one last hug from my mother. For a few seconds, I forgot about the resentment between us and looked at her in panic. But she was not there.
Hidden under a hood, two gray-white eyes shone at me instead, watchful and determined.
Meanwhile, Amara took the necklace from the altar and put it on my neck. Wasn’t there my other pendant? But I only felt the cold, glassy stone and remembered how Mum must have taken my own necklace off my neck when I had just woken up from my faint.
Amara paced around the altar and pointed to the large stone slab.
Startled, I looked for anything in her eyes that didn’t mean I should lie down there.
“Lie down.”
I swallowed.
Of course, I should lie down on the sacrificial altar.
Nervously, I did as I was told and lay down on the cold stone. The hood slipped off my head, and I felt exposed.
I thought I heard a sharp intake of breath behind me and wanted to look around, but Amara was quicker and smeared something strong-smelling red on my forehead. I deeply hoped that it was not blood and knew how gullible I thought.
What was it supposed to be, Bayla? Acrylic paint?
Concerned now, I watched each of Amara’s steps as she began to talk to the dagger.
“Nos sorores coniunge.”
Fiery glowing runes flared up at the dagger. Four triangles, all of which looked slightly different.
And then Amara slashed her finger and passed the dagger to the round, where everyone did the same.
I got a queasy feeling in my stomach.
Each of the members repeated the words aloud, and I thought I heard six familiar voices.
When the knife reached Amara again, she stepped up to me.
Panic made my entire body tingle, tightening my throat.
Actually, I had intended to study literature and perhaps someday bring my own book to the market. I didn’t want children so soon, but I didn’t want to die yet. Not here, in Blairville, on a fucking altar of sacrifice!
My pulse quickened noticeably at the now blood red glowing dagger.
Upon reaching me, Amara placed it on my palm and squeezed. Immediately, I felt a sharp pain and watched as blood dripped down my hand.
My body told her with a twitch that what she was doing was neither normal nor okay, but Amara didn’t seem to care.
If any of the people present had blood infections, chances were high that I now had it too. But I couldn't go on thinking about this terrifying thought because things happened too fast.
Suddenly, Amara threw up her hands.
“Eam ad nos!”
The others repeated the words in chorus, and my body instantly began to shake. Or was it the entire temple?
An uncomfortable trembling, almost as if I were freezing, settled over me. But I was not freezing. Instead, a bead of sweat ran down my forehead.
Only now did I realize that my body had detached itself from the stone slab and was floating in the air.
