Chapter 54 ~The Ritual begins~
(Fiona's POV)
“No!” I screamed my lungs out. I was terrified, but still could not look away.
His eyes were staring into my soul. It was almost like he was trying to pass some sort of cryptic message across to me, even in his lifeless state.
I didn't know Eros well during my stay in Ashridge. He was always mysterious, you could never tell if he was a good person or not. But somehow he'd proven he was.
And now he was dead. Because of me.
I must be cursed.
Beckett picked up the severed head of Eros and tossed it into the fire.
Overwhelmed, I turned toward the corner and threw up again.
The air was filled with the scent of burning flesh.
The pack was silent. They were all watching with wide-eyed expressions.
Even Isis and Cassia seemed a little shaken.
Isis walked up to him and whispered something in his ear.
“Eros is not indispensable. I can get ten seers if I wanted to!” Beckett thundered.
I turned to Dr. Mel to check if she was still alive.
For a moment I froze… She looked dead.
But then I could see the slight up and down movement that showed that she was breathing. It was faint, but it was there.
I let out a breath that I didn't know I was holding.
Beckett bellowed. “And let this be a mark of warning to the rest of you. Anyone who challenges me will face a similar fate.”
Beckett turned to one of the healers and pointed at him. “Can you perform the ritual?”
He nodded firmly. “Yes, Alpha.”
“Great!… Ashridge, I present to you the new seer.”
The pack members watched with confusion.
Beckett began speaking. “For years, we wondered about the prophecy of the Hybrid. Half wolf. Half Lycan. The offspring of the mad Lycan king who would have so much power that they could destroy earth with one sweep of the finger.”
The pack members were listening with rapt attention.
I've heard about the prophecy. Everyone had.
Even pups were told as bedtime stories. When I first came to Ashridge, it was one of the first things I was taught.
But personally, I believed it was just folklore or myth.
Why was Beckett talking about it now?
He continued. “Such power is meant for a person of import. A person who would be able to wield it with grace. A person who is trained, battle-ready and brave.”
The crowd grunted with approval.
I was still waiting for him to land.
“Reports came to me that there would be a great war coming. Ashridge would be involved alongside other packs. The healers have kept seeing visions of this great war. And whatever pack has the hybrid will come out unconquered."
“But the hybrid isn't born yet.” A voice rose from the crowd. This caused some uproar. The whispers slowly rose to arguments.
“Silence!” Beckett roared.
The noise died down instantly.
“The hybrid is in this gathering with us,” Beckett declared.
There were gasps of surprise.
“For years I sought for the power of the hybrid and every time I thought I was close, I was two steps behind.” Beckett continued. “Then suddenly, everything began to click.”
He moved towards me and pointed. “This is the hybrid!”
I almost laughed.
“You’re sick in the head, Beckett!” I yelled. He was going to kill me, anyway.
“She can't shift. She has hidden powers that are yet to be unlocked. She doesn't know who her real father is… because her real father is the mad Lycan king.”
I almost lost it.
Was he crazy? What was all this garbage he was spewing?
“Seriously? Where is your evidence?” My eyes were blazing with anger. “All this proves nothing.”
He smirked. “I don't have to prove anything to you. You are not the first, but maybe you'll be the last I'll kill for the alchemy ritual. The only way we can be sure is if we do indeed try.”
He pointed to the healer that was taking over from Eros. “The Alchemy ritual requires one healer. One host, and, of course, the hybrid’s heart.”
Wait… so this was why they wanted to kill me?
They think I'm some sort of hybrid beast that would give him powers.
Was he crazy? Did I look like someone who had any powers?
A warrior came out and dragged me while I tried to fight my way out. He chained me to a steel slab.
By now, I was so frightened that I feared I'd soil myself. My heart rate went so rapidly that I feared it would fail. My tremors were uncontrollable.
Beckett’s voice rose as he faced the healer. “The silver blade is ready.”
“Lie here.” The healer told Beckett to lie down on the slab that was beside mine.
He did as he was told.
There was pin-drop silence as the pack members watched in anticipation of what would be the event of the century.
The healer brought out a container of magic dust and made a circle of protection around where Beckett and I lay.
I could see that Beckett was so determined… maybe even desperate for this ritual.
There was no way I was coming out of this.
I mentally prepared myself for my death.
What would it feel like?
Would it hurt?
They said in your few moments before death, your life flashes before your eyes. What did my life really look like?
My mom was still pretty much lifeless. I hadn't gotten the Peak Luna Powers needed to save her. Maybe I'll never get the chance to.
A single tear fell from my eye. Would the people I love miss me?
Xander, regardless of his shortcomings, was probably one of the best things to ever happen to me.
Yara was a friend indeed. A friend I didn't know I needed.
Calvin. Mirabelle. Dr. Mel. All the other friends I'd made on my little journey of being a werewolf.
Would they miss me?
And my stepfather… he wasn't just my dad, he was my hero.
I said a little prayer to the stars for them to watch over my loved ones.
Especially, to let my mother be fully healed and get to experience life again.
I was crying so much that I was feverish and heaving.
The healer brought out the hot silver blade and muttered some incantations under his breath.
“Soul to soul. Power to power. The Hybrid shall take the form of another. Destiny retold. Sealed by the power of the moon.” He repeated the words multiple times until suddenly there was a bright glowing dome that appeared from the circle of protection.
It was like we were the only ones here. Beckett. Me. The healer. The others blurred into nothingness.
Suddenly I felt myself levitating, but I wasn't sure if it was my body or soul.
“The time has come!” The healer pronounced.
With the silver blade, he pierced through my chest.
I closed my eyes as the blade went deeper into my skin, closer to my heart.
But my life didn't flash before my eyes… rather, I was weak.
Too weak.