Chapter 44: The Binding

Vance knelt and scratched white lines into the carpet with chalk, making the sound of it scratch across the floor loud enough to make my teeth ache. He pulled the chalk towards himself, creating an almost imperceptible white line, then squatted down and appraised his work.

I drew my knees to my chest and rubbed my bandaged hand against my chin, the scratchy texture of the bandage irritating my skin. Dorian sat beside me in bed, with his back against the wall and his hand resting on the blanket between us. His attention drifted from time to time to the door of our room.

Vance rose up from the carpet and extended the circle around the iron object placed on its center. The black object, which had metallic veins, looked more like a chunk of rock with the veins of ice trapped in it than any other shape. He didn't glance up to speak his first words, "The circle's almost done." But he did look towards the window when he added, "We should perform the ritual tonight."

Dorian wrapped his hand in the blanket. "You said two days ago," he reminded Vance.

"Yes," Vance nodded and wiped his chalk-covered hands on his pants, "That was before Kael appeared. The binding is weaker than expected." He looked at the iron piece. "We don't want Miran to die. It has to be today."

I turned my gaze to Mira who sat on the floor next to the window, her arms crossed over her knees. Her lips were pale and compressed, her body trembling with the same involuntary shivers, and her fingers curling in her sleeves.

The door opened abruptly. Kael walked in, still carrying some snow in his hair and with the marks of the freezing weather on his face. He'd been gone for only one day, not three. "I hear you are beginning the process sooner." He leaned against the door with a smile. "I would like to witness."

Jenna got off the wall and approached Kael, her arms crossed over her chest. "You aren't invited," she said sternly.

Kael smiled at her, "That won't change my mind. I'm staying." He leveled his head. "Someone has to make sure none of you will run away."

Dorian straightened in bed, his hand slipping from the blanket. "Why? To whom?"

"To anywhere. Nowhere. The Commander isn't happy to waste time," answered Kael. He looked at me, "Your debt isn't a favour you can settle with good intentions. It is a blood debt. There is a price to be paid."

My heart skipped several beats, and I pressed my hand against my thigh, stopping its trembling. "What is it?" I asked breathlessly.

Kael moved away from the door, going to the window and pressing his palm against the glass. "Your debtor won't leave anyone untouched," he said. "If you don't settle your debt, another person pays instead. One close to you. Your friend..." He indicated to Mira lying on the floor. "...or Zoe."

The girl's face paled, and she took a step back.

Mira shivered even harder, her teeth chattering, her eyes squeezed tightly shut. Vance squatted down beside her and touched her forehead. "Her fever is rising. We can't wait anymore. The ritual has to be performed tonight at midnight," he informed us.

I looked at the clock on the wall; there were six hours before midnight.

Dorian took my hand, "You don't have to go through with that. Let me help."

I looked at him, with the hint of grey in his cheeks, and at the new bandage. "But if I don't, Mira dies. Then Raze will break free from the binding and kill everyone." I looked at Kael standing against the wall, "And if he finds out that I've run away, he will make another person bleed."

Dorian's fingers dug into my hand harder. "Then I will come with you into the circle."

Vance shook his head, "That's impossible. Vampire blood will destabilize the ritual. If you enter the circle, the spell may collapse."

Dorian clenched his jaw but didn't release my hand. "Then I will stay and make sure you're alright."

Kael laughed softly, "I'm glad to see that you love each other. That's very cute." He walked to the desk and picked up the silver knife, turning it in his hands. "But it doesn't protect you from making mistakes."

Before Kael could speak, Jenna snatched the knife from his hand. "Don't touch that!" she shouted at him.

Kael raised both his hands defensively, "Alright, alright!" Then he slid down to the wall and stood next to it. "I'll just keep watching."

Vance stretched after rising up. "I'll have to bless the salt and the iron. Arya, it is better if you eat something and drink water. Your blood has to be healthy for the ritual."

I got off the bed, putting my cold bare feet on the carpet. Dorian caught my wrist, preventing me from leaving the bed. He didn't say a word but pressed his thumb against the tender skin of my inner wrist. He let me go only after a few seconds.

I walked to the desk and took one of the pieces of bread from the plate that Jenna brought to us. It tasted like cardboard and glued to the roof of my mouth, but I ate it anyway.

Kael watched me from the wall; I could feel his gaze like fingers crawling all over my skin.

Zoe crouched next to Mira and pressed her forehead to hers. "Stay with me," she said softly.

Mira replied in a weak and hoarse voice, "I'm trying."

Vance sprinkled salt around the circle on the carpet and placed the iron piece into its center. Beside it he put the copper bowl in which the glass vial containing the mixture of blood from Mira and me was poured. The liquid seemed black in the dim light.

Jenna remained standing beside the window, her arms crossed on her chest. "What if the ritual fails?" she asked suddenly.

Vance froze, looking at the glass vial with its contents. "Then the demon will latch to Arya instead of the binding. She becomes the new vessel," he explained.

Jenna clenched her jaw and looked at me. "Then we'll see to it that the ritual succeeds."

Vance nodded. "We have to hurry." Then he picked up the silver knife and held it to me, the handle towards me. "As soon as the circle is completed, you have to seat in it with Mira and hold her hand while I read the spell."

I accepted the cold handle of the knife into my palm.

Kael smiled and looked at his watch, "Midnight. Don't be late."

I looked at the clock on the wall; five hours and forty-seven minutes left.

I clenched the knife tighter and kept staring at the second hand moving forward.