Chapter 77

Chapter 77

“An unwilling sacrifice is not a sacrifice at all.”

Unknown

*Joseph’s POV*

Elder Marjorie barely paused long enough for the gravity of her words to sink in. They were clearly planning to perform a ritual, Joseph already knew that. There was no other reason all twelve covens would bother gathering in the middle of the woods on short notice – and it was a full moon. Powerful rituals always had to be performed under a full moon.

The question was *what* ritual required the power of all twelve covens, and why did he need to be here for it? It’s not as if he had any magic to participate with, which meant his role in their ritual had to be something else.

“As many of you know,” Elder Marjorie addressed the large circle, “Only a few months ago, the Lupus Deum was awoken by his mate after a millenium…something none of us could’ve predicted, especially not in this lifetime.” She glanced back at Elder Musan before adding, “But what many of you may not know is that, since being informed of his return, I’ve been having dreams.”

Curious murmurs broke out throughout the crowd.

“Nearly the same night I discovered his return, I began having dreams of one of our ancestors,” she explained, “This ancestor guided me through my fear, and helped me realize that hope was not lost…that there was a way to stop the *Lupus Deum*, and ensure he’d never threaten our kind ever again.” She took her time staring at the men and women gathered in the circle. “And that is why you’re here tonight, brothers and sisters. I cannot perform this ritual alone, but together…we can secure the safety of ourselves, our children, and those *ten* generations from now!”

Her words fired up the circle, and excited whispers erupted from the witches.

All Joseph could feel was growing dread.

He knew that whatever ritual Elder Marjorie had in mind must’ve been extremely powerful if it required this much magic…but what kind of spell would take down the Moon God *forever*? They couldn’t be planning to curse him into an endless sleep again – he’d already broken it, and that kind of curse couldn’t be used a second time.

Whatever it was, it sounded like Elder Marjorie planned to kill him. As to how, he had no idea. It shouldn’t have been possible, but if the woman had managed to gather all twelve covens at once, it had to be something big.

“Now,” Elder Marjorie said, “The ingredients for this ritual are quite particular. It requires extensive magic, which is why you’re all here.” Her glassy eyes rolled over Joseph. “But it also requires the use of a living witch who’s lost their magic, and the death of a willing sacrifice.”

So, that’s why he was here.

They needed a sacrifice, and a specific kind of sacrifice.

Elder Marjorie needed a *living* witch who’d lost their magic…which was him. Then, the second part of that sentence dawned on him.

“A willing sacrifice?” He shouted, drawing the attention of the entire circle, but his eyes were only focused on one. “That’s why I’m here? You need a living, breathing witch who doesn’t happen to have magic?” He knew he sounded hysterical, but he didn’t care. He could hear the sound of his own blood rushing through his ears. “I will *never* be your sacrifice. You can kill me, but I’ll never be a willing sacrifice for anything you do.”

Slowly, a condescending smile spread over Elder Marjorie’s face.

“Oh, Joseph,” she said, her tone so sweet it made him want to throw up, “You misunderstand.”

Dread crept along his spine as Elder Marjorie turned around and gestured to the witches standing behind her.

One by one, the witches separated, allowing a new person to walk through to the front. Joseph’s breath hitched when he saw the unfamiliar face.

As small as Elder Marjorie was, this newcomer was half her size – and for obvious reason.

She was a child.

She might’ve been dressed in a baggy, white nightgown, but he could still see her bony knees and her scrawny, long arms. He squinted. She couldn’t have been more than twelve or thirteen.

Joseph watched as the girl, blank-faced, stood next to Elder Marjorie without a word. She didn’t look to be under a spell, but the empty expression on her face definitely unsettled him.

“What is this?” He asked.

Elder Marjorie regarded him with that same condescending look on her face. “I told you,” she said, “You misunderstand, Joseph. I believe you misheard me.”

She glanced at the girl, holding out her hand, and the child took it without hesitation.

“The spell requires a willing sacrifice and the use of a living witch who’s lost their magic,” Elder Marjorie explained, and the grin on her face got wider, “But I never said they were the same thing.”

Joseph’s heart pounded in his ears as her words registered.

He wasn’t the sacrifice.

The girl, the little slip of a child, was.

His stomach twisted into knots.

“You’re sick,” he spit out, “I already knew you had no qualms about controlling children, but to manipulate one into dying for you?” Frantically, he looked at the little girl. “Kid, whatever she’s told you or promised you, it’s not worth it! She’s manipulating you –” He gestured to the rest of the circle. “ – She’s manipulating all of you! It’s not the Moon God you should fear, it’s her.” He gave the child one last, long pleading look. “You don’t need to die for someone else’s ambitions, kid. You can stop this right now. The sacrifice has to be willing, which means you can still back out.”

The little girl finally looked at him, and Joseph could hardly believe how vacant her eyes were. She might as well have been a doll or a puppet. “I am willing,” was all she said, and her voice was just as lifeless as her eyes.

“There’s no use in fighting what is destined to pass,” Elder Marjorie cut in, “Maria has accepted her role in tonight, and you will too.”

“And what exactly do you believe my role to be?” He shot back. He was almost afraid to ask, but the sooner he understood the situation, the sooner he could make a break for it.

He still had no idea how to get out of here – only that he’d be damned before he willingly played any part in Elder Marjorie’s scheme.

“Oh, you’re the most important part of tonight,” Elder Marjorie told him, “You’ll be the one to sacrifice Maria.”

Joseph wasn't sure he'd ever felt such horror in his life.