Chapter 56 Ritual of Blood Moon
Amara’s POV
As if the ghosts were wailing, the wind was roaring. The sacred grounds of the Obsidian Pack were bathed in a red glow as the blood moon hung heavily in the sky. The ancient altar, whose chilly, cracked stone surface was carved with runes that pulsed softly in the moonlight, was in front of me. As I looked at the ceremonial sword positioned in the middle, my heart raced in my chest.
"Are you prepared? Mira placed a gentle hand on my shoulder and inquired. Her eyes were steady, but her voice wavered.
Slowly, I nodded. "Yes," I said. "Let's get started."
To my right, Rowan stood silent and anxious. On my left was Kian, clutching the silver-shimmering protecting charm. They were both staring at me as if I were about to disappear.
Mira lifted her hands and started chanting quietly. As they swirled about us in glistening lines of light, the spirits responded to her. Ancient magic permeated the air, which was alive with energy. As though sensing what was about to happen, my mark—the one Lilith had cursed—burned on my skin.
My hands were shaking when I took the blade. I remarked aloud, more to myself than to anybody else, "This is the only way to weaken her hold."
Kian stepped forward and said, "Let me do it."
"No," yelled Rowan. "At this moment, she shouldn't even be standing."
I interrupted abruptly, raising my voice higher than I had anticipated, "I said I'll do it." "I'm fighting this."
Despite clenching his jaw, Rowan remained silent. Kian only nodded, although it appeared as though he wanted to. The wind screamed more loudly, as though the moon were yelling.
I inhaled deeply before raising the sword.
I couldn't fully understand the ancient phrases that the spirits whispered as they circled more quickly. I didn't hesitate even though my chest clenched. I lightly placed the blade against my palm and ran it over my skin. Instantly, blood swelled up and dimly glowed in the red moonlight.
Letting the blood fall upon the altar, I took a step forward.
The earth trembled.
The runes etched onto the stone blazed with light. The wind became fierce, and the symbols burned like fire. My blood hit the surface with a flash of dazzling brightness, sizzling and hissing. High, eerie howls reverberated through the trees as the spirits cried.
I let out a cry and dropped to my knees. The pain shot up into my chest and through my arm. Something inside me was being pushed apart, and I could feel my mark tearing as it blazed and pulsed like a second heartbeat.
Mira continued to chant, raising the volume. "Don't stop! Over the thunder of magic and wind, she yelled. "Go on, Amara! "
More blood was spilt as I clenched my teeth and placed both palms on the altar. "I exile you, Lilith," I yelled in a harsh voice. "I won't be under your power! "
A surge of magic erupted forth, knocking everyone back as the spirits shouted once more.
I passed out.
Even though my vision became blurry, I could still feel the heat, the pain, and the magic surge. Like fire and ice, my blood hissed on the stone. I felt like Lilith's curse was tearing the magic from me, and every part of my body screamed.
Kian yelled, "Amara!" and rushed in my direction, but the spirits blocked his path with a luminous barrier that surrounded the altar.
His voice was hardly audible to me. My mind was confused, and my ears were ringing. The mark on my skin, which was glowing like never before—a wild, brilliant silver that turned scarlet under the blood moon's light—was all I could see. My whole body shuddered. I was having trouble breathing.
With his magic sparking in his fists, Rowan slammed at the spirit barrier. "Give me a chance! This is too much for her to handle! "
Mira sobbed, "She must do this by herself." "We'll lose her entirely if you break the ritual! "
The wind screamed. I had burns on my hands. The altar throbbed beneath my hands. I sensed Lilith's hand attempting to pull me away; her voice was a softer whisper than before.
Her voice snarled, "Give in." "The pain will end if you let me in."
"No! I yelled, splattering more blood on the stone. "I won't be yours! "
Something broke.
Inside me, not simply in the air.
A dazzling burst of light appeared. The middle of the altar cracked. The wind ceased.
There was silence.
Then my legs failed me.
I felt like I was falling without any weight. Darkness came running toward me.
"Amara! As the spirit barrier broke, Rowan's voice pierced the silence.
I was about to strike the ground when he caught me. His shaking arms were warm. I noticed his tear-streaked face even though I could hardly raise my head.
With wonder in her voice, Mira said, "She did it." "The curse has been lifted. At least a portion of it.
With his eyes fixed on me, Kian knelt next to us and asked, "Is she breathing? "
Rowan's voice trembled as he said, "I don't know." She's chilly. Her blood—look—
Even now, my blood gleamed dimly, like silver threads that trailed from my palm. Instead of being a sharp representation of Lilith's curse, the mark on my arm now blazed with a softer light and had a crescent moon-like form.
Holding me closer, Rowan said, "Don't die." "Please don't leave us, Amara."
I wanted to respond to him. I wanted to let him know I was all OK. But I was unable to talk. I was immobile. I was limited to floating in the dark while hearing the distant scream of the blood moon and the wailing of the spirits.
Then I sensed it.
There's a shadow moving beneath the earth.
A familiar, ferocious, savage, old spirit coming from deep within the earth.
"The Hollow Witch"
She was coming even after the spell was lifted.