Chapter 93 The blood ritual ii
“You ready?”
Lucien asked as he poured some potion into the rising water.
Isabella clenched and unclenched her hands as she stared at the water filled with a lot of herbs.
“It's not like I have a choice right now.” She said through gritted teeth.
Lucien managed a small smile as he focused his attention on the water. “We both know you do, Izzy.”
Isabella grunted. “Yeah, sure.” She said, turning back as she studied her surroundings. Because of the nature of the rituals, they had looked for a place outside the palace.
The secret nature of the ritual despite how abandoned the East Wing was would not allow them to go all out.
Now, they were in one of the barns Lucien owned secretly as they prepared for the ritual.
A hand wrapped around Isabella's waist protectively and she turned around, her lips almost touching Lucien's.
“It's okay to be scared, Izzy.” His breath touched her face. “It's something we can do.”
“We?” Isabella knew she was being increasingly difficult. “I'm the one going to be in the water, you know.”
Lucien nodded, his hands stroking her hair. “Physically, yes. But we're doing it together.”
Isabella looked away, willing the tears that had pooled in her eyes to go away. “It's not that simple. I freaking don't know what I'm going to do in there.”
Lucien's nod was understanding. “I don't either. But I know we're going to get through this.”
Isabella wasn't fully convinced, but she felt better. “You'll be here all through?” She wanted to confirm.
“With every fibre of my being. I'm not going to let you go.”
Isabella sighed. “Then let's do this.”
Lucien exhaled. “I think you can do this.” He said as he stepped away putting the final potion on the water.
The water gouged as Lucien motioned for her to enter.
“You ready?” He asked again.
This time around, Isabella nodded as she took the last of her clothing and stepped into the water.
The red water turned blue the moment it felt her presence.
Isabella’s eyes widened as she spotted the difference. “Is…is this supposed to happen?”
Lucien nodded as he led deep into the water, walking by the sides till Isabella was deep in the middle.
“What next?” She asked hesitantly.
Lucien motioned for her to wait as he picked up a potion before dropping a bit into the water.
Isabella clenched her hands, stopping herself in time from screaming.
The water had suddenly become hot, seeping into her pores, threatening to peel her skin off.
She hissed, turning. “Lucien!” The scream left her mouth before she could stop it as she grabbed the sides.
Lucien held himself back. Left to him, the ritual wouldn't hold, but this had to be done mostly for her protection.
He counted silently to ten before picking up another potion as he poured it into the boiling water.
Isabella stayed unmoving, panting. “What just happened?”
He'd just poured a cooling agent into the water.
“How long is this going to last?” She asked, her breath uneven.
“Not known yet. But it'll show.” He muttered.
Isabella grunted. “Let's move on.” She shut her eyes, biting her lips as she anticipated the next level of pain to come in.
The younger she had read of the numerous rituals always carried out for protection but she'd never imagined that it would be her someday.
Lucien nodded in encouragement as he stirred the water, muttering some words.
Isabella watched in anticipation, alert to what was to come.
She hissed as she felt the first semblance of pain. The previous had been the hot water, but this was different.
Isabella gritted her teeth as she closed her eyes, absorbing the pain. Just as she shut her eyes, she felt something leave her body, more like she was leaving her body.
She stepped out of the water, leaving the body lifeless as she looked around. Men, women and little children stood round her, their eyes crying blood.
They were all chanting the same thing. “Help us. You can save us.”
Isabella's brows furrowed as she frowned. Surely, they were not talking to her. She walked to a woman who looked strangely familiar.
“Who are you?” The words were spoken, but her mouth didn't move. It looked like they were communicating telepathically.
The woman’s eyes held hope as she beheld her. “You need to see this through. You are our only hope.”
Isabella was more confused than she had ever been. She'd come to the woman for questions, instead, more questions had been placed in her mind.
“Why?” She pressed.
Rather than answer her, they started leaving one after the other. It was first the little children, the men and finally the women.
“Wait, stop,” Isabella screamed after them. “Don't go. Tell me what to do.”
The woman looked pitifully at her. “You know what to do.” Her gaze travelled to Lucien who was on the other side of the water.
He looked frantic as he stared at Isabella's unmoving body.
Isabella followed the woman's gaze before turning back to her. “That explains nothing. Are you going to help me?”
The woman shook her head again, sorrow clouding her eyes. “Only you have the power to help yourself and us. Use the blood.”
And with a final shake of the head, and a scream, she was pulled into the sucking air.
Isabella grumbled, stamping her feet on the floor. Just when she was making headway on what to do to get out of this, the woman had disappeared.
On the other side, Lucien was frantically reading through a book, looking for what exactly had gone wrong.
Isabella watched as his eyes lit up. Without hesitation, he picked up a knife, cutting himself as his blood poured while muttering some words.
Liquid landed on her forehead and she stirred, before falling back into a deep slumber.
On her own end, she could feel her legs moving back into the pool.
Lucien's excitement faded as she slumped back. He bit his lips, cutting another part of his arm.
Isabella realised what was happening. He was using his blood to revive her. She moved hurriedly back to the pool, entering her body, as Lucien continued to cut himself.
Lucien stopped as he saw her stir for the second time. She grimaced, struggling to open her eyes.
“The knife.” She struggled to speak, reaching for the knife in his hands.
“What?” Lucien was confused. “What do you need it for?”
Isabella groaned as she stretched out her hand. “Cut me.” Just as she'd managed to slip back into her body, she'd realised that blood was the secret ingredient she and Lucien had been missing.
“I can't.” Lucien refused, his expression grim. He was confused about what was happening.
“Yes, you can. It is needed.” Isabella spoke with the last of her strength before her eyes rolled back. She was relapsing into unconsciousness, her hands slipping away from where she'd placed them.
Lucien hesitated for a minute, before reaching for the knife. The person speaking to him wasn't the Isabella he knew.
He gently rammed the knife into her arms, as the blood spluttered first on him and then into the pool.
“What the heck?” The rest of his composure had disappeared as a bright light shone out of the pool, into the entire cave, till it went out of the cave.
Lucien staggered, the bright light weakening him.
In front of him, Isabella shot out of the pool, into the air, suspended as the light enveloped her, embracing her.
It was an image. Lucien squinted, unable to decipher what it was because of its brightness.
The light scattered, forming several images before returning to Isabella. This time around, it formed a lioness seated protectively around her cubs, saving them from imminent danger.
Lucien knelt, too stunned to speak. There were words, whisperings in a strange language.
The image like before, scattered and this time, Isabella collapsed into the water from the pool.
The moment she collapsed, a bright light shot from the pool, aiming straight for Lucien.
Unable to react as fast as he would have loved, Lucien struggled with the light until it overpowered him, settling on his chest.
It was a heartbeat and Lucien could feel its stillness.
His hands clamped his chest, as he sat, weakened, unsure of what to do.
He watched as Isabella stirred, at the same time his chest moved. Lucien rubbed his eyes to be sure he was not dreaming.
A part of Isabella had mixed with him, placing her in his chest.
She rubbed her eyes as she sat up. “Are we done?” She muttered.
Lucien nodded, not trusting the words that would come out of his mouth. “Your head.” He whispered.
Isabella looked down into the clear water to see her reflection. A golden crown had been placed on her head, carved on a part of her forehead.
Isabella tried to use her hand to feel it, but it passed through. Their eyes met, fear evident.