His Dark Obsession by Moonlight Muse

29. My Stance

ZEDKIEL.

I step forward as Ziahra holds her hand out to Evelyn, willing to take her offer.

“Your blood will power the portal.” She explains to her. She’s serious again, the weight of what she needs to do hanging above us all.

“I love creating rivers of blood.” Evelyn replies quietly, but there’s no humour in those eyes of hers and it only darkens the atmosphere surrounding us all.

Ziahra slices through Evelyn’s palm, her eyes staying fixed on hers.

She doesn’t trust her. No one in this room does, but I do.

I just don’t think she’s given that chance…

‘You are a fool.’

“If she pulls away mid-ritual, the chance is over. I will not be able to do this again.” Ziahra says to me as she lets her blood drip across the symbols on the altar.

“I trust her.” I say firmly.

“Fine.” Ziahra shakes her head before turning to Evelyn. “Now place your hand in the middle. It will hurt a little, but you have to bear it, Evelyn. This is absolutely vital.”

Evelyn nods and places her hand as commanded.

Her breath hitches and I see her aura swirling around her.

She’s in pain, but she’s trying to hide it.

Ziahra begins chanting and we’re all on edge. As Evelyn’s breathing becomes shallower, it feels like hours although I know it’s simply minutes.

The torches on the wall are blazing brightly, the power in the room becoming darker and more powerful as Evelyn’s aura keeps growing.

I can sense the one radiating from Ziahra and I can also see Evelyn’s dark aura being sucked from her and the surrounding air, straight into the stone of the altar.

The smell of blood in the room is potent, and the temptation to have a taste overcomes me.

I push the thought away as Ziahra keeps chanting, her hands held palm upwards and I can see the

glowing runes burning into the palms of her hands. Her arms are beginning to shake as she does her all to remain steady.

A layer of sweat covers her body, and her heart is beating violently.

“More power!” She groans. “We need more!”

I instantly step forward, slicing my hand with the discarded knife and slashing through my own palm and placing it on top of Evelyn’s.

I feel the faint spark of the bond and our eyes meet before pain rips right through me.

It’s as if every bone in my body is being crushed.

Is this what she’s feeling? If it is, she isn’t showing it.

Coppery blood fills my mouth as I try to focus on breathing steadily.

I gently close my hand around hers as my blood is pulled from me, covering her hand as it is sucked into the stone beneath.

This feeling is unexplainable. I can feel my power and blood being drained from me. Weakening me as we force our hands to stay fixed upon the runes.

Sensing Evelyn watching me, I turn to her. Her eyes are blurred with tears, and I wonder if they are because of the pain she’s feeling or because of what I’m going to do to her.

I’m sorry.

deserve this.

I feel as if something is being torn from my chest, and I fall forward. My knee

that is radiating off the altar is far too strong for him to get any closer.

know how Evelyn is holding her own, but she’s far more powerful than

strained voice comes as she keeps her stance, no longer chanting

fixed ahead, blazing a fluorescent

vision blurs, but I hold on, feeling

I ask Ziahra, the doubt suddenly sending a glimmer of fear through me.

to reply, but she gives me the tiniest shake of her head,

too violently, her hair whipping

Comes Evelyn’s

consider the body.” I reply, my voice strained

Barely though.

she can even reply, she collapses to her knees, her body slumping against me as a blinding light fills the room and a surge of power fills the room, throwing Ziahra

the air before her

hear Kash shout as he catches her body. Both were thrown to the ground, getting to her before Gray could. He sits up, instantly cradling

the light, trying to

racing when I make out the outline of a circular portal. The

She’s done it.

in opening the portal.

risky to pass through… you’re weak.” Ziahra mutters as Kash helps her sit up. Her head rests on his chest and only now do I see the dark blood that

have to.” I say,

no other option but to find

before it shuts,” Ziahra

lift Evelyn into

awake but

go!’ Zerachiel snarls.

Zed. The portal won’t

I go, I need to reassure her that it’s

“Little Lamb…”

will be

into my arms, hugging her tightly. My arms feel dead heavy as does

empty one…” Ziahra

look at it, my stomach churning as Gray stands beside it, ready to

back for me?” Evelyn asks

“I promise to.” I vow as I slowly lift her limp body which

awaiting stone casket, coming to a sudden halt a few feet away.

can’t do it.

do this.” I say, turning to Kash as if wanting guidance. “I can’t do this to her. She’s done nothing for us not

Kash says, but

there, not on my watch. Kash, keep an eye

nods, and Ziahra looks worried as she stares at the portal that has begun to shrink.

She warns me.

‘You are dooming us once again! Lock her away!”

reply to him. ‘Please, take care

not me.’

does take care of her, for us all. He needs

this time the tears

breathing weakly, her body still limp in my arms. Her hand

best behaviour for me, alright?” I ask softly.

her a small

I