CHAPTER 41 : THE HARVEST RITUAL

Morane, Bryan and Aiden left the Pack. Morane had suggested it would be best to do this somewhere else, and she already had a place in mind. And since it was night, it was the best time for them to carry out the ritual.

They reached a place, quiet with no single sound, not even sounds of animals. It was not really far from the pack, but not close either.

"We will do the ritual here," Morane informed them as she started bringing out the things she would use for the ritual. "We will start now."

Morane took out a Himalayan pink salt and used it to draw the circle that would be needed for the ritual.

Then she placed her candles around the circle. Black Candle placed north, White candle placed east and Purple candle placed south. The black represented absorption, protection and banishment, the white represented clarity, purification and new beginnings, while the purple represented transformation and spiritual growth with some abilities.

She was using separate candles so that it allowed her to focus on some specific intentions and energies in each direction, since she was not sure from where it would come.

When she was done with lighting up the candles, she then took a pentagram and placed it at the center of the circle. This pentagram symbolizes balance, harmony, and protection.

Morane also wore a small, intricate pentagram necklace as a protective talisman for the one conducting the ritual. She was more in danger than the twins.

When she was done, she turned and looked up at Bryan and Aiden, who were waiting for her patiently, and said to them, "Please, step into the circle."

Bryan and Aiden did as she had told them, moving and stepping into the circle, standing side by side.

Morane reached into her bag and brought out her Athame (ritual knife). It's blade shape and glinting in the moonlight. 

Without hesitation, she turned her attention to the first raven in the cage she had brought with her. She grasped the raven in her hands.

The bird squawked and thrashed, but her grip was strong. With a swift motion, she drew the blade across its throat. Warm, thick blood spilled into the bowl she had prepared.

The raven's wings twitched as life drained from its body, its bones cracking in her hands as she laid it to rest at her feet. Another raven followed, then another until she was done. 

She had used a total of three Ravens, for the triple goddess energy, Maiden, Mother, Crone. They would represent the destruction of the curse.

Now, with the blood of the ravens  in the bowl, Morane knelt down, retrieving her herbs. She began with the Valerian Root, its pungent scent filling the air as she crumbled it into the blood.

 

Next was the Hyssop. She sprinkled it with care into the bowl of blood. Then lastly, the Angelica root, which she also crumbled into the bowl. Each herb had an important role to play.

"Sorry I am taking so long, it will be ready soon," Morane said to Bryan and Aiden.

"It is alright Morane, take your time. We do not need to rush for things like this," Aiden told her as she went back to what she was preparing.

She used the tip of the Athame to stir the mixture, her eyes closing as she began to chant. "Restituet mamina mativ... Tangit futamx sanguinema…"

Her voice was low and filled with power. Soon, the bowl hissed and bubbled as the blood and herbs blended. The air around hummed with energy.

When she was done, she stood and approached Bryan and Aiden. Then she dipped her fingers into the thick, blood-soaked mixture, and carefully drew a sigil on each of their foreheads.

The blood was warm against Bryan's and Aiden's skin.

"This blood binds you," she whispers to them. "By death's hand, life shall be saved."

The sigil glowed faintly as the blood absorbed the energy of the ritual.

As soon as she was finished, she stepped back and carefully lifted the bowl, swirling the liquid softly as she walked out of the circle. 

Morane could feel the energy shifting as she knelt down and placed the bowl on the ground before the circle, then rose, her hands still stained with blood.

"Hold hands," she said firmly to Bryan and Aiden.

They obeyed without hesitation, their hands clasped tightly as they stood side by side with the circle.

Morane took a deep breath, whispered a few words, before she stepped back slightly. She raised her hands slowly, palms facing the sky.

"Mortem vinculum... accipimus vita…" Her lips moved in rhythm as the ancient words tumbled out in a low, resonant chant.

"Mortem vinculum... accipimus vita…" She continued chanting, the words echoing as the candles flickered, their flames bending toward her, drawn by the power she was summoning.

As the minutes passed, they could all feel the energy, the energy pressing down on Bryan and Aiden. 

Bryan and Aiden tightened their grip on each other's hands, feeling the pull of the magic as Morane's voice grew louder, holding the ritual together.

Sweat beaded on both Bryan's and Aiden's brow, but they were strong enough not to let go. The grip on their hands firm.

Soon, Morane's voice faltered for a split second. She felt something shift inside her. Instinctively, she tried to lower her hands, but she could not, they remained locked in place.

The first drop of blood trickled from her nose, dark and warm, staining her lips as she still continued to chant. Then her breath hitched, this time, sending panic to rise in her chest.

The thing shifted again in her and her eyes widened as more blood began to flow, this time from her eyes and ears.

Morane tried to stop the ritual and bring down her hands, but her hands stayed raised, unmoving. It was as if something was keeping her in place forcefully, the metallic taste of blood filling her mouth.

"No…" she whispered in between breaths, her voice breaking. 

She tried everything she could to stop, but nothing was working. She even stopped the chanting and started chanting something else to free herself, but whatever it was that held her hostage was not giving her any chance.

Aiden was the first to notice the change in her, his eyes narrowing as he saw the blood streaming from her face. "Morane?" he called out, his voice laced with concern.

Bryan followed Aiden's gaze. 

Immediately he saw what was happening to Morane he removed his hand from Aiden's and took a step forward, his eyes locked on Morane. 

"Morane, STOP!" he shouted.