Carpathian 20 - Dark Slayer

from her sheath. “They cannot flinch once we start. This thing, this great evil that Xavier wrought, will not go quickly or quietly. It will fight back.
    It will try to break us. So whoever you choose must have the courage to face whatever this evil might throw at them.―
    Syndil didn’t hesitate. “Natalya. Shea.― As the two women hurried forward, Syndil turned to a young girl.
    â€œSkyler. I know you’re very young and perhaps I should not ask, but there are few as closely connected to the earth as you and few who have faced evil as bravely as you. Can you do this? Will you do this?―

    The girl’s face was pale, but she set her jaw and nodded before joining the others.
    Once they were in place, Ivory lifted her chin and began to cast the circle of protection around Gregori and the infants, walking clockwise three times. She held her sword in her right hand, pointing it down, chanting as she walked.
    Three
    times
    around
    this
    circle
    round
    Bind
    all
    evil,
    sink
    into
    the
    ground .
    That
    which
    is
    fire
    but
    born
    of
    ice ,
    I
    command
    thee
    now
    to
    clear
    this
    space .
    Take
    that
    which
    is
    tainted
    and
    burn
    it
    pure
    So that healing may be done in a place that is secure .
    Ivory brought out four candles, one to be set in each of the four corners of the circle, representing the four directions and their elements. She set a white candle in the east for air and purity.
    A red candle went to the south for fire and the burning of evil.
    To the west she set a blue candle for water, representing cleansing. To the north she set a green candle, representing earth and rebirth.
    Around the incubators she lit sticks of incense that filled the chamber with the rich scent of clove to keep out all hostility. To that she added sweetgrass and sage for purity and tuberose to ward off evil. Then as the incense and the candles burned, she took a deep breath, gathered her strength and her powers and lifted her hands in entreaty.
    Power
    of
    night,
    mistress
    of
    light ,
    I am Ivory, daughter to Mother Earth who healed me .
    A rush of memories assailed her. The scent of the earth as it closed around her torn body, welcoming her into the deeper recesses where nothing could reach her. She drew on the healing power that had surrounded her for centuries.
    I summon thee to this place to that which is impure and tainted .
    I
    ask
    this
    for
    all
    that
    is
    good
    I know you will do this for me .
    She brought her hands down to her sides, palms facing inward against her thighs and kept her head down, looking at the floor as she began to follow the unclean pattern Razvan had shown her. Three steps in, evil began to stir. Its presence whispered across the back of her neck, a faint disturbing prickle, like spiders crawling across her skin. She flinched and fought the urge to brush them off. Xavier’s foul taint would do everything it could to lead her astray, to force her into making a mistake. She could not allow it. Her hands swept resolutely upward toward the ceiling. As her face lifted, she crossed her palms, and chanted.
    Born
    of
    darkness
    Ancient,
    old

    I
    call
    thee
    forth
    Unfurl,
    unfold
    Taint the pairings —
    She heard a slow hiss; a hideous voice whispered. Scorpions, stingers held high, crawled from beneath rocks and rushed toward the circle. Skyler wavered, started to lift her foot away from the oncoming insects.
    â€œStand firm,― Razvan called, his voice carrying complete calm. “Do not break the circle.―
    Ivory continued to utter the foul words.
    I
    command
    you
    to
    spread
    Attaching
    yourself
    to
    womb
    and
    seed .
    Seek
    out
    new
    life
    I
    command
    you
    to
    this
    deed .
    Taint
    the
    milk
    Wither
    the
    seed
    on
    the
    vine
    Destroy
    the
    ilk
    Unborn and born, with blood thee I bind .
    The flickering flames dimmed, nearly went out, so that shadows deepened, creeping along the walls and floors of the cave with grasping fingers. Overhead spiders oozed through cracks and foul voices murmured. Heart’s blood bubbled up from the center of the room, a red so dark it appeared black.
    An unclean stench filled the chamber, polluting the air, contaminating it until they were all nearly choking on the fetid odor. The babies began to cry in protest.
    Syndil gasped aloud. Shea and Natalya moaned softly, but they held their ground even though the microbes deep inside them ripped and tore at them. The crowd gasped and looked to one another