Carpathian 20 - Dark Slayer

never forgive you, Gregori,― Savannah screamed, tearing at her own flesh, digging great gouges in her arms so that blood spilled onto the floor. “Never. Do you understand? She’s torturing our daughters and you’re just letting her.―

    Gregori shook his head, the bloodred tears tracking down his face, but he remained stoic, his hands over each writhing infant.
    Several women tried to break the circle to rush to the aid of the babies.
    â€œStop them,― Razvan ordered. “Stay calm. Did you think he would go easily? Hold them. Mikhail, you must stop them.―
    â€œHe is right,― Mikhail said calmly. An uneasy stillness descended. Only Savannah and the babies could be heard weeping.
    Ivory kept her mind firmly on the ritual, proceeding, trying not to allow the women to distract her.
    I call to that which was unmade, and then created to do harm to
    all .
    Come to me now as I call your name, so that I may take one and all .
    Twixt and twine, I seek to unbind, that which was woven tight .
    Ivory took her cleansed crystals from a silken pouch hanging at her hip. The crystals had been left in the sunlight for one week, gathering the energies and cleansing properties she needed.
    She looked over the stones carefully before making her choice.
    She wasn’t surprised when her fingers settled around a large chunk of pumice.

    Pumice came from volcanic rock, and though to some it wasn’t beautiful, she found the light stone with its beige-white color unique. The airy stone was often used for banishing spells, yet also could be given to a woman to hold in her hand to aid in childbirth. Both rough and smooth, it was symbolic to her of life. She placed the stone in the eastern corner.
    I
    look
    to
    the
    east,
    the
    morning
    light ,
    That which was born in darkness, now bring to light .
    She bowed to the east, and made the sign of the cross. Her hands then formed the oval for the sacred heart where Xavier had poured heart’s blood over the microbes, her sacred symbol replacing his act of evil.
    She lit the piñon pine needle bundle and waved it over the entire area to purify and cleanse, mixing with the cleansing sage. The fragrance added to her power to help exorcise the demonic spell Xavier had cast over the microbes. She handed the incense to young Skyler, who remained in the eastern corner.
    The moment Skyler’s hands closed around the incense, shadows moved in the darkness outside the circle. Male laughter, ugly and taunting, slid slyly into the cave, echoing around Skyler. Whispers of obscene acts. She felt hands touching her. Sliding inside her clothes—grasping at her soft skin, exposing her. A sob broke from her.

    Dimitri cursed and stepped forward. It was well known that he was Skyler’s lifemate, although she was still too young for him to claim.
    â€œIllusion,― Razvan said. “She’s caught in an illusion.―
    Gregori waved a hand toward Skyler just as her trembling hand pulled back to fling the incense from her. She shuddered and held fast, her chin rising, but tears poured down her face. She looked once at Dimitri and then stood stoically under the assault of unseen evil.
    There was a beat of silence. Ivory. You must continue , Razvan urged.
    Ivory closed her eyes for a moment, took a breath and then selected garnet next. The fiery stone was used to enhance powers in rituals. To defeat Xavier, to overturn his horrific spell, she needed as much aid as possible. She also wanted the extra protection against the darkness in Xavier. Again it was a stone often used in childbirth. Her stone was multifaceted and a brilliant deep red, to combat the dark red of heart’s blood.
    It was said that the great ark had been guided by a garnet, and she hoped the light would give her guidance in her time of great need. She placed the stone in the southern corner.
    I
    call
    to
    the
    south,
    phoenix
    rise
    high
    Casting your fire as you take to the sky .

    Ivory bowed to the south, and then repeated the sign of the cross. Xavier had plunged a needle through the heart of a dove and then burned the body. She opened her hands and released a white dove, bearing an olive branch. The bird flew around the circle three times, reversed and repeated the action, and then winged her way out into the night sky.
    The fragrance of Dragon’s blood resin, collected and processed from the palm tree, filled the room, chasing