House of Night 09 - Destined

thought my heart would burst.
    Thanatos placed her basket beside Grandma. She opened it and took out a beautiful piece of velvet fabric made of the same material as her cloak. She shook out the square and placed it on the ground in front of Grandma. Then she pulled out the angelica wreaths we’d braided. I was surprised by how beautiful they looked all stacked together, with the white flowers almost glowing against the sapphire velvet. Next she lifted a black velvet bag that I was sure I’d seen Anastasia using in class. If I was right, it would be filled with salt. She placed it and the five candles that represented each of the elements on the cloth, too. All were within reach of Grandma.
    Thanatos faced us. Her voice carried easily in the night as if even the bugs and birds around us had paused to listen.
    “The casting of this circle will be unusual, as our ritual is really a spell within a ritual within a circle, though we will begin with air and end with spirit. When I call each of you, approach our altar. Give Sylvia the item that symbolizes the truth about yourself you wish to reveal. Speak your truth to her. In turn she will give you the proper candle. Then move to your spot around the circle.”
    “Are you going to call the elements then?” I asked, not sure if I was leading the casting of the circle or not.
    “You and I will both cast this circle, young Priestess,” she said. “I will incant the spell and bind it with salt. You will light the candles. My intent is that when spirit is called and the circle set, the next words I speak will, with the help of all the elements—especially earth—cast our spell and invoke Death.”
    “Okay,” I said. I looked at my friends and they nodded. “We’re ready.”
    “Damien, come to the altar and represent your element, air.”
    I heard Damien take a deep breath before he stepped inside the circle of ruined lavender and approached Grandma.
    “What is it you wish to reveal to spirit?” Thanatos asked.
    Damien reached into the man purse he always had slung over his shoulder and pulled out a MAC pressed powder compact. He opened it and the moonlight caught it, showing a fragmented surface and a shattered reflection. As he gave it to Grandma he said, “I brought a broken mirror because even though I might look and act like I’m okay, I secretly wonder if Jack’s death has forever broken something inside me.”
    Grandma placed the compact on the altar cloth and then gave Damien the yellow air candle. She touched his hand as she did and said, “I hear you, child.” Damien moved to Grandma’s right and took the eastern place at the edge of the circle.
    “My turn,” Shaunee said softly, and then she went to Grandma. When she reached her she gave her a long white feather she’d been cupping in her hand. “This feather symbolizes that even though I’ve been afraid to be alone for a really long time, I want to be free of that fear.”
    Grandma placed the feather beside Damien’s broken mirror and gave Shaunee her red candle. “I hear you, child,” she said, touching her hand gently, kindly, just as she had Damien.
    Erin didn’t say anything. She walked quickly to Grandma and handed her the little insulated bag she’d brought on the bus. Grandma opened it, reached in, and pulled out an ice cube.
    “This is me inside. I’m frozen, like I don’t really have any feelings.”
    Grandma took the ice and added it to the other items on the altar cloth. She gave Erin her blue candle, touching her gently and saying, “I hear you, child.” Blank-faced, Erin moved to the western edge of the circle.
    “Wish me luck,” Stevie Rae whispered.
    “Luck,” I said softly.
    She went to Grandma and smiled down at her. “Hi, Grandma.”
    “Hello, child of the earth.” Grandma returned her smile. “What do you wish to reveal to me?”
    Stevie Rae took a piece of paper out of her jeans pocket. It was black, like the construction paper we used to get in grade school to cut stuff out of during art class. She gave it to Grandma saying, “This paper is like my fear of losing Rephaim to something dark and scary that I don’t really understand.”
    Grandma unfolded the black paper and smoothed it onto the altar cloth. She gave Stevie Rae the green candle, a soft touch, and said, “I hear you, child.”
    Before Stevie Rae took her place in the north, Thanatos picked up the braided circles of angelica and placed them on Stevie Rae’s head. “The truth reveal from