Page 88 of Dark Flame

“Ready?” she checks, and only with my deep breath and nod does she throw her hand towards the candle facing North and begin the incantation.

“Spirit of the North, I summon you.

Bring forth the essence of Earth to deliver us.”

The flame ignites instantly—but not with a flame. Rather, a wisp of tiny, green leaves swirl in a circle, no higher than a candle flame.

Whoa.The last circle Mom and Dad held, the candles were lit by flames, not the elements. Though, whether that was a proper circle now remains to be seen.

Morgan steps closer to the candle positioned to the East and repeats a similar incantation before lighting the final two candles, all while I remain in awe.

“Spirit of the East, I summon you.

Bring forth the essence of Air to connect us.

Spirit of the South, I summon you.

Bring forth the essence of Fire to purify us.

Spirit of the West, I summon you.

Bring forth the essence of Water to heal us.”

One by one, the candles ignite with their respective elements: a mini tornado, a warming flame, and a large water drop that dances the same way as fire.

All at once, Ifeelthem in ways I haven’t before. The invigorating scent of earth, the welcoming brush of air, the warming comfort of fire, and the cool wash of water. They combine in the circle, wrapping me in their fold, taking my mind and soul away from my body and to a better place. A place without worries and stress, without old plots and deception. For now, it’s me and Morgan and the spirits. Nothing more, nothing less.

Morgan sits across from me and holds out her hands, palms up, for me to take. I slide my hands into hers, holding her as she does me. Her eyes shut but mine remain open, compelled by the swirls of power radiating in the space.

“The circle is now open. Blessed Be, Harlow.”

“Blessed Be, Morgan,” I reply, the words strange on my tongue. The last time I said the traditional greeting to my parents was…have I ever?

“Hecate, I thank you, Goddess of Life and All Things, of Witchcraft and all we hold dear, for returning Harlow to our arms. We promise to love and protect her for all the years she spends on your sacred earth but ask for your blessing as well.”

The spiritual flames above each candle flicker out and then back on, and a hypnotic enchantment falls upon the circle, making me gasp. A brush of a hand that isn’t Morgan’s, a whisper of words unspoken and unheard—She’s here.

I want to cry. Weep and apologize for every instance I assumed She’s forsaken me.

“Do you feel that?” Morgan murmurs with a smile.

“Yeah. It’s…I can’t even describe it.”

“I understand.”

My eyes flutter shut to chase Her caress, but then a coolness falls on my shoulders and Her touch is suddenly gone. Something invisible slithers around my neck, and that menacing voice from earlier interrupts.You’re mine, it says, chasing away the Goddess and everything good.

I gasp, ripping my arms from Morgan, trying to make sense of what that was, how to describe what happened when I hear another voice, and just like that, the safety the circle gave me zaps away, even though Morgan hasn’t closed it yet. Too soon, reality returns like a wall crushing everything I hold dear.

Harlow.

He’s here. Of course, he’s here.

“Morgan—”

The door crashes open, banging against the wall, and Morgan leaps to her feet, hopping over the candles in her rush towards the hallway. I run after her, throwing myself between the two enemies before either gets hurt.

“How the fuck did you enter the town, vampire?”