The Summoning
POV: Alexandra
You could hear a pin drop in the room when Mordred stated that he was going to offer me up as a sacrifice to the God who cursed me. Ashton was the first to speak, “You’re going to do what?!” I looked over at him and his face was starting to turn red and the very same vein my mother gets on her neck was starting to pop out of Ashton’s neck. Any other time, I probably would have found that amusing but now was not the time for jokes. I would need to calm my brother down before he went off on the very person who was trying to help me out. I placed a hand on his arm, “Calm down, Ashton. We need to hear him out first.” Mordred nodded, “Indeed. I am simply offering our little rose as a sacrifice as a way to get him here to trap him. Once he’s trapped, we can make him lift the curse. It is simply a ruse.” Whisperia spoke up, “My brother has no intention of causing harm to Alexandra. He would sooner die. He loves this family dearly as do I. If I thought she would be in harm’s way, I would counsel my brother against it.” I looked over at my brother who had calmed down only a little. He still had a look of concern on his face. I hugged him, “Just as you are going into your mission willingly, I am going to do this willingly. I feel like it is vital that I lift this curse.” He sighed, “Just be careful sister. I don’t want to lose what I just gained.” I nodded at him, “Don’t worry, I have Bash. He’s also fiercely protective of me and has the power to do so.”
I looked up at Mordred, “So where is the dress. Whisperia has it.” Whisperia snapped her fingers and a small portal appeared she reached in and pulled out a box with a silver ribbon on it. She held it out to me, “Here you go, sweetie.” I took the box from her and she smiled at me, “Thanks. So I have to wear this and how is it going to work.” Mordred looked me in the eye, “Well you’ve been to the site I think.” I nodded, “I met His Majesty there for the first time when I first came to Vellum. He was disguised then though.” Mordred continued, “So you saw the stone altar in the middle and that is where you will lay. I will draw a circle of fire around you and we will chant profer istum, qui iungitur virgini. Roughly, it summons him to claim that which he is linked to.” I tightened my grip on the box as the chill ran down my spine at the thought of coming face to face with the being that decided that I should fall in love with him only. I had also wondered when it was that I was cursed and by what means. I shook my head, “Okay so you’re saying it will be tonight?” He nodded, “Tonight is the optimal time to do so.”
Derek spoke from behind Ashton, “I believe His Majesty and His Highness will need to be informed.” Whisperia nodded, “I can portal to Mesha and inform the Prince as long as someone here can get to the King.” Derek volunteered to go since he felt like Ashton would have to resume his place as Meldon soon in order to keep suspicions to a minimum. Derek left the room so that he could ride quickly to the castle to speak to Lucien. Whisperia opened her portal in the room and walked through but shouted, “Good luck brother, little rose.” My parents and Talon all rose from their seats and walked off to the dining room before wishing me luck. My father was hesitant to leave me but my mother pulled him along. My mother summoned Ashton, “Ashton, we should get you home somehow without giving away that you are with us.” Ashton smiled at her, “I’m actually in the dorms at the school on the weekdays so I can just return to them. I can come up with an excuse as to why I’m in a House Batiste carriage if I’m spotted.” She sighed, “I hate that I have to send you off again so be careful.” Jess had joined them talking about how she had to write about a famous soldier for a report that was due soon. They shut the door behind them until it was only Mordred and me in the room. He smiled at me, “I need to head out to set the site up and you need to change into that outfit. I suggest you take your shoes off before entering the ritual site. You will need to be offered as a barefoot virgin.” I looked at him pointedly and he shrugged, “I don’t make the rules, little rose.” I rolled my eyes and walked out of the room and up the stairs.
I placed the box on my bed and opened it up to find a garment that could be described as a white ancient Roman-style dress. I rolled my eyes and shook my head, “Of course, it would be something this freaking cliche.” A short while later I was changed out of the outfit I had worn and had this stupid garment on. I threw on some flip-flops since I had to be in the ritual area barefoot. I walked down the stairs and found my brother still in the manor with a book in his hand. I looked at him confused, “I thought you were supposed to go back.” He nodded, “I am but I wanted to hug you before I left.” I gestured at the book, “What’s that?” He pulled it up to reveal the title A History of House Batiste, “Father insisted that I read this when I can. I have a place I can hide it for when Melody visits me in my room.” I sighed, “I cannot believe you have to keep pretending that that selfish jerk is your sister.” He hugged me, “We know that you’re truly my sister and who I belong with. Just be patient, dear sister. We will be together once again.” We walked through the door together hand in hand. We broke off when he climbed into the carriage and I walked off to the path that led me to the ritual area.
It wasn’t quite nighttime yet but the sun had mostly set enough to where I wouldn’t need some sort of light to get me to my destination. I walked up to the ritual area and Mordred was standing there with a book and wearing black robes. A circle was drawn around the altar which is where he said he would have a fire circle around me. I kicked off my flip-flops and walked into the ritual area. Luckily, it was nothing but fine sand in that area so it was much like walking on a beach barefooted. Mordred grabbed my hand as I stepped over the drawn circle and he helped me up the two steps to get myself up to the altar. I sat on the altar and looked at him, “Something tells me that I’m early.” He chuckled, “A little but that’s fine. It just means we can get this done sooner. Are you nervous?” I nodded, “I’d be lying if I said I was perfectly calm but I am going to come face to face with a being that cursed me and I’m so angry at him that he stole moments from me that I feel are important.” Mordred looked at me and furrowed his brow, “Whisperia left out the crown that you need to wear.” I sighed, “Let me guess, a gold laurel?” He laughed, “I know it’s cliche but this is how it’s done.” He opened a portal much like Whisperia had and looked inside. He smiled, “Luckily, I have access to Whisperia’s storage area. He pulled the crown out and placed it on my head, “There you go. You’re all ready and the night sky is about there.” He looked up at the stars and nodded, “Just five more minutes. You can probably lie down now so I can start when the right time comes.”
I laid down and looked up at the sky then over at Mordred who had a bowl on a pedestal off to the side. He poured some liquid into it and then nodded. My heart was starting to beat rapidly in my chest as I was anticipating getting this wretched curse lifted so I can finally feel something for Lucien. It wasn’t fair to him that I couldn’t reciprocate his feelings. Mordred kneeled in front of the altar and looked at me, “Are you ready?” My throat was too dry to speak so I nodded. He smiled, “Try to keep breathing.” He walked over to the pedestal and grabbed the bowl that he had just poured the liquid in. He walked over to me and dipped his thumb inside. He took his thumb and drew a circle on my head. I smelled patchouli and lavender so it means that the liquid was a blend of oils. He stepped over the circle he had drawn and placed the bowl back down. He kneeled in front of the circle and tapped it three times. I heard the swoosh of the blaze lighting up the circle and I began to feel the heat of the fire. I took deep breaths trying to calm the loud thumping of my hair in my chest. It felt like it was trying to escape my ribcage. He chanted his words over and over again until the fire turned a green hue. Suddenly the face that I had seen in my dreams was looking down at me. He stroked my face and looked down at me, “You didn’t have to summon me, beautiful little creature. I would have appeared before you soon anyhow.” He leaned over and kissed me but I didn’t want to stop him. I wanted him to continue to kiss me. The smile on his face quickly turned to one of panic, “What have you done?” I heard the noise of chains but saw none until I got up from my laying position to find the silver glow of somewhat invisible chains wrapped around his body. Mordred stepped through the fire and smiled, “Hello Loki.”
