21

"Yes, of course. Alaric just knows Vickie, Caroline, and I have been through a lot, and he wants us to know that he supports us," Denis said, but even her dogged optimism about the history teacher sounded a little forced. "Alaric just knows we three—Vickie, Caroline, and I—have been through a lot, and he wants us to know that he supports us." She went on to say, with a cheery tone, that "He's holding another get-together at his place next week." Despite this, "None of us notified him about anything."

Katherine had the notion that it was wonderful. In other circumstances, he may have spoken on the matter, but he was preoccupied with something else at the time. It was claimed by him that there is merit.

Denis said that it seemed as if she was waiting for them, but in reality, she was heading toward the history wing. "That's funny, I promised her I'd meet her out here," the speaker said.

Katherine had the idea that it was significantly amusing. Even though he had only had a fleeting glimpse of her as she rounded the corner, the image of her remained ingrained in his consciousness. Merit's face had taken on a look that might be described as calculating and vigilant, and her movements were as covert as possible. It seemed as if she was attempting to conceal her actions in some way.

Denis said, "She'll come back in a minute when she sees that we're not down there," but Merit did not return in a minute, nor did she return in a minute two, nor did she return in a minute three. In point of fact, it had been about 10 minutes before she made her appearance, and when she did, she seemed surprised to find Katherine and Denis waiting for her.

She answered in a calm and collected manner, "Sorry, I was held up," and Katherine could not help but respect her.
self-possession. But he was curious about what was going on, and the only one of the three of them who was in the mood to talk as they left school was Denis.

Elizabeth remarked, "However, the last time you used fire."

Denis provided the following explanation: "That was because we were looking for Katherine, for a specific person." If it were just your individual future that I was trying to predict, I'd look in your palm, but we're trying to find out something in general, so we're not doing that. "This time we're trying to predict the future."

Merit entered the space while delicately balancing a bowl made of china that was filled to the very top with water. A candle was held in the other hand that she had available to her. "I've got the goods," she said.

"Water was holy to the Druids," Denis stated, as Merit set the dish on the floor and the three girls sat around it.

"Apparently, everything was holy to the Druids," remarked Merit.

When Merit had lit the candle, Denis glanced at it from an angle and took a deep breath. "Shh. Now, put the candle in the candlestick and light it. Then I'm going to pour melted wax into the water, and the shapes it makes will tell me the answers to your questions. My grandmother used melted lead, and she said her grandmother used melted silver, but she told me wax would do." She spoke the following phrase: "I'm growing scareder and scareder to do this."

Elizabeth said in a low voice, "You don't have to."


"I know. But I want to-this time. Besides, it's not these kinds of rituals that worry me; it's being taken over that is so dreadful. I detest it. It's like someone else going into my body." "I know. But I want to-this once."

"I know. But I want to-this time. Besides, it's not these kinds of rituals that worry me; it's being taken over that is so dreadful. I detest it. It's like someone else going into my body." "I know. But I want to-this once."

In any case, I'll start by saying this: "Anyway, here we are. Turn down the lights, Merit. Give me a minute to become adjusted, and then ask your questions."

Elizabeth watched as the candlelight danced over Denis's fallen eyelashes and Merit's somber face while the room remained still and dark. She glanced down at her own hands in her lap, which were white in contrast to the darkness of the sweater and leggings that Merit was wearing.

lent her. Then she turned her attention to the swaying flame. Denis said, "All right," before taking the candle and lighting it.
Although Elizabeth's fingers were tightly interlaced and clenched, she kept her voice quiet and continued to speak.
in order to preserve the current atmosphere. Who is the Other Power in Fell's Church, and What Do They Want?

Denis positioned the candle such that the flame would climb up the edges of it as he tilted it. Wax melted at a high temperature and poured into the bowl in a steady stream, where it coagulated into globules.

Denis said, "I was terrified of it," as he continued. That's not a response, that's nothing. Why don't you try asking a new question?

Elizabeth sighed and leaned back in her chair, her claws digging into the palms of her hands. It was Merit who made the statement.
"If we look, will we be able to locate this Other Power, and will we be able to overcome it?"

Denis said something under her breath as she continued to tilt the flame and remarked, "That's two questions." This time, the wax coagulated into the shape of a ring, a clumpy white circle.
"This is what unity looks like! Hands clasped together as a sign that we can achieve great things if we work together."

The back of Elizabeth's head shot up. That was virtually an exact repetition of what she'd said to Katherine and Dominic earlier. Denis's eyes were bright with enthusiasm, and the two of them grinned at one another.

other.

Merit said, "Be careful! You haven't stopped pouring yet."
Denis hastily repositioned the candle while refocusing his attention on the bowl. A slender and perfectly straight line was made by the last wax leak.
She spoke very carefully as she explained, "That is a sword." "It requires sacrifice, but if we stay together we can make it.

together, but not at the expense of making sacrifices." "What type of sacrifice are you talking about?" "the question to Elizabeth.
Denis said, "I don't know," while displaying a worried expression. She said, "That's all I can tell you at this moment," as she replaced the candle in the candleholder and said her goodbyes.
Merit exhaled a sigh of relief as she stood up to switch on the lights. "Whew." Also standing was Elizabeth. She added as she pulled the pants, which were far too long for her, higher on her waist, "Well, at least we know we can defeat it." She got a glimpse of herself in the mirror that was hanging in Merit's room. She

Elizabeth Gilbert, who had been a fashion plate in high school, did not seem to be the same person anymore. When she was dressed in all black like way, she had the appearance of a lethal weapon that had been sheathed. Her tresses hung about her shoulders in a haphazard manner.