The guys flew into motion, and shields of crimson and dark green wove together overhead to create an impenetrable dome.
The ghost wailed. “How dare you trap me?! No shield can hold me forever! Nothing can!”
To prove his point, he slammed upward.
Hunter fell to the ground with a groan.
I tensed as a momentary hole appeared in the shield before Alex’s crimson magic stopped it up. But as fast as Alex worked, and Hunter hauled himself back up, the ghost worked even faster, hurling his body into the dome again and again.
My stomach dropped to my knees as I watched the guys do damage control. The truth crashed down over me. There would be no second chances. If he broke out of the circle, he would bring Ishtar back. If that happened, we were all screwed.
I glanced at the blade in my hand. Right below the hilt, my veins pulsed. Only my blood would entice him to stay.
I brought the blade to my wrist and sliced, first one, and then the other.
“Odie!” Eva dropped her blade as her hands flew to her mouth. She took half a step toward me.
“Stop!” Amethyst roared, her hands shooting out to stop Eva. “Only I can move, or he escapes! Don’t make her sacrifice for nothing!” Amethyst darted my way and set the silver bowl right beneath where blood poured from my wrists.
Sweat dripped off Alex’s jaw, and Hunter grunted as they worked to keep their shields up. I watched as Eva tossed her power into the mix, and the shield now boasted swirls of sunshine yellow in addition to crimson and green. Her face twisted in pain and concentration.
Even with their combined powers, the ghost still screamed and wailed and flung himself from one side of the circle to the other time and time again. His attacks never lessened. His eyes, now glowing red with rage, never dimmed. He was determined to escape, and since he was a ghost with limitless energy, eventually, he would win.
Unless I stopped him.
Gritting my teeth, I clenched and unclenched my fists, pulling blood up and out of my wrists. Amethyst’s hands began to shake, and the reason was frighteningly obvious.
The bowl was filling fast.
But my dangerous sacrifice was also working. With every additional drop poured into the bowl, the ghost slowed his assaults. His moans deepened, more telling of distress than anger. His eyes dimmed from the red to white.
And then, finally, he stopped and drifted down to hover in front of me. The ghost’s eyes looked pained and hungry as he stared into mine. “Your sacrifice was brave, but stupid. She’ll just find another, you realize that, don’t you?”
I gulped because no doubt he was right that Ishtar would try. But until that happened, my path was clear.
He caught the gesture, saw that I understood the truth in his words, and a low laugh rumbled through him. “In that case, witch, I’ll see you in Hell.” Then the ghost dipped his head into the bowl and drank.
My vision blurred. I only had moments until I would pass out, but there was no way I was pulling my wrists away. What if he needed more for my incantation to work? Plus, only Eva and I could banish the ghost. I had to stay awake for Amethyst’s word.
The ghost drank deep, relishing each glug with a drawn-out moan.
Nearly all the blood in the bowl was gone, but I didn’t dare move my wrists unless the ghost needed more for my spell to work. When my knees buckled, Amethyst ripped her gaze from the bowl to land on me.
Her eyes bulged. “Say it now!Say it!” She looked like she was screaming, but to me, it sounded as quiet as a whisper.
I heard Eva say the incantation, saw the ghost stiffen a bit, but because I had yet to do my part, he continued to drink. My mouth opened to follow—to speak the banishing spell. My lips felt dry, the saliva in my mouth sticky. The incantation worked its way up my throat, thick and clumsy.
“P—pro—protero,” I forced out.
The ghost’s head shot up from the bowl. I blinked, taking in the strange sight of his blood-red mouth as a bone-shaking scream rang from his lips. A heartbeat later, he shot up toward the heavens. His ghostly body smashed through our shield, and he soared over the forest and away from Spellcasters, wailing the entire way.
The great, white streak of his body was the last thing I saw before I collapsed.
Chapter Thirty-Three
Iawoke with a gasp. Sensing that I was laying on the cold, hard ground, I pushed myself up. I seemed to be in a sterile, long, and rectangular white room. From the opposite end of the space a bright light blazed toward me, warming me, welcoming me. Nothing else stood between me and the light that beckoned me forward. Not even my own will. The light was too beautiful. Just seeing it made my body radiate peace and wholeness. It felt like nothing would ever hurt me again.
In the air, strange strands of every color and length spun around my head, teasing and urging me to touch them. One soared near my ear, and the soft laughter of a child rang out.
