Chapter 22: Practice Makes Perfect-Ish

Jade's POV: Elizabeth, Talia, and I have all been practicing together in order to make me strong enough to perform the spell, and enabling me to tap into dark magic. It's been five days of non stop training and practicing. I've even seen Daniel and Charles a few times recently. If I survive this I'm not sure how I'm choose one of them, but for now all I need to do is focus on magic. I went over the details of the spell with Elizabeth. She's being used as the witch to perform the spell that binds all the blood together and then Nathan drinks it all and the curse is broken. Anyway, I have to touch Nathan in order to say the spell that preserves my body in death. I have to admit, I'm terrified, the ritual happens in 2 days and I'm a complete mess. However, I've kept it together in front of everyone because if I show I'm weak then I'll be weak fro the spell and if I am then I won't be able survive it. Charles and Daniel asked to meet up with me earlier at their house so I can discuss the plan with them, they said that Nathan is out for the rest of the day so we'll be clear. So I told Talia that I'd be back soon and that I'll see her later, then I left to the Suliman house...

Charles' POV: I heard a knock on the door and saw Jade standing there. I told her to come upstairs with me and Daniel so we could talk about the spell. She explained every little detail about the spell and how she'd have to perform it. I asked her if she knew how she would die and she said no, then Daniel cut in and said, "Jade...Nathaniel will have to drain every ounce of blood from your body in order to complete the ritual, first he'll drink ours, then yours. He'll bite into your neck and suck the blood out of you until you're dead-" "Way to make it sound nice idiot!" I interrupted as I slapped Daniel's arm. I looked over at Jade whose heartbeat I could hear without using vampire hearing. She seemed frightened so I asked, "How are you doing with all of this? How do you feel?" She opened her mouth to talk but it seemed as though she couldn't form words. After a few seconds tears started falling down her face as she she cried, "I'm s-so scared. If I die for good...I-I haven't even gotten to live yet! Then I'll just be d-dead...forever! A-and what about my mom and my dad, what are they going to do! Talia can't just drop the witch bomb on them and tell them about the ritual! T-they'll never recover. I can't j-just leave them!" I couldn't bare the sight of Jade crying. It made me want to cry. I put my arm around her shoulder trying to comfort her which at least made her stop crying. Daniel grabbed her hand and said, "Jade...everything will be okay. I promise!" He compelled her! Why the hell would he compel her after everything! I whispered to him, "Why would you compel her?" "She was freaking out and we need to her to be on her A game in order to succeed in the spell and live through the ritual!" I rolled my eyes and said, "I'm out of here. I trust that you can get her home!" "Of course brother." He replied as I left the room...

Daniel's POV: I felt terrible having to compel Jade, but she was so torn apart, I didn't want her to have to feel that way, and now she's stopped her crying and has asked me to take her home. Which is what I will do. We got in my car and I drove to Jade's house, I gave her a kiss on the cheek and said, "It's almost dark out, you should go get some rest because tomorrow night won't be very peaceful!" Jade giggled at my comment and said that she'll see me when I awaken from the dead! I smiled and we said goodnight. I drove off and found that everyone had gone to bed already, so I shall do the same...

THE NEXT MORNING

Jade's POV: I went to the kitchen to grab breakfast when I heard a knock on the door. I opened it to find Ashton on my porch. I've been telling him everything that's been going on with me lately. He grabbed my hands and said, "Look, I know your life is so incredibly crazy and that you enough on your plate, especially today. But since you might not be alive tomorrow I just want to do one thing-" without any further words Ashton kissed me, after a second he pulled away and I asked, "What was that for?" He replied, "I don't have feelings for you, you're my best friend after all, but if you don't live to see tomorrow then at least I'll know how it felt to kiss you! I hope you survive tonight by the way. Hopefully I'll see you later Jade. Goodbye." He waved his hand and got right back in his truck and drove off! I was honestly very confused and shocked, but at the same time I was grateful to have such an amazing best friend by my side to talk to! I ate breakfast and decided that I'll just stay sat my house all day, that way I'll go to the ritual when I feel like it, not be dragged by Nathan at any given moment! I laughed at my own thought and went upstairs to my room. If I'm going to be pre-dead tonight I figured I should relax a little bit, I bet it's like hell being dead. My mom is at the mall for the day with Talia, she's keeping her distracted all day, so I have the house to myself. I put a face mask on, got in a bubble bath, blasted my favorite music, and drank some wine. I also read some magazines because I was bored. Time flies by quickly. I got out of the tub and realized it was 5 in the afternoon. I decided that while I'm dead I want to at least look good. I curled my hair and put on a pair of black jeans with a dark red shirt, hopefully covering the blood that'll most likely be spilt on it, and I put on my black combat boots. I threw on a leather jacket, I'm not sure why but this look made me feel like a total badass! I put on dark eye makeup hoping to hide my pale skin, it didn't really work that well but at least I look good. I practiced the spell one more time and then I checked the time once more. It was now almost 8 p.m. and I have to call Talia. I called to tell her that I was on my way to the ritual ground, which by the way is in the middle of the woods outside of town. That's totally ridiculous! Anyway, she said that she loved me and I told her the same and said to say it to mom too! I said goodbye and drove to the place of the ritual. Once I showed up there were rocks with fire in the middle leading a pathway to the a cleared spot centered directly in the middle of the forest. Nathan was standing next to Elizabeth and they were both by a giant bowl which I assumed had his siblings blood. Shortly after I showed up Charles, Daniel, and Audrey all did too. It looked like the moon was full and I heard Elizabeth say, "Shall we begin!"