Chapter 21

The boys stood by the side as their parents got to work. Their father laid candles around the area, their mother drew a protective circle around the patio, Remi and Faysal had to use black salt to draw the summoning circle while Markab had to keep the sages and incense burning. Once the family was done with preparations, each person stood at a star point. Their father took out a dagger and cut a line across his palm, he raised his palm over the middle of the circle and bled at the meeting points. The rest of the family followed suit. Their mother brought out a packet of chicken hearts, took out one and tossed it on to the middle of the circle.

"Packaged chicken hearts?" Markab raised an eyebrow at his mom.

"Was I supposed to get a real chicken and slaughter it?" she retorted.

"Does this even count as a sacrifice?" Faysal looked at the tiny heart.

"Is the animal not dead?" Remi side eyed his brother.