Chapter 8: Ritual Challenge

My palms are sweaty as I clutch the ancient grimoire to my chest. I trek through the woods, using my flashlight to find my way through the trees. The book said this was the way to conjure my truelove- which means Lance.

Never tried to do a spell or ritual before. I'm not a witch and never believed in magic. But a dare is a dare. And my entire back and chest are itchy from Gwen's hex to the point that I can hardly think.

In the clearing, I hike up my backpack higher on my shoulder. The candles, salt, and other items I stuffed inside for the spell jiggle. Honestly, though, I feel ridiculous. Even the moon hides behind gray clouds as if secretly laughing. Bet all the girls including Gwen are getting a kick out of this.

The grass crinkles under my sandals while the nighttime summer heat bakes across my back. It is almost midnight, the witching hour has begun, or what did the book say? Time between night and morning or some kinda nonsense. I can't wait for that. My watch shows I have twenty minutes left or I'll fail the initiation and become Gwen's slave for life. Wouldn't put it past her to keep the hex on me either. Besides, what could it hurt to bring Lance here?

I set my purse and the spellbook down, looking over my shoulder to ensure no one is around. The last thing I want is to be interrupted or distracted by people gawking at me. Or worse, the entire dorm secretly filming me- which is a possibility. Don't know why I have to do the ritual outside instead of indoors with air conditioning and sodas but that's what the book says.

At least I don't have to do this during the day or anything.

Not that I think any of this will work. I turn to the page I found in the library: How to reclaim a lost loved one beyond the veil was my ticket to get Lance over here and I can't wait to wipe the smug look off her face.

Seeing the title in the spellbook makes tingles spread all over me. It has to be a sign, right? Lance reaching out to me from my old school.

I let out a breath and open my backpack. The salt circle goes first. I need to make it big enough for me to light the candles inside and for Lance to appear inside.

Double-checking that I haven't forgotten anything, I pull out the salt canister, the five candles and matches, my veil, a flashlight, a cup of water, a feather, and a plate of cookies I got out of the vending machine.

An owl hoots nearby as I grasp the salt and sprinkle it in a wide circle about nine feet across as the book instructs.

The green candle goes in the North, I guess which direction that is and place the candle in the grass at the spot. I repeat the process with the other candles putting the blue candle in the West, red in the South, and yellow in the East.

A white candle is for the center of the circle to call spirit.

My hands shake as I take out the matches. I steal another look at the book, using the flashlight to ensure I have the words right.

"Okay." I heave out a breath and approach the first candle. "To cast this circle I call on the Guardians of the East."

Part of me wants to roll my eyes and laugh. Except the woods around me have suddenly grown quiet. Like those spooky shows I love watching. I shake my head. Just get this over with.

When I strike the match, the flame wavers, but the wick catches. Then I move to the red candle, repeating the process calling the Guardians of the South, then the West and finally the North.

A pop sounds in my ears and I jump. The air around me feels suddenly warmer. Even the sounds of nearby traffic and crickets seem muted.

I rub my arms despite the heat and shuffle to the center. Sitting down, I wrap my scarf in a loose loop around the white candle. I do remember Melanie's warning about not doing anything next to the leyline, so I'm on the other side of the cemetery and diagonal from the marble statue that marks the path to the French Academy.

If my friends could see me now, they'd be so envious I can go to France every day.

My hands are sweaty as I strike the final match. This flame shoots straight in the air unlike all the other times I had to light the candles.

I nearly drop the match. No. Has to be some kind of magic prank Gwen and the others are trying on me. That I'll scare and won't complete the dare. Then they'll make me do something worse, like kiss actual frogs or something.

Shaking aside my growing trepidation, I put the fire to the wick and said, "Guardians of spirit, please come and reinforce my circle and spell."

The candle seems to brighten the area around me, but I push aside dwelling on how a small circle of candles could give off so much light.

I grasp the spellbook. No way did I want to mess this up. It was in Latin. I did a Google translate and so far, everything else I'd done in English seems to be working.

"Tonight on the eve of the new moon, I call forth time and space to return him to me. Bound by our love and passion, I call Lance- my love -my boyfriend back from my old school."

Nothing.

Damn it. My chest constricts like someone is squeezing it. This has to work. No way am I going to be a laughing stock at this stupid school and kiss Gwen's goddamn feet.

Fuck! Maybe I should read the Latin text as it was, not that I have a clue on how to pronounce half the words, but I have to try. Or I'd fuck up the translation trying to transcribe it from the library's antiquated computer system.

Screw it. I pull the book closer to me, squinting in the candlelight that shifted to a soft glow.

"Hac aequinoctii nocte, per temporem et spatium invoco, ut amorem meum restituatur. In nomine amoris et fervoris, meum perditum amorem invoco, ut ad me redeat."

I repeat the spell and at the last line, a cool breeze brushes across the back of my neck. I leap up and spin around. Nothing is here except the candles I lit earlier. Must be my imagination or one of Gwen's followers doing that. I sink to the ground and stuff the grimoire and flashlight into my purse. This has been a colossal waste of time.

Just as I'd told the Headmistress, I don't belong here, I have no mag-

"Where in Valhalla am I?" a deep masculine voice says behind me.

I fall back on my ass, staring up into a huge blond dude with a sword and decked out in medieval-style trousers complete with a chainmail shirt.