Lucius, Emma, Jean, and Jaefel stood frozen as they reached the ritual ground, the scene before them one of pure chaos and horror.
The dozen girls and women scattered lifelessly around the site painted a grotesque tableau, their blood soaking the dirt and mingling with the acrid stench of burnt flesh and bile.
Fires blazed in unnatural hues, their crackling accompanied by low, guttural chants that made the hair on their necks stand.
The witches and wizards, six in total, moved erratically around the fire as if their bodies were being controlled by unseen forces.
Their eyes rolled back into their heads, their mouths foaming as they convulsed and muttered incantations.
The air was thick with the coppery tang of blood and the sickening smell of vomit, creating a nauseating atmosphere.
Lucius scanned the scene, his sharp eyes narrowing as he took in every detail. "This is worse than I thought," he muttered, his voice grim.