Familiar Place

Patricia didn’t speak immediately this time. She stared at it, frozen, then slowly pressed a finger to the paper. “I’m not entirely sure what this one is… but I think I know what ritual he’s performing.”

Jayden stepped closer. “What do you mean?”

Patricia drew in a slow breath. “This symbol—the skull—it’s tied to a creature of darkness. Something not catalogued in any known magical texts. A being that doesn’t yet have a name… because it was never discovered. Not fully. The ritual Hawkbone is performing? It’s either an attempt to unleash a plague… or worse.”

Jayden’s brows knit together. “Worse than a plague?”

“Yes,” Patricia said grimly. “He may be trying to create something. Something that doesn’t die. An immortal creature—unnatural and unique. The magic involved… it’s not just dark, it’s forbidden. Ancient. The kind of power even the oldest witches buried deep to keep it from ever seeing daylight.”

“Why would they hide it?” Ryanne asked, his voice barely above a whisper.