CHAPTER FIFTEEN: RITUAL

Ray's eyes flashed with anger as he clenched the steering wheel, driving at a speed that made me feel like we wouldn't arrive at the village in one piece. No words were exchanged between us, only the sounds of the car's engine and the shrill wind accompanying the silence.

As we drove further, I stared out the window. Trees towered over buildings, birds chirping alongside crows. My veins throbbed wildly; I felt the change in the air and atmosphere. I knew, without a doubt, that we had arrived.

Ray stopped the car. "Brother, it's right here." I could sense his unease as he scanned our surroundings.

"I know; I can feel it. This place has a lot of energy," I replied, stepping out of the car and looking at the tall building with a curved sign on top: Moon Fire.

Ray spoke, entering the building. "Well, at least it doesn't look like they've been attacked. Everywhere looks quiet."

I checked my phone screen, not wanting to enter without knowing whether Ariel was safe or not. I dialed the number once more, hoping she would call back. The phone rang, but there was no response on the other end. I squeezed the phone tightly.

"Are you coming or not?" my brother yelled, staring at me.

"Yes," I replied, putting the phone in my pocket and heading straight into the building.

As we entered, Ray turned to look at me. "Brother, I don't think anyone is here."

I stared at the empty chairs and forlorn ruins at the center of their pack house. "I think it's taken them," Ray replied, his eyes dancing with fear.

"No, let's check everywhere. It's not possible they took everyone," I said, making my way toward the next three buildings, but there was no sign of human life.

I slumped my shoulders in defeat. We were already late; the dark creatures had taken them, and I couldn't save them. I whispered to myself, "This can't be happening."

Ray approached me. "We did our best, brother."

I removed his hand. "No, I didn't...not..." I strained my ears to listen to each sound. They were whispers of people.

"I think I might have found them," I said, using my werewolf speed to sprint toward the deeper parts of their forest. Ray stumbled behind me.

"You should have waited for me," he said, dusting off his clothes as we stared at the people lined up outside with a knife in each bowel.

"What are they doing?" I whispered to Ray.

"I don't know, Derek, but there's one way to find out." Ray mounted the stage, his voice booming across the silent crowd. "Hello, people."

The crowd turned, their eyes filled with a mix of fear and curiosity.

An elderly man pushed through the crowd, his walking stick thumping against the ground. "And who are you?"

Ray smiled. "Well, let's just say I'm on your prince."

The old man's eyes widened. "Prince?"

Ray raised his eyebrows. "What else is it supposed to be, boy?"

The elderly man flared up. "Is this supposed to be a joke?"

Ray got down from the stage, jerking the elder by the collar and rising him up. "Ahhh, just like your father. Go on, have at it. Kill me. Let the Moon Fire village release their bottled-up wrath against you."

The old man dared Ray, his eyes glinting with defiance. Ray sighed, dropping him down. "You're lucky I'm not in the mood."

The old man straightened himself up. "Just leave. We don't need your help."

Ray spat on the ground, his face twisted in disgust. "Fine, Derek, I'm going to the next village. Good luck with these ones."

As Ray left, I approached the elderly man. "I believe you are the chief of your clan. Can we talk in private?"

The old man stood his ground, staring back at me. "And you are?"

I crouched toward his ear, whispering, "I don't think you'd love to know."

I could feel his throat get tight, and his heart beat racing faster than usual. "I fear no one," he lied, the words rolling off his tongue.

"I think I like you," I said, smiling. "But if you push my patience, I might lash out. Trust me, I'm not my brother."

The old man's expression changed, and he nodded. "Fine. But after this, we need to save the last of our kind from being salvaged by that monster."

"You mean the dark one?" I cocked an eyebrow.

"Whatever you call it," he replied, limping with his walking stick and climbing the stage with difficulty. He raised his arms, and the crowd began to chant. I checked my wristwatch; it was almost midday. I walked towards the stage, grabbing the old man as he tried reciting the incantations.

"I don't have time for any of this," I said, my voice firm. "People I love will get killed soon enough if I don't find out the pattern of this dark creature."

I held him in place. "It's none of my business if your people get killed."

The old man folded his arms. "I care!"

I banged my fist on the nearest wall; everyone turned and looked at me, their eyes wide with fear.

"You are stubborn, just like your mother," the old man grunted lowering his voice.

"Follow me," he said, trudging down a path leading to his inner chambers. "There's something I want to show you."

I entered the chamber; it looked different from the other buildings. Our pack's symbol was painted on the walls. The air was warm, and I could smell the earthy decay mixed with flowers.

"What is this place?" I gaped, staring wildly at the chamber.

"This was where your mother was born," the old man revealed, cracking a small smile. "This is our sacred chamber."

"My mother?" I stared in disbelief. "How is this possible? Dad told us tales of Mom and how she was a gift from the Blood Moon pack for an allegiance."

"Your dad lied to you," the old man coughed, bringing out a small, dusty box. "Take this; it's hers. She would want you to have it."

I pushed the box back. "I can't...I don't think this is possible."

The old man's expression changed, and he nodded. "Just tell me what I need to know, and I'll be on my way."

"Fine," he said, his voice low. "Those monsters trapped our women in a circle in the middle of the cluster of houses down the left alley."

"Why would they...?" I couldn't finish my sentence when he cut in."You must know that this village as a whole exudes more energy than necessary, thus making us a beacon to everything magic."

"Yes, I know all about that...Those monsters lurked in here at night when we least expected, drew a circle, and asked that we allow our village to be their channel. When we refused, they trapped our young women in that circle, drawing energy from them."

He choked, tears springing up from his eyes. "The longer they draw energy from them, our women might not survive and get killed in this terrible process. So I am doing the only thing I can."

He stopped, cleaning away his tears. 

"What are you doing?" I asked, my voice lower than usual.

 Step back, I could hear angry growls of men screaming outside.

I rushed out side the old man alongside me. I found a young man with a bowel in his hands just like the rest but his was different it was filled with blood.

 I found a young man with a bowel in his hands, just like the rest, but his was different – it was filled with blood. It splashed on the floor as a group of young men held him back from climbing the stage.

"I have to save her; can't you see?" he screamed, touching the sides of his face in hysteria, spittle all over, as blood dripped from the slit on his wrist.

"What's happening?" I asked the old man.

"The ritual to save our women," he responded.

"Allow him!" the old man's voice suddenly changed.

"No, it can't be...stop the ritual!" I screamed, my voice sinking in the swarm of panic voices.

"He can't kill himself!" I pushed past the crowd.

"Elisa, I saved you at last!" the man screamed, raising his hands up and driving the knife to his heart.

"No!" I screamed aloud as the lifeless body of the young man sprawled on the floor, a pool of blood surrounding him. Even in death, he had a moronic smile plastered on his face.

I turned to look at the old man, but he had vanished as quickly as he had appeared. The wails of the people were loud as they clenched their chests, terrified by what they had seen.

"No, this is not possible. How did I get deceived by it?" I stared at the crowd, who had no idea what was happening.

"Look, it worked!" a man pointed his hands towards the gate.

I followed his direction. Lo and behold...