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“Let’s go get the items we’ll need I want to perform the ceremony outside I have a table that ork, and the weather’s nice We can actually use the earth to keep us grounded if necessary There’s no way I’ into my personal space”

“Makes sense” I nod reement I let her take the lead as we redients Ten black pillar candles, and a velvet bag later, we’re seated around her arden table

“No o of my hand Once I’et out They’ll do anything to create an opening that’ll allow them to escape into this realm, so be cautious and keep your

hitching a ride out of here”

“No, we don’t”

“Okay” She lights the candles with a thought and slips out an antique, silver-edged, circular asp

“A blackthe other side, the itey She places the mirror in the center of the circle of candles between us and draws the sigil on the center with her finger Straightening, Hal holds out her hands for mine

“Here we go” We link hands, and her energy juic is like side ritalong ic balks I force it to play nice and mix Like oil and water, they float on top of each other, without real cohesion, but it’s enough The connection between us is made Hal hums as she slowly rocks in a circle I’m unable to take oes slack, and her cerulean eyes glaze over A frost covering turns them white

She ceases all il” Her voice is sexless and louder than it should be as it echoes through the backyard I can practically taste the power behind it as her call stretches out to the other side My heartbeat kicks up a notch when the terow clammy, and I tense

“Coer on the outskirts We demand answers You’ve come to a realave you perins to rattle I feel a pressure beating against our circle I grip her hand tighter and reinforce the circle as we’re rocked back and forth like a ship in rocky waters My teeth chatter and the air from my mouth makes white clouds Chill buin to feel numb

“Speak,” Hal demands She jerks in her seat Her eyes bleed black It takes every ounce of courage I have not to let go of her hands as the entity rushes into her body, bringing the feeling of pure evil with it Not Hal cracks her neck and focuses its attention onoff her in waves, literally, cause bile to cli it back down, and know I a that was never human

“Who are you?”

Not Hal opens hermakes me tense Her body shakes, and the hum turns into a buzz that vibrates her entire body A trail of blood runs from her nose and eyes

“Hal,” I croak

The bubble building explodes A swarm of black flies burst fro htenin me tells me to screahts are reduced to those four words as the being unleashes I gatherthe connection between her and the being She jerks like aforward onto the table The candles all extinguish at once I scan her body for any signs of lingering possession Her aura is the sah the shade is a sickeningly dull puce I release her hands and rush to her side