Sixteen
It took Herbert fifteen minutes to prepare his room to some level of satisfaction. On his way through the house, he’d gathered what candles he could so that along with the ones already in his room, he had enough to form a circle for him to sit within. Those that were left he formed in a spiral away from the circle until it met conclusion against a bookcase.
He stood still, aware of the chill around him, and steadied his heartbeat until his body rushed, each beat overlapping into the newest – strongest. By the time he had lit all the candles, he was already halfway into another world, the warm glow of candlelight a final invitation. Going to his bed, he reached underneath it and carefully brought out a long knife, standing up again to slowly slice the blade down his left palm and
