Where Spirits Roam

Chapter Thirteen Siphoned

Ms. Magdalen didn't give the girls any space ensuing lunch. Instructing them to follow her she led them away from the safety of their chambers and outside into the garden. An early afternoon breeze worked its way through the air and whipped their hair around as they trekked after the round woman who was moving with a purpose.

“Where are we going?” Fauna yells stopping at the top of a set of stairs ten feet from the woman. The stairs led down into the forest below where the sun seemed to be swallowed up by the trees. Darkness surrounded the area.

“We're going just a little further.” Ms. Magdalen answered cryptically not bothering to stop.

The girls continued past the stairs catching up to the older woman easily. When they reached the treeline the woman finally stopped ushering them forward and down the stone path.

“I think I would prefer to follow you,” Fauna sneered refusing to enter the forest first.

“I was not told to come along just to lead you here. The path should lead to a clearing.” Ms. Magdalen says turning on her heel and walking back the way they came.

“Are we really going in there?” Katie wonders aloud fearful of the answer.

“I guess so,” Fauna replies a ball of fire hovering above her palm and providing enough light to see where she's going.

Fauna takes a step onto the path, Nadia, on her heels. Eviee is the last to enter the forest a feeling of dread settling on her shoulders.

“How long are we supposed to walk until we reach the clearing?” Jamie whines when the path seems to go on forever.

“You heard Magdalen same as us, Jamie,” Fauna snaps her anger growing as she becomes more anxious about what awaits us.

“Come on Fauna it's not Jamie’s fault,” Claire says always the epitome of serenity.

“I know, I'm sorry.”

Looking behind her, Eviee couldn't see any of the path they'd left behind them the light that was spilling into the trees had been completely engulfed by the thick branches the further they went.

Without Fauna’s flame, they would've been lost long ago. Eviee’s short legs began to burn from the distance and her feet hurt. The thin converse didn't offer her much protection from the ground below. Trying to watch her step and avoid any more sharp objects Eviee slammed into Katie’s back almost knocking the other girl over.

“Oww,” Katie called out bumping into Claire and grabbing her arm to steady herself.

“I'm sorry, I wasn't paying attention,” Eviee yipped.

“Shh,” Fauna hushes her index finger coming up to cover her lips.

Her flames dance in her icy blue eyes as she looks around the clearing before them trying to assess if there is a threat. Slow clapping echoes around them and Fauna ignites another flame now holding one in each hand. Katie disappears immediately hidden from sight and Jamie collects a variety of rocks in front of her readying them as weapons. With no real outward power Eviee, Claire, and Nadia huddled together. Ellsworth steps out from the other side of the clearing and torches are ignited around them lighting the space.

“I'm glad you see you all made it in one piece,” He greets moving around an altar. “This place belonged to my beloved I had you brought here so I could introduce you to the woman whose knowledge will help harness the gifts you have been given.” He stops near the front of the altar looking loving at the statue of the woman they were all familiar with. “This is Constance,” he says his voice full of adoration. “Please, come forward,” he instructs leaving no room for them to decline as his hand shoots out and his guards block the exit.

The girls drop their defenses walking further into the clearing and closer to Ellsworth. Strange runes are carved into the stones below their feet and all around the altar making the place feel even creepier.

“As part of your introduction to my beloved, each of you will give a drop of blood to her altar,” the command comes with the withdrawal of a dagger from Ellsworth’s jacket. “Who will be first?” He asks a glimpse of the man from the memories coming through.

“I'll go first,” Fauna says lifting her head high and holding her palm out for Ellsworth.

“Brave Fauna, I suspected as much,” Ellsworth muses clamping his hand around her wrist and dragging the blade quickly across her palm. Blood rushes to the surface and Fauna clenches her fist taking a step forward and letting her blood drip into the stone bowl. When she steps back he hands her a strip of cloth to cover the wound.

“Next.”

Nadia breaks from the group holding her palm to Ellsworth and he makes a deeper cut on her palm. The blood slowly oozes and Nadia hurries to leave a drop. By the time she returns to Fauna’s side, the wound has closed.

“Ah, Jamie,” Ellsworth remarks gripping the girl's hand when she steps forward his blade slices across her palm and he releases her allowing her to leave a drop of blood.

When she faces the others tears shimmer in her eyes, she grabs the cloth held out to her and links away.

“Which of you will be next?” Ellsworth asks eyeing the three remaining girls.

“I will,” Eviee calls catching him off guard and a smile curls his thin lips.

Ellsworth holds Eviee’s hand tenderly pressing the tip of the blade into her palm and making a small cut. The pinch of pain comes slowly fading to a dull ache as her blood wells to the surface. Ellsworth continues to hold her hand mesmerized at the blood flowing from her wound. Eviee pulls away leaving her drop of blood and returning to others without taking a cloth.

Something told her this was a bad idea but they couldn't fight it. The last two girls left their drop of blood without the weird encounter Eviee had to endure.

“Here,” Claire links Eviee.

She holds out an extra cloth and Eviee takes it carefully wrapping her hand.

“Thank you all for your cooperation, now that the first part of the ritual has been completed we can move on to part two. I will expect to see you all in the great room tomorrow morning.” With that Ellsworth walks behind the altar disappearing as soon as he's out of sight all the torches go out leaving the girls in complete darkness.

Fauna ignites her flame in her left hand avoiding the aching cut and leading them back down the path and away from the corruptness of the clearing.

The return trip to the mansion drags on their energy being siphoned away by the spirit residing in the altar. The girls are barely keeping their eyes open when they enter the sitting room and they collapse onto the furniture limbs entangling as each loses their battle with consciousness.