Flame Inside ✿ Damien and Matthew

Chapter 22

Emma awoke to find Thalia sitting in the chair beside the fire. She turned to the blonde and said, "A servant brought food but I wouldn't recommend eating it. It smells funny." Emma looked to the tray that held two bowls of... soup? Emma smelled it and it actually smelled pretty good but something smells off. 'Funny' is definitely the best way to describe the scent. She wrinkled her nose a little at the scent.

There was a knock on the door and Thalia told the knocker to come in. The door opened to reveal Diana with a plate of bread and cheese. Emma smiled a little at Diana before looking to Thalia, who was smiling brightly at her. Diana looks at the bowl, "I suggest not trying that. As good as it smells, the taste would not sit well with you."

Thalia shakes her head and states, "It smells funny." Diana chuckles quietly and nods her head in agreement. She then hands the plate to Emma and Thalia joins the blonde on the bed.

Thalia takes the plate and divides the bread and cheese up evenly before beginning to eat her half. Emma joins her as Diana states, "It's not much, but it's human food." Thalia swallows and thanks Diana.

They finish their food rather quickly. Diana hands both of them goblets of water which Thalia drinks rather quickly and Emma sips at. "Now that you two are finished eating, we can head for the ritual."

"Ritual?" Emma gives Thalia a look of confusion. Thalia quickly explains what Diana had told her earlier. Thalia smiles at Diana and stands up to leave. Thalia offers Emma her hand and helps her up once she has taken it. Diana headed for the door, opening it for them and exiting after them. As she closed the door behind her, Emma began to feel her heart flutter in relieved joy. She was heading home.

Diana led them down the corridors to the war room to reveal the table covered in plants and artifacts of different kinds. Emma looked at Thalia and noticed she was moving her gaze to the different demons in the room before looking at the blonde. "The stuff on the table is there to aid Diana with the spell." Thalia tells her.

Diana looked at the table and nodded, "This should work."

"You're in doubt?" asked the bunny demon.

"Have to be after the last time we tried sending her home. Do we have a human anchor?"

"No..." The faerie says, "You're on your own this time but we'll make sure you survive casting it."

"This spell should work," The long-haired demon states, "however, because we'll be using energy material. It will only require a slice of your energy on top of these items, which your guard can refill immediately."

"Just make sure you don't die casting it?" grunts the orc.

Diana smiled at her guard before turning to Thalia and Emma, "So, are you ready to return home?"

Emma nodded excitedly and Thalia stated, "I'm ready."

Diana nodded before turning to the table. She lifted her arms over the surface and lowered her head, muttering under her breath, "O Tenebris portas aperiat nobis largiatur exitum desiderium..." As she spoke, the table began to glow as she did. A dark purple aura began to surround her form as she lifted and arched her head back, staring at the ceiling. She was deep within the spell and Emma could see it slowly draw energy from her body. The items began to glow and dance in the air above the table.

The other demons stepped back as Diana pointed to the lights. She drew a large circle in the air and the lights followed, spreading out and forming a large void in the air. As they finally stopped moving, they burst into a bright light, causing the demons, Thalia, and Emma to cover their eyes from it. It engulfed the room, but died down just as fast, revealing a small tear in the air. Diana quickly leaned forward and pulled the tear apart, revealing Emma's bedroom.