Flame Inside ✿ Damien and Matthew

Chapter 40

The two days that followed Matthew's return to them came filled with work from Diana and her group. Upon Matthew returning to normal, Diana ordered a massive search for everything needed for the transmutation ritual that would normally have been used to make a human a demon.

The worry of the ritual bubbled in her core, but Thalia was going to be alright. This was something Damien and Thalia decided together and this was going to make Damien happy. That was all that mattered in the end.

As the seventh day arrived, the ritual was prepared and ready for them. The others gave them their own concerns and wishes, hoping for the best regardless of what happened. They were positive that they would be okay.

Entering the war room, Diana looked over at the pair of them, nodding and stepping away from the table. On it were arranged purple and gold candles, all lit with black but somehow illuminating flames that flickered in the air gently. It seemed mystical and shadow-like, but if this was how it was done, then it was how it was done. There was space in the center of the table for a body to lay down within the circle of candles, making it clear of what had to happen.

Diana gestured to the table, looking at Damien and pointing to the large space between the arranged candles, "Lie down when you are ready."

Damien nodded before turning to Thalia and smiling, taking her hand and kissing it, "You'll be here when it's over, right?"

She nodded, smiling up at him and kissing his hand in return, "I will. I promise."

A smile was exchanged between us before Damien looked at Diana and walked to the table, stepping on a block that was placed for him near the table to let him climb up with ease.

As Damien settled onto the table, Diana walked over to Thalia and took her hand, guiding her towards the table as well. She furrowed her brows and gave Diana a look of confusion. She merely squeezed Thalia's hand gently and stated, "A theory. Indulge me." Thalia nodded slowly in reply as she watched her guide her to the chair beside the table, letting her sit on it before taking Damien's and Thalia's hands and clasping them together. As Thalia read her thoughts, a sense of understanding fell over her.

"This is part of the ritual?" Damien questioned.

"No, but it's a theory I have that might help." Replied Diana before closing her eyes and wrapping her hands around Damien's and Thalia's, letting a soft purple glow emanate from them and circle around their hands.

As she does this, Thalia began explaining to Damien Diana's thoughts, "She believes that since I am human and full of energy, if something falters, we can use my energy to rekindle it and resume the ritual." Thalia paused for a moment as she turned her gaze to Diana, "It's quite genius, really."

Diana spares her a glance and a smile, "Thank you, dear. I only hope that it works."

As do I, Thalia thinks to herself as she turns her eyes back to Damien, As do I.

Damien smiled at her before laying his head back and staring at the ceiling. She squeezed his hand as Diana removed her hands from their clasped ones. Purple magic continued to dance around their hands as Thalia smiled back at Damien. "Ready?" Diana asked them.

Damien and Thalia nodded at the same time before both of them closed their eyes. She could hear Diana step back and mutter under breath some sort of Latin incantation she couldn't dissect. As Diana did, the energy around the room began to pulse and wave like an ocean in a storm. The air began to brush against her skin, causing her to look down at Damien, seeing the black fire around the candles around him intensify in their illumination. Thalia tightened her hold on Damien's hand and shut her eyes again, desperate and hopeful. This had to work. It had to.