Ellora's Sun

Chapter Fourteen

Adelaide and Stefan walked far enough into the woods that she could only faintly hear the sound of the waterfall. Stefan leaned his back against a large tree, looking at Adelaide with analytical eyes. She stood a few feet away, waiting impatiently for him to speak.

"So, you agreed to do the Krvavá ritual?" Stefan asked, as if they were two friends catching up over coffee. Adelaide nodded curtly, crossing her arms across her chest.
"Yeah, so?"

"Really? After everything I told you, you're still choosing to help them?" Stefan asked, raising his eyebrows and giving her a judgmental look.

"I never said I was helping them. I said I'm doing the ritual," Adelaide defended, "I'm not going to help them kill anyone and use me as a weapon. I think we can all find a compromise."

"You are so naive, Adelaide. You and Christoph really are a perfect pairing." Stefan chuckled and rolled his eyes. Adelaide glared back at him, ready to challenge him.

"Why is that so funny?" 

"Do you really think they're going to just change their ways after one family therapy session? They've been killing, manipulating, and hiding things for decades. Just because you asked nicely doesn't mean they're going to change." Stefan shook his head, like he was disappointed in her. Adelaide thought about what he said, and felt a little disappointed in herself too.

"What do you want, Stefan? Did you come here just to judge me?" Adelaide asked, throwing her hands in the air in frustration. Stefan stood from his spot on the fallen tree, crossing the distance between them in seconds.

"I want you to use your head, Adelaide. You know they've lied to you. You know they've killed people. Why are you still listening to them?" He stood close to her, tapping a finger on the side of her head, "Is getting in Christoph's pants that important to you?"

Adelaide was taken aback by his sudden outburst. He'd had the same indifferent expression every moment they'd talked, and his anger scared her a little. But more than that, his comments infuriated her. She scoffed at him, taking a step away, "They're not the only ones who've killed people, Stefan."

His cloudy, grey eyes turned dark at her words, but whatever he was feeling he quickly hid it. Stefan's jaw was tight, and his lips pulled tight as he stared back at her. She hadn't said it, but they both knew what she was referring to.

"I think Christoph needs to check all of his facts before he goes around accusing people of being murderers."

"Look, I'm not saying I trust them. I don't trust any of you. I didn't ask to be in the middle of someone else's war," Adelaide defended, shaking her head, "This ritual is just so I can get control of my magic instead of randomly teleporting places and blowing things up. I'm not going to be someone's weapon, okay? I don't even have to help either of you, I could just leave."

"They have no intention of ever letting you leave."

"What do you mean?" Adelaide asked cautiously, frowning at the look he was giving her. Stefan knew something she didn't, and the look on his face told her it wasn't good news.

"There's a reason krvavá is nearly extinct, Adelaide. Using blood to power spells and rituals means people have to die in order to get results. Witches who have practiced it can get unimaginable power, but it comes with a hefty price tag. Some have gone mad from guilt over the people they've killed, and others grew corrupt with the power," Stefan explained to her, "your magic may be powerful, but krvavá is more powerful. And if they know one krvavá ritual, I can guarantee they know more."

"You think they're going to do another ritual? How would that help them?" Adelaide asked in confusion. Was krvavá powerful enough for them to force her to do their bidding?