The Baron and his Lady

Thirty-two: La Magie

Alpine Forest
Claus's pov

Tristane drove this car out into the woods. Lucian and I sat at what he called back seat. It was like a modern carriage without horses and much faster.

It was midmorning but inside the forest it was dimmer, the trees hovered tall and their leaves prevented the sun to pass through.

I aided Lucian as we followed a path, I had the feeling I was here before. Tristane was walking ahead, he carried a satchel and refused to say what was inside.

There was a clearing up ahead and he paused in-front of a peach tree. I stared at it. The roots and bark seemed familiar. It can't be! This the same tree Letecia had left me to die.

"It's fine Claus, I can stand now." Lucian said to me.

I simply nodded and stared at Tristane, he was touching the tree as if he was looking for a latch. His satchel lay untouched by his feet.

"How big was the opening?" He asked Lucian.

"Small, but enough for one person to pass through.."

He walked towards us, "I will try opening it but I need blood."

"Take mine.."

"No, Lucian. You are far too weak," I stepped in and held Tristane's gaze, "you can use mine." I held my wrist out.

"Are you certain? You don't even know Krista."

"This is her father's body, so it's really his blood." I answered.

"You're right. But it's still you who's inside, I figured how she did it but I cannot undo it yet. You may need to stay in his body for sometime."

So Letecia did realize it was her fault I got stuck in here? Useless bitch.

"I will try not to take over, but do what you need to do."

He nodded and went back to his satchel, he took out candles, lots of them and laid them on the ground. There were melted candles next to a drawn star, had they previously used the ground for some ritual?

"Come here Claus.." Tristane called to me.

"Go.." Lucian said as he leaned against a tree.

I left him and went to Tristane. He was lighting the candles now, his face blank.

"When I say go, cut your wrist over here and spread you blood all over the circle."

He gave me a knife and I took it. It was small and light, something a witch would use for convenience. A huge ruby stone was embedded on it's hilt, expensive knife.

"Why the blood?" I asked.

"Blood magic is stronger than usual magic, it costs a lot, too. To counter her spell we have to use the same tools she used."

"So any blood works?"

"No. We need a witch's blood preferably from the same witch who casted the spell, but since she's dead there's a chance the spell will be weaker. I am her descendant, my blood should be able to work," he looked at my wrist , "I need another set of blood to call upon the power. I cannot control it yet, it feeds on blood, if I use my own throughout the ritual I may pass out."

"You're saying I am about to feed a what? A demon?"

"I guess you can call it that, the power is dark. It's an entity who lends you strength in exchange for blood."

"How did Letecia bear to contact such evil?"

"She lost her child in the process, when she began to learn how to control it, she lost her family. Her magic grew stronger but she was losing everyone she cared about."