After Feodorvna

Chapter Eighteen

A cape as black as night hung over her shoulders and an attached hood covered her head and eyes. It trailed behind her like a gothic wedding gown, leaving me to wonder why she was wandering around the woods in Willington anyway. The funny thing was I wasn't even the least bit frightened at finding her there. Billie was a strange girl, so it seemed only normal that she'd do occult shit in the woods. I really didn't know any better, so I approached her.

"What are you doing out here?" I asked.

She turned around, as if expecting me.

"I should ask the same to you." she said, raising her eyebrows.

"Oh, I was hunting with my dad." I shrugged.

She eyed the bow still in my hands. "Ah."

"So, what about you?"

She stepped closer to me. "You see, I set up this ring..." she trailed off.

I almost dropped my bow at that. "No. I'm not doing another spell, Billie."

"What if I told you it was to get back at Holden?" she smirked.

"We're good now." I said, starting to turn back.

"Really?" She stepped closer. "Interesting..."

I gulped. "Look, we're fine. I've really got to get back before my dad starts to worry."

"You and I both know you and Holden aren't 'fine.'" she breathed. "I have an idea."

"What, then?"

"There's power in threes, Stella." She stepped even closer, so she was standing about two feet in front of me.

"Yeah, where are you going with this?"

She ignored me. "Greek mythology is ruled by The Big Three...otherwise known to you as Zeus, ruler of Mount Olympus; Poseidon, ruler of the Seven Seas; and Hades, ruler of the Underworld."

"Um, I already know this. How does this relate to Holden?"

She gave me a look. "In Greek mythology there are Three Fates, also known as the Moirai, which control fate - obviously. What I'm getting to is there are, more importantly to us, the Three Furies. The Erinyes are the goddesses of vengeance. Many people are terrified to mention their names, for how much terror they unleash on wrongdoers is horrifying, but since you're innocent I'll tell you."

I unintentionally shivered. "Okay."

"Their names are Alecto, Megæra, and Tisiphone. Alecto torments those who are constantly angry, Megæra to those who are jealous, and Tisiphone to those who murdered."

"They sound pretty intense."

She nodded. "That's why we're going to summon them. There are three parts to their summoning spell, and the last one will be on the night of the Full Moon Dance. Full moons are powerful, you know."

"Goddess, we are not sending the Erinyes - or whatever - after my boyfriend! You're insane!"

She laughed. "I get that a lot." Her face darkened. "But we have to do the spell, Stella."

"No. We don't have to do anything."

"We have to do this, though." she said. "C'mon, let's start the spell."

"Billie." I whined.

"We have to this."

"Don't make me shoot you with a freakin' arrow." I said as I reached into my quiver.

"You won't."

I sighed and followed her into the circle. The wind whistled through the trees, and a cloud blocked the sun from shedding light. It got cold and dark so quickly. The birds stopped chirping, and animals stopped chasing each other through the bushes and grass.