Chapter 18: Dark Ritual
551words
"Is everything ready?" Eileen walked into the room, holding a silver box in her hands.
Karen nodded: "Just missing the last thing."
Eileen opened the silver box, inside was a strand of silver hair and a few drops of dried blood: "Lyra's hair and blood, just as you requested."
Karen smiled with satisfaction: "With this, I can interfere with their soul connection in Moon Shadow Valley."
He placed the hair and blood drops on the Dark Moon Stone, and began to recite the ancient incantation. The stone emitted an ominous purple light, absorbing those substances.
"Does this really work?" Irene asked skeptically.
Karen's eyes flickered with fanatical light: "The Dark Moon Stone can distort the power of the laurel. When they try to complete the soul connection in Moon Shadow Valley, this stone will interfere with them, causing them to fall into illusions and confusion."
Irene pondered thoughtfully: "Then we can eliminate them."
"Not just that." Karen said fanatically, "I will absorb the laurel's power and become the new Alpha. And you, dear Irene, will become the true Luna."
A flash of unease passed through Irene's eyes, but was quickly covered by ambition: "We need to make sure everything is foolproof. Lyra and Rayne have been acting mysteriously lately, they might already know something."
Karen sneered: "No matter what they know, it won't change the outcome. The power of the Dark Moon Stone will destroy their soul connection, making them die in agony."
He walked toward a box in the corner of the room, opened it to reveal several silver weapons: "These weapons have been soaked in Dark Moon Stone powder, capable of inflicting wounds that Werewolves cannot heal."
Erin picked up a dagger, cold light flowing along the blade: "Perfect."
Karen suddenly frowned: "There's something I still can't figure out. Lyra has changed too much, almost like she's become a different person. Have you noticed her eyes? That's not the look a normal bride should have."
Erin dismissed it: "She's probably just adapting to the new environment. Don't overthink it, focus on our plan."
Karen nodded, but the doubt in his eyes hadn't dissipated. He felt that he had overlooked something important, but couldn't put his finger on what it was.
After the ceremony, Karen carefully placed the Dark Moon Stone into a specially crafted box: "In two weeks, the trials at Moon Shadow Valley will begin. Then, the Greyson Family's rule will end, and a new era will be initiated by us."
Eileen raised her glass: "To the new era."
What they didn't know was that a small silver lizard—Mira's spirit familiar—had been hiding in the corner, witnessing the entire ceremony. After Karen and Eileen left, it quickly slipped out of the basement, crawling toward the other end of the castle.
Mira was waiting in the infirmary, and when the silver lizard climbed onto her hand, she closed her eyes, receiving the information it was transmitting. When she opened her eyes, her expression became grave.
"I must tell Lyra and Rayne immediately," she whispered, "They need to know Karen's true plan."
