Surge novum. Tempus advenit. Surge novum. Tempus advenit. Sacerdos non decet. Surge novum. Tempus advenit. Surge novum. Tempus advenit. Sacerdos non decet. Sacerdos non decet.

“You all sound like a bunch of mindless assholes,” is the last thing that I say before I feel it, the pull. It shakes me to my core and brings me to my knees. My breathing is labored, and it feels like my heart is going to explode out of my chest.

My hands claw at the ground, trying to find anything that will give me purchase. All I can smell is the misty air and the stench of dirt. I can’t see anything and all I feel is pain. Their chants increase and I’m flailed onto my back. My chest is rising and falling at a rapid pace. My fingertips clutch at my chest. I feel like I’m dying. My body rises to the air, elevated and held in the midnight chill like a sacrifice.

A sacrifice. A fucking sacrifice.

I try to steady my breathing to hear their chanting, and it all becomes clear. They don’t want me to be High Priestess at all. They want to take my power from me. I look around the circle, I see Clover’s smug face, Jenna’s blue eyes are almost as wide as her smile. My mother’s eyes are closed as she leads the chant. No, Hell no. I’m not going to let this happen.

Over my dead body.

The scream that exits me is unnatural and loud. I push every ounce of magic out of my body, hoping to end the pain and save myself. I’ve shaken buildings with my anguish before, but this time I split the earth. Like an earthquake, the rock shifts beneath us, opening the earth’s core. I hope Satan makes an appearance and sucks these cunts into the depths of Hell.

The pure damage of my magic causes them to stop their chanting and they drop my body onto the cold ground. Mud and leaves stick to my chilled skin as I try to catch my breath. I’m exhausted. I’ve never exuded that much magical energy in my life. I roll to my side to see Stevie’s wide eyes as she crawls to me. Half of the coven is on the other part of the break in the ground, while the other half is stuck here with me and Stevie. All of them are lying on the ground from whatever magic I cast. They all still look to be breathing, unfortunately.

What I wouldn’t give for a goddamn transporter talisman right now.

Stevie makes it to me and she strokes my hair from my face. “We need to get out of here now.”

“Fuck, I’m so tired, Stevie.” I can feel my eyes drooping. I just want to sleep on this cold soil, just for a little while, until I’m strong again.

Stevie slaps me hard against the face. “Get up!” She huffs and I hear her casting some shielding spells.