The night had finally come, and Anka was about to fulfil the plan that she and her god, Balor, had planned for some time. Drasas, Asha, Serenity, and the rest of her guards were over at the north of the henge, while she walked around and prepared each stone.

She stopped at the first stone and placed her hand in a container of human blood held by Zane, the boy that lured Serenity. Drasas had put him under a compulsion to follow any orders he got from them. Her fingers now dripped with thick, dark blood. Anka closed her eyes and spoke in an ancient language. “Balor, bless these stones with the blood of the innocents.”

Anka smeared the blood on the stone, and then moved on to the next, and the next, until every stone was covered.

“Take this back to Asha,” Anka said to Zane. He walked off, and Anka made her way to the centre of the Stonehenge circle. She did a quick spell to conceal them and anything that went on in the circle, so they wouldn’t have any inquisitive humans popping over to see what was going on. Then she held her hands in the air, her skin covered in dried blood, and rubbed them together as if building up a charge. Anka then released her hands, and a bolt of energy flew from her fingers. It went from stone to stone, lighting up the bloodstains with a bright red glow, lighting up the night.

“The time has come, Balor.”

She walked back to her people at the north end of the circle. “All is ready, Asha.”

“Excellent, Madam.”

Drasas was standing to the side looking worried. Anka could feel her doubt gathering. She moved to her. “Drasas, are you ready? This is your big moment.”

“Are you sure it will work?”

Anka leaned forward and whispered, “Of course it will, and you will stand by my side as the world’s greatest vampire.” She ran her hand down Drasas’s chest and heard her moan. “Don’t you want to be the greatest? To have people fear you?”

“Yes, Madam. I want it.”

“Good. Let us prepare, then.”

* * *

Daisy held Torija’s hand like a limpet for the whole two-and-a-half-hour journey to Stonehenge. She was dreading letting go, and the closer they came to their destination, the more dread she felt.

They turned into the car park and saw the bright glowing red marks on the stones.

“What is that?” Daisy asked.

“Dark magic.”

Daisy’s panic shot to the surface. “Don’t do this, Tor, please. I’ve only just found you.”

Alexis opened the door next to Torija and said, “Out, now.”

Daisy nearly clambered over Torija to get to Alexis. “Don’t you dare—”

Torija pulled her back and said to Alexis, “Can you give us a few minutes please, Alexis?”

Alexis never replied but slammed the door shut.