"Anna, we need to go. The sun is almost setting." The High Priestess walked to Anna who was sitting on her bed in a meditative position.
"Yes, mother. The full moon will be with us today. I hate to think of what is going to happen to him. He has been a good friend; I cannot afford to lose him." Anna jumped out of the bed and walked out of the room alongside the High Priestess.
"That is our prayer. His time is now. If he goes, we are left with the witch to fight against. Without him, it will be hopeless." The priestess shook her head.
"Where is Margaret, are we not going with her?" They were standing before a flying beast that they were going to use for transportation and Anna was not seeing Margaret with them.
"She is going to prepare this place for the ceremony, if we come back with him. I spent the entire day yesterday preparing the tekra, there can be no mistakes if he lives."
The beast spread its wings to the sides as it flew to the skies. The air whirred as it flapped its wings. With every flap, it covered more than a thousand kilometers. Above its head was a clear energy which seemed to block Anna and the priestess from the torrents of air that hit them as they travelled.
As they landed at a place, the sun sunk in the western horizon. The air became cold and the hooting of owls could be heard from all over. They sat on the beast which now lay on the ground with its belly to wait. The night was consuming the day at a quick pace giving way for a large orange moon to rise from north east. With its appearance, they could feel the ominousness of the silent night.
"Udo, you will remain here for the time being. Anna and I are going to walk into that territory to wait for those children to finish what they came here for. If they are to succeed, I want you ready. You will take us as fast as you can back to Cursed Town, do you understand?" As they jumped from the beast's back, the priest looked at it with a serious gaze. She then nodded to Anna and they both walked ahead of it, where they were soon consumed by the darkness.
Wicker, Jack and Brenda were in the midst of a heated discussion when the door to the room suddenly opened. The light that was provided by the bulb on the ceiling showed them that it was Gordon that came. He was wearing a smile they had never seen before. He was ostensibly happy.
"It is time, my friends." He said and gestured for them to follow him. They stood without a word. They went past people in different kinds of kasayas to a large temple. None of them wanted to marvel at the magnificence of the temple. They did not want to return the greetings that the monks gave with gentle bows. In their line of vision, only Gordon existed and wherever they were being taken to. Wicker had the stick on his right hand, his arm's muscles could be seen hardening beneath his skin. He was serious and if looks could burn, this place would have been in conflagration.
"Chief Priest, follow me please." The third disciple gestured as he opened large iron doors. They led to a long walkway which had candles mounted on one-meter stands on both its edges. They stood from the entrance to the end where there was an altar on a dais with green carpet. On top of the altar lay a man the chief priest knew. From an opening on the ceiling, light from the moon permeated to hit his nude body, making her smile at what was about to happen. It only required a simple glance to know that he was hanging barely on his life.
"What is she doing here?" Priscilla scowled. On the other side of the altar stood an old woman who hunched over the young man. Her wrinkles made it hard to read her expression. Nonetheless, with Priscilla's experience, she could see sadness and reluctance.
"She is a harmless old friend who wishes to witness the ritual. You don't need to care about her." The third disciple answered with a forced smile.
Just below the altar were seven men don in white kneeling with their heads bowed. They were facing the altar, showing Priscilla and the third disciple their backs, and head that could be barely seen beneath their shoulders. "Why are they not here, Chief Priest?" The third disciple asked as they closed the altar.
"This is your homeland, disciple, I should be asking you that…oh, there they are." The twin door that had just closed behind them was once again opened and four figures were revealed. One of them walked majestically leading the other three walking behind him with their heads slightly lowered.
"Eddie!" Cried Brenda and Jack almost at the same time when they saw the man lying on the altar. They wanted to rush to him but a lift of Wicker's stick stopped them.
"What are you doing?" Brenda asked in indignance.
"Stopping you from jumping into your death." The answer, was only heard by Jack and Brenda. To the others, it appeared that he had ignored her question and had committed himself to the task that waited.