The inside of Dominic's mansion looked as frightening as the outside, with high ceilings, dark wooden walls, and small windows that allowed only a little light into the rooms. Terrain smelled of mold and ancient stones while the quiet prevailed as only silence could for miles. For a moment, Aria could feel that she was in the wrong century, or rather in the wrong world: the place was so much older than her, so much more ancient and powerful.
Dominic guided them through corridors that were filled with dim lanterns and walls closing in on them; each step he took was quiet, even though he was a large man. Aria and Elias followed him; their own footsteps were much more clumsy in comparison. It felt as if they were in the bowels of some monstrous creature.
Finally, Dominic came to a halt before a door made out of oak. He opened it and stepped inside the large room; there was a massive stone table in the middle. The walls were lined with shelves full of old books, scrolls, and artifacts about Wolvesbane Hollow. Aria's gaze was taken straight to the symbols on the floor around the table: strange runes that glowed rather dimly as if they came from another realm.
"This is where we will prepare," Dominic stated softly. "This is not a game, Aria; you have to know what you are getting yourself into."
Aria nodded her head now, realizing how deep she had gone. The terms 'sacrifice' and 'ritual' had carried an abstract weight when Dominic first spoke them, but right now, with these relics of magic and power, they felt scarily real.
Dominic motioned to the stone table. "The ritual will need some requisites—tokens of your person—things that have been important to you in the past. These will act as conduits to the energy that is required to revive the veil. You shall have to make your selection."
Aria approached the table. "What type of objects?"
"An item of great value to you, an item connected with your life prior to you arriving here," Dominic continued. "It doesn't have to be grand—just important. But be warned: you will lose them for ever; the ritual will consume it."
Elias fidgeted by her side. "Are you sure this is necessary?" he asked me nervously. "There has to be another way."
Dominic frowned and replied in great concern. "There is no other way. The veil is ancient, bound by blood and magic. To strengthen it, a part of Aria has to be placed on the line as a way of countering the forces that seek to destroy the veil."
Aria closed her eyes for a while, overwhelmed by the weight of his words. Aria had understood well that her return to Wolvesbane Hollow will not be easy, but this is a decision that may alter everything. A part of something dear in her life had to go; the thought of what was going to be made her shiver.
Aria finally replied calmly, "I'll need time to think these through."
Dominic answered in affirmation. "You have until the full moon, which is three nights from now. But don't delay; as the veil is right now, it will get worse as time passes."
A shiver ran through Aria as he uttered his word as though the mansion was reacting to Dominic's words. Elias placed his hand on her shoulder, and she felt comforted for a moment.
"We will solve this," he whispered calmly, despite the exertion in the room. "We are together in this."
Aria nodded, grateful for his company. They walked out of the room together, Dominic's warning still ringing in their ears like a black cloud. The weight of her decision bore down on her as they strolled side by side quietly back towards the front door of the mansion. Each movement became an effort, as if the ground wanted to drag her down, reminding her what was in store for her.
As they got to the front door, Elias asked, almost whispering. "What are you going to do?"
Aria paused. "I don't know. How do you decide what part of yourself you can live without?"
Elias didn't say anything and looked at her; his face seemed worried. "You don't have to rush the decision, but I know this is going to be hard. You've been through so much already."
Aria closed her eyes, trying to deal with the thoughts and information going through her head. She could not permit herself the luxuries of getting sentimental. It was more than just her; this was about the town and the people. She had a duty to her grandmother now. But the idea of letting go of something as personal as an element of who she is as a person felt like an incurable sore.
"We'll go back to the house," Elias said gently. "We will sort it out there; perhaps there are things in your grandmother's belongings that could be of help."
Aria nodded at the idea. The idea that she still had her grandmother's items made her less lonely in this fight, or at least made her acknowledge that she wasn't in it alone. They went back to the forest; the wind followed them as they walked back to the center of Wolvesbane Hollow.
It was a rather silent walk, with only the noises of the forest coming through, including the cracking sound of twigs and leaves. Aria constantly had the impression that the woods were alive, and there are other forces that are surrounding them with constant attention. And not only the veil was at risk; the whole dynamic of Wolvesbane Hollow was changing, and she could sense it in her very veins.
After they had reached the house, the sun was setting, and there was the lengthening of shadows in the yard. Aria stood at the doorstep for a moment and looked back at the wood before entering. Such strange things had always been part of her life, but now these mysteries seemed more deeper and threatening.
When she entered the house, the smell of old wood and lavender was still the same, and she felt her grandmother was also there with her. Elias watched the corridor leading to the attic before he closed the door.
"Should we start going through her things this night?" he asked gently.
Aria rolled her eyes and then sighed tiredly. "No, tomorrow. I need some time to think."
Elias nodded apprehensively. "I will spend the night downstairs just in case."
"Thank you," Aria replied, smiling halfheartedly.
She went to the room upstairs; a number of things that had transpired in the day kept repeating themselves in her mind. The weight of the impending ritual pressed down on her, but she allowed herself to rest for a moment. The following day would definitely present her with more decisions and more secrets to unravel, but for now, the quiet of the house would have to be her consolation.