The decision to perform the ritual weighed heavily on Sophia and Liam. They spent the next two days preparing, gathering the materials listed in the grimoire and studying the instructions until they were confident they understood each step.
The ritual required a sacred space, so they chose the garden beneath the magnolia tree—a place tied to both Eleanor and James. It felt fitting to honor their memories there.
On the night of the ritual, the air was thick with tension. The moon hung low in the sky, its pale light casting eerie shadows across the manor grounds. Sophia and Liam arranged the herbs, candles, and symbols in a circle around the tree.
Sophia held James's locket in one hand and Eleanor's diary in the other. These items, deeply connected to the lost lovers, would serve as anchors for the spirits they sought to release.
As the hour approached, Liam lit the candles, their flames flickering in the cool night breeze. The scent of sage and rosemary filled the air, mingling with the faint aroma of magnolias.
Sophia took a deep breath and stepped into the circle, her voice steady as she began to recite the incantation from the grimoire.
> Spirits bound by blood and grief,
We call upon thee for release.
By fire's light and sacred breath,
We end the curse, we halt the death.
The wind picked up, swirling around them in a vortex of leaves and petals. The flames of the candles burned brighter, their light casting strange, dancing shadows.
"Do you feel that?" Liam asked, his voice low.
Sophia nodded, her heart pounding. The air around them seemed to hum with energy, as if the very fabric of reality was shifting.
From the corner of her eye, she saw a figure emerge from the shadows—Eleanor. Her ethereal form was luminous, her eyes filled with both sorrow and hope. Beside her stood James, his hand resting gently on hers.
Sophia's breath caught. "They're here."
Eleanor's gaze met Sophia's, and a soft smile graced her lips. She reached out, her voice like a whisper on the wind. "Thank you."
Before Sophia could respond, the wind intensified, and the figures of Eleanor and James began to dissolve into light. Their forms merged with the glow of the candles, and the locket in Sophia's hand grew warm before disintegrating into ash.
The air grew still, and a profound silence settled over the garden. Sophia and Liam stood in the circle, their hands clasped, their hearts racing.
"Is it over?" Liam asked.
Sophia hesitated, then nodded. "I think so. They're free."
But as they began to step out of the circle, a low rumble echoed through the earth. The magnolia tree's branches swayed violently, and a shadowy figure materialized before them.
It wasn't Eleanor or James. It was something darker—something that radiated malice and power.
The entity's voice was a guttural growl. "You think you can undo what was done? The debt remains."
Sophia's blood ran cold. The ritual had released the spirits of Eleanor and James, but it had also awakened the entity tied to the pact.
Liam stepped forward, his jaw set. "The pact ends here. We're not afraid of you."
The shadow laughed, its form shifting like smoke. "Fools. The Harrington bloodline will always belong to me."
Sophia gripped Liam's arm, her voice steady despite her fear. "We need to finish this. The ritual isn't over."
Together, they stepped back into the circle, preparing for the final confrontation.
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