Static Reflections: Book 1 of The M... - Chapter 66: Chapter 66

On the night of the event, Leah came into Boris's room while they were all sitting around on the floor, playing a money-managing board game that Adam consistently tried to cheat at. "It's time, you guys. Tonight's the night."
"But we're in the middle of a game I'm winning!" Adam complained.
"This is a little more serious than that," Leah blinked. "Tyler, do you remember how it works?"
The German shepherd looked up. "I sure do. I'm totally terrified now that you've told me what's supposed to happen."
Leah leaned against the door frame. "I know, but I know you can do it. If you wanna save Boris, this is how we do it."
Pierce sighed. "And I'm gonna be holding the mirror as still as I can, don't worry."
"My coven is gonna meet us there," Leah told them. "We should get going to make sure everything is prepared. Come on, everyone."
Adam looked down. ". . . I wonder if I'll ever be back in this place."
"Maybe. We just have to hope," Tyler answered, genuinely feeling bad for how rough this animal has had it in such a short period.
They all piled into the car, Tyler the designated driver, as Leah sat in the back holding a box of supplies needed for the ritual. Adam sat in the passenger's seat, staring out the window quietly as he realized this was probably his last ride. Pierce sat in the back, trying to make polite conversation to keep it from being so awkward. They had loved it when they were hanging out as a group, and they felt like they actually had friends, but this just felt sad.
Arriving at the destination, Adam gasped. "Wow! We're already back here, huh?! What a coincidence that we have to do it here!"
"Not really," Leah commented, opening the door and pushing it open with her foot. "The ritual has to be done on a body of water, and when I found out there was a pretty big pond here from you and Tyler, I figured we should do the ritual here."
"Won't there be tourists?" Adam asked concernedly.
"Don't worry, we're going to have other witches as lookouts. If they see anything, we have the Mortal Guard's memory-altering spell to back us up."
Adam blinked. "Memory altering spell? That's gotta be the same one they used on Neil . . . ." Everyone left the car and looked around in the darkness. They congregated behind the vehicle, Leah keeping the box held in both of her arms.
"Yeesh, this spell is ancient. I wonder how they even discovered it back then," Leah commented. "I mean, they probably didn't have an old book to tell them how to do it."
"I was wondering the same thing," Tyler commented. "Who was just sitting around experimenting with mirrors and figured this out in these exact conditions?"
"Wild," Adam huffed.
Pierce held their arms out. "Finally. Feels good to be outside again at night. I haven't left the mansion for so long . . . ."
Tyler looked around, blinking. "So when's the coven gonna be here?"
"Oh, they've been here," Leah told him. "They had some setting up to do before we began. They're already at the pond."
"Guess we better hike out there then, huh?"
"Yep."
As they walked along, Tyler recalled the escape from Adam through these very woods. He had been terrified and confused, and the hole in his cheek had hurt like hell. Not to mention all of the blood running into his throat.
Adam thought back to when he was chasing Tyler. He still had a slight bump from where he was pegged with a rock. After Tyler had chucked it at him, the otter remembered that he had taken a different way back to the car, somehow knowing where it had been. The door had been unlocked on the first pull but on the second pull, it had opened. Adam assumed it had to have been Absalom's power. He found himself wondering what could happen if the demon was at full strength.
Pierce hadn't been to these woods before, but they greatly appreciated being surrounded by a different environment. The greenery, the breeze, the crickets; it was all so nice.
After a good few minutes of walking down the trail, Leah began struggling with the weight of the box, and Pierce took it from them, finding it to be unusually lightweight. No one spoke a word as they all mentally prepared themselves for what was coming.
When they had all arrived at the pond area, there was a sort of strange unusual mist coming out of the water. A group of black-robed figures all stood with their hoods up, various objects scattering the floor.
"Hey, girls," Leah smiled, going over and setting the box by the side of the water.
"Are you sure you're ready for this?" One of the robed figures asked, stepping forward. The ears that stuck out of the robe were cat-like in quality.
"I've studied the ritual front to back a hundred times, Tabitha," Leah nodded, grabbing her hands. "Even though I'm only a Level 4, I know I can do this."
Another taller animal with black feline ears sticking out of the hood came forward. "Let's pray to Mother Lorena that we can help your poor brother, sweetheart. If Absalom is as dangerous as that book says . . . ."
"Thank you, Headmaster," Leah nodded. "I hope so, too. This other otter here, Adam, is currently occupying his body." She took a moment to explain their entire situation.
The Headmaster walked up to Adam, looking him up and down. He could see that she was an old black cat who looked wise beyond her years. "Do you understand that we don't know the consequences on you if we perform this ritual? Your Soul could be lost forever."
Adam smiled sadly. "Guess that's better than never being able to see the guy I love again."
"The water is already enchanted," another animal with bunny ears stated, coming closer. "The energy from the full moon will imbue the water with lunar energy that will make our magic stronger."
"Great, Mandy." Leah grinned. "I wish the spell wasn't so specific, but you know."
"Can he really do it?" A big animal with bear ears asked. "The German shepherd?"
The female otter looked back at Tyler, who had been watching the entire display, and shrugged. "Who knows what will happen? But we only have one shot at this because after we do this, he will no longer be pure."
"Wait, one shot?!" Tyler exclaimed. "That puts a lot more pressure on it than there already was!"
"Relax, you'll do fine," Leah assured him.
Another animal, a bat, rubbed her hands together. "So, Headmaster, I'm just going to be observing this time, right?"
The black cat nodded. "Yes, Jenna, you'll be one of our lookouts. You know the memory-altering spell, at least. Carrie will be with you."
Yet another robed animal, a lab, put a hand on the bat's shoulder. "Don't worry, Jen, I got you. For a new witch, you've been doing a great job."
"Thanks, Carrie," the bat sighed.
Pierce looked at the water with the fog rolling off. "That looks like something out of a horror movie. Super cool! Wish I could make a video about this."
"You better not, young animal," the Headmaster squinted.
"I wasn't gonna!" Pierce yelped. "Promise!"
Leah looked up at the sky freckled with stars, seeing the bright round moon above. "We should get on the water so we can start. Where's the boat?"
Tabitha pointed her clawed figure toward a nearby canoe, bobbing up and down in the otherwise still water.
"Where did you guys get that?" Adam asked. "Did it take all of you to carry it over here? That must have blown."
"I teleported it here," the Headmaster told him.
Leah glanced at him. "The Headmaster can basically break any rule she wants in the coven since there's no one above her."
"Really? There aren't bigger covens above this one?" Tyler asked, genuinely curious.
"It would be impossible," the Headmaster explained. "The Mortal Guard is far too big, and in the end, they would merge the two. Smaller groups of supernatural creatures like covens and broods must stay in hiding. It's risky that we're even doing this, but vital."
Leah reached down and grabbed the brown leather book out of the box, holding it with her arm and flipping open to a marked page. She held it over to Tyler. "Look at the drawings, and you'll get a general idea of what you're going to do."
Tyler looked at the old page, letting his eyes scan each image and then swallowing. "Fuck . . ."
The other coven members went to the box and pulled different things out. The main thing being noticed was a jar of blood.
Pierce's interest was piqued. "What's the blood for?"
"You'll find out on the boat," answered Leah.
Mandy reached down and pulled up a medium-sized rectangular mirror, dragging the bottom of it along the ground until she held it out to Pierce. "I believe this is your job?"
The lemur grabbed the mirror, careful not to put their digits or claws on the glass. "I'll make sure I hold it as still as I can."
"You all have to work together," the Headmaster reminded them. "Everyone must do their part to ensure a successful ritual. Now, let's get you out on the water."
"Man," Adam spoke up. "This is gonna be bitchin' . . . ."
Leah turned around, facing the German shepherd. "Take your clothes off."
The canine jumped back. "Huh?! What?! My clothes?!"
"Down to your underwear, yeah."
"You didn't say anything about that!"
"Because I knew you'd make a big deal out of it. Come on," she gestured.
Tyler looked around at everyone. "Why can't I just stay dressed?!"
"Do you want to save Boris or not?" Leah asked. "You too, Adam. Down to your underwear."
"My body's reserved for Neil, but since that ship kinda sailed . . . I guess . . . ." He began taking his clothes off. Tyler grumbled, doing the same. A few moments later, both boys were standing in their underwear next to the foggy water.
"Tyler, you first, then Pierce with the mirror, then Adam. Actually, pull the boat out real quick. It will be easier to do the blood part if it's still," Leah explained. Two of the witches dragged the boat out of the water and onto land, holding it steady.
Feeling a chill from the breeze, Tyler approached the canoe and lifted his leg, stepping inside. "Oh boy, this is gonna be interesting . . . ." He sat on the cold metal of the seat, sighing.
Next, Pierce dragged the mirror and stepped in, placing themselves on the middle seat and letting the thing rest on the floor of the boat. "Hope this thing doesn't rock too much . . . ."
"As long as you stay still, it will be fine," Leah told them.
"That's the hard part . . ." the vampire mumbled.
Subsequently, Adam mounted the boat and sat on the last remaining seat, breathing slowly. "This feels like a big game but so real at the same time."
"Alright, now this is the part where you become very still. You don't have to be completely still, just mostly. It will take a good while to get this done," announced Leah, grabbing the jar of blood and stepping into the boat. Carrie and Tabitha continued holding the sides so it wouldn't move. "Gonna be kind of a tight squeeze, but work with me here."
"Wh-what is that?" Tyler asked, looking at the jar but already knowing the answer.
"The blood of the innocent that we got when the Black Cross invaded," Leah explained, holding it up. "Though we enchanted it with a spell that gives it paint-like qualities. Perfect for rituals. And if water gets on any of the blood, it won't wash off!"
The German shepherd blinked, horrified at how calm she was about that. "What a great spell."
"Now, give me some time to work, and when I get to you, don't move," Leah answered. She dipped her right pointer finger in the jar and began lining the outline of the mirror in red, making sure not to get any on the glass. From the bottom left side of the glass, she drew a line along the bottom of the boat until she reached Tyler's left foot, dragging her finger along the top and up his leg.
"I'm seriously trying not to laugh . . . ." Tyler said to her.
"Don't. The Bloodline can't be broken. Now, this next part is going to be weird for both of us, so just shut up and let me work."
"Uh, okay?"
Leah dipped her finger in the blood again and continued to drag her finger along his leg, past his knee, up to his thigh until she reached the leg of his underwear, which she lifted and let her finger drag into.
Tyler felt extremely weirded out and uncomfortable at that, but he didn't say anything. It was all necessary to save Boris.
Leah lifted his waistband and continued to paint blood along the line she created, trailing up the side of his belly, circling his left pec. She branched off from the circle up his shoulder all the way down his arm, creating a smaller circle on the back of his hand and extending lines from it to each of his five fingers.
After, she returned to the circle on his pec and dragged her finger upward, trailing crimson up the rest of his chest, the left front side of his neck, and began to trace lines on his muzzle. Leah drew red circles around his eyes as well, and the line went all the way up to his head, outlining his ear. She moved her makeshift brush along the top as she traced his other ear and brought her finger down his neck and chest, creating yet another circle around his right pec. Leah copied the lines of blood on his left side, creating a mirror image on his right.
When it came time to go past his underwear again, she did the same thing, lifting his waistband, the leg and dragging the blood all the way down the knee and on the top of his foot. She traced back down the bottom of the boat and met the red line back to the bottom right of the mirror. "Alright, one side of the connection is complete. "Pierce, move out of the way real quick. I need to paint the back of the mirror, too."
"Oh, sure thing," the intrigued lemur nodded, making sure not to mess up any lines she created as they got out. Leah put her finger to the cardboard back of the mirror. "Can one of you girls show me the book again?"
The bear came forward and held the tome over to her. "Thanks, Lana," the otter smiled, copying the symbols onto the entire backside of the mirror, before tracing the outline and drawing a line from it to Adam, doing the whole process she had done with Tyler over again, both of them having the same blood pattern and both of them having a connection to the mirror.
When she described this to me before, I didn't think it would be this weird, Tyler thought to himself, trying not to move. Pierce carefully got back into position and made sure to hold only the sides of the mirror.
Leah got out of the boat slowly and looked at her work. "Alright, they're ready. Let's get them out on the water."
Carrie let Mandy take her side of the boat as she moved to stand guard along with the Headmaster and the newbie, Jenna. Together, Mandy and Tabitha slowly pulled the boat into the water, assisted by Lana. When the boat touched the surface of the water, the two witches walked deeper into the shallow pond while guiding the boat along its foggy surface. They could already feel the lunar energy pouring in.
Leah followed, holding the book as she did until they got to the middle of the pond, and he gazed up at the full moon again. "Alright, turn it. We need to make sure that Tyler can see the full moon in the reflection. Tyler, let us know when you can see the moon above you." Slowly, the two witches on the side rotated the boat.
"There," Tyler said, seeing the bright sphere above his head in the mirror as if it were watching him.
Leah turned a page in the book. "Alright, it's time to begin, as we discussed. Let the boat go and form a triangle around it," she explained to Mandy and Tabitha. Everyone got into position. "Alright, now dip your left pointer fingers and middle digits into the water. Headmaster! Can you take the book from me?"
The Headmaster entered the shallow water and waded through as if she were working through hot molasses. She reached Leah, who had studied the page thoroughly, and the otter handed her the book. The old black cat turned and began leaving the pond.
The three witches in the water, their black robes darkened further by the liquid, dipped said fingers in the water.
Leah took a deep breath. "Now, point your right pointer and left at the mirror." She followed her instructions, along with the other females. "Now, this next part is in Monster Tongue, but do it just like you practiced, and we'll be fine. Tyler, when the mirror changes, that's your chance. Adam, stay still so Tyler can do his thing.
"Sure thing," Adam answered, absolutely in awe at everything happening.
Tyler swallowed, glancing all around the mirror and at the reflection of the moon as the witches began chanting strangely around him, uttering a language he had never heard. There were clicks and hisses, and it almost sounded like they were angry about something. The fog on the water began rolling off faster, the water around them becoming supremely still.
A few moments of the strange chanting later, Tyler saw it. His eyes widened a bit. The full moon in the reflection changed, morphing into a bright fiery ball with an orange glow. It was almost blinding, but Tyler kept focused. Quickly, the shadow of the moon began coalescing over the newly formed sun. The German shepherd's heart sped up, not believing what he was seeing. Fortunately, things were happening just as Leah had explained, and, as the eclipse reached totality, the canine's eyes wandered around his blood-painted body, with its lines and circles, and finally, to his pseudo's eyes, which he locked gazes with.
Tyler kept staring deep into his reflection as the moon's shadow completely covered the sun in the mirror. Seven minutes and thirty-one seconds . . . One chance. This is it.
The eclipse was complete, and the most challenging part of the ritual had begun.