Ritual

[dream_departed]

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[green_dragons]

They felt the air charged with electricity the moment the ritual began.

Lobsang and Nawang keep harpoon guns trained on the water as the motorboat cuts it's way to the small fishing boat. There are things writhing beneath the water that should be long dead. Rinzen can sense them. Anyone with the slightest spiritual sense could feel them.

Rinzen cuts the engines as they reach the fishing boat. He cautiously beings to board the boat. Just because nothing has come to stop them yet doesn't mean nothing will.

[dream_departed]

The only thing more frightening than hearing the sound of the engines is hearing them stop so close to her boat. She has her hands on PINpoint, ready to run.

"Who are you you?" she asks the man -- the men -- in the green gloves.

[green_dragons]

Rinzen looks around the boat. For moment, he cannot totally hide his surprise when he doesn't see anyone but the girl.

"Did you do all this yourself?"

The aura around her has changed since he last saw her, but this unmistakably the girl that Eszett had chosen for their ritual.

[dream_departed]

There is something in the man's eyes that makes it difficult to move, even just to move her hand to activate the PINpoint. It reminds her of a snake.

"Done what?" She shakes her head. "I haven't done anything."

[green_dragons]

While Rizen is talking to the girl, Lobsang slips behind her.

"You cannot complete the ritual on your own," he whispers to her. He moves his arm around her so he is holding The Book in front of her. "Not without this."

[dream_departed]

She gasps when she hears the man's voice behind her. She can feel his breathe on her neck.

She struggles not to reach for the book.

"Please. I need that. I need to --" She isn't even sure what she is saying.

[green_dragons]

Rinzen's hand darts out to cup the girl's face. He wants to get a better look at her. Why is she trying to do this?

"It would be nearly impossible. The last time they tried to complete the ritual the stars were in the house of the new moon. That only happens once every eight hundred years."

[dream_departed]

She is glad for the gloves he wearing. She doesn't want his skin touching hers.

She tries to lower her head to hide her sorrow, but his hand is holding her firmly in place.

[green_dragons]

Rinzen smiles. He moves the thumb of his hands to rub against her lips.

"But with a willing sacrifice? And one as special as you?" He doesn't bother keeping the sneer out of his tone.

He doesn't know why she would want to do this, but it doesn't matter much.

He offers her his hand, intending to lead her below deck where they can have more privacy.

[dream_departed]

There is only the slightest hesitation before she takes Rinzen's hand. She follows him bellow, where they remain for a long time.

[green_dragons]

From the portal, Nawang watches as stone demons holding the world raise out of the ocean. The boat tosses.

He looks over to the thing that used be a girl, "Are you doing this? You'll kill us all."

[dream_departed]

Aya looks blankly at the shouting man. Her kingdom's come. The palace is part of the deal.

She teleports away, leaving them behind.