Page 109 of Crossing Between
"The ritual requires all four of us," I explained quickly, my eyes darting to the writhing form of my brother beyond our protective dome. The Essencefeaster was recovering from the earlier attack, its movements growing more coordinated with each passing second. "You three will be my anchors while I channel the soulfire."
"What do we need to do?" Varon's voice was steady, his hand firm on my shoulder.
"Form a diamond pattern around Ryan. I need to draw a specific glyph." My fingers twitched, the pattern already forming in my mind though I'd never seen it before. "And then I have to go in."
"Go in?" Kenji's brow furrowed. "Go in where?"
"Into Ryan's soul. Into the corruption." I swallowed hard, the enormity of what I was about to attempt finally hitting me. "I have to find the boundary between my brother and the Essencefeaster and cut it away."
Elias shook his head. "That's too dangerous. If you enter the corruption..."
"It's the only way," I cut him off, my resolve hardening. "Ryan is still in there, fighting. I can feel him."
The three men exchanged glances, a silent communication passing between them.
"If this is what you need to do," Varon finally agreed, "then we'll be your anchors."
Kenji nodded firmly. "All the way."
"Whatever it takes," Elias agreed, his tentacles emerging to wrap protectively around my wrist.
Outside our dome, the Essencefeaster had fully recovered. It rose to its full height, towering over us, a grotesque blend of my brother and something ancient and monstrous.
"Such a touching scene," it sneered, Ryan's voice distorted by the demon's influence. "Do you really think your little ritual will save him? He's mine now. He gave himself to me willingly."
"He didn't know what he was doing," My voice stronger than I felt. "He was trying to protect me."
The Essencefeaster laughed, the sound echoing painfully through the chamber. "And look how well that turned out. Poor little Ryan, sacrificing everything for a sister whoabandonedhim."
I flinched at the accusation, but Varon's hand tightened on my shoulder. "Don't listen. It's trying to weaken your resolve."
"What's your plan?" Kenji's body was already shifting into his oni form, skin darkening as his muscles expanded.
"I need to draw the glyph," my fingers flexed as the pattern burned in my mind. "Once it's complete, we'll take our positions. I'll channel the soulfire, and you three will ground me, keep me from being lost in the corruption."
"And then?" Elias prompted.
"And then I find my brother and bring him home."
I took a deep breath, centering myself. The golden light of my protective dome wavered as I redirected my magic, focusing it into my fingertips. With a fluid motion, I traced a complex pattern in the air, golden light trailing from my fingers to form glowing lines that hung suspended before us.
The Essencefeaster howled in rage, recognizing the ancient symbol. "NO!" it roared, lunging toward our protective barrier.
Its claws raked against the golden dome, sending cracks spiderwebbing across its surface. I flinched but kept drawing, my fingers moving with a certainty that came from somewhere beyond my conscious mind.
"It's weakening the shield." Varon's eyes tracked the spreading cracks.
"Almost done," I gritted out, completing the final curveof the glyph. The symbol hung before us, pulsing with power. "Now!"
With a gesture, I sent the glyph outward. It expanded rapidly, growing until it encompassed the entire chamber floor, its lines burning themselves into the organic surface beneath us. The Essencefeaster screamed in pain as the symbol seared into the flesh of its domain.
"Take your positions!" I commanded, moving to the northernmost point of the diamond pattern that had formed within the glyph.
Varon, Elias, and Kenji moved swiftly to the other three points, forming a perfect diamond around the writhing form of the Essencefeaster. As they settled into place, lines of golden light shot from my position to each of theirs, connecting us in a network of power.
The Essencefeaster, realizing what was happening, let out a roar that shook the very foundations of the chamber. "You think this will be so easy?" It snarled. "You're not the only one with power here!"
It slammed its draconic fist into the ground, and the chamber shuddered violently. The walls pulsed faster, the veins of black ichor swelling ominously. And then, to my horror, forms began to emerge from the walls themselves. Twisted, corrupted bodies started to pull free of the organic matter.
