Page 145 of House of Pain
And Alecto was a survivor.
47
The Blessed Forest lay on the other side of Darly and the House of Snakes, just down south of Venefica.
It dragged on for miles even beyond their town, and most of it was unexplored as far as Alecto knew, housing many more creatures she only learned about in Inathis’s lore. But unlike the Cursed Forest, the students were allowed into the woods.
Right on the edge of the forest, just a few minutes’ walk from 3rd Avenue, lay the ruins of the old psychiatric ward said to hold the most dangerous witches under lock before Kelthazane, the unbreakable prison, was built.
Not much was left from the once-grand building anymore, just a single tower stretching all the way over the tops of pine trees and two pairs of tall stone walls that were overgrown with moss and red ivies.
Alecto approached the ruins, Bea and the other second year, Cadre, trailing after her. The Book was shoved in her leather satchel, weighting her shoulder down.
“Bea, why don’t you go and inspect the walls and what’s left of the ruins and see if there are any weak spots we might need to pay extra attention to?” Alecto instructed, setting her bag on the trunk of the fallen tree.
The witch obeyed without a word, shuffling towards the crumbling walls.
“What do you want me to do?” Cadre asked, setting the bag with tools they would need for the spell on the mossy ground.
“Help me set up the altar for the spell,” Alecto said. There was nothing around that could be used as a place for their tools, so they’d have to use the ground. “This seems to be a good enough place.”
Alecto walked a few steps towards the flat surface, where moss didn’t grow, leaving the earth underneath exposed. It has been used for something before because it was a shape of a perfect circle, and the moss still hadn’t grown back.
Alecto worked on drawing a circle in the damp sand with her athame. Then, she stepped in the middle, drawing the five symbols inside, making sure that the lines were connecting where they were supposed to.
Then she let Cadre carry the candles and set them around, marking the spots they each would have to take. He lit them with a spell instead of a lighter.
Show-off.
Just when they were almost finished with the circle, voices came from around them, and Alecto turned to find Val and the rest of the fourth years walking over their way. She had her hands linked with Rogue, who seemed casually bored, as per usual.
They came to a stop when they noticed Alecto.
“Good job, kids,” Val said, grinning as she eyed the circle. “Of course, it would be Alecto Black who’s the first one to take on the task.”
It was a compliment. But it wasn’t.
Alecto ignored the fire in Val’s eyes, the malice in her smile.
“I’ve got places to be later,” Alecto drawled. “Might as well finish earlier.”
“Do you need help with the spell?” Blaze asked.
Apparently, Alecto somehow managed to piss Val and Blaze off at the same time, now having to deal with two of them acting like total assholes. And all because one thought she was sleeping with the other, while the other…probably had his ego hurt?
Alecto wasn’t even sure what Blaze’s fucking problem was now.
“I think we’ll manage,” Alecto said, each word clipped. Blaze narrowed his eyes. “But I’ll make sure to come to you for help if any issues arise.”
Blaze licked his lips before they all moved again. As he passed her, he murmured, “My schedule is rather busy. I wouldn’t wait too long if I were you.”
Alecto ground her teeth, clenching her jaw so tight it hurt.
That fucking bastard really was trying for something here with his double meanings.He’s busy?
Of course, he wasbusywith Val and all the other fucking whores ready to climb him the moment he lifted a finger or even glanced their way.
Alecto flexed her palms, taking deep breaths and counting to ten. She didn’t have the right to be angry about it.
