Page 37 of House of Malice
Alatar only laughed and shrugged. “Don’t blame the witch for doing what they’re born to do.”
“And what’s that? Scheming mortals with magic?” Galliermo teased.
Alatar’s smile turned from playful to dark. “Doing whatever it takes to get what they want.”
Before Galliermo could say anything else, Octavia and Rufus came up to them.
“Well, do you have everything we need?” the High Priestess asked Galliermo.
He nodded, handing her the small paper bag with a few missing ingredients for a spell he got from Gill. Octavia peeked inside and smiled, satisfied.
“Let’s get this party to the next level, shall we?” Octavia asked and turned to go.
Alatar, Galliermo, and Rufus hollered, which made Demitria giggle as she leaned back against Galliermo’s chest.
“We already set up the bonfire in the back garden,” Rufus told them. “We’re only missing the piece of art.”
“I’ll grab that,” Alatar said. He jerked his chin at Galliermo. “Get people to go outside.”
When his best friend disappeared behind the door to the basement, Galliermo whistled. It was so loud that it cut through the noise of the crowd and the music. Witches gathered around them turned to him.
“Who’s ready for a bonfire?” Galliermo asked, his voice booming. Some of the students started cheering. “Drop your clothes and get ready to dance in the moonlight! Come on! Get your asses to the backyard!”
A whole crowd of eager witches rushed towards the door at the back of the brownstone that led to the back garden. Clothes fell on the floor as they undressed in preparation.
When Galliermo stepped outside with Demitria by his side, the air felt electric. His skin buzzed with anticipation for what was to come.
Demitria held his hand tighter when they reached the lawn, which had logs and wood planks stacked together. There was a column in the very middle, where the star of the show would be hung.
Across the bonfire, Galliermo’s eyes met Gondalez’s. He was naked from the waist up, clearly enjoying the party just as much as anyone else. He had no idea.
Smug, Galliermo smirked, and for a moment, fear flashed in Gondalez’s eyes, but then he smiled at Galliermo.
Another whistle came from the brownstone, and Alatar walked out through the door, holding a painting with a white sheet draped over it.
“We bring the sacrificial lamb,” Alatar shouted, and the crowd cheered.
Galliermo left Demitria with Octavia and the Frone sisters and went to help Alatar hang the painting on the column in the middle. Rufus circled the bonfire, scattering the ash Galliermo had gotten from Gill’s over the wood.
Galliermo met Alatar’s gaze, and his best friend winked at him.
“Oh, mighty Gods,” Galliermo said to the crowd, his voice powerful. “Tonight, we bring you a sacrifice like none other.” It was hard to keep a straight face, but Galliermo managed. “Bring prosperity to our House, because tonight we give you one of our House’s most prized possessions.”
Alatar chuckled, then coughed to cover it up. Galliermo turned to him and nodded, and Alatar pulled the white sheet off, revealing the painting they’d bought at the auction.
“A masterpiece made by a talented artist like none other who’s yet to be discovered,” Alatar said to the crowd.
Some of the witches in the crowd laughed, while others scoffed. Galliermo’s eyes scanned the crowd until he found Gondalez. His face was serious, his eyes burning with hatred as he glared at Alatar.
“Such a sacrifice should bring us many years of luck,” Alatar said, then moved away from the fireplace. “We have been so fortunate to have it in our priceless art collection for the time that we did.”
Another wave of laughter went around. Galliermo wanted to howl in satisfaction at seeing Gondalez immobilized. His girlfriend, Daria, appeared by his side now, saying something to him. But he didn’t seem to be listening.
“High Priestess, we’re ready to begin,” Galliermo said to Octavia with a bow of his head.
“Inferereo,” Octavia started chanting, and the Snakes all joined. Soon, even the crowd was chanting the spell cheerfully.
When the fire soared to life, it was a sight to behold. The flames were hot and wild, the color of trees in the autumn. Occasional streaks of purple would appear and take the shapes of wild creatures that lived around Inathis.
