Chapter 20

  THE TEAR

  Max slipped carefully into Laura’s cabin, making sure no one saw him. Inside, the air was thick with tension. Laura, visibly furious, was flipping frantically through the books piled around her, hurling aside those that proved useless.

  —So many useless spells! —she shouted in frustration as a thick volume slammed against the wall.

  —Laura… —Max said quietly. His intense, calculating gaze was enough to capture the witch’s attention.

  —Do you have a plan? —she asked bluntly, with a determination that showed she was ready for anything.

  —Yes. There’s a spell that will allow us to go to Heaven —Max replied, though a slight tremor betrayed his voice.

  —What spell? —Laura leaned closer, intrigued.

  —In one of the oldest quantum magic books Melody gave me, I found a spell to open a portal between realms. But… it requires a colossal amount of magic. Not even I could handle it without risking an explosion that would level miles around us.

  —But you already have a solution, right? —Laura pressed, certain Max wouldn’t have come this far without one.

  —Yes. According to the book, there’s a ritual that stabilizes the portal for about two hours —he paused and sat down, as if the weight of his words had suddenly grown heavy—. But to perform it, we need demonic blood.

  A heavy silence fell over the cabin. Laura stood abruptly, pacing the room as she searched her mind for answers.

  —I know where to get it. Cristina told me she met a demon… sort of charming, when she was out there. His name… Raían —she said, a spark of resolve lighting her eyes as a plan began to take shape.

  —That’s convenient… though I don’t trust strangers. But we’re not in a position to be picky —Max admitted, standing up. He walked toward the door and, before leaving, added—: You handle the demon. I’ll gather the other components.

  With that, he closed the door, leaving Laura more determined than ever to save her friend.

  Hours later, in a small, tidy apartment, Raían calmly opened the door. When he turned on the light, he startled at the sight of Laura sitting in a chair, staring straight at him.

  —Who the hell are you?! —he shouted, stepping back in alarm—. Are you an ex? Did I mess with your partner?

  —I’m Laura, Cristina’s friend —she replied, holding her ground.

  Raían frowned, still confused.

  —Oh… I didn’t tell her to share my contact or my address with her friends —he muttered, clearly uncomfortable—. What are you doing here?

  —Don’t worry, she didn’t give me your location. I tracked you by the scent left on the card you gave her. Let’s get to the point: I need your blood.

  Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit.

  The silence that followed was so dense it seemed to fill the room.

  —What? —Raían asked, stunned—. Is this a joke? Or some kind of weird fetish? —he added, slipping into his usual mocking tone.

  —No! —Laura snapped, visibly irritated—. I need to perform a stabilizing ritual, and your blood is one of the ingredients.

  —No, I’m not giving you anything —he replied, tossing his backpack onto the couch—. You’re crazy. All witches are.

  —You give it to me, or I take it —Laura shot back, her eyes turning a blazing red as claws emerged from her fingers—. Cristina is not going to die because of a stupid demon.

  Raían froze for a moment, startled by the transformation. But when he heard that Cristina was in danger, his expression changed completely.

  —Wait… Cristina is in danger? —he asked, suddenly serious, loosening his tie—. Give me a minute to change, and I’ll help you.

  Laura watched him cautiously, unsettled by the sudden shift. The demon’s carefree demeanor vanished, replaced by something unexpectedly genuine. Minutes later, Raían emerged from the bedroom in more comfortable clothes, ready to go with her.

  Without exchanging many words, they headed for the greenhouse, joining forces to prepare the ritual that would determine Cristina’s fate.

  Raían, wearing a seductive grin, approached Max, his eyes sparkling with mischief.

  —Hello, handsome —he greeted, taking Max’s hand and placing a soft kiss on it.

  Max stepped back slightly, bewildered.

  —This is the demon? —he asked, unable to hide his surprise.

  —I know, I’m far too beautiful to be one. I hear it all the time —Raían replied with a bold wink, clearly enjoying Max’s reaction.

  —Enough nonsense. It’s time to do some witchcraft —Laura cut in, her expression bordering on manic.

  Ignoring the comments, Max focused on preparing the ritual. His steady, deliberate hands traced a perfect circle of white salt, carefully outlining a pentagram within it. Every movement was meticulous, almost reverent.

  He carefully took black tourmaline crystals and placed them one by one at the points of the pentagram. Their rough surfaces seemed to absorb the light, emitting a faint glow that lent the scene an unsettling air.

  At the center of each point, Max placed a bowl of crystal-clear water. Inside them rested white feathers, floating delicately, like whispers of purity amid the dense, mysterious aura that was beginning to envelop everything.

  Satisfied, Max sat at the center of the circle, crossing his legs with studied calm. He closed his eyes and began to breathe deeply, synchronizing his mind and spirit with the energy flowing around him. He felt the stability of the tourmaline and the purity of the salt protecting him as he mentally prepared for the ritual.

  —Raían, take that knife, cut your hand, and spill your blood over each crystal —Max ordered, his tone severe, leaving no room for mistakes.

  Raían obeyed without protest, though he let out a dramatic sigh. With precise movements, his blood began to drip onto the crystals, which slowly started to emit a faint reddish glow.

  —Is everything ready? —Laura asked, her patience hanging by a thread.

  —Yes —Max replied.

  He closed his eyes, bringing his hands together in a triangular shape over his chest. He inhaled deeply several times until, when he opened his eyes, they shone with a lilac light tinged with white.

  —Discerpe realitatem, iunge regna, crea portam —he intoned in a deep voice that echoed through the cabin.

  A powerful wind began to swirl around him, lifting dust and the energy gathered in the air. Small floating flames appeared above the crystals, while dark whispers seemed to rise from the shadows, repeating the spell’s words. Before Laura and Raían, reality itself began to tear, as if an invisible veil were being ripped apart. The裂 expanded, revealing a portal filled with a blinding, beautiful light that pulsed with a life of its own.

  Max stopped murmuring, struggling to catch his breath. He stood quickly, though clear signs of exhaustion weighed on him.

  —We have two hours. Be ready for whatever is on the other side —he warned, looking straight at Laura.

  —I’m coming too —Raían said with a confident smile, stepping forward.

  —He wants to help save Cristina. More hands are better —Laura stated, giving Max a firm look that left no room for argument.

  Before they could respond, the cabin door burst open. Melody stepped inside, her face glowing with admiration and pride.

  —Max, you tore reality apart —she said with a satisfied smile—. Well done, little witch. Now, let’s go.

  Without hesitation, Melody stepped through the portal, moving with the certainty of someone who knew she belonged there. The other three followed, a bit more cautiously, fully aware that the unknown awaited them on the other side.