Eva slowly took the bloody paper from Julien's hand.
She stared at the message written in blood for a long moment.
Then she looked at Zoe.
"I think we should use our power."
Zoe nodded.
Lucas blinked in surprise.
"Oh damn… you girls are witches?"
Nora turned toward him sharply.
"Shut up."
Her voice dropped dangerously.
"If I bite you, you can die. I'm a werewolf."
Lucas froze for a second.
Then he dramatically hid behind Julien.
"Brother," he said, grabbing Julien's arm, "protect me."
Julien sighed.
"Lucas… shut up."
Lucas peeked from behind him.
"Just being cautious."
Zoe ignored them and looked at Eva.
"We can take blood particles from the letter."
Julien frowned.
"How?"
Lucas suddenly smirked.
"Oh damn, girl… that's smart."
Eva lifted her wand slowly.
"If this blood belongs to Kaela…"
She touched the tip of her wand to the dried blood.
Then she whispered a spell.
"Sanguis vocare…
Umbra revelare…
Per noctem et veritatem…
Magia responde."
A faint red glow appeared.
Tiny blood particles slowly lifted into the air like floating dust.
Zoe quickly held a small glass vial.
The glowing particles drifted into it.
The glow faded.
Eva sealed the vial.
Lucas nodded with interest.
"Okay… that was actually cool."
Julien looked at the girls.
"You should come back to the house."
Eva hesitated, then nodded.
"For the ritual."
Later — Julien's House
Candles burned all across the living room floor.
A ritual circle made of salt and ancient symbols surrounded Eva and Zoe.
Nora stood near the wall, watching nervously.
Lucas sat on the couch like he was watching a show.
Julien stood near the window.
Eva opened the vial.
The blood particles floated slowly into the air.
She raised her wand.
Her voice grew deeper.
"Sanguis antiquis…
Umbra abscondita…
Audi vocem nostram.
Per ignem…
Per lunam…
Per spiritum noctis…
Ostende nobis veritatem."
The candles flickered violently.
The wind inside the house suddenly grew stronger.
The lights began turning on and off.
Lucas leaned forward.
"Oh wow."
Books fell from shelves.
The windows rattled loudly.
Eva continued the chant, louder now.
"Sanguis loquere…
Umbra responde…
Duc nos ad venatorem
Qui nocte sanguinem fundit!"
Suddenly Nora grabbed her head.
Her breathing became heavy.
"Eva…"
No one heard her.
The magic kept growing stronger.
Nora dropped to her knees.
"Eva… stop…"
Eva continued chanting.
The ritual energy filled the room.
Nora screamed in pain.
"STOP!"
Zoe turned quickly.
"Nora?"
Nora's body trembled violently.
Tears filled her eyes.
"Make it stop… it's making me turn!"
Eva hesitated.
If she stopped now, the ritual would break.
Zoe rushed toward Nora and placed her hands on her shoulders.
Then she began chanting a calming spell.
"Luna mitis…
Spiritus pacis…
Fera quiesce…
Dolor discede.
Cor tuum maneat…
Mens tua libera sit."
A soft blue light surrounded Nora.
Her breathing slowed slightly.
But tears still ran down her face.
"It hurts…"
Suddenly Eva gasped.
Her eyes opened wide.
"I see her!"
The lights flashed violently.
Wind roared through the house.
Then Nora screamed.
Her body twisted violently.
Bones cracked.
Dark fur spread across her arms.
Zoe stepped back in shock.
"Nora—"
Too late.
With a terrifying growl—
Nora transformed.
A massive wolf now stood in the middle of the room.
Her glowing eyes locked onto Eva.
Lucas jumped up instantly.
"Well… that escalated quickly."
The wolf lunged.
Lucas moved faster.
He grabbed Eva and pulled her aside just before the wolf crashed into the ritual circle.
Salt scattered everywhere.
Julien stepped forward.
"Nora!"
But the wolf turned and ran.
Crashing through the back door.
Into the dark forest.
Silence filled the house.
Lucas helped Eva stand up.
"Well," he said calmly,
"That was exciting."
Julien looked at Eva urgently.
"What did you see?"
Eva held her head, breathing heavily.
"I couldn't see Kaela…"
She looked up slowly.
"But I saw the next victim."
Lucas sighed.
"Fantastic."
He looked toward the forest.
"Your werewolf friend just ran into the woods…"
Then he smirked slightly.
"And apparently someone else is about to die."
Deep in the Ashwood forest, the wind rushed through the tall trees.
A massive wolf ran wildly between the shadows.
Nora.
Her paws slammed against the wet forest ground as she ran deeper into the woods, her glowing eyes burning with pain and rage.
Branches snapped behind her.
Lucas Kane landed lightly on a fallen tree branch.
"Well," he sighed dramatically, looking down at the furious wolf, "that transformation really did nothing for your personality."
The wolf growled loudly.
Zoe rushed into the clearing a few seconds later, breathing heavily.
"Lucas… be careful!"
Lucas looked over his shoulder.
"Careful? Zoe, she's a giant wolf."
He smirked.
"Careful stopped being an option five minutes ago."
The wolf lunged.
Lucas jumped aside quickly.
Her claws slashed through the air where he had been standing.
Lucas landed smoothly on the ground.
"Wow," he said, clapping slowly. "Strong entrance."
The wolf attacked again.
Lucas grabbed a low branch and swung himself out of the way.
"You know," he said while dodging another attack, "most people just introduce themselves first."
The wolf roared and charged again.
Zoe raised her hands.
"Nora! Stop! It's us!"
But the wolf couldn't hear her.
The beast was completely lost to the transformation.
Lucas sighed.
"Alright, fluffy."
He rolled his shoulders.
"Let's dance."
The wolf attacked again, crashing into Lucas and knocking him back into the dirt.
Lucas groaned.
"Okay that one actually hurt."
Zoe stepped forward quickly and began chanting.
Her voice echoed through the forest.
"Luna mitis,
Fera quiesce,
Cor humanum redeat,
Spiritus pacis maneat!"
A soft silver glow surrounded the wolf.
The creature slowed.
But it wasn't enough.
The wolf roared again and ran deeper into the forest.
Lucas stood up and brushed dirt off his jacket.
"Well," he muttered.
"She's definitely not a fan of magic therapy."
Zoe looked worried.
"We have to find her before she hurts someone."
Lucas smirked.
"Oh don't worry."
He looked toward the dark forest.
"I'm pretty sure she's already planning to hurt me again."
They ran after her.