Chapter 214: The summoning

Days after Lucius’ death.

Miranda knelt on the ground where Lucius Veyr lay, his arms resting at his sides and his face turned toward the ceiling.

His skin had lost its color, and the knife in his chest remained exactly where it had pierced him.

She had made up her mind on the ride to Emberfall on what to do.

Her first task would be to meet the Alpha Council again.

Lucius’ letter to them had made their intentions clear enough. They were willing to aid him if he could put the Omega Dualis in their grasp. The ungrateful lot had sided with Lucius Veyr over her after all she had done to help put them at the top.

While in the cave, she had thought about how best to get them back on her side.

With Lucius dead, she had thought about approaching the Alpha council with an opportunity in his place but decided against it.

They would hardly entertain her.

No.

Miranda needed something more convincing and that was how she had come up with this plan.

Amara had taught her the spell many years ago, back when their relationship had been different. A spell that would connect two beings born from the same bloodline whose existence was bound together by something far older than magic itself.

The spell was dangerous even by their standards, and it required a sacrifice of power that could leave the caster helpless for days but it could do what she needed.

It could allow her to summon a spirit through the body it had once inhabited.

And if she could convince Lucius to grant her permission to use his body, she could use that connection to summon someone else.

Someone the Alpha Council would obey.

Miranda’s fingers curled against the stone floor.

She would need Lucius to agree willingly. The spell would not work if she attempted to force her way through the remnants of his soul. His permission had to be freely given.

That would be the difficult part.

Miranda rose slowly to her feet.

"Well, my dear king," she murmured, closing her eyes. "Let’s see how much you still want revenge."

Miranda inhaled deeply and she began to chant.

She spoke the words Amara had taught her, her voice was low at first, barely more than a murmur.

The air in the cave thickened as her voice climbed higher and higher.

A cold breeze swept through the cave and Miranda’s hands trembled where she clutched them together.

She could hear something now.

A faint sound, like distant whispers coming from beneath the ground.

Her heart began to pound. She had never performed this spell before, there had been no need to and she had not heard about it being performed on a dead man.

She did not know whether there was enough of him left to summon but it should work.

She hoped it will, she had come too far to turn back.

"Come forth," she whispered, her eyes snapping open. "Lucius Veyr, I call upon you. Hear me. Answer me."

Lucius’ fingers twitched and slowly, his entire body began to rise from the floor.

His head lolled to one side, his hair falling across his face as his body hovered several inches above the ground.

"Lucius," she called out

His body jerked and a low, guttural sound escaped his throat then his eyes opened, pinning on her.

"I don’t have much time," she said quickly. "Listen to me. I am Miranda."

"I know who you are." he croaked.

"I need you to give me your permission to use your body," she said.

His head tilted slightly.

"Why?"

"Because I can give you what you want."

The body hung motionless in the air, waiting for her to continue speaking.

"I can help you get your revenge. On the princes, the Northern Territory and Ayla."

She paused, watching his expression.

Lucius’ lips parted.

"Amara." he croaked.

"What?"

"Amara..." He repeated. "I want Amara dead."

"She will be dead." Miranda promised.

Lucius’ head slowly moved in a nod.

"You have my permission."

Miranda heaved a sigh of relief.

"Thank you."

She lifted both hands and Lucius’ body dropped with a heavy thud.

Miranda took deep breaths, gathering herself.

Her hands were shaking and sweat had begun to gather at the back of her neck, and her head throbbed as though someone were driving nails into her skull but she had done it.

Lucius had given her permission and now she could begin the real spell.

Miranda knelt before the body and began the second chant.

Each breath felt like it was being dragged from her lungs.

A deep rumble travelled through the ground, shaking loose dust from the cave’s ceiling.

Miranda’s hair whipped around her face as the air began to spin.

"By the blood that binds the living and the soul that remains beyond the veil..."

Her voice cracked as pain ripped through her chest.

She could feel her power leaving her, draining every part of her until her fingers began to go numb.

Silver light spread across the cave, travelling along the floor and forming a circle around Lucius’ body.

"Return through the door that death has left open!"

Miranda screamed as the force of the magic threw her backwards. She winced, pain traveling through her spine as she struggled to her feet, her eyes fixed on Lucius’ corpse.

The body jerked violently, its back arching as a thousand whispers filled the cave, rising into a deafening roar.

Then the body dropped and everywhere fell eerily silent.

Slowly, the body’s legs moved and a groan tore from its throat.

A human groan.

Like someone who had just woken up from a long nap.

Miranda stared at the figure, barely daring to breathe as Lucius’ body sat up and his eyes opened.

She had done it, she thought to herself... She had brought him back.

"Caelan?" she whispered.

His head turned toward her, his eyes registering recognition in their depths and then confusion.

"Miranda?" he muttered. "Where am I?"