Caius D'Onofrio (poweroftheeye) wrote in shadows_rpg, @ 2019-12-05 20:02:00 |
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Entry tags: | #group scene, #january 2018, brianna, caius, james, knox, liam, nate, nic, ophelia, reagan, shayna mae, zania |
Who: Sebastian, Caius, Reagan, Shayna Mae, Knox, Nate, Brianna, James, Phee, Zania, Harper (NPC), Nic, Liam
When: early early AM, Sunday, Jan 7th
Where: Caius’s Overlook house
Status: complete
The past couple of days had been a whirlwind, and besides a couple of short naps he’d snatched here and there, Caius hadn’t really slept since Thursday night. He was starting to feel it, but he still had plenty of adrenaline to run on, and the end was in sight. At least he hoped it was -- it was difficult to be sure anymore if there was an end to the proverbial tunnel. Things just seemed to get progressively more and more fucking complicated. But they had a plan and a powerful spell and there would be the magical force of a full coven circle behind it. One descendent from each of the Six, the blood of those who had defeated Baron before -- plus Brianna, who had Baron’s own blood in her. They could do it again, he knew they could.
Caius had prepared the house, shoving all of the furniture along the edges of the living room so there was room for the entangled circles and people that would be required to pull this off. Caius drew one in chalk on the dark hardwood floor before anyone arrived, the circle that would bind Baron in the center of the bigger circle that would be drawn during the ritual. He painstakingly went over each complex symbol surrounding it three times just to be sure, consulting the old book in his hand. There was no room for fuck ups this time. An innocent boy’s life was on the line, and if he was being honest, more of them probably hung in the balance. Who knew how strong Baron had gotten inside Sebastian McCarthy? Caius enchanted all the doorways and windows to prevent an escape once they’d summoned the possessed boy. He double checked that all of the supplies were right where he needed them, then enlisted Reagan to check again. If this was going to go bad, it wasn’t going to be because he forgot something.
His hair was a wild mess and he had dark circles under his eyes when everyone began to arrive, but he was calm and collected as he greeted them all. There were several spectators -- Sebastian’s sister, Harper’s son, Nic Castell, and Shayna Mae’s familiar -- and Caius made sure to tell them where they could stand that wouldn’t be in the way. He wasn’t crazy about the crowd, but he understood why they were there. The McCarthys were understandably distraught, seeing as how Sebastian had been missing since Friday night, but Caius did his best to reassure them that their son could be summoned easily enough. Baron was still bound to his body, and they could get his body there using the few personal effects Brianna had provided for the summoning.
There was an air of seriousness in the room as they all gathered. Since he was playing host, Caius did a round of short introductions for those who didn’t know one another, then gave them all a run-down of what they were going to be doing that night. He warned them that he needed blood from all of them, but it couldn’t be drawn yet, not until their subject was there to witness it. He was also honest -- though the humility stung a bit -- about this being a ritual he’d never done before, and things might get a little messy.
With no objections from anyone present, Caius got them all arranged around the chalk circle and began the summoning spell by pricking two of his fingers. It was more difficult to summon someone with a body than a disembodied spirit, and even more difficult to do both, but Caius could already feel the effect of the extra magic in the room. It hummed at a low frequency, just under the surface of reality itself, and he found himself drawing on it as he chanted in Latin and drew symbols in the air with his bloody fingers. Slowly, the outline of a person started to coalesce inside the chalk circle, getting more and more solid until it was Sebastian McCarthy.
James thought Brianna looked about as frazzled as he felt. The weekend had been hard on both of them as they'd noticed right away when Sebastian went missing. They weren't lenient parents to begin with and James had suspected something was off lately so he'd been keeping a close eye on his son. Not close enough apparently and he had a hard time not beating himself up for that. He doubted anyone else noticed just how bad Brianna really looked, she really did look amazing to someone who didn't know her well, she always did, no matter what was going on behind the curtains and that was one of the many reasons she was a perfect wife for someone like James who was obsessed with appearances. His daughter was surprisingly calm too and he felt fiercely proud of her for it although it was far more visible that she'd been crying lately. She was young and a girl so she could get away with it. James however kept a cool demeanor despite the riot of fear and rage inside him. Despite everything, he had a reputation to uphold.
He wasn't really sure what to do with those feelings anyway. On some level he wanted to kill Caius D'Onofrio and Reagan Kelly because without their stupid ritual none of this would have happened. Probably. At the same time they were fixing it now and the last thing he needed was an outright war with the other families. Still, the resentment ran deep and cold in him and he had to keep it in check and focus on what they were doing there. It was fascinating watching another witch work at least, a non-relative at that. Caius's magic felt like nothing James had felt before and he was actually going to be doing a magical ritual with his wife, something he'd never thought he'd experience in his life. It was a lot of emotions, all conflicting and chaotic, but tightly kept under wraps as he watched his son slowly materialize in front of him. How much of it was still Sebastian, James wondered. How much did he remember of the last few weeks?
The body that materialized was indeed Sebastian McCarthy, though not a version of him that his friends and family were familiar with. His eyes were cold and hard, the circles beneath them a sign of how little he’d slept since he’d left, and his mouth was set in a scowl. Blood caked his arms from the elbow down and his knees were dark from mud and snow. Baron scanned the room, taking in the crowd around her, for it certainly was one. The moment she’d felt the pull she’d known what was happening, but she’d not been able to stop it. And there she was, faced with the descendents of the six. Baron tried to summon her fire, but when nothing happened she began to seethe. “Are you really so weak that you need the whole town to face me?” she taunted. “What do you really hope to accomplish? The boy is gone. All you’ll have left is a shell and I’ll just move on to the next available host.” It didn’t matter that that wasn’t in her plans at all. She was just looking to get a rise out of them now, so she grinned at Ophelia, knowing full well how creepy that would seem in Sebastian’s skin.
Brianna definitely felt frazzled. Worried and tired. She was still lowkey furious with James for keeping this from her, even if he didn't know what it was, but all of that could be dealt with later. Right now she was just focused on her son and freeing him of her own ancestor. As soon as he materialized Brianna had to fight off the urge to step into the circle and embrace him. She was aware that this wasn't really Sebastian, but Baron wore his face and it was difficult to see him that way. "Sebastian--"
"He's not Sebastian right now," Reagan interrupted, her words clipped. "She'll just try to bait you into doing something stupid. The best thing would be to ignore her, no matter what she says. Let Caius do this, and Sebastian will be fine." She didn't know that for sure, but she sounded confident enough, and that was all that mattered. If anyone did anything to put her magic at risk, she didn't think she would have the willpower not to hurt them.
In the corner of the room where she’d been placed, Phee put a hand over her mouth when her brother looked at her -- though now she understood it wasn’t her brother, not really. Just a bad spirit using him as a meat suit. That look sent a chill down her spine, and she was sure she would have nightmares about it later on. Still, strangely, the impulse pulsed under her thoughts to rush forward and cut Zania so she could get the blood Sebastian had asked for. It was so insane and she knew why “he” had wanted it now, but she still felt the pull. Phee swallowed thickly and groped with her free hand until she’d found Liam’s to hold tight to.
It was odd, the contrast between the wide-eyed guileless boy Caius and Reagan had convinced to donate his blood to their cause and the possessed person standing in front of him now. He could almost see the sunken cheeks and sharp features of the dead witch in Sebastian’s face, like a double exposed photograph. Baron was there, and she was angry, and Caius could feel Reagan’s magic bubbling inside of her. “Best not to speak to her at all,” he agreed with his wife, his voice grim. Caius picked up a couple of small wooden bowls and started walking around Sebastian in a slow counter-clockwise circle. He recited the Latin incantation from the Ruske grimoire as he flicked some consecrated water and salt from the bowls at the boy in the middle. A small breeze began around them.
He stepped back into his spot beside Reagan and glanced around at all of them, then gave a nod to signal them for the next part -- establishing the outer circle. He’d given all of them chalk to draw behind themselves and connect all the curves to encircle them, and each had a candle to light and place on the other side of it. “We the Seven, keepers and guardians of this land, join together and bind ourselves into this circle. We call upon the elements and the four corners to bless our cause and this coven,” he said as everyone did what needed to be done. Once the circle was closed, Caius felt a surge of power run through the room, and it left gooseflesh all over him. This was going to fucking work, he could feel it.
It hadn't been long since James had Sebastian in a ritual circle but this was so different it made his chest hurt. In part he wished Brianna and Phee weren't there to witness this, knowing it took a toll on them, but at the same time he saw it as a valuable lesson for his daughter to see just how powerful and dangerous magic could really be. Brianna didn't need that lesson, unfortunately, and he hoped this wouldn't turn her against the practice completely. Whatever anguish he felt when Baron spoke with his son's voice was tightly contained like the rest of his emotions and he didn't let himself flinch as he took in the state of Sebastian's body and wondered whose blood that was. He focused instead on the ritual and on being strong for his family, taking a deep breath as he felt the circle close, all that power like nothing he'd ever felt before, all the elements united into something so strong and so overwhelming. No wonder people only had one element to their disposal, this kind of power could easily rip a single person up if left unchecked. He knew it was only going to get stronger from here on, they hadn't even spilled their blood yet and as Caius passed the bowl around to do so, James cut into his arm quickly and efficiently. It was admittedly strange to give up his blood so easily but the circumstances weren't normal and his son's life was on the line. He glanced at Brianna, almost offering to help her if she needed but his wife wasn't weak, he had no doubt she had the fortitude it took to harm herself for her children's sake.
Rage flared in Baron’s eyes as Caius flicked water and salt onto her and she pressed against the barrier, testing its hold. They were going to forcefully tear her from Sebastian, she knew that now, but that didn’t mean she was going to just sit and let it happen. Even without her magic, she could still do damage of a different sort. She cried out as if in pain and sunk to her knees, her skin beginning to tingle. The power that surged through the room was incredible, more that she’d thought possible of them, and for the first time in three centuries Baron felt a touch of fear. If they did the right spell, they were fully capable of banishing her for good. “Mom, please!” She cried out, channeling Sebastian. He thought he could act, but she could do him one better. “Please don’t! It’ll kill me! All they care about is her magic and as soon as they have it, they’ll let me die! Please!”
Brianna was not a squeamish woman, and she took the athame from James to cut into her arm. The sound of Sebastian's voice calling for her did make her flinch, as it was certainly more painful than the knife slicing into her flesh. Her heart tripped in her chest and she looked up at her son, very nearly stepping into the circle to help him. Would Caius let him die? Was this all a ruse to gain more power?
"Don't believe her," Reagan said with tightly controlled impatience. "She's using him. She knows this will work and she'll be left with nothing. Just focus."
Brianna took a breath and glanced at James before she closed her eyes to center herself again and do what Reagan instructed. It cut deep at her pride, knowing that two witches, much younger than she was, remained in control. They couldn't be that much older than Trip, for god's sake. But now wasn't the time to scowl and put them in their place. Now was the time to save her son. Taking the bowl, she held her arm over it, watching her blood ooze down her arm and then drip into the bowl, mixing with James's blood. Her arm throbbed, but she handed the athame and bowl to the next person, wanting this to just be over and done with so they could take Sebastian home.
Shayna Mae took the athame quietly and cut into her skin. She already had a few scars from blood magic she had dabbled in prior to this, and while it hurt, it wasn't so uncomfortable that she wanted to stop. She could feel the power exuding from the circle, and she was of the mind that if they were all a bit more open minded and less prideful, that they could be an unshakeable force in the town. The coven had been ripped apart for a reason, but that didn't mean they couldn't tie it back together. But that was a discussion for another time, and once her blood had fallen into the bowl, she offered it to the person to her left, giving them a small smile of encouragement.
Once Brianna had offered her blood, Baron dropped the charade and glared at Shayna Mae, unable to find a proper way to get under her skin. The Ruske family line had unknowingly thwarted her by sticking to their land, seeped deep in magic and further protected by a familiar. She’d known getting their blood would be a challenge and hadn’t found a solution. It left her speechless until the athame was passed again, this time to Rebecca Lyttle’s descendent. “I still have his blood, you know. Spelled so that he burns if I don’t return to it. I know you don’t think it’s possible, but it is,” she grinned, lying through her teeth for the fun of it. “Every Lyttle deserves to burn.”
Harper ignored the creature in the circle, aware that it would do whatever it could to cause trouble. It was an unsettling thought, but she knew that even if it was true, there was no way releasing Baron would help. She would just need to take precautions after, just in case what the old witch said was true. She cut her arm and spelled her blood without hesitation, then passed the blade onto the next person.
Nate was tempted to cut off Sebastian’s air just to shut him up, but knew that wouldn’t go over well with the McCarthy family. They were going along with this on Reagan and Caius’ promise that Sebastian would come out of this alive, but tensions would likely rise among them if it looked like they were causing unnecessary harm. He refused to give Baron the satisfaction of even a glance, aware that she was goading him as well, and added his blood to the bowl before passing it on. This wasn’t usually his sort of magic, but he had no qualms about getting his hands dirty when necessary and it was certainly called for now.
While she wasn’t normally much of a team player, Zania was enjoying the surge of magic in the room. It was unlike anything she’d ever felt before, making her feel invincible, like she could blow the roof off Caius’ house with just a flick of her wrist. What else could they do if they were willing to work together? Her own problem came to mind and she heard Baron laugh darkly as she slid the blade against her arm. “How much longer do you have?” Baron purred and Zania felt her own blood begin to boil. “Have the wolves come yet? Or the snakes? The shadows will eat you alive if you don’t stop them.” Zania clenched her teeth, focusing on the blood, watching it mingle with the others. When she was done, she handed the bowl and blade back to Caius, focusing on the way the power continued to grow. Baron knew what was after her and that was important, but it wasn’t going to save her.
Caius took the wooden bowl and athame from Zania and didn’t hesitate to slice into his own flesh yet again to add his own blood. His demonic blood, which could only serve to charge up this ritual even more. He was pleased that Baron’s pathetic attempts at manipulation weren’t working on any of those gathered in the circle. He’d been the most concerned about Brianna and James, of course, but they were holding their shit together well. Caius wasn’t quite touched by their trust in him, but he did appreciate them making this as easy as it could be. Once he’d bled enough, Caius started around the circle, stepping in front of James first. As much as he wanted to address Baron, taunt and goad her and rub it in that they were going to strip her of everything she had gained, he stayed focused on his work. Caius recited the Latin incantation as he drew a symbol with the blood on each of James’s upturned palms, using his pinkie finger. He met the man’s eyes for a moment and nodded for James to repeat what he’d said.
James realized he would have felt more at ease with all of this if Anthony led the charge but Caius was proving to be very capable and - perhaps an odd thought to have in the middle of a dark blood magic ceremony but it was still applicable - professional. Nobody was trying to argue with Baron, it was almost clinical how they focused on their own magic instead and followed each step carefully. James liked that, it made it easier to control his own emotions because any argument or emotional nonsense would have had his frustration bubbling to the surface. This? Felt more like surgery, thorough and no-nonsense. It was hard to not look at Sebastian, on some level he felt like he should be reassuring him, in case he was alert somewhere deep underneath Baron's influence. He just hoped that if that was the case, his son would see they were doing everything in their power to release him. He repeated the words and with each step they took in the ceremony he could feel that power rising. Like Zania he wondered just what they could do if they joined forces more often, the power they could release into the cosmos, but that was a thought he could entertain later. Now he just focused, then listened as Caius moved around and repeated the same thing with everyone there.
Baron watched as Caius moved around the circle, drawing on their hands in blood and reciting the incantation. It wasn’t worth it to continue to bait them at this point. It wasn’t worth the risk. Each person that spoke the words brought them one step closer to freeing Sebastian, but also granting her what she truly wanted, an end game she hadn’t even thought possible until recently. All she had to do was continue to play her part and hope that they were the ones being manipulated, rather than herself. It was a hard pill to swallow, that level of trust, but she had no other alternatives at this point. They’d come too far and she suspected the only thing that would stop them was for one of them to botch the spell completely. As the last runes were drawn and the words spoken a final time, Baron braced herself for what was coming. There were enough fire witches in the room to blow the place up if they didn’t watch themselves.
Shayna Mae wasn't entirely sure what to expect, but she felt confident enough in their abilities that this would work. It was thrilling, really, despite understanding the potential consequences. Different magical families, all so very different, but this is what bound them together. A history steeped in tradition and blood. They held hands, their blood merging together along with their magic. Shayna Mae inhaled sharply, her entire body thrumming with heat and power. She was not a fire witch by any means, but it wasn't uncomfortable. Not yet. They spoke the words Caius taught them and Shayna Mae clutched at the hands holding her own. Never had she felt such intensity when performing a ritual. There was an edge of danger to it as well, but they all knew what they had been agreeing to. Anticipation shivered down her spine as Shayna Mae spoke more clearly, her eyes locked on Sebastian. In a very vague sort of way, she realized she probably wouldn't allow Knox to get much sleep once they finished this and went home. Not everyone here would respond to the blood magic the way she did, and that was fine. But how anyone couldn't lose themselves in this kind of power was beyond her comprehension. Solo magic would never feel like this.
The instant Caius was back in his place and had joined hands with James and Zania, he felt power surge through him like a bolt of electricity. It made his skin prickle and his balls tingle and his heart started racing in his chest. He’d been calm so far, collected and methodical, the way he approached most of his magic ... but now it was time. Their elements weren’t very well balanced, but nothing was ever perfect, and he could feel the surge of fire and earth and air in the room all the same. The temperature was rising for reasons that had nothing to do with all the people in a confined space or the candles they’d lit.
He started the incantation again, and was strangely unsurprised when the voices of the rest of the circle joined his own without missing a beat. They were all joined together now, acting magically as one, and they all knew what to do now. Caius’s body started to feel lighter, like gravity didn’t have as strong a hold on him, and the breeze in the room picked up, enhanced by the other air-wielders in the circle. The lighting shifted, shadows starting to dance with the orange glowing auras that gradually grew around the fire witches. Their words seemed to take on a life of their own, coming out in perfect unison even as the tempo and volume increased and power surged around them.
In the middle circle, Sebastian’s possessed body was lifted off his feet, head falling back and chest aimed toward the ceiling as the air around him began to glow brighter. Caius could see the contortion of pain on his features as their magic struggled against Baron’s to rip the two apart. Thankfully, the McCarthys didn’t break the circle, even when their son started to shake inside the column of light. The assembled group chanted at him, louder, faster, and the room started to feel chaotic with wind and flames and the scent of deep earth.
Finally -- Caius had no concept of how long it took -- they all felt something give, and the teenage boy slumped to the floor. Caius let go of the hands he was holding and hurriedly dug two fingers into the clotting wound he’d made on his arm to get some fresh blood. He could see Baron’s spirit hovering over Sebastian, and he had to move fast to make sure she stayed out of him. The sense of Reagan’s magic being in the room was even stronger now that Baron was incorporeal again, but he tried not to let that distract him as he drew some quick symbols in the air and said the right words. The bottom of the column of light moved upward like a physical cylinder, freeing Sebastian but keeping Baron contained. “Get him out,” he said to James breathlessly.
The first thing Sebastian noticed was pain, every muscle in his body tense and burning, fighting against the magic that swirled around him. It was all encompassing, blotting out his screams, the weightlessness, and the people around him. And then, like a dam breaking, he felt the rush as Baron’s spirit was ripped from him, the impact pushing the two of them apart. He fell to the floor, the impact making everything go white and for a moment he thought he might black out again. When he opened his eyes, he saw her for the first time, hovering above him like a furious ghost of fire and rage. Sebastian had never hated anyone in his life, but the look he gave Baron in that instant was pure, unadulterated hatred. If he could have ripped her apart he would have, but the best he could do was lay there and glare at her, too weak for anything else.
James had never realized just how painful it would be to be a parent, not until he became one. The first fever, the first cough, the first time Trip had come home crying because someone was mean to him, they'd all been a shock to him because he hadn't thought he was capable of giving a shit about another person on that level. Seeing his son like this was pure torture like nothing he'd ever experienced and it took all his considerable willpower to not be stupid about it when his instincts were telling him - screaming at him - to get Sebastian out of there. He hadn't expected to see Baron but then there she was, being ripped from Sebastian's body and like his son, James had never hated anything more. He wanted to rip her apart but again, that was up to Caius and he was just glad he had something to do and that it was safe to get Sebastian out of there. At Caius's words he hurried in, wrapped his arms around Sebastian's chest and physically dragged him out of the circle, collapsing back once they were free. He didn't let go even then, holding on tight despite how grimy and sweaty Sebastian was, despite the blood. "You're okay now," he whispered, looking up as Brianna and Phee came rushing to his side. "We've got you."
Reagan was completely hypnotized by the entire ritual, the way Baron was ripped from Sebastian's body, caught in the magic created by the coven. There was a part of her that was envious of what they all got to experience, but she was more focused on getting her magic back. With Sebastian free of the circle, and Baron still contained, Reagan could feel her heart pounding madly in her chest. Sebastian seemed to be okay. He would survive, at least. And when Caius turned toward her, she went to him willingly, aware that they probably had a limited amount of time to get her magic back before Baron found the ability to fight back... if she could. She knew getting into that circle could be dangerous, but it was a risk she was willing to take if it meant getting her magic back. And if something horrible happened, well, Reagan couldn't go on without her magic any longer as it was. So whatever happened, happened. She stepped into the circle, but focused on Caius instead of Baron, and the others. He could do this. No one else.
Phee was a bit terrified, but also felt incredibly charged up and full of magic, just being in the same room with all of these witches doing their amazing thing. As soon as she saw Bash hit the ground, she rushed forward but hesitated outside the line of the outer circle until her father pulled him all the way out. Then she crouched next to her parents to put hands on him to make sure he was unhurt, doing her best not to look back into the circles. The Baron-spirit was hovering in the column of light and Phee still felt somewhat creeped out by the look she’d given her with Sebastian’s eyes.
Caius was breathing hard, a bit of pain starting to radiate behind his eyes. He knew the backlash on this one was going to suck, even with all of their power combined. He hoped it wouldn’t be too bad on the others, and it would be completely worth it to restore Reagan’s magic. They were so close now. He looked at James and Brianna still holding onto their son, along with their daughter, and gestured to them. “Get back in, we still need you,” he said, his voice commanding. While Ophelia took hold of her brother to help him off to the side and the McCarthy parents stood again, Caius guided Reagan into place.
Within a few seconds their hands were all linked again, and Caius started up a different incantation this time. The magic was still flowing freely, crackling around them, and they had to do this now, strike while the iron was hot and set things right and get rid of Baron for good. As his voice rose, the column of light descended again, surrounding Reagan this time. Caius knew the magic would keep Baron out of her, but it was still nerve-wracking to watch. He had to stay focused though, get this done. As the others picked up the new chant, Caius pushed his will as hard as he could to split Baron’s spirit from Reagan’s magic, getting dizzy as the air around him darkened with shadows.
Sebastian clung to Ophelia as he watched Reagan take his place within the circle, unable to comprehend what was happening. He wanted to scream for her to stop, but his throat was raw and sore and he felt too weak to even speak. All he could do was watch and wonder why Baron was still there--why hadn’t they banished her yet? Someone would have to explain it to him later, when he could form coherent thoughts. Right now the pain was too much, so he closed his eyes, waiting for it to all be over. A moment later, maybe more, someone touched his arm and he opened eyes. Nic Castell knelt beside him and his sister, offering something from a thermos. Sebastian opened his mouth to ask what it was, then stopped when Nic held a finger up to his lips, then pointed towards the group in the center. Sebastian gave a little nod, then drank.
This was the part that Baron hadn’t been keen on, even knowing what she’d get in the end. Reagan had knowingly given up her magic and Baron would’ve liked to see her die without it. But that had been the reason she’d formed the coven in the first place, not to save the boy, but to steal her powers back. If she didn’t allow it to happen, then the whole thing could go sideways and Baron wasn’t willing to risk that. That didn’t mean she had to make it easy for Reagan though, so she rushed at her, her spirit passing through her, but never sticking the way she’d been able to manage with Sebastian. It would’ve been so fun to possess her, to make her pull out her hair and poke out her eyes, but without her magic the best she could do was keep pushing. Maybe she’d even leave a mark or two in the process.
The heat was becoming unbearable, and Reagan could feel sweat gliding down her back. It wasn't usual for her to be overcome by heat this way, but without her magic she was as vanilla and vulnerable as the majority of Point Pleasant. Reagan felt Baron rush through her and the connection, no matter how brief, felt like a knife slicing through her flesh. The cries of pain couldn't be contained, and while Reagan doubled over, she remained on her feet. Gritting her teeth, Reagan opened her eyes and straightened. She knew the heat came from her magic and if Baron wanted to hurt her in the process, then fine. She would take it. It was nearly unbearable, but Caius wouldn't stop until he succeeded, so she had to stay on her feet for him.
When the room got to be too dizzy for her, she closed her eyes again, wondering if maybe she would just pass out. That might be okay. Just lay down on the ground and sink into darkness until this was over, because... when would this be over? A sharp gasp stuck in her throat when Baron passed her through again but then everything went still. She heard nothing and when she opened her eyes, there was just darkness around her. Reagan began to call for Caius, her throat feeling raw and tender. But the explosion of magic inside of her body stole her breath and she fell to her knees, her skin tingling, her muscles aching. It was like a light had been switched on inside of her, filling her with intense warmth and power. There was screaming in her ears but she didn't know if that was her, or Baron. It didn't matter. She could feel the magic deep in her core. The fire threatened to explode from her and she struggled to hold it back, unsure as to whether or not it would hurt anyone, or even work, with the barriers Caius had placed on the circles. But she had her magic. And now they needed to banish Baron before something went wrong.
It took an extreme flex of willpower for Caius to keep from intervening when he heard Reagan cry out the first time, and it got more difficult with every scream. He knew this wouldn’t be an easy transition, he knew it would hurt, but he was ultimately helping her, and they had to complete this ritual. Who knew what would happen if they stopped now? So he held fast to James and Zania’s hands and they all continued to flex their magic to get it done. Finally -- finally -- Caius felt the shift happen. He saw Reagan drop to her knees and he was a little amazed at how immediately he could feel that she was whole again. Like pieces of the world had fallen back into their rightful place.
There wasn’t time yet to rejoice in it, but he did give her a fierce grin of triumph before he shifted gears again, into the last bit of magic they had to collectively do. Now they were eight instead of seven, a more balanced number with even more power. He could feel the magic ready to burst out of Reagan, and he nodded toward the spirit over her head, hoping she would understand to direct that burst upward if she could. He switched to the banishment incantation, shifting the focus of all the incredible power in the room toward getting Baron out of their lives once and for all. And if Reagan happened to burn her out of existence with all that renewed magic, all the better.
James was fascinated but at the same time he felt unsettled. He'd always thought of his magic as something intrinsically linked to the core of his being, no more removable than his own DNA was. To see how it could be stripped from a person and then put back was altering his world view in a way he'd never thought was possible. What manner of dark magic had Caius and Reagan been dealing with? He felt torn, wanting to stay as far away from them as possible for the rest of his life but at the same time... This power of the group was like a drug. He knew he'd want to do this again, to join forces with other witches, to achieve something great. With Reagan's magic in the mix it was even stronger, more balanced and as Caius started the banishment ritual it truly felt like nothing could stop them.
Baron screamed as the magic in the room threatened to shred her soul into a million little pieces and clung to the knowledge that any second now she’d be gone. She could feel herself fraying at the edges, the strength of so many powerful witches coming together enough that they could demolish her if they kept at it. For a moment she thought they would be successful, then she felt herself getting pulled away and she went with it, banking on a promise that today wouldn’t be her last. One second she was there, the next she was gone, leaving silence in her wake.
Sebastian’s hands shook as he watched the spirit disappear from the circle, unable to believe she was really gone. She’d been hiding inside him for who knew how long and he’d been almost completely unaware. How could they be sure she hadn’t jumped into someone else? It looked like she’d been obliterated, but who was to say? He wished there was some form of concrete proof, but doubted he would ever get such a thing. Maybe when all this was over someone would tell him who she was and why she’d wanted him. Maybe he could find a way to at least prove that she hadn’t come back. “I wanna go home,” he whispered to Ophelia, his voice still hoarse. Whatever Nic had given him was starting to help the pain, but that had also been what was keeping him awake. Now all he wanted to do was collapse.
Reagan knew what Caius had wanted her to do from his look alone, and projecting the fire inside of her to rid them all of Baron had been satisfying in a way she never knew she could experience. It was as if her magic had been building and burning for weeks now and feeling it flow through her was damn near orgasmic. The magic binding the entire circle was intense, so powerful she wasn't sure there was anything they couldn't do if they could all get along, but it began to ebb as soon as Baron was gone, leaving nothing but traces of her magic in her wake. The heat eased around them and Reagan took several deep breaths as the circle broke. Sebastian had his family to look after him now and she opened her eyes, seeking out Caius immediately with nothing but satisfied relief on her face. It was finally over. Fully and truly over.
Shayna Mae watched Baron's spirit disappear and she ignored the tiny twitch of uncertainty inside her as everything returned to normal. That had felt... too easy. But then again, the coven had been powerful, and frankly, Baron's magic alone couldn't withstand them all. Sebastian looked sickly and exhausted, and Reagan damp with sweat, but happy. She released the hands she was holding and looked over to Knox, giving him a smile to assure him she was all right. Then she turned to Caius, who she was sure was eager to be with his wife. "Is there anything else you'll need?"
Caius wasn’t sure he’d ever felt so triumphant about accomplishing anything. Baron disappearing for good was secondary to seeing his wife standing in the middle of all of them, once again glowing with her internal fire. The visual only lasted a few seconds before everything faded back to ‘normal,’ but it was one of the most gorgeous sights he’d ever seen. That had been the part he wasn’t sure they could actually pull off, but they had. With all of them together, it had almost felt easy, for fuck’s sake. He was spent and shaky, his heart pumping hard in his chest, but he was grinning like a fool and feeling fucking fantastic. Shayna Mae drew his attention and Caius’s lashes fluttered as he processed her words a bit slow. “No, ah ... I think we’re done,” he said, blinking a bit more as he looked around at everyone. “Thank you all.” He was sure they were more than ready to leave now.
Now that the all-clear had been given, Knox finally moved forward and reached for Shayna Mae’s hand. Being in the room with all that magic everywhere had been a weird mix of exhilarating and overstimulating. It had taken a lot of concentration just to focus on enhancing Shayna Mae’s powers, and now he was tired and ready to go if his mistress was. The boy had people to take care of him, the Kelly witch was whole again, it was time to go back to the woods.
That soft statement from her brother made Phee’s nose sting and her eyes fill, but she nodded through it, swallowing it all down. He was safe now, if not completely unhurt. All of this had been a Lot, and Phee was so fucking glad it was over now. She swallowed thickly and helped Sebastian sit up all the way, then got to her feet so she could help her parents get him to his feet so they could go. At least they only lived next door, close to home and some fucking rest.
James held onto Brianna's hand a moment longer after the circle broke, giving it a little squeeze before he let go and headed to Sebastian's side with her. It was hard to believe it was really over, he'd spent the weekend being so scared and so angry, the two emotions all tangled up and confused with each other and now it was done, just like that. He wrapped his arm around Sebastian's shoulders, encouraging him to get up. "You're safe now," he said quietly. "We're going home." He glanced at Phee, giving her an approving little nod. She'd done well, been brave and present and hopefully learned a lesson from all of this. He could only hope both his children had.
If Sebastian could have fueled his body based on willpower alone, he’d have been the first one out the door, but it took all of his strength and determination just to get to his feet. He was forced to lean on his father for support and he clenched his jaw shut tight as he tried to hide the pain. All he had to do was get home and then he could collapse. It wasn’t until they were heading towards the door that he realized where they were, just right next door, in the same house that he’d tried to kill Caius. Was that hours ago? Days? Someone would have to fill him in, but not right now. Rest would have to come first.
As soon as Caius announced that they were done, Zania grabbed Nic, ready to make a quick exit. She’d been worried that performing the spell might drain her, but instead she felt exhilarated, almost high on all the magic that had passed through her. She waited impatiently as Nic told Brianna to stop by the store later, then hooked her arm in his and dragged him towards the door. She wasn’t sure how much of it Nic had felt from outside the circle, but she was eager to get home, to call up Gabriel and share the experience with him. It didn’t matter that it was the middle of the night. With what she wanted to share, she didn’t think he’d mind.
When it was clear they were done, Harper called Liam over and then headed towards the door. She hoped he’d learned a lesson from this, about the danger of magic as well as the power it could weld. The McCarthy’s had always shied away from magic for reasons unknown to her and she couldn’t help but wonder if that had hurt their cause more than helped. If knowledge was power, then they were severely lacking despite their roots. It was a reminder for her to keep teaching Liam, to make sure he knew the dangers of this world, specifically those that landed in Point Pleasant, where just about anything could happen.
Nate breathed a huge sigh of relief, able to feel his sister’s magic radiating from her from across the room. He knew the primary goal had been to exorcise Baron from the McCarthy kid, but if the bitch disappeared again with his sister’s magic then he was prepared to dig her up again just to get it back. It had always stood to reason that if you could take someone’s magic, then you could retrieve it; Nate just didn’t know how. He’d have to find out how Caius had managed it later. He assumed they were ready to get home themselves, so he made his goodbyes quick. “You did it,” he smiled, giving her a hug, his car keys in his hand. “Feel good?”
"I feel amazing," Reagan told Nate with a smile. Because she did. Beyond amazing, even. It felt as though she had been sleeping for the past few weeks, and now she was awake. Everything was clearer... brighter. She leaned in to hug her brother, aware that she would need to contact their mother to tell her what had happened. Veronica might be upset that she wasn't told about this beforehand, but Reagan couldn't risk her mother or Caius's father interfering. "Thank you," she murmured. "This wouldn't have happened without everyone coming here to help."
“If they’d said no, I’d have dragged ‘em here by force,” Nate smiled. The only family he’d truly been unsure about was the Lyttles, but there’d been no reason to pressure anyone into showing up. It had been exciting to do magic on such a large scale and made him want to dip into the family grimoire and really see what he could do. Another time, though, after he’d gotten some shut eye. “I’m gonna head out, but let me know if you need anything else,” he said, leaving his sister with her husband as he headed towards the door.
It had certainly been grand, amongst other adjectives Caius would keep to himself, but now it was over, and he was glad that nobody seemed to want to linger around and chat. He had a feeling they were all tired and spent and needed time to process what had happened. And if they were anything like Caius, they had a certain kind of energy to burn off. Or maybe that was just him, standing there and staring at his gorgeous wife, her radiant magic restored. He murmured a couple of goodbyes to those aimed his way, then reached for Reagan’s hand to pull her into a tight embrace as people shuffled out into the cold. It was over, they’d won. It was time to celebrate and finally get some rest.