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The laughter fades, but it leaves me with an impending sense of dread. Are we really to be okay if we do this?
She sets the tray of goblets on the floor in front of me. Each one contains a tiny bit of mead at the bottom. Enough for us to have a drink and forge a bond, as Thomas put it, but not enough for us to feel the effects and make bad decisions.
I pick up the first goblet, and then go on to my knees, holding it out to Daphne. "Thank you for the service you'll perform for me." I press it into her hands.
Her eyebrows knit together, but she still takes the goblet. No doubt she has the same urge to do that as I'm feeling to do this.
I repeat the words to each of the guys, giving them their mead in the process.
"To Mona," Thomas says, holding his goblet up.
"To Mona," the others echo.
I drink mine down in one swift go. I don't want to put this off any longer. I clamber to my feet and head towards the cross that marks my spot.
Each of them seems to get what I'm feeling and they take their positions too. Daphne and Ryan take east and west, with Daphne to my right. Thomas stands right in front of me in the north position, with Caspian at my back.
No one asks if I'm ready. I think they all know that if they say the words, then I'll call the whole thing off. Something doesn't feel right to me. Maybe it's the atmosphere. Or maybe it's something more than that.
They raise their wands, and I know what I have to do. The knife slides out of the sheath at my waist easily, and I hold it to my left hand. As quickly as I can, I slash across my palm, wincing in pain. Why is it always the palm? Why can't it be cutting myself in a part of my body that doesn't hurt quite so much?
My blood drips to the floor. I don't know what it's going to do, but that's what the spell needs, so that's what I do.
The four of them begin to chant. Words written in the book. I can hear all of their voices and none at the same time.
Wind whistles through my hair, pulling at the robes I'm wearing as the magic begins to take a visual form. It's the colour blue, creating a circle of power around us that spins faster and faster, rising in power every time they say another word.
My whole body begins to tingle. This is wrong. Something isn't right. I have to stop this.
I turn around, facing Ryan first, then Caspian, then...
Blood starts to pour out of Daphne's nose.
That's it. "STOP!" I scream. "I don't want this."
Caspian and Ryan instantly lower their wands, breaking the circle of magic around us. Unfortunately, that seems to be all that's holding Daphne upright and she falls to the floor, knocking over one of the stools with a candle on it.
For a few brief moments, everything goes in slow motion. The candle falls with the stool, hitting one of the old curtains. Seconds later, it's engulfed in flames.
Without thinking about it, I draw out my wand and focus all my intent on smothering the flames. Magic shoots down my arm along with the familiar tingling sensation it brings with it.
The flames disappear almost instantly. At least my magic hasn't gotten any weaker from what we've done here.
"Is she okay?" I ask Ryan.
He nods and takes his fingers away from the pulse point in her neck. "I think she'll be awake any minute."
I flash him a grateful smile, then turn to face the man I'm blaming for all of this. "What happened?"
"I don't know," he admits.
"How can you not know? I thought you've been studying this for years?" There's a harsh edge to my voice that may not be justified, but right now, my best friend is injured, and I need some answers.
"I have, but I've never seen black magic done before. I didn't know, Mona, I swear."
"But a little part of you wanted to carry on regardless, didn't it?"
I swear, if he lies to me...
