CHAPTER 217 THE COUNTER-RITUAL

MINERVA I stood at the centre of the circle we had drawn, my hands clasped together in slight nervousness and my eyes tightly shut as I repeated the chants repeatedly in my head. I couldn't afford to make any mistakes in the pronunciation or wording, as that could invariably cost me my life. I tried hard not to think about that last part too much, because I knew it would affect my motivation. "Are you ready, Minerva?" Meredith inquired, her voice sounding hesitant even as she intensely scanned the surrounding area for any signs of disturbance. I nodded as I tried to calm my slightly shaky hands. "Yes, but would it make a difference if I said no?" I teased, opening my eyes to look at her. Meredith took her position at the edge of the circle, her eyes fixed intently on me as she replied, "No, it wouldn't change anything at all; let's do this." I gave her a slight nod, and she responded, "I'll be on the lookout for anything." Make me proud." I sighed before closing my eyes again,