orest. Aerin sat near Kyre, her fingers quavering as she tended to his wounds, her heart burdened with fear. The claw marks on his chest remained fiery and sensitive, in spite

aeron. I'm furious instead". "Wow, that's better", he said smiling sheepishly. "What do you want from me?" She asked in a demanding voice. "I just want to finish what we started. In five nights, the circle opens. And Aerin, my dear you're the key". "There's no way, I'm working with you". "Not right now. But the blood moon has a way of twisting fate", he moved forward, but Kyre snapped, coming in between them. "Lay your finger on her and i'll rip your heart out". Maeron's smiled slyly. "You are of no use to me. You, who was cursed by her agony and banished from your kind? You're a forgotten entity. A fractured piece from the past". Aerin took a step forward , rage burning in her. "He is of great importance to me. That's enough". Maeron's eyes narrowed. "You claim to know love. But you're just a reincarnated scavenger, grasping at memories that doesn't belong to you" She didn't shudder. "Well atleast this scavenger can crush you to bits". The air stiffened. Maeron stood, studying her closely for a moment. A faint smile played on his lips as he stepped back towards the doorway. "Just five nights", he repeated, sticking out his five bony fingers. "The blood moon's arrival will unleash the past wraths. Prepare yourself, Aerin to make a choice that will determine your path. This time, forgiveness will be far". He vanished into the mist. Later that night, Aerin was unable to sleep. By the hearth, she sat wrapped in her thoughts with the journal open on her lap. Kyre twitched and turned in his fitful sleep. She was aware that he had been haunted and so was she. Maeron's words still lingered, fuelling her worst fears: she was a vessel, a key to unlock something ancient and vicious beyond her control. She looked around then whispered to the journal, not expecting a response. "What did he mean? Why must it be me? Why now? All of a sudden. The pages flipped and then a new entry began to construct itself, ink writing before her very eyes. _The blood moon marks the veils thinnest hour. In every age, it returns and with it, the power to alter what is anchored. Teresa had opened the circle before. You have to close it._ Aerin's heart skipped a beat. "Close it? How should I?" More words appeared immediately. _With sacrifice._ She stared in total bewilderment. "No. There must be another way". There was no response. She closed the journal and placed it beside her contemplating. Sacrifice. Was that what Teresa tried doing? Was her curse more than just a curse of grief? Or was it an act to bind or seal something Maeron had wanted to release? A shiver ran through her spine. "I'm in need of answers. I seriously need to know what occured the night she died". Behind her, Kyre said. "Then we have