Chapter 5

Come morning it was time to grab Ari and head to the blood exchange with the Hybrids. This is where things always got a little dicey. The Hybrids had bad tempers and they always knew how to press my buttons. I’m not one to keep to myself and so there is always conflict. 

But I promised Katrina, and this was my due diligence. I had to prepare Ari, and deliver her safe from hard to the sacrifice tonight. I had been doing this for years, I wasn’t about to mess things up now. 

Once Haven and myself were up and going we headed to Rowen’s home to grab Ari. I knocked on my brother's front door and the maid from last night opened it shortly. She was eyeballing me in a manner that Haven didn’t like. 

“Keep your wandering eyes to yourself, kitty.” Haven snarled at the maid who purposefully looked straight at her and winked, which I thought was hilarious. Then she turned and motioned for us to follow her. 

She was dusting the shelves and objects on the walls as we walked to the foyer where we met last night. Haven and I took a seat. “They will be down shortly.” The maid purred and she walked into the other room. 

I ignored Haven’s outburst, she was just looking out for me, after all. Moments later Rowen came sauntering down the stairs with Ari on his arm. Rowen was wearing a black suit with rose gold accents and rose gold shoes. 

It was uncanny how much we dressed alike because I was wearing the exact same suit but with bronze accents and bronze shoes. It was like we planned it. Ari, however, was wearing nothing but a large shirt that I assumed belonged to my brother. 

“I take it you had a good night.” I said to her with a grin. She didn’t say anything but she nodded her head. I looked over to Rowen, who had a devious smirk on his face. Then he noticed Haven and he stiffened. I thought that was a weird reaction. 

“Thanks brother, off you go. Talk soon.” Rowen suddenly stammered, and he headed back up the stairs basically pushing us out the door. 

“I wonder what’s gotten into him?” I said to Haven. “I’m not sure.” She replied, but it seemed to me like she knew more than she was saying. I didn’t question her though. 

Before I could inquire further she grabbed my hand and all of my doubts vanished. I motioned for Ari to follow us and we headed outside. Once we were at the property edge of Rowen’s home, I grabbed Ari’s hand as well and I materialized all 3 of us back to my home. 

I kissed Haven before watching her head upstairs. I had to tend to Ari now, she needed to change into a ritual dress. I explained to her what she would be wearing and I had previously set it on her bed that night I took her to Rowen’s. I knew she would need it when we returned. 

I ushered her upstairs to shower and change. Once she was done she came back downstairs wearing the ritual dress. It was short in the front with a longer piece in the back and the sleeves were long with a v-shaped cuff that hung about twelve inches. 

The fabric was silk adorned with crystals along the neckline and waistband. The pure white made Ari’s face glimmer as the multitude of crystals reflected tiny dancing light beams onto her.  

She looked stunning, perfect for a Human sacrifice. I gave her a finger gun, but didn’t compliment her as I wasn’t trying to piss Haven off again. Next stop was the Hybrids. This was my least favorite part. They expected us, but I still knew this would be a tight tension filled situation. 

They loved me just about as much as I loved them. It was bound to be a great time… Not. “How are you feeling?” I asked Ari. I was trying to gauge her level of nervousness. If she was nervous now, it was nothing to what was coming. “I’m ok, i’ll be ok. Let's just get this over with.” She said, and she sounded a little stressed. 

I couldn’t blame her, the blood exchange wasn’t too bad, but it was what came after, unbeknownst to her, that was not a fun situation to be in. It was a necessary part if she wanted to come back as a Hybrid. Otherwise she would die, and remain dead. 

I nodded at her, and grabbed her hand. I had Haven on my other hand and she hadn’t let go of me the entire time, which I thought was a little strange. But I ignored it. I had other things to worry about right now. 

I materialized us to the Hybrid's lair which was just outside of the French Quarter in the woods. “Haven, my love. You will need to stay here while we do the exchange. They will not let anyone in besides myself and the sacrifice. It’s ritual, and they do not break the ritual rules.” I said to her. 

I could see a small amount of hurt in her face but more jealousy than anything. God she was driving me nuts with the jealousy. What the fuck was I gonna do right here right now? Just strip Ari down and fuck her? Although I can’t say the thought never crossed my mind, but come on. “I mean I wouldn’t object.” Titan cackled which made me smirk to myself.  

Haven did as I asked though and stayed put. I took Ari by the hand and led her through the wooden gate which was adorned with vines and hanging flowers. I looked back at Haven just in time to receive a death glare to which I rolled my eyes at, as I shut the gate behind me.

The Hybrids were lined up on either side of the entryway restricting us from going anywhere they didn’t want us to. This was normal, they always did this. There was a lot of tension, but I ignored it. 

They knew I was an integral part of the ceremony, and you’d think the dirty mutts would be used to this by now. I hate Hybrids, they are my least favorite supernatural creature. 

We continued walking through a lineup of Hybrids until we reached the ritual hut. To me it was a normal occurrence, but I could tell by how tightly Ari was gripping my hand that this whole thing was making her more and more nervous by the minute.  

Before we went inside, I turned to face Ari. I took both of her hands in mine. “Listen, darlin. You will be ok. I am going to make sure nothing bad happens to you. I promise.” I purred. I knew this was a lie. I couldn’t control what might happen in here but at least I could help calm her mind some. 

She relaxed a little after that and nodded to me. She didn’t have much to say, but what could she say? Being a Human sacrifice was nerve wracking, I’m sure, even if you did volunteer. 

We stepped inside the hut and there were two beds fit for a single person lying in the middle of the floor. Inside were the Hybrid Elders and some of their men.          

This was all normal, nothing out of the ordinary here. The Elders didn’t speak, and we didn’t try to. I led Ari over to the right side bed and helped her get up in it. She was shaking at this point and I wanted to reassure her, but I couldn’t talk to her. It had to be silent here. 

I put my finger up to my lips to signal for her to stay quiet and she nodded her head in understanding. I stayed next to her, with her hand in mine as one of the Elders took his place on the next bed over. 

I turned and was handed a ritual knife. I let go of Ari’s hand and walked over to the elder, he was to be opened up first. The Elders started chanting in Latin as I proceeded to cut a long slice through his main artery going up his arm. 

“Mensaeque deorum crateresque per sanguinem nostrum de te consurget post mortem.” They chanted over and over like a dull hum. This was the ritual chant for spelling the mixed blood to cause Ari to rise after death. 

I then proceeded to cut Ari’s artery as well. She did her best to not scream out in pain as I sliced her open, but she was only Human, and couldn't stop the tears falling from her eyes. I set the knife down and stepped back. 

The blood flowing from both Ari and the Elder, rather than falling and soaking the blankets on the bed, rose and mixed into the air between them. 

This is something I had seen multiple times. The blood would mix and then be put back into the bodies of the Elder and the Human sacrifice. This would ensure that she would rise after being killed. 

The Hybrids were Hybrid between a Wolf and a Witch but she would rise only as a Werewolf if she were to die before the ritual can be completed tonight. How she becomes a Witch is part of the next ceremony tonight. I had to keep her safe until then. 

Usually this was a lot easier, but with a murderous girlfriend, this was going to be harder than I expected. The blood had fully mixed and was now flowing back into the cut of the Elder and Ari. As soon as the last drop of blood returned to Aris' arm. 

I placed my hand over the cut and healed it instantly, then I moved onto the Elder and did the same thing. Once both parties were healed up I stepped back into the lineup and watched. 

There were a few times when a Human had an adverse reaction to the blood of a Hybrid. This didn’t happen often, but there was always a chance it could. Now we wait to see how she reacts before moving on.