perfect shape to drop the Vessel into. Zareb handed the vase over to Joy and placed his palm on the inside of the hole. With a few words he blessed the ground in the name of his ancestors and the Ancients.
“Put the Vessel over the enclosure,” he instructed.
Zareb joined their hands and wrapped them around the evil object.
“We need to strengthen the seal.”
They both chanted, their words entwining and matching in power. The ground began to shake, thunder cracked in the clear sky and the world vibrated with the magnitude of magic. Everything snapped into a bright focus, there was only him, Joy and the Vessel. White, pure light surrounded the circle.
“You have done well, my children. It is time to replace the ultimate evil where it belongs, under ground.”
Zareb heeded the words of his great ancestors and manipulated the vase so it was inverted. He wanted the opening as far from above ground as they could get it. Joy released it at the same time he did. The Vessel wedged down deep. Joy reached for him to complete the human circle.
“Cover the evil with pure love and joy; let the earth cradle it with her very essence. Thank you,” Joy chanted. The ground filled over the vase until it was covered.
Joy collapsed and Zareb gathered her close, he also felt tired from the pull of such great power. They were done here. Zareb would never return to this spot unless something happened to release the evil forces. His life could begin anew once they left Africa and returned home to the family he’d created with the Masters pack. Zareb picked up his mate and went to find Kir, hoping the man was still there. They needed to rest before they went on a rescue mission. Joy was strong, but she had used so much magic over the last few days. A good meal and twelve to twenty-four hours of sleep was what she really needed, but neither would happen any time soon. The only reason he wasn’t as depleted was because he’d been feeding off her power without realising it until just now. They were not ready for a fight.
“It is done, is it not?” Kir turned at their approach. “Is she all right?”
“Drained, but fine. Yes, we have resealed the Vessel, no more souls will be released.”
“Good. Then you must come with me.”
Zareb was confused. “What are you talking about?”
“I let you complete your mission. Now you have to help me finish mine so I can leave here free and clear. That means we need to go back to the camp.”
“The plan was always to go back there. They hold our family and there is no way we would leave Africa without them.”
“You don’t understand.”
“No, my broer, I do not.”
“It needs to be under my power, I cannot let you wander in.” Kir squared his shoulders.
“That is not going to happen. It would put Joy at risk and I will not allow that.”
“I was afraid you would say that.”
Kir shot him in the neck with something he must have had hidden, Zareb hadn’t searched him after Joy captured him and he thought Kir was now on their side. Zareb reached for his power but he was too late. He managed to put Joy down before crumpling to the jungle floor.
When he awoke, Joy was yelling. He opened his eyes and looked around. They hadn’t moved, but they were tied up.
“You goddamn mother fucker. He trusted your fugly ass. You talk about betrayal? Look in the mirror. Let us go. Now.”
“Calm down. I will not harm you, and I have to do this.”
“No you don’t,” Joy snarled.
“It is not like I can take your power away. You are drained, but it will come back. Zareb could get out of his ropes easily. It has to look good or they will come after me. The shaman is powerful. I want a fresh start and Zareb wouldn’t let me explain—this gave me the time I needed. Now he can listen. Thank goodness you are awake, Zar. Your woman has a mouth on her.” Kir looked over at him, his eyes pleading with him to understand.
And he did. Kir would not go against them, not again. He’d seen
“Put the Vessel over the enclosure,” he instructed.
Zareb joined their hands and wrapped them around the evil object.
“We need to strengthen the seal.”
They both chanted, their words entwining and matching in power. The ground began to shake, thunder cracked in the clear sky and the world vibrated with the magnitude of magic. Everything snapped into a bright focus, there was only him, Joy and the Vessel. White, pure light surrounded the circle.
“You have done well, my children. It is time to replace the ultimate evil where it belongs, under ground.”
Zareb heeded the words of his great ancestors and manipulated the vase so it was inverted. He wanted the opening as far from above ground as they could get it. Joy released it at the same time he did. The Vessel wedged down deep. Joy reached for him to complete the human circle.
“Cover the evil with pure love and joy; let the earth cradle it with her very essence. Thank you,” Joy chanted. The ground filled over the vase until it was covered.
Joy collapsed and Zareb gathered her close, he also felt tired from the pull of such great power. They were done here. Zareb would never return to this spot unless something happened to release the evil forces. His life could begin anew once they left Africa and returned home to the family he’d created with the Masters pack. Zareb picked up his mate and went to find Kir, hoping the man was still there. They needed to rest before they went on a rescue mission. Joy was strong, but she had used so much magic over the last few days. A good meal and twelve to twenty-four hours of sleep was what she really needed, but neither would happen any time soon. The only reason he wasn’t as depleted was because he’d been feeding off her power without realising it until just now. They were not ready for a fight.
“It is done, is it not?” Kir turned at their approach. “Is she all right?”
“Drained, but fine. Yes, we have resealed the Vessel, no more souls will be released.”
“Good. Then you must come with me.”
Zareb was confused. “What are you talking about?”
“I let you complete your mission. Now you have to help me finish mine so I can leave here free and clear. That means we need to go back to the camp.”
“The plan was always to go back there. They hold our family and there is no way we would leave Africa without them.”
“You don’t understand.”
“No, my broer, I do not.”
“It needs to be under my power, I cannot let you wander in.” Kir squared his shoulders.
“That is not going to happen. It would put Joy at risk and I will not allow that.”
“I was afraid you would say that.”
Kir shot him in the neck with something he must have had hidden, Zareb hadn’t searched him after Joy captured him and he thought Kir was now on their side. Zareb reached for his power but he was too late. He managed to put Joy down before crumpling to the jungle floor.
When he awoke, Joy was yelling. He opened his eyes and looked around. They hadn’t moved, but they were tied up.
“You goddamn mother fucker. He trusted your fugly ass. You talk about betrayal? Look in the mirror. Let us go. Now.”
“Calm down. I will not harm you, and I have to do this.”
“No you don’t,” Joy snarled.
“It is not like I can take your power away. You are drained, but it will come back. Zareb could get out of his ropes easily. It has to look good or they will come after me. The shaman is powerful. I want a fresh start and Zareb wouldn’t let me explain—this gave me the time I needed. Now he can listen. Thank goodness you are awake, Zar. Your woman has a mouth on her.” Kir looked over at him, his eyes pleading with him to understand.
And he did. Kir would not go against them, not again. He’d seen
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