She looked at Ethan again.
"In return, I will create a 'Binding Knot' for you. It is an ancient spell. It won't destroy the darkness inside you, but it will slow its growth."
"It should buy you time. Perhaps a few weeks. Maybe a month. For that I will need ingredients."
The witch walked over to an old secretary desk, pulled out a drawer, and took out a worn notebook. She quickly wrote a few lines and handed the sheet to Flash.
"Here is the list."
Flash took the paper and read:
— Ash of a vampire… fresh, no older than three days.
— Root of wisteria… real, not fake.
— Shard of memory, a magical object tied to a strong, pure emotion. Preferably love, sacrifice, or forgiveness.
Gideon frowned.
"A shard of memory? What is that?"
Zeydana looked at him wearily.
"It is a piece of a soul. A fragment of a memory frozen inside a physical object. A ring, a locket, a lock of hair, a letter… anything that holds a very strong human emotion."
"The purer the emotion, the better the spell works."
Flash looked up from the list.
"And where are we supposed to find a 'shard of memory'?"
Zeydana looked straight at Ethan.
"Give me your ring."
Everyone turned to him. Ethan blinked, not understanding.
"My ring?"
He automatically looked at his right hand. On his ring finger was a simple silver band. He had never taken it off. It was the only thing left from the day Maria was supposedly killed.
"It's… my ring," he said quietly.
"I can't give it away."
Zeydana nodded, as if she had expected the answer.
"That is exactly why it will work. It holds the bond of loss and love. Real. Pure."
"The strongest emotion there is. If you truly want to stop the darkness… you must give it to me."
Ethan stared at the ring for a long time. His fingers trembled. The black lines on his neck pulsed in time with his heartbeat.
Flash placed a hand on his shoulder.
"Ethan… this is your choice."
Ethan remained silent. He slowly slipped the ring off his finger and held it out to Zeydana.
"Take it," he said hoarsely.
"If it helps…"
Zeydana accepted the ring with unexpected care. She closed it in her fist and shut her eyes for a second, as if listening.
"Yes…" she whispered.
"There is enough. We will begin the ritual once you gather the rest of the ingredients."
She looked at Susie, who was still standing by the wall, pale and frightened.
"And you, girl, pack your things. You are leaving with them."
"Today," Susie nodded, unable to argue.
Zeydana held her granddaughter for a long moment.
The girl stood by the door, clutching a small bag of belongings, looking at her grandmother as if trying to memorize every line of her face.
The room grew quiet. Even the ash on the floor had stopped smoldering.
Zeydana stepped closer. Her thin fingers, trembling slightly from exhaustion, gently tucked a stray strand of hair behind Susie's ear.
"Don't be afraid," she said softly.
"You will be safer with them than you are here."
Susie shook her head, her lips trembling.
"I don't want to leave… I won't leave you…"
The witch sighed heavily. For a moment her stern mask cracked, and real, almost painful tenderness flashed in her eyes.
"Sometimes, to protect those you love… you have to let them go," she said more gently.
"Even if it feels wrong."
She glanced at the others.
"Wait outside," she said curtly.
Flash narrowed his eyes but said nothing. He only nodded at Ethan, and Ethan, still gripping the black stake, headed for the exit. Gideon followed.
The door creaked shut, leaving the witch and the girl alone.
For several seconds Zeydana simply looked at her granddaughter. Then, with a quick, almost invisible movement, she reached into the folds of her clothing and pulled out a small amulet, a dark stone wrapped in thin silver wire.
The stone glowed faintly, as if a tiny spark burned inside it.
"Take this," she whispered, pressing the amulet into Susie's palm and closing her fingers around it.
"And show it to no one."
Susie looked at it in surprise.
"What is it?.."
"Your protection," Zeydana answered, looking her straight in the eyes.
"If things become truly dangerous… it will shield you. But only once."
"Only once?.." the girl's voice broke.
"So don't waste it," the witch said firmly, though her fingers still held her granddaughter's hand.
"And listen to them. Especially the one in the cloak."
Susie nodded, pressing the amulet to her chest.
Zeydana leaned in and kissed her forehead almost roughly, as if afraid that if she lingered even a second longer, she would not let go.
"Go," she whispered.
Susie turned and, without looking back, ran out the door.
When she was gone, Zeydana slowly straightened. Her face became cold and composed again, but something heavy still lingered in her eyes.
She opened the door.
"You may go," she said calmly.
The guys had already started toward the exit when her voice stopped one of them.
"Flash."
He froze.
Ethan and Gideon turned, but the witch gave a barely noticeable shake of her head.
"Go ahead. We need a few words."
Flash held Ethan's gaze for a second, then nodded.
"I'll catch up with you."
The door closed behind them. The room fell quiet once more.
Flash slowly turned to the witch.
"Make it quick," he said, folding his arms across his chest.
"We don't have time."
Zeydana looked at him for a long time. Too long, trying to