Sinister Offerings

...The story of my chaos starts with your name… "Adrian. Think about it. I have only written the verses of the ritual and its method but we don't know the outcome of it. It's still unknown what could possibly happen. We should think about it." My wife, Raven anxiously said, walking after me. Her sapphire orbs glimmered in distress. She is worried because I am going to make the solemn ceremony described by the method she received from her ancestors, to e*****e a devil. It's her ability, her generation can memorize the ancient books that were destroyed or not and by reading them once and they remember it fully. Moreover, the memory of the book is passed down to generations. It is an overpowered ability but, because of it, their Magic Power is weak and they cannot perform the calamitous rituals by themselves. Also, one spell can be cast or written by them once, as the memory of it would be removed and the tales would be left behind as there would be no one to remember and they can't be passed down. She is the one who helped me to achieve my aim and prove myself as the strongest. She is my partner, she stayed by my side in happiness and sadness. She encouraged me but now she is hesitating. I understand her worry but I don't think we can back away now. Everything is ready. There's no turning back. We have to face the upcoming afflictions. We cannot go back from the point we reached after so much struggle. I stopped in my tracks and turned to her, "What harm an enslaved devil can cause?" I asked. I narrowed my obsidian orbs at her as she tugged a strand of her black hair behind her ears, "I don't know. We don't know." she breathed out. "Anything is possible, Adrian. What we are going to do can cause damage as well… we can lose lives." "Raven. That's why you are here. You should make a boundary to protect everyone and I shall protect you. Nothing will happen, everything is fine." I held her shoulders and passed her a smile, "Raven, Don't worry. I am here." She gave me an innocent look and vaguely nodded as a faint smile crept upon her lips. "We can do this." I said firmly. "We will." She whispered. "I hope we do." She said the last part to herself but I heard it. "Nothing will happen." I assured her. She doesn't have to worry about it, even though I am a leader of a cult but my family lineage came from the highest grade sacred mage but I had no interest in the magic of light so I left the light and went on a journey to find black magic. It intrigues me a lot and after countless struggles, I finally gained this position. So, I have both consecrated and evil magic running in my veins. Raven shouldn't worry, I'll handle if something happens. My magic of light can protect her even thought I haven't used my divine magic for years. We then began to prepare for the ritual. Raven drew a circle of blood in the middle as I began to write the verses on the edges. To show our leadership, I wore a black cloak and Raven wore a red one while others wore a gray one. Raven secured the circle by writing a spell on the edges and making everyone share their power which will protect them from any impact. Not being able to withstand the intensity of the magic as she couldn't share the same powers as others, Raven moved farther away. Before I could start, I motioned Dylan, my right hand man to created an invisible wall around her because I.only use capturing or sealing enchantments. I looked at her and waved at her, she gave me a thumbs up as I smiled. Only if I knew… things would never go the way I thought they would… I stood in the middle. If anything happens, it will happen to me. I was sure of it. If someone had to die, it would be me- I thought.. I would be. I held the book written by Raven in my hands. It can only be used once, I have to be careful with it. I took a deep breath and quote the spell to start the ceremony, "O the ruler of destruction, Behold the grieve; captivate one's heart. Thee reside in dark, shall lay it's life on my path- Sinful t****l!" When I finished, I took a pause and looked around. Noticing any difference. Suddenly the temperature dropped and the ground began to shake slightly. I exhaled, clutched the book firmly and continued, "The destroyer, Adaddon. I call you." I then began to read the verse as the slight earthquake soon converted into a large scale attack. Cracks appeared outside the circle. The atmosphere was freezing, it was hard to remain unaffected and stable but nevertheless, I continued. We were strong. I spared a glance at Raven, who cast another spell of barrier around her to protect herself. In the split second, everything calmed down. The Devil's Adaddon wrath, my voice, everything stopped. As a lull before a merciless storm took over. I was waiting for another attack. My feet froze to the ground. An unbearable pain shot through my veins. I could feel the pain but cannot react to it. My throat burned, An abrupt halt to my words, an immensely powerful presence spread across the room. I felt my strength deprived from me but I held it back. It was a short-lived interlude of devastation which is oblivious to me. A silence of chaos. My breath caught in my throat, and with great effort, I lifted my gaze and looked around to see if everyone was alright or not. Only I could feel this intense pain. They were waiting for me to continue which was hard for me. I mustered some power, not wanting to break in front of everyone and continued, "The bond forged with command, based upon power. I command you to show yourself." The next verse was the last one. I opened my mouth to speak further but then we were greeted by a rain of blood. The sound of blood making contact with the ground as the sound of a sweet elation of rain. We couldn't fathom where it was coming from but it was a bloody rain. Staining our minds and body. Before I could apprehend what happened, A member of my cult flew into the air and his head snapped. A screeching sound of despair spread in the air. The suddenness of the situation caused a panic. Now, instead of the blood rain, the blood from my fallen fellow fell on us. Mourning his death, we had to move forward. "DON'T FALL BACK!" Raven yelled, trying to give everyone the courage and don't let them lose hope. "Don't break the circle!" I ordered. Ahead path was unknown but the disastrous sight evoked dread in everyone but we all know if we break the rhythm now, the only outcome if we lose now would lead us to death and we have to keep going. "WE CAN DO THIS!" Raven tried her best to keep up the spirit of us. She was secured in the wall I created for her so I was reassured. I thought she would be fine. Harsh wind blew, we all lost our balance. I fell on my knees, gripping the book tightly to my chest. Trying not to fall from the circle or even break it. "Chain of Heavens!" Raven shouted, falling on the ground, connecting the path of light from her to me. Even her power might be weak but she can share mine with her and others. A protection shell was made not only for us but for everyone. We were equal in terms of Magic Power because of the spell. It was distributed among us. So it was hard to tell the difference between the strongest and weakest. "I for one, declare Adaddon-" When I was about to finish the ritual and bind this Devil to me as a reminder of my ultimate victory. A menacing laugh echoed in the basement of our hideout. Another pause came because of the roaring sound. This time, a shadow emerged from above me and disperse in the air. We all looked up, watching the shadow spreading in the air as a gloom took over. We could feel the pressure created by the shadow. As we were all sharing the same energy thanks to Raven, it was hard to tell who is the weakest among us- who is Raven. We watched a mere show of being powerless. We were vulnerable, the ability to resist and stay strong was getting out of our grasp. His power is much stronger than we had anticipated. The ambience emitting by the shadow was frightening. The scattered darkness gradually began to gather around Raven. The way it made its way to her slowly, induced an unimaginable terror in me. The horror crept upon my face. My heart skipped a beat in apprehension of what might happen. I gulped hard when a single thought of something happening to Raven crossed my mind. The line of my pride faded away. All I could see was Raven in front of me. Trying her best to be unbreakable. I was helpless when it came to her and this Devil knows what my weakness is. He is ready to rip her apart. She is both my strength and weakness. Blind in my love for her, I stiffed. I couldn't move or speak. I just watched her, trying to stay strong as I could foreseen that her life is in danger which took my life out of me. I can never let it happen, I couldn't put her life in danger for the sake of my worthless arrogance. she is far more important to me than my life. Before I could guide Raven, she was sent flying as he back hit the wall and she fell on the ground with blood flowing from her nose. "Raven!" I called her worriedly. She groaned in pain and clutched her stomach tightly but still didn't break the path and let the shadow know about our Magic Power. He only knows my weakness as I am the initiator. "CONTINUE ADRIAN!" She yelled but I lost my voice. How can I, when she is like this? I couldn't watch her in pain and continue the ritual even though I was one sentence away from completing it. A tear rolled down my cheek and I averted my gaze, I opened my mouth to complete the verse. If I complete, everything will be fine. But.before I could speak, a trident flew before me and was about to hit Raven… and I lost. I did what the Devil wanted me to. I made the biggest which took me to the deepest depth of the abyss, the eternal source of devastation and I did it. I broke the ritual. The book fell from my hand. I wasn't supposed to use another spell- especially a sacred one but I did. I cannot let her die. "Holy Lance!" The biggest mistake was that I used light magic. The Lance surely broke the trident but it couldn't redeem my mistake. The shadow entered Raven. The circle disappeared along with the book. I gasped, my heart stopped. Havoc stormed in my mind. I couldn't produce a single sound. Misery roamed in my soul, I couldn't think. Deluged in ravage. I fell on my knees as another tear rolled down my cheek followed by a stream of them. Between my destruction and endless penitence. The guilt of my mistake ate me up. I could see the love of my life, being wrapped around a shadow. I couldn't let this happen, I have to do something. My lifeless legs stood up as I ran towards her, wanting to pull her out of the shadow. The second mistake. I broke the circle and ran to her. I don't know what took over me, I stopped thinking from my mind which led me to this. "RAVEN!!" I shouted from the bottom of my lungs. I put my hand over her consumed form and tried to cast the spell but the power absorbed it. I tried to use a sacred spell but to no avail. I tried to pull Raven out of it but all my efforts were in vain. I was defeated, I was lost. Overwhelmed by horror, I desperately tried to call her out to me. "Take me. Please take me but not her!" I begged. My vision was blurred due to tears. My heart was intoxicated in fright. I can't lose her. "There's no fun in that." A mocking laugh came and the shadow was entirely inside Raven. My whole being stopped when I saw it. Raven fell into my arms, not in her consciousness. My eyes were heavy, my heart clenched. My demeanour broke. I fell into heartbreak. The tunnel of sorrow took me inside it. Submerged in devastation, I broke into sobs, hugging her slumbering body close to me as close as I could. My tears gleamed down my cheek, soaking her neck. I wailed loudly. Not being able to bear the weight of my deed, my repentance anymore. I cried out loud. Lost in the darkness aroused by my action, I lost what I treasure the most, my love. left with nothing, I felt so powerless and weak for bending my knees before Adaddon but when It comes to Raven; I am vulnerable. I let out the loudest cries of my life and the only word escaped my quiver lips was, "RAVEN!!!"