Elena's POV
I sat on the floor of the living room, watching Dahlia move around with ease. She pulled various objects from a large leather bag: candles, stones, vials of strange liquids, and bundles of dried herbs. I felt a shiver run down my spine. I had never been part of a ritual before, I was not sure what to expect.
Dahlia looked at me, her eyes calming me. "Elena, I need you to stay very still and quiet during the ritual. This is a delicate process, and any distraction could be dangerous. Do you understand?"
I nodded, swallowing hard. "I understand."
She gave me a reassuring smile before turning her attention back to her preparations. First, she drew a large triangle on the wooden floor with white chalk. Each point of the triangle seemed to pulse with an unseen energy. She placed
