I blinked, confused, as Anahi stared at me so intently.
Hesitantly, I raised my finger to my lips and bit down gently. A small bead of blood surfaced and rolled to the tip.
Anahi's face lit up with joy, her eyes shimmering with excitement as she watched me.
But just as the blood droplet was about to fall into the glowing ritual circle—it stopped.
Mid-air.
Suspended.
"Huh?" I blinked, my brows furrowing. "What happened…? Why isn't it moving?"
Kneeling down, I reached out to touch the hovering drop—but then I noticed something odd.
Anahi, She wasn't moving.
Not blinking her eyes.
"Dear?" I whispered. "Why are you not moving…?"
Nothing.
Not even a twitch.
I stood slowly, worry rising in my chest. As I stepped closer to her, my hand reached out—instinctively, gently—to touch her.
But before I could—
Someone grabbed my wrist.
"Stop," a soft, commanding voice said. "Don't touch any hand that isn't mine."
I turned, startled—and froze.
A woman stood before me.