The blood began to flow. But it did not just soak into the ground like normal liquid. The magic of the pentacle was already waking up. The warm blood acted as if it were alive. It began to fill the space in the drawn line, flowing smoothly along the carved dirt.
Derek watched in silent awe as his blood moved. It traveled along the edge of the large circle, separating into two streams. The red streams followed the shape of the five-pointed star. They moved faster and faster, glowing with a faint, unnatural heat.
The lines of blood connected to each other, forming a perfect, glowing red pentacle in the white snow.
Finally, the glowing red lines reached the very middle where Marissa is. The blood stopped flowing just inches from her white silk dress, forming a tight, glowing ring around her motionless body.
Everything was ready. The circle of equivalent exchange was complete.
