"Terence West - Darkness" - читать интересную книгу автора (West Terence)

Again, no one spoke.

"Let the ritual begin."

Moving its hand carefully, One wrapped its fingers around Saint's neck. Tilting her head back, it could
feel her heart throbbing in the veins of her throat. It was fear that gripped her, yet she was doing her best
to remain strong. Lifting the dagger up, the ancient Wraith pressed it to the side of her throat. With one
swift stroke, it pulled the blade through the soft, pink flesh, splaying it open. Blood instantly spurted from
the wound as an artery was cleaved in two. Without a single grunt or wince of pain, Saint began to bleed
to death. Pushing her head down, One watched her crimson life spill over the hard stone floor around
them. Turning to its right, One could see the process repeated on each of the students. To One's
approval, none cried out at the quick flash of steel.

Holding its fingers firmly on Saint's throat, it could feel her heart beginning to slow. From its own
experience, One knew she was very near slipping from consciousness. The ritual had to be timed
precisely. This was the reason ancients only completed it. If they didn't wait long enough, the ritual
wouldn't take and the student would be lost, yet if they waited too long, the student would die. It was a
fine line they treaded, nevertheless, each was confident in their abilities. Lifting Saint back into a kneeling
position, One steadied her with its hands as blood rolled down onto its white robe. "Hold on, my child," it
whispered. "It's only just begun." Lifting the dagger again, One pressed it firmly to its own wrist. Pulling
once, it laid open its veins. Setting the blade aside, it quickly reached for the cup.

As One held its wrist over the cup quickly filling it, Saint began to feel herself slipping away. Darkness
encroached over her brain, threatening at any moment to sever her connection to this reality. The gaping
wound in her neck throbbed with pain with every heartbeat, every breath. No longer could she feel her
arms and legs, the pain was all-consuming. Reaching down deep into herself, she summoned a strength
she had only glimpsed before. She had to hold on. To come so far in ten years, only to die on the council
chamber floor would not only disgrace the order, but herself as well. She would not fail, not this close to
the finish.

One lifted the cup of its own blood with two hands toward Saint. Its hands trembled slightly, but it
quickly calmed itself. To lose this student now would be a tragedy, but fate always had its own agenda.
Tipping the young woman's head back, One began to pour the blood into her mouth. Saint gagged as the
thick, lukewarm substance hit the back of her throat. One held his hand firmly around her mouth refusing
to let her spit any out. She needed every drop to complete the ritual. "Swallow, child," One said, almost
pleadingly. "Swallow."

Saint's eyes rolled back as she choked on the liquid. Pulling a breath in through her nose, she closed her
mouth and opened her throat. Gulping down the thick substance, her eyes opened wide, then snapped
shut. It felt like battery acid chewing its way down her throat. She felt the immediate urge to retch, but
clenching her teeth, she fought it. Balling up her fists behind her back, she felt the blood hit her stomach
like a brick. Doubling over in pain, she narrowly missed One with her head as she hit the floor. Making
sure to keep her hands clasped behind her back, she rested her forehead on the floor amidst a pool of
her own blood. Gritting her teeth, she wanted to cry out, but refused. She felt as if red hot needles were
being pushed into her skin and muscles over and over again. Intense pain rocketed through her skull as
her upper canine teeth were broken and forced from her gums and two tiny fangs slid into place. Rolling
onto her back, her head snapped and hit the stone floor with a crunch. Opening her eyes again, she felt
her vision become blurred. The tiny veins in her eyes popped and exploded, sending blood gushing into
the chocolate brown irises, but it quickly receded as the iris in each eye melted to a solid gold. As fast as