Previously, the vampire Nodnu returned with the ingredients Lady had sent him for (And yes, a little orphaned boy, who knows what the witch will do with!)
Then there was the ceremony. In the basement, the witch, dressed all in black, etched a strange shaped star across the hard wood floor with white chalk. The vampire and Zoë, also dressed in black, stood a pace behind her.
In the middle of the star, Lady placed the ingredients, along with Simon's earth soil that Zoë had not noticed, into a wide tub. "The last ingredient I asked for. . ." said Lady.
Nodnu walked over to the pile of ingredients and slit open his palm. Drops of blood dripped into the pile, "Vampire blood." He whispered.
There, for hours it seemed like, the Witch did countless chants, lighted candles that circled the tub and more and more chants.
Zoë was mystified. Lady finally lit a match and threw it into the pile where a fire began to rage. Then the witch threw dust into the fire and smothered it with a cloth. Smoke blasted from the fire and left the room in a dark hazy gloom, the witch now screaming at the top of her lungs, words Zoe could not understand.
The smoke finally cleared and Zoë gasped. Under the blanket was a figure crouched unmoving inside the tub. All she could see was the back of the figures neck and his feet all curled up, the skin glazed and shiny.
But there was the long white hair that grew quickly from the head, half concealed by the cloth. It was her Simon! It was him!
Zoë was about to run to Simon, but the witch grabbed her shoulders and led her around the other way.
Once they were outside of the room the witch whispered, "The resurrection is not complete, it will take atleast three more days for the vampire's soul to completely return to his body." The witch's brown eyebrows arched in tension, "Until he is ready, you are not allowed to see him." Her eyes glowed green.
Sorrow and impatience froze on Zoe's face. She wanted to reject so badly but no words came to her mind. She was in shock.
Nodnu followed them out of the room. He and Zoë were led upstairs and the witch went back into the room of Simon.
"We shouldn't bother her. She needs to finish this with full concentration." Said the vampire.
"Will this really work?" tears stung the girl's eyes.
"I've seen this done many times before. It shall."
It shall? Was that a promise? The tears came freely as she thought of holding Simon in her arms again.
The vampire wiped the tears from her face and smiled sadly to himself.
A day had passed and temptation grew stronger. Time after time, Zoë tried to get a peak of the basement from the stairs but Nodnu, smiling understandingly, warned her and led her away.
Three days finally passed and the girl paced the floor infront of the stairs. The witch had not left that room in that three days. Nodnu appeared beside Zoë, at first shocking her by sneaking up on her so quickly but he looked down to the basement and the door opened.
In the doorway stood Lady, a tired look in her eyes but a smile on her face. Instinctively, Zoë, with shown anxiety, dashed down the stairs and greeted the witch.
Not many words were passed and Zoë was left to go into the room alone.
Simon. He sat on a stool placed in the center of the faded star, a robe covering his legs but his chest bare.
He looked at Zoë with bewildered eyes, the same eyes she dreamed of everynight. He was here, yes, Simon was here!
He smiled and the girl ran to his arms.