Beth endured sharp pain as Sloane treated her swollen ankle with acupuncture, easing the throbbing ache. After the session, Shawn arrived, alarmed by Beth’s injury, and helped carry her to the car. During the ride back to the Oliver estate, Beth shared her concern about Miles, who had seemed pained and urged her to run, suggesting he was struggling against some unseen force. Sloane explained that Miles was likely under a Soul Guild spell called the Emotion Transference Ritual, which manipulates emotions to make victims despise their true love and obsess over the caster.
The Soul Guild, a cult from centuries ago, mastered emotional manipulation, and the spell’s dangerous phase causes unbearable soul pain when it begins to backfire. Sloane revealed that Dania’s bracelet with bells might be the Emotional Lock controlling Miles’s will. Beth was distraught but hopeful when Sloane said her master was on the way to break the spell, emphasizing the immediate need to rescue Tony from Dania.
Upon arriving at the Oliver estate, Beth, Sloane, and Shawn were met by Sloane’s master and an elderly man named Mr. Gustin, who had experience combating the Soul Guild. Beth pleaded for Miles’s rescue, and Mr. Gustin promised to track those controlling Tony, offering a glimmer of hope. Using an ancient bronze compass inscribed with blood sigils, Mr. Gustin performed a ritual that made the compass needle spin wildly before settling, pointing decisively southeast, indicating the direction they must pursue.
480 The Compass of Blood
Beth pressed her lips together tightly, nodding as quiet tears traced down her cheeks. The moment Sloane’s needle pierced her skin, the sharp agony in her ankle began to dull, the relentless throbbing easing into a faint, manageable ache.
Once the acupuncture session was complete, Sloane carefully helped Beth to her feet. “Let’s get you back to the Oliver estate first,” she suggested softly.
Just then, Shawn came rushing in, breathless and alarmed. The instant he caught sight of Beth’s swollen ankle, panic flickered across his face. “Aunt! What happened to your foot?” he asked urgently.
“It’s just a sprain,” Sloane replied quickly, cutting Beth off before she could speak. “I’ve already treated her with acupuncture—it’s stable for now.” She glanced at Shawn and added, “Come on, squat down and carry her to the car.”
“O-okay!” Shawn responded without hesitation, dropping into a crouch in front of Beth. She carefully climbed onto his back, and he hurried toward the waiting vehicle.
During the ride back, Beth’s voice trembled as she recounted, “Miles wasn’t himself back there… He looked like he was in pain, and he told me to run. I could sense he was struggling against something…” Her words faltered, anxiety tightening around her chest. “Do you think he was being controlled?”
Sloane reached out and gently squeezed her hand. “We believe he’s under a Soul Guild spell—specifically, the Emotion Transference Ritual.”
Beth’s heart sank deeply. “Soul Guild? Emotion Transference?” Her fingers twisted nervously in her lap. “What exactly does that mean?”
Sloane’s tone remained calm but serious as she explained, “The Soul Guild was a cult that existed over three centuries ago. They mastered seven arts of emotional manipulation, each tied to an intense feeling. The Transference Spell rewrites a victim’s emotions entirely, causing them to despise their true love and become hopelessly obsessed with the caster.”
From the driver’s seat, Shawn couldn’t hold back, blurting out, “That explains why Uncle changed so suddenly overnight!”
Beth’s eyes welled up again, her voice breaking. “But Miles… in the restaurant, he was still fighting it. He was trying to protect me!”
“That’s the most dangerous phase,” Sloane said, frowning deeply. “When the spell starts to backfire, the victim’s soul experiences unbearable pain. The bracelet Dania wears—the one with the bells—is probably the Emotional Lock that binds his will.”
Tears spilled freely down Beth’s cheeks. “Then what do we do now? Please—there has to be a way to save him!”
Sloane’s eyes narrowed with fierce determination. “My master is already on her way here. She knows how to break the spell. But for now, our priority must be to get Tony back from Dania.”
The car had barely passed through the grand gates of the Oliver estate when Beth spotted two figures waiting in the courtyard. One was a middle-aged woman dressed in a simple white robe, radiating calm dignity. Beside her stood an elderly man with snowy white hair, steadying himself on a polished peachwood staff.
The weight of the Soul Guild’s dark influence hangs heavily over Beth and her loved ones, yet amidst the fear and uncertainty, a glimmer of hope emerges. The pain in Beth’s ankle mirrors the ache in her heart, but the arrival of Sloane’s master and Mr. Gustin, armed with ancient knowledge and determination, promises a path forward. Their combined strength and wisdom kindle a fragile light in the encroaching darkness, reminding Beth that she is not alone in this fight.
As the compass steadies, pointing toward the unknown southeast, it symbolizes not only the direction of their quest but also the resilience of those bound by love and loyalty. Beth’s tears and trembling voice reflect the emotional turmoil of confronting a love twisted by sinister forces, yet the unity and resolve of this small group offer a powerful testament to the enduring human spirit. In the face of manipulation and control, their journey has just begun, fueled by hope, courage, and the unyielding desire to save Tony from the shadows that threaten to consume him.
In the next chapter, tensions will rise as the group sets out on a perilous journey guided by the mysterious compass. The weight of the Soul Guild’s dark influence looms heavily over them, and the emotional turmoil that Beth feels will deepen as she confronts the possibility that those she loves are trapped in a web of manipulation. The arrival of Mr. Gustin and the Medicine Valley Master introduces new hope, but also hints at the complexities and dangers that lie ahead.
Expect moments of quiet desperation intertwined with fierce determination, as the characters grapple with the unknown forces controlling Tony and the challenge of breaking a spell that twists the heart itself. The compass’s sudden activation suggests that the path forward is fraught with uncertainty, and every step could bring them closer to both salvation and unforeseen conflict. Emotions will run high as alliances are tested and the true cost of love and loyalty becomes painfully clear.
Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.

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