As we approached the building, I visualized in my mind—as I had done a hundred times already—the ritual being successful. I pictured the thousands of Ancient spirits surfacing from their graves. Of course, they would not remain with us forever—it was impossible to truly bring a person back from the dead. But even as spirits they would possess enough power to breathe life back into our kind and reinstate our dominance.

And this time, even if it meant sacrificing every human and other being lesser than us, we would make sure it stayed that way.