Diomira lifted her eyes and gave him a smirk.
“I will help you Felipe, but first you must learn to trust me.”
He nodded in agreement.
She got up onto her knees and examined Felipe’s face, gently pushing back his sweeping bangs with the back of her hand.
He responded to her warm, tender caress by closing his eyes for a moment.
* * *
Diomira took hold of Felipe’s right hand examining it. Her eyes fluttered and her body jerked. She steadied herself.
“Mi Dios! Felipe, you are under a dark and powerful spell. None like I have ever seen before, for only a god can change a man into a creature such as yourself. Tell me, who turned you into this monster?”
“My wife, Lilith.”
“Your wife? She must be a very powerful sorceress. How did she turn you?”
“She plunged a magickal dagger into my heart, while three she-demons read from scrolls in a strange language. Lilith carved out my heart and placed it in a glowing orb. The she-demons collected my blood and soul and placed them in similar glowing orbs.”
“Your wife certainly went through a great deal of trouble. Why were you were cursed?”
Felipe remained silent for a moment before he spoke.
“I was in love with another woman,” he said with shame in his voice. “Diomira, can you help me?”
The witch hushed Felipe by putting her index finger up to his lips. She waved her hand over the mirror. “Take hold of my hands.”
Felipe did as Diomira commanded.
The bones of the mirror turned red as burning embers. The once solid piece of rainbow obsidian started to swirl and liquefy. Soon, the obsidian shot straight up to the ceiling of the cave, engulfing the cavern in a bright, kaleidoscopic rainbow. The witch’s body went into spasms. The whirling rainbow cyclone projected images of ancient man worshiping Saturn throughout the ages.
Diomira gasped at the hundreds of babies being sacrificed, thrown into a fiery, bronze brazier inside the mouth of a colossal golden statue of Saturn. Next, images of King Solomon building a temple for Saturn on a hill near Jerusalem flashed before Diomira. Above the temple’s hexagon-shaped, black onyx altar hung a six-pointed star—the Seal of Saturn. The imagery vanished, and revealed Lilith being transformed into Saturn’s High Priestess.
Quickly, the images disappeared revealing the Eye of Saturn opening and Felipe transforming into the vampire. The image revealed bloodless bodies piling up in the bloodstained streets of Spain in the wake of the vampire’s carnage.
Diomira had seen enough. She waved her hand and the mirror returned to its normal state. With a grave look on her face, she turned to Felipe.
“The magick that has transformed you into this monster is most powerful. The she-demons that enslaved your soul are the Daughters of Saturn—the Old Ones—the first angels, if you will. Your wife, she is Saturn’s immortal High Priestess.”
“You mean Lilith isn’t human?”
Diomira shook her head. “Your wife must have used Saturn’s magick and the sixty sacred scrolls to open the Eye of Saturn. To think, all these years I thought the scrolls were just a myth,” she said.
“Diomira, can you undo Saturn’s magick?”
“Felipe, it’s not that simple. First, you need to understand what we’re up against,” she said. “As the legend goes, Saturn opened HIS all-seeing Eye and spoke, giving birth to the universe. The scrolls are rumored to contain the first words ever spoken by Saturn—the very words that formed our world and the universe. HIS every word, HIS laws, ceremonies, rituals, and invocations are contained in the sacred scrolls. It is said whoever possesses them will have the power to create worlds and beings. Saturn’s daughters are the guardians of the scrolls.”
“So, you are saying we are up against a god?”
Diomira picked up the mirror and handed it to Felipe. “Not just any god, our creator. Take a look in the mirror for yourself.”
* * *
Felipe took the mirror from Diomira and gazed deep into the looking glass, swirling horrific images of ancient Babylonians being sacrificed in a fiery brazier appeared, followed by a repulsive scene of Saturn worshipers slashing one another and drinking each other’s blood. The images dissolved and the obsidian returned to its natural state.
“Blood is the seat of the soul,” Felipe whispered.
Diomira stood up and walked into her sleeping quarters. She returned with an old ragged book, placing the book on a small, round rustic table. Felipe gathered around the table with Diomira.
“There are many myths about Saturn or Kronos as some have called HIM.” She opened the book. “The ancient Greeks and Romans knew Saturn as Father Time and as the god of agriculture and the harvest. Some ancient cultures worshiped Saturn by performing horrific, blood rituals, while others carried out human sacrifices. Although the tribes of man have worshiped Saturn differently, they all have one thing in common—fear! For Saturn is the bringer of judgment. HE is reputed to be both giver and destroyer.
“The entire world has been worshiping Saturn since the beginning of time, without realizing it. As you can see, Saturn is often depicted holding a scythe in HIS left hand and a bundle of wheat in HIS right. ‘You reap what you sow.’ Christians know Saturn as the red dragon, Satan—the devil.” Diomira turned to Felipe. “You said you were unfaithful to your wife.”
“Yes.”
“That explains why your wife used Saturn’s all-seeing Eye to curse you. Saturn is linked to judgment and karma. HE will bring misfortune, even death upon a person for making an error.”
“But why this—a monster? Why not just kill me?”
“To teach you a lesson.”
“I never consummated the relationship. Lilith just thinks I did. I’ve tried to tell her, but her magick and those she-demons are blocking me.”
“It doesn’t matter, Felipe. When you married your wife and consummated your marriage, you became blood kin—family. When you broke your marriage vows, by loving another, you broke the blood covenant with your wife. In her eyes, you spilled the blood of her family, her ancestors—their blood.”
“But I do not just drink the blood of my victims, I eat their flesh, as well,” he said. Felipe took the old tattered book and started reading it.
“It says here in Greek mythology that Saturn married his sister, Rhea, and had children. When he took the throne, it was a time of power, a time of harmony and prosperity that became known as the Golden Age. But it was prophesized that he would be overthrown by his own children. To prevent this from happening, Saturn swallowed his children and retained them inside his own body where they could do him no harm.”
“What great pain it must have been to eat one’s own flesh and blood. What do you feel every time you devour your victims?”
“I feel emotional torment.” Felipe slammed the book shut. He turned to Diomira, with a look of desperation. “Please, can you break this curse?”
“Yes, I believe there is a way. But first, you must go to the Temple of Saturn and find the scrolls. The answer is written somewhere within the scrolls.”
“How am I going to do that, when I have no idea where the temple is?”
“Not to fear. I know the location of the temple. It sits high in the Sierra Nevada Mountains, atop Mulhacén.”
“Diomira, this is hopeless. I cannot just stroll into the temple and demand that the Daughters of Saturn hand over the scrolls. Besides, my powers are useless around them.”
“Well, if we cannot use the powers of a vampiro, perhaps we can use the magick of a bruja,” she said smiling. “I know a way we can sneak into the temple and steal the scrolls.”
“How?”
“I’ll become invisible.”
“Invisible!” he laughed. “You’re mad. Even I cannot become invisible, at least not entirely.”
“You must trust me, Felipe,” she said with a twinkle in her eye. “Whatever we decide to do, we must be swift about it. There isn’t much time
to prepare the magickal powder that is needed. In three days, Saturn will be in the northern sky. There will be special ceremony to celebrate the harvest that will be our way inside Saturn’s temple.”
GREAT SACRILEGE
The heavy, wooden door leading to the Holy Office of Archbishop de Acuña at the Catedral de Toledo opened. Lilith stood in the doorway. Sunlight peered through a window behind her, giving her an angelic like appearance.
“Come forth, Señora. You mustn’t be frightened,” the archbishop said, motioning with his hand. “We’ve been expecting you.”
Lilith made eye contact with each of the clergymen sitting at the large oak table as she made her entrance.
The archbishop sat regally at the head of the table. To his right sat Inquisitor Manuel Álvarez, to the left of the inquisitor sat the executioner. Rounding out the table was three Dominican monks.
“Your Excellency,” Lilith said, making her way to the archbishop. She knelt down on her left knee, kissing his ring in reverence.
“Señora according to your urgent message you have information that can help us identity this devil that has killed so many.”
Lilith stood upright and bowed before the clergyman. “Yes, I know the identity of the vampiro and the ones responsible for setting it free.”
“Well, tell us! Do not keep us in suspense any longer,” Inquisitor Álvarez said.
“You must understand, gentlemen, this is very difficult for me. For you see, the vampiro is,” she drew in a breath, taking a long dramatic pause, leaving the clergymen on the edge of their seats, “my husband, Felipe de Hayos.”
The men at the table stirred and murmured in disbelief.
“Señora, may I remind you that this is a very serious accusation,” Inquisitor Álvarez said.
“Gentleman, I can assure you I am telling you the truth. My husband is the vampiro.”
“This cannot be,” the archbishop said in disbelief. “I have known Felipe since he was a babe. I even attended your wedding not long ago. How in God’s name could this have happened?”
“Your Excellency, it seems Felipe’s parents are not who they appear to be.”
“What do you mean?”
“They are practitioners of black magick and have consorted with the devil. They called themselves, the Alumbrados, practitioners of black magick.”
“Great sacrilege!” The executioner cried out.
“Blasphemers!” the monks yelled.
“Brothers, please settle down. Allow Señora Al- Salameh to continue,” Archbishop de Acuña said, his eyes fixed on Lilith.
“Tomás de Hayos bewitched my father by placing an enchantment on him. Señor de Hayos stole my family’s gold and forced me to marry his son, Felipe,” she said, fighting back tears. “While living at the de Hayos estate, I witnessed many ghastly things.”
The inquisitor leaned in. “What sort of things did you witness, Señora?” he asked intrigued.
“I saw Felipe’s parents crouched down naked in a circle, reading from an ancient book, casting spells—”
“I don’t believe it. I have known Tomás de Hayos for a good many years. He’s a God-fearing man. Not a consorter of the devil,” the archbishop said.
“That is exactly what he and his family would like you to believe, Your Excellency. In secret, I have seen them perform human and animal sacrifices to their dark lord.”
The clergymen all looked at one another and began to stir.
“Every day I could see Felipe weakening. If it were not for the Sultan Said giving my husband an appointment in Granada, he would have joined his parents and became a practitioner of black magick! Moving to Granada freed us from Señor de Hayos’ sinister plan, at least for a little while. A couple of months ago, Señor de Hayos begged to come for a visit during your Easter celebration. In spite of everything, Felipe loves his family and agreed to the visit. From the moment they arrived, Tomás and his wife tried to force Felipe and me join their evil religion.”
Lilith paused and placed her hands on her stomach. “Felipe tried to protect me and his unborn child. He asked his parents to leave. Señor de Hayos became furious. His eyes darkened as he spat out a terrible curse. He blew a magickal powder in my husband’s face.”
Lilith’s bottom lip began to quiver. A single teardrop formed in the corner of her left eye and rolled down her cheek.
“That night, Felipe fell ill. The next morning, he began acting strangely. He became violent, throwing and smashing things around the palace. Over the next couple of months, he began eating his meat raw. On June ninth, as the two-tailed comet blazed the night’s sky, an unspeakable evil took root in Felipe. His flesh turned black. His hands and feet became like the talons of an eagle. Bat-like wings sprouted from his shoulder blades. He opened his mouth to scream and that’s when I saw...” Lilith’s voice trailed off, too distraught to speak. She placed her hand over her mouth to choke back the tears.
“You saw what?” the archbishop said, hanging onto Lilith’s every word. “What did you see, Señora?”
Lilith swallowed hard and regained her composure.
“I saw rows upon rows of sharpened teeth and two large fangs. Before I could utter a single word, Felipe de Hayos, my beloved husband, had transformed into a vampiro right before my very eyes. Then he vanished into thin air.”
The men were taken aback.
Lilith searched the clergymen’s faces. They had bought her lies.
“I have heard enough. Manuel,” the archbishop said, turning to the inquisitor. “Gather your men and ready your wagons. Tomorrow night, we shall make our arrest.” The archbishop lifted his eyes to Lilith. “Señora, we thank you for your help. I can only imagine how difficult this must have been for you.”
Lilith kneeled and kissed the archbishop’s ring. “I am glad to have been of service to you.”
Lilith bowed and exited the room. The corners of her mouth turned up, forming a devious grin.
“Well, that should take care of Felipe’s family,” she laughed, vanishing in an ethereal rolling smoke.
THE MAGICKAL POTION
It was late afternoon and the sun shone brightly against a perfectly blue sky in the woods of Zugarramurdi. Felipe and Diomira gathered fern leaves, poppy seeds, slippery elm, myrrh, marjoram, and dill weed from the meadow. Felipe admired Diomira’s backside as he sneaked a peek of her bending over. He smiled. The witch was as sexy as she was intriguing.
Diomira stood upright and turned around unexpectedly. Her eyes met Felipe’s gaze. She batted her long eyelashes and smiled.
Embarrassed, Felipe cast his eyes down. “Exactly what are you planning on doing with these weeds?”
“These herbs,” she corrected, “are the ingredients I will need to make a magickal powder that will turn me invisible.”
“Do you honestly think herbs are going to be enough to trick the Daughters of Saturn?” he said, slinging the aromatic plants around in his hands. Flying dirt flung from the plant’s roots, sailing through the in the air and pelted Diomira in the face.
“Ouch!” she yelled, wiping her face.
“If these she-demons are powerful enough to turn me into the undead, surely they will be able to see through your counterfeit magick.”
“Counterfeit magick, indeed!” Diomira said, whisking the herbs out of Felipe’s hand and placing them in her white wicker basket. “My hope is everyone will be too distracted worshiping Saturn to notice that I’m stealing the scrolls.”
“Diomira, this is hopeless—”
“Have a little faith, Felipe.” She turned and started walking back to the mouth of the cave.
Once inside the cave, Diomira pulverized the herbs into a powder mixture. She turned to Felipe, who had a skeptical look on his face. “I need to make use of your special vampiro talents,” she said.
“What do you want me to do?”
“In order to complete the potion I need one last ingredient. There is a wild boar approaching just over the ridge.”
Feli
pe listened with his vampire ears and sniffed the air, Diomira was right, the boar was nearby. He could smell the beast and hear the heartbeat of the animal, pumping blood through the course of its veins.
“I need the blood and hide of the boar. Break the beast’s neck and bring it to me. But do not spill its blood.”
Felipe gave Diomira a nod. There was a slight breeze and he was gone. Within seconds, he returned with the lifeless carcass of the boar flopping in his arms.
“You are, indeed, a remarkable creature. That would have taken me all day.”
Diomira lit a fire in a hearth, under the cauldron pot and poured the powder mixture into the pot. Next, she retrieved a ritual knife from underneath an animal pelt on the floor. She placed the blade in the fire until it glowed red-hot.
“Felipe, please bring the boar and place its neck over the pot.”
Once Felipe got the dead animal in position, Diomira made a small incision in the boar’s throat, allowing just nine drops of blood to fall into the pot. Sparks flew into the air, followed by loud popping and hissing sounds as the boar’s blood reacted violently to the powder mixture.
“You must be thirsty. Finish off the animal, but I need the hide skinned from its bones.”
Felipe was thirsty. He had managed to suppress his longing all afternoon, but it was becoming increasingly difficult for him to control it and feared he might attack Diomira. He greedily drank the boar’s blood, although he didn’t particularly care for the taste. After drinking human blood, there was just no comparison. Animal blood tasted like spoiled milk, while human blood was intoxicatingly sweet.
After draining the boar’s carcass of blood, Felipe used his razor sharp teeth to skin the animal. He vanished with the carcass, disposing of it deep within the forest and returned moments later to the cave with the hide, placing it alongside the witch.
Diomira stirred the potion until it became slightly browned. She poured the mixture into a ceramic bowl and ground it until it became a fine, crystalline powder. She gathered the boar’s hide, four white candles, cleansing herbs, sea salt, and an oval-shaped, blue topaz gemstone from a makeshift cupboard. Walking to the center of the cave, Diomira laid the boar’s hide on the floor and placed the four unlit white candles in a circle, one in each direction. She then placed the blue topaz gemstone and the bowl containing the crystalline powder in the center circle.
Eye of Saturn (The Daughters of Saturn Book 1) Page 23