“Careful, skin changer. The Mistress is well aware of your distrust, and she is not pleased. The price for removing the parasites must be paid. You will—must stay the path. The consequences for not paying an owed debt to her would be…deadly.” The Kasadya eyed Hemming, and then he shifted his glance towards me, “And she is particularly unhappy with you.”
Something didn’t sit right within me, a gnawing sense that the debt we owed was far greater than what any of us were prepared to pay.
“I don’t like any of this either, Hemming,” I said. “Something’s not right.”
A crackling started from around the windowpanes.
Electric-blue ice crystals formed, covering the pane as if Jack Frost himself had touched it. Beautiful snowflakes of frozen water vapor formed intricate patterns across the grimy and aged windows.
“What the Hell now?” I asked.
“She will—is ensuring that you stay put. She cannot—will not have distractions as she prepares for tomorrow night. You must stay. We have other instructions,” the Watcher said as he slid the long blade out from within the gregarious clothing. He made a quick cut across his arm, wetting the blade with his blood. A quick few symbols drawn into the air and a portal began to open.
The Kasadya grabbed Riken and stepped through the shimmering air, vanishing.
Caleb completely lost it.
Roaring in frustration and anger, his face morphed into a bear muzzle. He pounded walls and flipped over furniture. Alyx, Hemming, and I took a step back, trying to avoid his outburst. Caleb raced to the door and reached for the handle, but the ice covered it just as he extended his hand to pull on the doorknob.
Caleb sucked in air as his finger wrapped around the icy handle. His anger went out like a snuffed candle. His face frozen in a grotesque mask of pain laced with panic as the icicles grew up his arm, cementing him to the door. The three of us stood absolutely still as the half bear, half man slowly become encased.
“Don’t touch anything,” Hemming whispered.
We had been standing with our backs against the wall, but with Hemming’s sound advice, all three of us stepped away in unison and stood very still, listening to the ice forming.
“Dati,” Alyx asked, “do you notice anything odd about the cabin?”
“Other than it’s frozen in ice?”
“No, more like everything is gone.”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean the furniture is all here, but there are no books. The bottles and vials and shit are all gone. Look at the pillars. They’re empty.”
“Oh shit, the parasites are gone too,” I said as I glanced up where the glass jars had been suspended above the table.
The jars were gone. All that was left were three severed ropes.
It would seem that Aradia had moved out.
Ritual
DATI
Sleep is an impossible feat when it’s forced upon you. I woke up several times during the night, mostly because Alyx had piled himself over the top of me and he was bloody heavy, and also because it was bone-chillingly cold. Despite the demonic hot flesh that always kept me warm, the ice-bound cabin was freezing. I had to rearrange my position just to get comfortable and warm.
The morning sun felt like it took forever to come up. When the light finally peeked through the ice-covered windows, it didn’t illuminate any happy faces in the room. In fact, it appeared as if we had pulled an all-nighter. Hair and clothes were disheveled and dark circles hung under everyone’s eyes.
There was no food in the cabin or fresh water, and that didn’t help anyone’s mood levels.
Hours passed by in excruciating boredom, until finally, as the sunlight was receding, we heard footsteps approaching the cottage. As fast as the ice crystals formed, they began to melt, leaving nothing more than water droplets behind.
Caleb thawed as well, leaving him wet and shivering, but no worse for wear otherwise. His teeth chattered together uncontrollably.
“Are you okay?” Hemming rushed over and patted the big bear-man.
I wrapped a blanket from the bed around him. Caleb didn’t seem to be particularly appreciative of my efforts, but other than shock, he seemed reasonably fine for a bear previously encased in ice.
The door burst open, and Aradia appeared, glowing white, cleaned, and smelling sweetly of oranges and woodland raspberries. The robes she wore were stunning. Crisp white silk embraced her curvy body. Aradia’s dark skin was a sharp contrast to the flowing robe and cape she had adorned, the trim of which was detailed in white stitchery imitating vines and leaves.
“Thanks for a list of instructions, bitch! Don’t touch the ice would have been good,” Hemming snapped.
Aradia floated over to him, the white of her dress blowing back behind her. She reached up and grabbed him by the throat. Hemming’s skin started to darken, then decay, like a rotting carcass.
“I do what I need to do in order to ensure tonight is successful. You do not question me.” She let go of Hemming, who choked and spat and sucked in air. The skin around his throat gradually returned to normal.
“Let us go. It is time,” she said.
“Wait, we’re not going anywhere or doing anything,” Alyx demanded. “What the Hell is going on? Where are Riken and the Kasadya demon? What did you do to Jenae, and where is she? Where are all your things…the cabin is completely empty?”
Aradia’s skin tightened on her face, and she raised her hand. Sparks of electric-blue energy zapped and bolted from one finger to the next.
“Do you wish to die here and now? Do you have any desire to see your sister again, boy?”
After that display, no one dared defy her.
“As I thought. Now, follow me,” she stated as her face returned to normal and the bolts of electricity disappeared.
We filed out of the cottage in a single line. The pit of my stomach turned in anxious knots.
Aradia led us to a side yard where Alyx and I had played our hide-and-seek game. It had been an expansive field, dotted with short grasses and lichens, but within one day, Aradia had completely morphed the area.
Where grasses once lay, there was a circle of stone. Etched into the stone were symbols and carvings and circular indentations where Aradia had instructed each of us to stand.
Jenae was to be positioned in the very middle.
White flowers were in bloom in a perfect circle all the way around the stone, which was odd as it was late fall. There was nothing else in bloom. I had no idea what plant it was, but Alyx knew.
“Sandwort—it’s used for protection,” he said.
Aradia’s magic was indeed impressive. The scent emanating from the white circle perfumed the air around us.
Aradia raised her arms towards the night sky, and a breeze blew up to greet her. The robe billowed out behind her. She reminded me of those frilled lizards that puff themselves up to make themselves appear bigger than they really were. It was a tactic to scare off the enemy.
At her feet, the earth cracked open like a miniature fault line, opening to form a small chasm that encircled the entire stone dais. From within that rift, fire erupted.
Aradia floated over to the center of the circle, the spot that had been reserved for Jenae. With her staff, she tapped the indentation in the stone three times. The stone melted away and was replaced by a pool of black sticky tar.
She raised her arms up again, but this time chanted words, lyrical words.
The pool bubbled and churned, and then the form of a person arose from the middle, black and dripping in the sticky tar. The body continued to rise until it was floating inches above the ground. Aradia banged her stick onto the rock. The sound ricocheted all around us. The figure moved and undulated, stretching as if it were a massive black cat, and as it elongated, the black tar melted and dripped back into the pool. The pitch left no stain or residue; it simply ran off the body like melting wax, revealing a very naked but glowing Jenae.
Alyx whispered, “Jenae?”
She appeare
d radiant and beautiful. Her hair had grown extremely long, and it had lost the funky die job. She looked less like a rebellious teenager and more like a powerful witch reborn.
She hung there, suspended in air, slowly spinning, her eyes closed and head tilted back.
“What did you do to her?” I asked.
“Jenae!” Alyx cried out.
“Enough!” Aradia hissed. “The pool has stripped her of her will, of her conscious thought, and buried it deep within her. I control her. It is the only way to open the Soul Door and ensure she doesn’t destroy us and herself in the process. Now be still!” she commanded to us.
Aradia returned her attention to the naked Jenae and gently placed her staff in the center of her chest.
Jenae opened her eyes, only to reveal pulsating glowing orbs of pure white.
“Now, child. Begin,” Aradia cued her.
Unlike the expressive words Aradia had used to open the pool, Jenae mumbled harsh words that were accentuated with tongue-twisting consonants. Despite the angry words that bubbled forth in rapid succession, Jenae’s face was serene and calm, as if she was in a state of rapture.
Aradia turned towards Alyx and pointed the skull stick in his direction.
“You, boy, this is your time. Find your father and bring him here.”
“You can do this, Alyx,” I said.
Alyx smiled at me and nodded. He closed his eyes.
The black smoke drifted off of his body until I heard that hiss.
And then he was gone.
Travelling.
Slip
ALYX
When I opened my eyes, I expected to be surrounded by the ferns and tall trees of my forest glade. But instead, a cold stone slab was beneath my feet and the walls that surrounded me were cracked concrete. Wherever I had ended up, it was dank and it smelled of rot. There were blood stains in several spots, an indication that something gruesome had occurred.
I had no idea where I was, but one thing was certain: Silenus would be near.
A desk sat in the middle of the room, and it was covered with books and papers and assorted items, and a glass jar, filled with bulging silver minion parasites just like what Aradia had taken out of Dati.
Inspecting the wall closer, there was more than just blood spatter. Boxes and lines covered the entire surface, and in each box, there was a name. It was a huge family tree.
Most of the boxes had a large X marked through them. But it didn’t take me long to find a box with my own name in it, and directly above was Marta.
Right beside us in the family history was my sister, Jenae. But instead of an X through our box, each was circled several times.
“Welcome home. I see you’ve found your place,” a voice said behind me, deep and raspy.
I spun around and faced Silenus.
My wings spread out, and I could feel my tail twitching.
“That’s quite the family tree,” I said mockingly.
“Ah, you smell delicious. That would be the Incubus in you. You probably don’t even know you’ve turned on the charm, trying to entice me,” Silenus chortled. “I knew you’d be smart enough to understand, to see the glory of all of this work. Tell me, boy, are you not excited? Are you not proud to have been made to receive him?”
He eyed me up and down, his grin faltering slightly. “But I see you’re not completely ready yet. The Satyr blood in you still needs time to develop. Your legs are still human. That will change in time.”
“Great. I have something to look forward to.”
“Tell me, do you like the slip? Does it not excite every fiber of your being, knowing that you can go wherever you want to?” Silenus took a step forward.
“It does, Father. It’s freeing and exciting.” I matched the old goat and inched closer to him.
Silenus’s irises were swirling violet.
“Let me show you how quickly I’ve mastered the ability,” I tempted him.
“Ah, a father-son trip sounds so delightful, yet I couldn’t possibly leave the solace or safety of my home. Stay, Alyx, stay with me and let me teach you things.” A malicious grin spread across Silenus’s face.
Two very pale faces appeared behind Silenus as they left the darkest recesses of the basement. Their eyes were winter white with just a hint of blue.
“May I introduce you to Ivan and Bradley, Vampyres in service to me, and as you can see, they are very hungry. I couldn’t possibly leave them here without food. You see, Bradley is new, and Ivan has agreed to help me rear him. But new Vampyres require a lot of nourishment. Unfortunately for Ivan, Bradley has had to feed upon him. They are so very hungry.” They flanked each side of the Satyr.
I was outnumbered. And I had no idea how to deal with Vampyres. So I had to be smart.
“What a shame. I was hoping you’d want to see how talented you’ve made me.” All of a sudden, my confidence wavered, and I was sure this would end badly. I considered going back there and then, but something stopped me.
Everyone had been freed of their parasites, but for Dati, getting his soul back was of paramount importance. And I had to make sure Dati was okay—he was, after all, marked by me. He was mine to protect.
Silenus had a vial hanging from a necklace. It had to be the one Dati had spoken about.
I could only see one way out of this. Start the slip, and then just as I was about to disappear, I could throw myself towards the Satyr god, grab him, and pull him with me.
“Boys, I do believe Alyx should be shown to the living room upstairs, where we can have a much more civilized conversation. How would you like to take him there?” The two pasty white creatures came towards me.
I had already pictured Dati in my mind, had felt the want of being next to him. I remembered touching and feeling his warmth, hearing his deep voice. The tiny tickling sensation ran across my arms and legs. Little tendrils of black smoke began to waft off of me.
“Sorry, Father, perhaps another time.” My words hung in the air.
I could feel myself starting to go, the hiss was just beginning.
I leapt forward with a hand extended, hoping to make contact with Silenus, and then it occurred to me, maybe I could tantalize him into following me.
With my Incubus telepathy, I pushed my thoughts into Silenus’s head. I pushed them as hard as I possibly could…
Dati and Jenae send their regards, but the D’Alae has been marked and belongs to me.
My outstretched hand was almost completely black smoke.
I could feel the warmth from my father’s body. I had gotten that close, but just as I got close enough to put a hand on him…
I was gone from Silenus and the dank. The want pulled me towards Dati.
Sacrifice
DATI
Alyx was back on the mountain and standing in the middle of the ritual.
Smoke dissipated all around him as he rematerialized, but his body was lurching forward. He fell facedown.
“Alyx!” I yelled. “Are you okay?”
“Is he here? Is Silenus here?” Hemming yelled out as Alyx jumped to his feet and quickly glanced around.
No Satyr was in sight.
Alyx had failed. My hopes of being free of Master plummeted.
A second hiss sounded around us. Quicker than Alyx had ever slipped, Silenus appeared. Whatever Alyx had done, it had worked. The bastard was standing right there.
I sneered evilly, exposing a fang.
The goat god was furious. His irises were raging violet. His face contorted into a demonic mask. Nothing about him appeared human. Silenus lurched forward towards Alyx on his hooved legs.
Aradia pointed her skull staff directly at Silenus and screamed, “Modus Positus!”
Tree roots broke out of the ground, winding ferociously around Silenus’s hooves, twining up his furry legs. Silenus struggled to lift a hoof, his face blood red with anger as the skin shrank so deeply, the face became nothing more than a skull. His goat horns elongated, and he let out a howl that shook the entire f
orest.
Aradia spoke a new word in a whisper.
“Immobilibus.”
Every one of us was instantly locked into place.
What was Aradia doing? She wasn’t supposed to freeze everyone!
Aradia elegantly glided towards Silenus, leaned in, and whispered into his ear. I could just hear her.
“Well now, goat lord, not so much a god, are we? Looks like your children have turned against you.”
Silenus gritted his teeth, and through locked jaws, he spoke. “Aradia, you bitch, what did you do to them?” Spit flew from his mouth.
“Oh, Silenus, they came to me, child. They have no idea; they are but infants. They couldn’t possibly compare to either you or me in age. But I must say, I am very impressed with your work. Really, I am. So many generations of raping and pillaging. So much manipulation and child-rearing! I wouldn’t have had the patience! It must have been exhausting, and all to try and bring Satan here. So close, beast, so close. And yet,” Aradia said as she caressed Silenus’s demonic face, “not close enough. If you don’t mind, I’ll be taking over now.”
Aradia’s hands weaved in oblong circular motions parallel to the ground. Tree roots erupted through the ground close to Silenus’s feet. Rearing up like cobras, pointed and sharp they lunged forward, piercing through the meat of each leg.
Silenus roared again. It sent shivers of absolute fear through me. I’d never heard him that angry.
Red streams flowed down from Silenus’s leg wounds, and as his demigod blood hit the stone dais, steam rose.
Aradia motioned again with her hand, and with that simple gesture, I was free from Aradia’s spell.
Aradia focused intently on Jenae. Jenae was chanting words that were unintelligible and gesturing wildly. Aradia then glanced sideways towards me, “Demon beast, do what you said you would.”
I took a couple of steps, unsure. Was it a trap? What other tricks did this witch have planned?
“What are you waiting for? Do it!” Aradia commanded. She held up her hand and clenched her fist.
It felt as if someone had grabbed loose skin from the center of my chest and dragged me forward. As I moved, my hands morphed into demon claws. Aradia deposited me directly in front of the tree-root-caged Satyr.
Daimonion (The Apocalypse Book 1) Page 27