by Logan Jacobs
“Yes, Professor,” the class responded in unison.
“Excellent.” She grinned. “Now, I know you all have your parchment at the ready, so let us begin.”
I hadn’t come prepared with anything, but before I could say a word, Morgana discreetly shoved a piece of golden parchment and a quill in my direction.
“Thanks,” I whispered as I flashed her a quick wink.
“Of course,” she said with a satisfied smirk.
“Now,” Professor Crimson began, “today, we will be focusing on resurrection, but not just any type of resurrection. We will be initiating something which has not been done for years… centuries, in fact.”
The room was deadly silent as the alluring professor paced back and forth across her desk with her hands folded behind her, and her red eyes carefully studied the room before she stopped striding and then raised her chin up into the air.
“We will be bringing back witches from the dead,” she explained, “and not just any witches. We will be summoning witches who were killed by elder gods and magic.”
I briefly wondered what the difference was between raising witches who’d been killed by elder magic, and raising witches who once used elder magic. The class must have been wondering the same thing, because they immediately began to mutter amongst themselves, but Professor Crimson wasn’t having any of it. She quickly clapped her hands together, and then the students fell deadly silent once more.
“Silence,” she commanded. “I know it seems like an impossible endeavor to complete, but I assure you that it will be done if we can work collectively and intently together. Am I understood?”
“Yes, Professor,” the room echoed in obedient voices.
“Very good.” She nodded. “Now, take notes, and be quick about it. We won’t be wasting too much time in the classroom.”
“Fuck, she means business,” Akira muttered by my side.
“No shit,” Penelope agreed as quietly as possible.
“Now, we are all well aware how elder gods hunted and killed our kind, primarily during the first dawn,” the scarlet-haired professor stated, “and we know it is considered highly dangerous to bring any being back to life… or rather, it is nearly impossible to resurrect anything killed by elder magic. Who can tell me why? And please, a quick and concise response will do.”
As we all predicted, Morgana’s hand shot up into the air as quick as a bolt of lightning, and Crimson’s piercing eyes landed right on the bookish brunette within a flash.
“Yes, Miss Morgana?” she asked.
“Lethal elder magic, or more specifically, their infamous death spells, usually destroy the souls of witches entirely,” Morgana explained quickly. “It kills the soul so a witch cannot enter hell or even purgatory. They are simply lost in a void of darkness.”
“Correct.” Professor Crimson nodded. “It is the worst fate imaginable, but today, we are going to go where other witches have not dared ventured before… we will be entering the nullius terram, and we will bring back an entire army.”
When those words left her deep red lips, the entire class gasped in shock and looked at each other with quizzical expressions on their faces.
“Unholy shit,” Akira muttered next to me.
When I turned to look at the women, each had turned a shade paler, and their lips were quivering. I’d never heard of this realm before, but I could tell it was a place no one wanted to step into.
“I know,” Professor Crimson said as she shook her head, “but these are desperate times, and now, we must prevail. I want you all to pay awfully close attention because there will be no room for error.”
The class nodded slowly in agreement as Professor Crimson quickly opened the forbidden book and then lifted it up into her arms. Her bright eyes flicked downward before she continued.
“When you first step foot on the holy soil of nullius terram, one must first remove the barrier which has been placed deep into the earth,” she read. “This practice requires a collection of unholy, Satan-worshipping souls, and they must have their black hearts opened to the darkness. Together, they must aim their wands into the sky and recant the words, ‘obice praevaricator.’ Once the earth has stopped shaking and has come to a standstill, a circle must be formed, and hands must be joined in blood. With the bodies of our beloved sisters buried deep within the bowels of the earth, the only way to bring them back, both in body and unholy soul, is by uttering the words, ‘sanctum istum.’”
Professor Crimson’s eyes lifted to meet the class, and it felt as if everyone forgot how to breathe. The confident Crimson then closed her book and regarded every one with a serene smile.
“Was that clear?” she asked with an arched red eyebrow. “Do I need to repeat myself? I didn’t see much note-taking… so I’m assuming you all remember the spells. Not to mention the state of consciousness the women will be in. As soon as they rise from the dead, they will feel inclined to tear into our flesh and rob us of our souls. Their first instinct will be to kill, so we must remain calm. If we lose control, try to run away, or show any indication we fear them, they will surely murder us. Is that understood?”
No one said a word, and Professor Crimson flung her hands dramatically up into the air before she placed them on her wide hips.
“Have you all gone deaf?” she snapped. “Are we in full understanding, or do I need to repeat myself?”
“No, Professor,” the class responded in a whisper.
“Excellent,” she answered before she set the book down on her desk. “Then, let’s not waste another moment.”
Professor Crimson snapped her fingers, and seconds later, the class was filled with a familiar purple smoke, and I could feel my sore body tumbling and turning through realms. This venture must have been a long one because I could feel myself flying through countless worlds and realms, and I was violently thrust through various vortexes.
Finally, when the world came to an abrupt halt and the purple mist cleared, all I could see was red. Everything, including the sky, the soil, and the naked trees was a deep scarlet. The air felt thick, moist, and gory, as if there were a million particles of blood drifting through the atmosphere.
“Satan,” Akira panted as she stood by my side. “I can barely breathe.”
“That’s because the air is mixed with blood,” Morgana coughed.
“It even tastes metallic,” Penelope added.
“It’s abhorrent,” Vesta heaved. “I cannot imagine being buried in such a distasteful place.”
“It’s not as if they had a choice,” Faye pointed out.
“Totally lame,” Nyx groaned. “I’d hate to be here for all fucking eternity.”
“Enough chatter,” Professor Crimson said, and if it weren’t for her pale skin, she would appear to be a part of the realm itself. “Everyone gather into a circle and be quick about it!”
Hundreds of witches rushed to form a circle, and I could sense their fear and hesitation as they stared at the blood-colored sky and vast, empty red plains. I could also feel death and despair radiating from the soil beneath my boots, and it sent an ominous chill up my spine.
“Do not join hands just yet,” Professor Crimson ordered as we stood as still as obedient soldiers. “On the count of three, we will recite the first part of the spell… am I clear? And remember, you must open your hearts to the darkness and allow Satan to penetrate your souls. This is the only way this will work.”
“Yes, Professor,” the students all responded at once.
Professor Crimson glanced around the circle and then lifted her red eyes toward the sky. She took in a deep breath and stared straight ahead, with pursed lips and determined, glittering eyes. Then she slowly raised her wand into the sky, and each witch followed.
I lifted my arm and gazed at the dark, bloody sky and prayed to Satan this would work.
Our lives depended on it.
“One, two… three!” the red-haired professor shouted at the top of her lungs.
“Obice praevar
icator!” we all cried out.
When the spell rang through the air, a sudden, heart-stopping crack of lightning split the ruby red sky, and then thick drops of warm blood began to pour down on us. The air grew violent, and it tried to knock us off our feet, but we remained upright and steady.
“Fight it!” Professor Crimson screamed. “Now, cut into your skin and be fucking quick about it!”
Each witch turned their wand to the palm of their hand, and a collective echo of the spell ‘secare’ rang through the screeching air.
A deep gash sliced across the palm of my hand, and without being told, we all shoved our wands into our waistbands and then quickly joined hands. Akira and Penelope were by my side, and when I grabbed their warm, sticky hands, we didn’t dare take our eyes off Professor Crimson.
“Now!” the resolute professor cried out over the hissing and howling wind.
“Sanctum istum!” we shouted the final part of the incantation with all our vehemence and determination.
The furious thunder cracked through the ruby-colored sky, and then the red ground began to tremble and crack beneath our feet. We all jumped back as the cerise earth started to split open, and ghoulish pale hands with thick blue veins shot up from the openings. Orbs of hungry fire began to rain down from the sky, witches screamed as they dodged the flames, and even Professor Crimson looked deeply concerned.
When I glanced downward, I caught a pair of bright, yellow, malicious eyes staring up at me, and I took a large step back. Countless naked, decaying, half-charred bodies started to emerge from the red earth, and when I looked into their faces, I saw hundreds of fierce, hungry, and vengeful eyes.
My heart sank as I slowly reached for my wand because, at that moment, I realized these resurrected women weren’t there to help us.
They were ready to kill us and devour our souls. Just as Professor Crimson had warned us.
“Everyone, remain calm!” Professor Crimson screamed over the chaos. “If you want to live, keep yourselves level-headed! Do not show them any ounce of fear!”
At first, the students remained still and seemingly calm as they stood by the ruby-red professor’s side, but there were hundreds of us, and I had a feeling someone was going to lose their composure. I could see it in their eyes and feel the shift of terrified energy growing in the air. If someone lost their head, I knew Professor Crimson couldn’t protect all of us on her own.
Not against an undead army of this magnitude.
Then, just as I feared, a high-pitched scream filled the air, and when I turned to locate the source, I saw a short-haired witch with dark green hair and reptilian skin shove Professor Crimson roughly aside and try to run in the other direction.
Crimson’s scarlet eyes went wide with shock and fury, and she snatched the panicking witch by the arm and then raised her voice loudly enough for the rest of us to hear.
“What the hell do you think you’re doing?” she demanded.
Before the terrified witch could respond, deep, resonating growls rumbled through the air, and I saw how the army of undead women were now glaring right at us. I could see the untamed hunger in their eyes and feel their unrelenting and unquenchable thirst for fresh blood.
And now, since someone had shown fear, I knew they were preparing to tear us into a thousand, bloody pieces.
“Fuck,” I muttered as the army of undead witches seemed to shift toward us.
Chapter 15
“Now what do we do?” the green-haired, reptilian witch screamed. “We’re all going to die!”
“Shut the fuck up,” Crimson snapped.
As the undead women edged closer, I knew we had to do something, and now.
As I gazed upon the atrocious looking women with their pale, ghoulish skin and red-rimmed yellow eyes, I knew I would have to be the one to take control of the situation before they decided to devour us, or worse. The undead army was stumbling closer toward us, and deep resonating growls echoed in their chests. Their putrid smell wafted through the air, and the closer they approached, the more time we were losing.
I had to act now.
So, I took a tentative step forward and then raised my wand in their direction.
“Cole!” Crimson called out. “Just what the hell do you think you’re doing?”
“What needs to be done,” I whispered to myself.
“Master, no, please don’t!” I heard my coven shout, and when I could hear them running toward me, I sharply turned around and faced them.
“It’s alright!” I shouted. “Stay back and help protect the others… I’ve got this, just watch my back and stay where you are. I need you to be my extra pair of eyes.”
Their pale faces and troubled eyes were fixated on me, and if it weren’t for the blood pact, I knew they would run to my side regardless. However, they must have sensed the determination and confidence in my voice because their eyes softened with understanding before they nodded and then raised their wands in defense. Each of my loyal witches, as well as Nyx, Beatrix, and the twins, all stood by Professor’s Crimson’s side and protected the hundreds of witches behind them.
The sky continued to rain fire, and I knew I could use it to my advantage. The hideous, walking corpses were emerging from the ground and closing in on me, but I stood my ground. I could smell their raw, putrid skin, and the army of the risen dead grew nearer. Then I looked up at the blazing sky, and with all my willpower, I summoned the inferno to do my dark bidding. I pictured the flames building up on the ground, to create a flaming barrier between myself and the ravenous, risen women, and I closed my eyes and embraced the evil that surrounded us entirely.
“Cole!” Processor Crimson screamed again. “We need to leave!”
“No,” I shouted back without looking at her. “Don’t you dare shadow port us out of here, I have a plan.”
Now that the holy air had vanished, all I could feel was pure darkness, evil, and vengeance, but these feelings were misplaced by the undead witches. I could sense their energy and their desire to seek revenge against the elders who placed them beneath holy soil, and at this moment, all they wanted to do was kill for the sake of it.
I needed to change that. I had to remind them the revenge they sought was against the elder gods who put them here, and not us. Once I reminded them of their true enemy, I knew they would be on our side.
So, I closed my eyes, and once again, I envisioned a scorching barrier to separate these women and my people. I willed the elements to do my bidding, and as soon as I felt I had total control, I did what I needed to do.
Motus.
Suddenly, the flames from the sky descended from above and then cast a blazing wall between them and us. The undead women stopped in their tracks, and then they began to screech in pain and anguish as they stared at the element that took their lives so very long ago.
I could feel their despair, grief, and will to destroy those who wronged them so very long ago. I could sense it as if it were my own burden to bear.
“Listen to me!” I cried out. “I can sense your pain, your agony, and your desire for vengeance. Believe me, I feel the same, which is why we have released you from a fate worse than death itself. We have broken the elder curse, which was placed on you for centuries. Now… we need you to aid us. We need your help to defeat the elders once and for all. War is on the horizon, and we desperately need your aid. Will you fight alongside us and ensure elder blood stains the earth? Will you see them suffer, just as you have suffered?”
The half charred and decomposed women ceased their shrieking, and suddenly, the air grew quiet. The only sound that filled the air was the crackling of the flames and my own heavy breathing, but their bloodshot eyes peered deeply into mine, and I knew I had their undivided attention.
“Will you help us?” I repeated. “By my unholy word, you will taste elder blood and take their souls. I promise it… but first, you must join us. You must serve me and become our obedient allies. Do you accept the terms?”
As I stared i
nto the hundreds of eyes focused solely on me, I could feel a sudden shift in the air. The sky’s anger slowly ceased, and the fire that fell from the sky turned to rain. As the water poured down on the resurrected women and the barrier I created, the flames slowly died down, but something incredible also happened.
The undead and unrecognizable women slowly began to change, and I watched with fascination as their blackened and burned skin began to return to beautiful shades of cream, lavender, rose, and sage green. Their decomposed flesh vanished, and long, flowing hair began to grow from their scabbed, bare scalps, as life slowly returned to their eyes. Their naked bodies molded back into their youthful forms, and each one began to slowly turn to look at the others as if they couldn’t believe what was happening. They awed and marveled at their bewitching forms, and their eyes were filled with a flicker of hope and possibility.
When the fire finally died, I took several steps toward the beautiful army of witches and then extended my hand. One of the women, with long, golden-blonde hair and piercing silver eyes, came closer to me, and her blood-red lips were trembling.
“Who… who are you?” she asked when she took my hand. “Please, tell us your name.”
“I’m Cole, and I’m the one who is willing to give you another chance at life,” I answered as I stared into her glittering eyes. “Do you see the women behind me? We all came here together to bring you back to life. You’re finally free and reborn.”
The mysterious woman seemed to be at a loss for words, but then she gently pulled her hand away and turned to look at the women behind her. Their eyes were no longer filled with a lost sense of purpose, and when she turned back to look at me, her mouth curled up into a vibrant smile.
“We’ll follow you to the ends of the earth,” she said. “Not only have you summoned us back into our unholy vessels, but we long for the vengeance you speak of. We have spent years in pure darkness, in a world worse than death, and now we will do whatever you ask of us. We are forever in your debt.”