by Raven Moon
“Holy mother of …!” I cried. Scenes of Samuel bound by his wrists and feet slowly ripped apart fueled the storm brewing in my soul. Without notice blood trickled in a metal pail, Sage hung bleeding out. “OH.MY.FUCKING…!” I fell back against the boulder. In an instant, Lucian and Eve appeared next to me.
“I need to get down there NOW! They are killing Sage and Samuel. You both know these caves better than anyone. How in the holy blaze balls do I get where they are?” I fought back the fiery rage riding off my emotions. I feared for them both, “If they’ve found Sage, have they found everyone else? For fuck’s sake, say something!” I demanded.
“My child, that…that cavern down there is forbidden. If we go, we won’t be coming back.” The rosiness drained from Eve’s face.
“What in the hell do you mean? I’ve not come this far to give up.”
“I’ve never entered the pit. Evil waits for all who dare to go. I’m a powerful witch, but dagnabbit, my powers are nothing against what lies in wait.” Her forehead creased as she pointed over the edge. I could feel the blood boiling under my skin. I’d be damned if I would let them die this way.
“Rainelle, you cannot go down there. You won’t survive little Faelan. None of us could, not even a Necromancer as yourself could survive. Fates destiny must play out the way it is meant. I’m sorry my queen.” Lucian said.
“Did you actually just suggest Fate play out? Damn boy, you clearly haven’t learned anything, have you? I will NOT let it happen this way. I will change my Fate.” Lucian exchanged glances with Eve. “And what in tarnation did you call me, Necromancer? What the hell?” My body stiffened. The reflection of fire shown in Eve’s eyes.
“Just a little secret gift that has been bestowed upon you.” She mentioned. I let my eyes bore her like laser beams.
“You may not be powerful enough to escape hell, but I am. I believe in the powerful energy I possess, my magick, and I believe, in me. I’m going with or without you.” I started down into the depths of the gorge. Lucian grabbed my arm. Fear etched his features.
I snarled, “GET. THE. FUCK. OFF. MY. ARM.!” venom rolled off every word.
He released his grip, “You need to think about this, there needs to be a plan of action. Between the three of us, I’m sure we can figure a safer method than going in unprepared.” suggested Lucian. “You are good as dead if you go in with blinders on.” Lucian was right, I knew he was. I, we needed a safer plan, a plan to get us all out alive.
“I agree with you, but if we can’t come to an agreement, I’ll be going, alone. If I survive, I live another day to fight, if I don’t, well, we won’t discuss that because that, is not an option.” I forced a smile as I looked out into the abyss. A nagging voice weaved self-doubt and made me question if I am strong enough to control the power of my rage? Am I strong enough to stay in the light or will the darkness drink my soul? Am I demented enough to face my demons and face the demons of hell?
Chapter Eleven
Rainelle
I had no idea what I’d be up against in the pits of gloom and doom, but I knew I’d face what lied beyond the depths of the darkness. I stood beside Lucian and Eve, trying to pinpoint the best way down the steep rocky Cliffside. I watched shadows flutter around as I scanned for a less treacherous route. Evil lurked everywhere, and I knew that the Black Cloak Society rose them from their resting places as a warning, and if that didn’t work, they were to kill me. “Not today fuckers, not today!” I shouted; my voice ricocheted.
I drank the energy from the crystal lined walls letting the static charge drip from my skin. I grazed Lucian’s arm leaving a burn.
He rubbed the singed hair away revealing a quarter sized blister, “Dammit Rainelle, that hurt!” a small grin slid across my face.
“Now I can add walking electric zapper to my list of powers.” I chirped. Lucian slapped his forehead; he opened his mouth then shut it and shook his head. I shrugged. Eve placed her finger over her lips.
I grounded myself to earth’s core before calling upon her energy. Eve chanted to the ancient witches of her coven. Lucian summoned the power of the wolf.
I held Eve’s hands, “With the energy and strength of our powers melded together plus the ancestral energy, we can do this.” I said, “Eve, you need to stay put. If I should become trapped or captured by whatever, I need you to seek help and bind the entrance to this cave. Can you do that for me?” I whispered looking in her dead eyes.
“Have belief in your magick. I bestow upon you the gift psychokinesis.” I gave her a knowing smile before hugging her neck.
“Keep her safe Lucian.” She added. I took his hand, “Don’t let go.” I warned as we made our descent.
My sight became that of an Owl. The rim spanned the circumference of the pit. My eyes bulged at the massive size. Phantoms weaved all around. Lightning bolted from my finger evaporating the ghostly shadows. Lucian took the lead as we climbed further down. The screams of Samuel and Sage pierced my eardrums. My heart raced; adrenaline pumped in my veins. In my haste, loose rock sent me sliding on my ass into nothingness. Lucian grabbed my arm terminating what Fate had planned for me. Lucian snagged me up inches from a sheer drop-off.
“How in the hell did you do that, and not go over the deep end?” I asked. I sucked in a breath and sighed, “Thank you.”
“I can levitate.” He replied with a sly smile, “You’re welcome.” He added. My body twitched at his crooked smile.
“I appreciate you saving my life. And it’s nice to have you around so I can watch your deceitful ass.” I laughed jokingly then reached up and kissed his cheek. He backed away, sparks ignited in his eyes, and just for a moment, he let me see his longing for my touch. I will not give in to Lucian. He is my past, my history and that is all he will ever be. I shook the memories away.
His eyes narrowed, “What?”
I smiled coyly, “Nothing.” After a few failed attempts of flirting, I descended into the pits of hell.
I will prevail, I must prevail. I cannot die this way; I cannot let them die this way. With the dark abyss full of the uncertainty of the unknown I sent my energy into the dark, seeking, searching for anything, for life, for strength, for magick.
We encountered an illumination along the path and chased after it. We hunted the light-hued ball to a wooden door. The darkness engulfed the well-illuminated beacon after the reveal of a carving on the door. I traced the smoothness of the engraved redwood. My fingertips outlined a Rams’ head intricately chiseled inside a pentacle. There wasn’t any doubt I belonged there.
I stood like a cat ready to pounce a mouse. My instinct was to blow the door, but Lucian gently nuzzled my hand shooting a jolt of electricity. My gaze lowered to find golden eyes staring at me, darkness swirled in them. I didn’t know whether to be afraid or relieved. I didn’t feel threatened by the wolf, not yet anyway.
‘Don’t be scared, I’m still in here little Faelan, but if we don’t get this done, I don’t know what will happen.’ His words seared in my thoughts. I nodded.
“I will destroy the society banishing them forever in an eternity of hell.” I threatened. He gazed deep into my eyes; blood lust flashed across his haunted stare.
I pushed the wolf behind me and blasted the door away. A wail screeched from under the weight of the redwood. I stepped beside the door. A robe laid under the plank of wood revealing outstretched arms. A hood covered the faceless head. I moved away; my foot squished in a tar-like substance keeping me held in place. Another figure stepped forward. Lucian lunged at the robed mass. His teeth sank deep in the head. My jaw clenched tight at the mangled and wet ear-piercing screech, then everything went silent. Lucian glanced at me, I knew then, that my life may be in jeopardy, not by the Black Cloak brothers, but from Lucian, my first love.
I backed away crashing to my knees. Pain subdued me in place. My jeans soaked up blood gushing from the slice. I glanced at the wolf slowly closing the distance. I denied my fear, my urge to take flight. I scooted backwar
d just as he vaulted over me. My arms covered my head. I heard a growl then something stringy and wet slapped my back. I jerked my head around. Lucian stood on hind legs holding another warlock against the rock wall, dangling him in the air choking his essence from his soulless body.
I took that time and planned my escape.
“With this energy that flows throughout my body, I wish for my energy to heal the wound that has been inflicted on me.
I wish to call upon kindhearted and friendly spirits around to assist in this healing. Please hear my wish o’ kind and friendly spirits, make this wish of mine come true to heal.”
I stood energized; the gash sealed. I thanked the Spirits. Ghouls rushed me, “Sorry creeps, but I love my limbs.”
“By the dragon’s light, on this night, I call to thee.
Protect me from all that want to harm me.
I conjure thee, give me the power of three.”
The beings scattered with an unnerving howl back to hell. This new power rejuvenated my very soul.
I moved around the room with caution. An unseen force flung me in the air. My body smashed against the wall deflating my lungs. The sound of bone-shattering against the hard ground rocketed pain throughout my being. At that moment I knew I was fucked without lube.
In one fluid motion, Lucian pinned me, “WHAT THE FUCK!” I convulsed under his weight. My legs straightened. Mushy flesh filled a sunken hole where the kneecap once was. Tears streamed down my face.
Lucian growled. The stench of rotting flesh wafted my nose. His short muzzle loomed millimeters from my nose. His rancid breath scented my skin. His sharp canines dripped with blood. Droplets fell in my mouth choking me. An uncontrollable swallow gagged me, instantly my body calmed.
He loosened his grip freeing my wrists. I reached up and weaved my fingers in his thick mane on each side of his face beside his ears holding him. I reached deep in Lucian’s soul bringing out a seeded hunger. He snarled. My power held him as he tried to take off. Our eyes lock. A fire sparked behind his soulless gaze. Thank the Goddess, some part of his humanity is still in there. I released him allowing him to flee into the shadows.
I sought for any movement in the darkness. I sent out my psychic line to Eve; her presence was silent. Terrific, just fucking fantastic! Panic slithered in my mecca letting fear seep in. The sensation of someone invading my headspace sent the hair on the nape of my neck stand on ends. I jolted up. The tingle of evil stung my bare skin.
“I call thee, who guard the watchtowers of the north to guide me in the darkness and ensure my safety.
I call thee who watch the watchtower of the east, to guide me in the darkness, and ensure my safety.
I call thee, who guard the watchtowers of the south,
to guide me in the darkness and ensure my safety.
I call thee, who guard the watchtowers of the west, to guide me in the darkness and ensure my safety.
In the shadows, evils hide, ready to draw me from love’s side,
but with your help, I shall be strong and banish all that do me wrong. send them away, send them astray, never again to pass my way.”
The airlifted with a brightness. I called to the mystical Goddess to guide me along the rest of my journey and to heal my body.
I cautiously walked down a long passage lit by torches coming to a door that blocked a room. I observed the door, the perception of Samuel and Sage glided in my mind. They were behind that door, but if I blasted my way in, I could kill them.
Chapter Twelve
Rainelle
I shifted from one foot to another as I ogled the door like it was the big bad boogie man. I wasn’t prepared for what I may find. I told my feet to move, but they stay planted. A sudden chill turned my skin pimply. It is now or never. As I closed the distance between me and the door, a haunting premonition invaded the plan, halting me cold in my tracks. A fiery sharpness seized my stomach. A cold sweat washed over me. I grasped my midsection propping myself against the wall and willed my energy. As I probed for life behind the solid door, my heart raced at the sight of Sage and Samuel’s bloody bodies.
I pinpointed Sage, ‘Sage, are you okay?’ then turned to Samuel, ‘Samuel, can you hear me?’ He turned towards the door where I stood. His pulse was weak, but he was alive. I imagined my hand caressing his face. He nudged his head like a petted kitten.
“Mother fucker!” I screamed. I cupped my neck. Blood soiled my collar. I jerked around. Dantè collapsed against me.
“Why didn’t I kill you when I had the fucking chance?” I looked him over, hundreds of cuts oozed blood. His wolf didn’t change back. His muzzle set lopsided on his face. He wasn’t healing.
“Poor thing, should I kill you now?” He pulled my shirt going down. I caught myself against a boulder. He kneeled; claws fisted on the ground. I heard the galloping sound of something substantial then Lucian pounced. I stumbled back as a clawed hand ripped the heart from Dantès’ chest cavity.
I cringed, “DAMN that had to hurt.” I turned away and focused on the door. My hands rotated. Friction sparked into a blustery fireball. A whirlwind formed kicking up dirt and debris. Electricity filled the air striking at the rocks. The door caved. Dust filtered the cavern.
I walked to Samuel. A large black mass blocked Samuel. With a flick of my wrist, I flung the figure against an obelisk.
“Ashes to ashes, dust to dust…”
“STOP! I will kill them both, right now.” A disembodied voice screamed.
A sigh escaped my lips, “Really?” I looked around to find the shitless soul then continued with my plan.
“I said… STOP!” I reached Samuel when a seven-foot-tall clothed silhouette stood in my way.
“Seriously? Move the fuck out of my way, NOW!” I threatened.
“No!” Cold hands grasped my shoulder flinging me upward like a rag doll. I hit the ground with no cushion. The air knocked from my lungs.
I raised up on all fours as I tried to stand, “What the holy….” A boot met the side of my face. Blood filled my mouth. I laid motionless. My eyes followed the beast walking away. I sat up spitting blood.
I moved my jaw back and forth, “Not broken.” I said to myself. My face tightened instantly. The throbbing reminded me I wasn’t dead, not yet anyway.
‘Come on Rains, you can do this, you can save them, save yourself and kill the motherfuckers doing this!’
Reed’s voice shouted in my thoughts.
“Spirits of the abyss, here my call, all most powerful one and all, my thoughts sing to the universe, they now ring,
Take thine enemies, take them to smite, break them, scorn them on this night, From the mighty depths of hell cast your darkness on their shell, Oh, shining star, touch them, burn them from afar
Revenge now will have its day, for thine enemies’ frays.”
A spine-chilling scream followed by silence reaffirmed the spell worked. I stood from a crouch; my attention focused on the murkiness. Sweat beaded across my brow.
“Bones of anger, bones to dust, full of fury, revenge is just.
I scatter these bones of rage, take thine enemies, bring them pain. Thine enemies stand before me, I now bind them, crush them, bring them down to dust, I now do crush.
Make thine enemies turn to dust, tormented by fires rage, out of control with this hex, I curse their soul.”
A ghostly mist filled the room. I scurried to Samuel’s side. My heart jolted. His body battered and bloodied, something I knew all too well.
“Samuel, heal yourself, please!” I pleaded with him. His eyes fluttered open with a dim glow of his radiance.
“What took you so long darlin’? I’ve been waiting for you to untie me.” He coughed spitting dark blood from his lungs. I hugged his neck. I hurried to unbound him. His fingers firmly grasped the edge of the rock turning his knuckles white as he hoisted himself up. He steadied himself up against the slab. He motioned to where Sage laid.
Her body stiff and cold, I checked for a pulse. Her flesh cla
mmy against my touch, “Sage, can you hear me?” I cried out. A weak pulse beat under my fingers, “What did they do to you?” Just as I tried to untie her, a fist connected with my swollen jaw.
I woke next to Sage on the quartz slab. The braided rope cut deep into my tissue the more I fought.
“Samuel!”
‘My dear Rains, call the powers of black magick to assist you. Trust the magick you possess. I love you Rains.’
Tears flowed down my cheeks, ‘Reed, I can’t do this, please don’t go, please!’
“Smitten, battered, beaten, torn, I prick at thee as if a thorn.
Suffer now I will not wait. With this pin, I seal your fate.
Pins so sharp and made of steel, I strike at thee, these pins you’ll feel. Smitten, battered, beaten, torn, I curse you now, your pain is born!”
Reed’s words haunted my thoughts. I blinked back tears.
“Light, Earth, Spirits strong
Lend presence forever long.
Let thine enemies’ powers cripple, and fail with dismay,
I banish thine enemies magick on this very day!”
The darkness lifted. Samuel dashed to our side. In one swoop, he raised Sage and carried her out of the torture room. I bound the place closed for eternity. Miraculously my body healed itself without help.
We bolted up a rock flow. Samuel stopped. He fought to catch a breath and coughed dark blood. A painful moan escaped his throat. In a selfless act, he healed Sage instead of himself. I knew at that moment that his lungs filled with disease. I knew that if he continued, he would die alongside her and everything to this point would be for nothing.
“Dammit Samuel, heal yourself, NOW.” I ordered, “Let me take care of Sage.”
“No, I’m fine. Let’s continue.” He insisted.
“This isn’t up for debate Samuel. You are dying. Don’t you care what you are doing to me?” His body shook, a low moan bubbled from his mouth. He rested Sage on a boulder. I stood next to her and rested my hands’ inches above her heart. No rhythm came from her chest cavity, her heart ceased to beat. Her body healed, but her soul was gone.