RITUAL

LET US BEGIN. I DRAW THE CURTAINS. PITCH BLACK, REMINISCENT OF THE VOID IN MY SOUL. I UNSHEATH MY CEREMONIAL DAGGER. WITH MY BLOOD I DRAW A CIRCLE, AND INSIDE, A SIGIL TO INVOKE ERESHKIGAL, FOR SHE SHALL HEAR MY PLEAS. SHE SHALL OFFER SALVATION. I UNVEIL MY LOVE’S BODY. IT LAY SILENT AND PALE. IT IS COLD TO THE TOUCH. MY HEAD SWIMS FROM THE OFFERING GIVEN BY MY BLADE, BUT I CANNOT LOSE FOCUS. I GRIND MANDRAKE ROOT, TILT HER HEAD BACK, AND EMPTY MY DISH INTO HER MOUTH, THE POWDER THE COLOR OF MY VITAE. I CLOSE HER MAW, AND PLACE A KISS UPON IT. THE CANDLES LINING THE SIGIL SEEM TO BURN BRIGHTER AS I PREPARE TO CHANT THE WORDS: "DEA INFERORUM, SANGUINEM MEUM PRO TE PRAEBEO, UT AD ME AMOREM MEUM REDEAS. LIBENTER VITAM MEAM MINUAM UT EIUS EXTENDEREM. OBSECRO TE, DOMUM ILLAM AD ME REFER!" THE CANDLE FLAMES JUMP! THE SHADOWS THEY CAST COVER THE WALLS OF MY TOWER. THE ROOM SEEMS TO SHRINK AND GROW IN UNISON WITH THE FLICKERING OF THE FLAMES. AND THEN NOTHING. QUIET. STILLNESS. AND THEN A VOICE, SHAKY, CALLS MY NAME.