Page 63 of Song of Tenebrae

He’s right; I can feel they also belong here, just not yet. “Not yet though.”

He nods and pushes off the wall, those long legs eating up the space between us. He grabs my chin in his palm and his fingers grip into my cheeks. He forces me to look up into his golden green eyes and I feel myself swoon.

“Remember I love you, Demon. Everything I do in this life and the next is because of the love I have for you.”

“I love you, too.” I whisper but I can’t help fearing what he’s saying.

He kisses me long and rough, then his back is to me as he stalks out of the room.

I’m back in the basement, only this time I’m barefoot, and wearing a long robe that drags on the cement floor behind me. My hair is covered by the large hood and it comes down over the top of my head.

The moisture from the floor seeps into the soles of my feet with each step and the chill begins to settle in, making my body tremble. It’s not just the cold basement making me shiver, it’s the fear, and it hangs heavy in the air. There’s so much locked up fear down here and it’s mingling with my own.

Eddy stops in front of the door I saw last time, with the glow around its edges, and turns toward me.

“This is the farthest I go, Mrs. James.” He’s started calling me that and even though we’re not legally married, it doesn’t matter here.

“Okay, thank you.” He gives me a small bow and begins to walk back the way we came. I push open the door and step inside.

It’s a small church at first glance, until you take in the details. Like a church there’s pews and candles lighting most corners, then there’s an altar at the front. But that’s where the similarities end. The pews are draped in what looks to be black velvet, the candles are black, and there’s a body laying on the altar.

The body is slight, like a woman's but I can’t be sure because the lights are dim and there’s a large black hood over its head. There are chains around the wrists and ankles and each move the body makes, those chains clink against the stone altar.

In the center of the room is a large, inverted pentagram. I guess that also depends on where you’re standing; from here it’s inverted, but from the altar it’s a pentagram. Standing at each point is a cloaked figure, four of them, and one point is empty, mine.

One of the figure’s arms raises and his finger adorned with silver rings, points to the empty point. It’s Raiden’s, I would know those fingers anywhere. I rush to the point and drop my head like the others and wait.

“Tonight we give thanks to the dark and to all the deeds done there for our gain,” Raiden’s voice sounds monotone and reverent at the same time. “We step forth into the shadows and open our arms, asking for its protection and guidance.”

A loud bell chimes and I startle, looking up to find one of the others has it in his hand. Nine chimes and then he places it on the floor, then the humming begins. All four of them hum and when Raiden lifts his hands, I drop my head back down to my chest. My pounding chest alight with fear and trepidation.

“In nominee de nostre Satanas: Lucifere Excelsis!” Raiden’s booming voice echoes off the cement walls and I startle once again, whimpering with fear.

“Ad Satanas, qui laetificat gloris meam.” The others chant and I feel a wave of heat, despite the close confines of the room and cool moisture.

I hear the rustling of clothing and when I look up, they’ve all lowered their hoods. I do the same and look at Raiden, his face a mask of stillness.

“Tonight is special, we are here to welcome another into our cloak of shadows,” his hand extends toward me, “Tempest Skeigh Verona.”

The body on the table begins to moan although it’s muffled and I turn to look at it. Something must be stuffed inside its mouth.

“Tempest,” Raiden’s voice forces me back around, “do you promise to join us without reservations and be with us through the darkness of life.”

“Yes.” My answer is immediate, there’s nowhere else I want to be if it means I’m without Raiden.

Raiden drops his robe and steps toward me, I hate not knowing what’s going to happen next.

“Discard your robe and come to the altar with me.” He murmurs and I look around him to the others.

They all have their heads down as if in prayer. Do Satanists pray?

“Quickly.” He says, losing his patience with my uncertainty.

I drop my robe, and he smiles at me, his face looking sinister from the shadows casted by the flickering candles. He takes my hand and leads me to the altar.

“You cannot approach the altar with worldly possessions,” he shows me his now bare fingers and he’s even removed all his facial piercings. “We step up to it as we come into this world, naked.”

I approach the altar, taking my time, and concentrating on not stepping on his heels. I’m scared for what we have to do but I’m excited to know why this person deserves such an ending. Raiden assured me they no longer kill innocents and everyone they do ‘make fly’ is deserving.

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