บท 29: Bask in darkness and kiss

A cold and bitter wind blew between the oak trees infront of the orphanage . The grass seemed to bend and wave under the breeze . The sky was black , clouds as thick as stone blocked all light and made the night pure darkness made tangible .

Sister Naomi had run through the corridors , not checking any of them , her heart beating like a drum and her soul about to burst . Every shadow had blended together and tlher candle seemed to be the only light in a world as black as the heart of evil . Now she was huddled under her blanket , praying that she'd sleep and wake up to a bright morning with as much light as possible . The storm was not as scary as that night .

But if Sister Naomi had walked slower or ran more slower , she would have heard sounds. Sounds that sounded like whispers , coming from the central hallway to the kitchen . If she had listened she would have heard that the whispering sounds were words . And if she had gone to the kitchen door , she would have heard the words clearly .

" I call you ... I call you ... I call you . " The voice was clear with a slight noisey accent and if Sister Naomi had thought hard she would have realised who it was .

Serena stood infront of her largest pot , Like a large couldren , with a wooden spoon in one hand and a book in the other . But it was not just any book . The cover was dark brown leather , with drips of blood on the front , giving it an evil design like scowling monster . The hardcover was a long and grey white collection of bones crushed together . The words inside were words born of curses and black magic , because that book was Serena's grandmother's spell book . It contained the most powerful black spells she had ever seen .

Of course Serena had hardly ever used them because she never had a reason to . But now she felt like it was time , her white magic could not give her what she wanted . She was glad to have saved this book from the fire when her shop was burnt down , otherwise she'd have been weak in power . Serena looked at the words inside as she stirred the pot infront of her .

The pot bubbled with a green slimy liquid like sludge and mucus . Serena turned to it with a determined face and began her incantation .

" I call out to the devil's eye , to come and bring darkness upon the sky , " She said softly and dropped the spoon down on the floor ," I envoke your strength and call your might , to do my bidding and give me sight , show me what is hidden and reveal to me what is forbidden . I call you , by your name . "

As Serena had started chanting a light green gas had begun to flow from the pot like mist . It had risen up and formed a cloud like pillar above the pot . As she finished her incantation a giant demonic retina appeared in the mist and looked at her . Serena gave a deep swallow , she couldn't believe she had done it . It was her first time using the spell .

" What do you command and what do you seek ? " The devil eye spoke with a deep baritone voice .

" I know I have two commands I can give you . " Serena said confidently , " I can order you to tell me of anything you know and to show me anything I wish . "

" Yes , witch . Now speak and have done . " The devil eye said impatiently and Serena gave it a smirk .

" Very well . In this orphanage there is a boy , who has something magical . A talisman or artifact . I want to see the artifact he has been hiding . " She said and the eye blinked twice and its surface changed to an image .

A silver mirror floated in the image , with a blue stone on its back . Serena looked at the mirror with a frown , was this the thing Sister Becca had been yelling about ? How was it related to the thing she had seen that day ?

" Enough , I've seen enough ." Serena said and the devil eye blinked back to normal .

" What do you wish now before you dismiss me ? " The demon eye asked her and Serena bit her lip hard .

" I want to know what the mirror is . " She said and the devil eye blinked and the mirror image returned to its surface . Except something was wrong about it , the clear glass was murky like muddy water .

As Serena watched a hand reached out from the mirror , it's wrist was in shackles and it groped the air looking for something to hold onto . However just as it was about to break free , it was dragged back inside and the mirror bacame covered in chains .

" What is this ? " Serena asked and the devil eye answered .

" This is a prison for souls . However It only has one soul inside it . " The devil eye said and with that it had completed its task . The green mist dissolved and the pot was left empty .

" Boy , " Serena thought outloud , " what are you doing with a soul ? "

...

Henric woke up to a silent and dark room , with his body still feeling tired . He moaned and got up , sitting with his back to the wall . This had become routine , he'd wake up and lay with his back to the wall trying to sleep again . Sometimes he fell back asleep and other times he didn't . Henric sighed and moved a hand through his hair feeling the fatigue like a heavy cloak .

{ You can not sleep ? }

Henric started when the voice landed in his mind and he turned to the nightstand where the mirror sat on top . He took it and looked at its surface , even though he couldn't see his face .

" You talked to me . " Henric said but the mirror was quiet .

" Why do you ignore me ? " Henric asked feeling slightly down . He'd been waiting for it to talk to him for two days now . He'd been hiding it In his clothes and carrying it around with him . But for all that , he received nothing but silence and he had to admit , it hurt .

{ You are a priest } the voice said and he frowned in confusion .

" No , I am not . " He said and the mirror fluctuated like a puddle again .

{ I hear your prayers , I hear your zeal and can sense your longing for a deity .} The voice said and Henric heard some scorn in its voice .

" I am not a priest but if could , I would join the cleric and become a priest ." Henric said honestly .

{ Laughter . Laughter .} The voice said .

" Are you laughing at my desire ? " He asked it and it immediately stopped .

{ I hate priests . They are a cruel race . } The voice said and Henric heard bitter anger in it .

" Does this mean ... you hate me too ? " Henric asked it .

{ I hate priests , } the voice said , { But I like you .}

A warm feeling rose inside Henric's chest when he heard that it liked him . He knew he didn't fully understand what this thing was but he had to admit , he liked it when it talked to him .

" You like me ? " He asked it but it didn't answer him . Henric got up and sat with his feet on the floor . He held up the mirror so it was showing his upper body along with his face .

{ I do . }

Henric's eyes widened in shock when a boy appeared in the mirror image next to his reflection . It was too dark to get a clear look at the face but the body was definitely male . He turned around but saw nothing and then turned back to the mirror .

The boy was leaning on his shoulder now and Henric could feel the pressure of someone on his shoulder . The boy in the mirror raised his hand and touched Henric's cheek , making the other boy shiver at the caress . How could he feel this way about a boy ? Henric wondered , especially one who might be his own mad creation ?

{ Look at me } Henric turned to the mirror and saw the boy was looking at his cheek . It was still too dark to see clearly but he got a feeling the boy was not wearing anything on his upper torso like him . The thought made Henric swallow heavily .

After a moment , Henric felt a grasp on his chin and he looked at the mirror in consternation and shock . Even though there was no breath or physical contact , he felt it when the boy held his chin and moved closer to him . And he especially felt the light caress as his lips were touched by the other boys lips .