Myosotis - Exorcist's Beginnings

Chapter XIII: Ritual

Dumah was not who she imagined. Who knew she would see that peculiar lonely boy ever again and the truth was his face did not even change that much, it only had a manlier and more mature look compared to before. However, his eyes were as sad as they used to be and now, looking at them, she had no idea how she did not recognize him before. She supposed it really had been a long time ago and part of her wanted to forget him. He was a troubled child in a problematic home, although he never told anyone any specific incidents. Some even speculated that he pretended to be sick or injured to get attention from Lady Genevieve, who was at the time the school nurse. However, one day a horrid occurrence happened. His house burnt down and his family was turned to ash along with it. No one knew for sure how that happened and how the young Dumah did not turn into ash as well. Still, everyone felt sorry for him and asked what should be done about that little orphan boy. The logical answer was to put him in the convent with the other orphans; however he was strongly opposed to it. It was then that the younger Macaria caught him with her mother. Lady Genevieve was sitting next to him in bed, at the school's infirmary and Dumah was leaning on her shoulder. Macaria did not enter right away, because the conversation they were having caught her attention. He was telling Genevieve how much he detested the idea of living in the convent among other orphans, because that would only remind him that his parents were gone and how alone he truly was. Genevieve told him kindly that if he wanted he could stay in her house. It was at that moment, when Dumah decided to kiss her. He was about twelve at the time and Macaria hated him for doing that, but now looking back she found it rather funny.

"Could you stop staring at me?! How many times do I have to say the same?" he asked, riled up, after she had been looking at him for almost half of their trip.

"Who did you prefer to kiss: me or my mother?" she asked, and her question shocked him.

"What is wrong with you?!" he said, flustered. "That is exactly why I decided to put on a mask. I already miss it."

"It has been a long time, so I don't think it's insensitive to ask what your problems were at home. Mother always told me your parents seemed nice", Macaria said.

"They were afraid of me and that was why I bonded with your mother, because she did not seem frightened of what I was. She understood me or at least tried to" he replied.

"Afraid of what?" she asked.

"My parents were very religious and, as you know, I have sort of special powers."

"You have nonsensical 'visions' once in a while. That's hardly something worth freaking out about", she argued, and he turned up his nose at her.

"Now, but when I was younger it was not just dreams, it was something that I could not control", he explained.

"Like what?"

"I'm not getting paid to be questioned and you already know far too much anyway" he retorted and she chuckled. "What?"

"You must have some level of mythomania, don't you? You paint yourself as more special and mysterious than you actually are", she stated.

"Are you saying that I'm lying?"

"I think you are exaggerating, yes. I knew you. You were just a weird lonesome kid. Why would anyone ever be afraid of you?" Macaria said.

"Think whatever you want. Just focus on what we have to do tonight."

It was Saturday, so her sister Benedicta was at home for sure and Macaria wanted to see her, hence she ignored Dumah's advice and went to visit her family at home. Dumah did not enter their household, because according to him someone had to keep their senses, although Macaria knew he was still embarrassed about the past and did not want to face Lady Genevieve. Macaria climbed up the stairs with the eerie marble busts and knocked on the front door of her home. Mr. Mortimer, the sphinx cat with emerald eyes, a pearl collar and dressed with a black coat, seemed to have recognized her through the window.

"I hope you have been taking good care of mom and sister" Macaria said to him, when he meowed at her.

"Miss Macaria? Welcome home" said a neatly dressed man very politely, after finally opening the door.

"Who are you?" she asked.

"Oh! You must have already forgotten. I'm Credence, the butler. We spoke on the phone the other day."

Credence had an incredibly upright posture, even though he was quite lanky. His cheekbones were prominent and his dark eyes were kind and had a jovial sparkle, unlike Dumah's. His black hair was straight and pushed back, which reminded Macaria of Don's neat blonde hair, when he pretended to be a decent and professional man to his customers.

"Right. You are way younger than I expected."

"You flatter me, but I'm afraid I'm not that young. Please, come in and have a rest. You must be tired from the trip. Let me" he said, trying to grab her bag from her, which she was not used to and was not sure if she liked it or not.

"Should I put it in your room?" he asked, as she went into the living room.

"No, I want it next to me, thank you. Where's my mother? And is my sister at home?"

"Yes, yes. I'm going to call them" he said, putting her bag on the center table next to the green velvet couch, where Macaria sat.

Not even a minute later, she heard someone scream. "Sister!" exclaimed Benedicta, while running down the stairs, which scared Mr. Mortimer. "You are back!"

"It's provisory, so don't get too excited" Macaria replied, while Benedicta hugged her. "Now, sit. We must talk."

At that moment, Credence also came back, which Macaria did not care for and found him a bit intrusive. "Lady Genevieve is taking a bath. She will come back soon enough."

"Ok, have this" Macaria said, taking out her dirty laundry from her bag. "And wash it properly."

"Hum... yes, of course" replied Credence, who was a bit taken aback by her sudden request and how audacious she was for showing him her underwear so boldly.

"He will be busy with that for a while" Macaria said, as soon as Credence entered the kitchen and Benedicta chuckled, looking at her sister with bright eyes. "So tell me: what do you think of him?" Macaria asked.

"I don't know yet. I still didn't spend much time with him, but he seems alright and he makes mother happy" Benedicta said.

"What do you mean he makes mother happy?" Macaria asked, conflicted.

"I don't know, mom seems to be in a better mood than usual. But tell me about your adventures" Benedicta requested, curious.

"Actually I've been meaning to ask you something. Do you perhaps remember a boy with amber eyes?"

"Amber eyes? I'm... not sure" Benedicta replied, pensive and perplexed with her own thoughts.

"Because I think we also forgot about him. He has a ring just like ours, which seems to complete the set, you know?"

"You mean a gold one with a sun?" Benedicta assumed.

"Exactly! If you saw him, I'm sure you would find him familiar too. A wave of nostalgia came to me, when I first laid my eyes on him" said Macaria.

"So someone else is missing in our lives aside from father..." sighed Benedicta.

"I think so, yes. But never mind that for now. I've come back to Sta. Perpetua, because Dumah says we may catch Lucero here tonight", Macaria informed, quite excited.

"Really? That's great news, finally! Mother told me about your phone call. Apparently, he really is connected to father, isn't that right?"

"It appears so, unfortunately. According to his book, he's also a very dangerous sorcerer and not just some seer like he said."

"Can I come too?" Benedicta asked with an eager gaze.

"Didn't you just hear me say that he is dangerous? Of course you cannot come" Macaria reprehended.

"It is because it's dangerous, why I want to come. Please, let me help" Benedicta begged.

"I don't know. I have to talk with Dumah first."

"Why is he not here?" Benedicta asked.

"Oh, let me tell you why!" Macaria said with a big smile on her face.

Macaria told her younger sister all about Dumah's secret and made her promise to not tell Lady Genevieve, who arrived shortly after with a black towel on her head and a long black robe, which slid down the stairs, and slippers which had a small heel and fur on the front. Lady Genevieve was always glamorous, even after a bath, and her displays of elegance made the butler Credence admire her.

"My darling daughter, I'm glad you are back and you're just in time. This Monday, a great dressmaker will come to our house and make me a few more pieces. Perhaps, he can do something for you too. After all, you barely have any clothes" Genevieve said, while sitting down next to her daughters. It was true, since Macaria used to live in the convent, she only wore the white habit and nothing else. The few clothes she packed for the trip were old ones, which did not fit as well as they used to.

"There's no need" Macaria replied, but quickly remembered how her only clothes were either torn or dirty with mud. "Actually, maybe it's not a bad idea. I don't know if I will be here then, but I guess I can leave my measurements and let you figure out something for me."

"Yes and I know what the current fashion is and I already have some ideas about what will suit you best."

"May I serve you ladies some tea?" asked Credence, and they nodded.

"Yes, darling, please do" replied Genevieve.

In spite of having been just a school nurse, Genevieve managed to turn her life around. After her husband's disappearance, she found comfort in writing and later published a very successful, yet controversial, series of erotic novels about forbidden love and the curse of fate. Everyone bought at least a copy, whether they admitted it or not, and that was how she made her fortune and could afford all those private investigators and also her luxurious clothes. They lost track of time and only realized it, when Credence asked them what they wanted for dinner. Lady Genevieve suggested making Macaria's favorite dish, since she was home. Macaria started to feel bad for leaving Dumah alone, but she could not refuse her favorite dish and she was quite curious about Credence's culinary skills. Furthermore, it was not like Dumah had any problem leaving her alone in Calandre, when he and Beatrice were working on the book. After dinner, both sisters left the house in search of Dumah. The search ended as soon as it began, since he was waiting right around the corner from their house.

"Finally! I thought I would have to do all the work by myself tonight. Wait, what is she doing here?!" he exclaimed, after noticing Benedicta was also there, and then he immediately hid his face with his arm.

"Please, don't. I already told her everything about you" Macaria replied and Benedicta smiled at him, which flustered him even more. "Were you waiting here all along?"

"You told them?"

"Not them, I only told my sister. What did you want me to do? She insisted on coming along" said Macaria.

"I don't know if this is a good idea..."

"It's fine, really. I promise to not be a nuisance and only intervene if needed. I won't even talk!" Benedicta stated.

"You can talk. I doubt that you are more annoying than your sister anyway" said Dumah, and Macaria turned up her nose at him. "And I'm sure you're a very skilled girl and you will try not to be a burden. It is not that what worries me."

"Then what is it?" Benedicta asked.

"It's what you may witness. It will be... eerie" he warned.

"I'm sure it will be fine. I'm a medical student, I have probably seen worse things than you" she replied.

"See? She has an argument for everything" Macaria said.

"She really does. Well, whatever then, I don't want to lose more time. Let's find the place that is described in the book."

"Is it outside of town?" asked Macaria.

"You would think they would try to find a discreet place, but no. I mean it is discreet in a way, I guess" he replied.

It was actually a place that the sisters were very familiar with and that was the Abbey of Sta. Perpetua. Both Macaria and Benedicta lived there for years and they could rightfully say that they knew their way around it; however, they did not know much about its secrets. It was a huge building after all and there were many areas that novices or even simple nuns could not explore. They expected the location written in the book to be one of those restricted areas, which were away from innocent eyes. Still, Macaria knew about side entrances that she used to access, when she wanted to visit her family without the abbess' permission. After a blue flowerbed of myosotis, there was a side door that, given the right push with the right strength, would open up and that was exactly what Macaria did. They were in the east wing, more specifically in the hall that led to the nuns' cloister, where a small garden was located for the nuns to enjoy some time in the sunlight. It was a delightful place and a favorite for both Benedicta and Macaria, but at night it seemed somber to the point of being quite frightening. The trees' shadows were cast on the stone walls by the garden's faint white lamps. It was a dark night and inside the abbey it was even darker. Dumah had to make use of his lighter for them to be able to see anything. Since at that late hour, they were always in their rooms, they never noticed how dark the convent could actually become. At least, they had an idea of where they were going. If something forbidden was taking place, then it had to be in the west wing, which was the restricted area, from where Macaria got Lucero's grimoire. She sneaked in there a number of times due to curiosity, but she never saw anything out of the ordinary aside from that book and the exorcisms. She guessed they saved the even stranger stuff for when everyone else was asleep. After walking down those lonely cold halls, which would be labyrinthine if they were not familiar with them, they finally arrived at the west wing, better yet, at the entrance of the west wing, which was just a massive solid door made of bronze with beautiful, but eerie, apocalyptic scenes. Macaria was very well aware that there was no way of passing that door without the key, which only the abbess had. However, Macaria knew a way around it. There was a cloister between the south and west wing, which had windows for the rooms in the west wing, and there was a particular window, which had its lock broken and that was how they managed to enter the forbidden area. They were now in a pretty simple office space, where there were desks, chairs, bookshelves filled with folders and piles of paper everywhere.

"You must have been really bored, the day you found out about this window" said Dumah, helping Benedicta climb up the window. Macaria did not need help, as it was visibly not her first time.

"I'm so excited! I have never been in this area of the convent" exclaimed Benedicta.

"Ok, if we are going to do this, we all have to be as quiet as possible, understood?" Dumah warned, and Benedicta pouted and nodded.

"Now what? What kind of place do they do these rituals?" asked Macaria.

"In the book, emphasis is given on the fact that it has to be on a dark night, so I'm guessing it is some place where the sky can be visible. Possibly, an open space", Dumah explained.

"The abbey follows the symmetry rule, so there should be a cloister at the end of this wing too" said Benedicta.

To find out if Benedicta was right or not, they had to go down an empty long corridor, in which they would immediately be spotted if someone appeared. That did happen and the three immediately stuck to the wall and Dumah turned off his silver lighter. Fortunately for them, the ones who appeared from around the corner were far too distracted to give any attention to them. Even though they were with their backs turned to the trio, they recognized them immediately by their voices. One of them was obviously the abbess, who had a very distinct austere voice, and the other one was Orabelle, a friend of both Macaria and Benedicta.

"I still don't understand what is needed of me in the middle of the night" said Orabelle.

"Do not worry, Sister Orabelle. You must know what this means, right?" asked the abbess.

"All I know is that every time a girl is taken at night, she disappears" Orabelle replied with a nervous tone.

"Is that what is spread around? They only disappear from the convent and that is a good thing. The priest elevates the purest and most dedicated novices and they go on to serve at Sacrum Coeur Cathedral in the holy land", the abbess explained, trying to appease the novice.

"Is that really true? How grand" said Orabelle, and the abbess nodded.

The trio listening to the conversation was quite conflicted. They watched the abbess and the novice gain distance, before following them slowly to not be noticed. They suspected the whole ordeal and only hoped the women would lead them to their goal.

"Elevate to go to the Sacrum Coeur Cathedral? I never heard of such a thing in all of my years here" muttered Macaria.

"Probably, because you're not pure enough" said Dumah, and she glared at him. "But apparently, it is common for girls to disappear here."

"I never heard of that either" Macaria replied.

"Never? What were you doing here?" asked Dumah.

"Well, there's quite a lot of us here and I suppose I did not have many friends" Macaria said. "What about you?"

"I heard all of this before. The abbess would often talk to me about the Sacrum Coeur Cathedral, but I was never present when these meetings occurred. I was always at the medical school", Benedicta replied.

"You don't know how lucky you were then" stated Dumah.

"What do you mean?" Benedicta asked. "It is a huge honor to go to Sacrum Coeur."

"If they are in fact going there" said Dumah, and the sisters exchanged worried looks.

The abbess and Orabelle finally arrived at the west wing cloister, which did not have a fountain in the middle, but a fire pit which illuminated the faces of those present. There were about twenty people there and they formed a circle around the fire pit. They were all dressed in complete black, both monks and nuns, which was not the dress code for regular monasteries or convents. It was hard to see their faces for the trio, as they were ducked down behind the garden wall, but from what they could see they did not recognize anyone, except one person.

"Our special guest finally arrived for the initiation ceremony" said the priest.

The three of them gulped as they recognized both the voice and those striking yellow eyes. Orabelle was visibly confused and uncomfortable, since she probably did not know anyone there, maybe even a bit scared.

"There's no need to be frightened, child. This may be quite difficult to get through, but think of the reward and the honor of serving among us at the grand cathedral" said Lucero, disguised as a priest. He was unlike himself as he had his wild grey hair tied down and was dressed in a fit priest's habit and a black cape and not with his usual loose clothes. The only thing that remained was his ring with the giant emerald and it was glowing, reflecting the flames of the fire pit.

"We finally found him. We have to catch him" Macaria muttered.

"Not with all his minions with him. We have to wait for him to be alone" said Dumah.

"They are not going to hurt Orabelle, are they?" asked Benedicta, concerned.

"I'm afraid so" replied Dumah bluntly, and Benedicta gasped.

"We have to help her then!" Benedicta got up and was immediately pulled down by Dumah.

"There is nothing we can do against all of them" Dumah's words only troubled the sisters more, mainly Benedicta.

"Surely, we can do somet..." Benedicta was saying, before she was interrupted.

"Don't insist. I warned you that you may see unpleasant sights and you agreed. Don't make our job more difficult" said Dumah, and Benedicta sighed in distress.

Macaria was well aware that arguing with Dumah was in vain. She did agree with her sister, although she also did not know how to help poor Orabelle.

"I have an idea. Wait for me" Benedicta stated, getting away from their grasp.

"Benedicta! Where are you going?! Come back here!" Macaria said, trying not to be very loud.

"It was a bad idea to bring her" commented Dumah, as Macaria watched Benedicta disappear into the darkness.

The moonless ritual began. The nuns and monks in all black grabbed Orabelle and her flustered face revealed her fear and confusion. She knew something was wrong, even though she did not know the full extent of what was about to happen. However, Dumah and Macaria were very well aware of who those people were and what was about to take place.

"Mother Abbess, what is this? Please, I'm very happy here, I don't want to go to Sacrum Coeur", Orabelle said.

"It's not your choice, child" the abbess said coldly, as she calmly watched too.

"No! Please, tell them to stop!" Orabelle pleaded as they started to rip off her clothes and the abbess ignored her.

"Unfortunately, this is necessary. If you want us to keep fighting demons, we must give the higher entities something in return. Mother Prudence understands that and so should you", Lucero said.

As Orabelle was completely naked, the "nuns and monks" held her in their arms and spread her legs completely, exposing her to Lucero.

"Before you enter into our dome, we must be sure that you are of entire purity" he said, getting closer to her. Macaria turned her face, disturbed by the scene that unfolded before her, while Dumah watched closely Lucero's every move.

"My sister is right, you know? We should help her" said Macaria.

"Unfortunately, we can't do much. All I can do for your friend is to promise that she will be his last" said Dumah.

Orabelle was sobbing and trying to hide her face from shame. Her pleas and screams were loud, but in vain, and they only escalated, when Lucero started to check on her private part with his hand.

"Very well, she is a virgin indeed" Lucero said, and the others cheered. Then he penetrated her abruptly with his hand and she screeched in agony and started to bleed.

Lucero did not lose any time and put his mouth on her and started to drink her virginal blood. Macaria cried in horror and Dumah did not say anything. It was hard to read him, as he remained apparently cool, although his eyes were quite blank.

"I've had my share, my brothers and sisters. May you now have your way too" announced Lucero to his underlings, and they began to violate her and cut her to drink her blood.

At that moment, the cloister was invaded by around fifty girls in their nightgowns and they were armed with whatever they found in the kitchen, from brooms and pans to knives. Benedicta was also among them and she was wielding a butcher knife. Macaria sighed with relief when she saw her sister, even though it was a bit too late for Orabelle.

"Wait! Where are you going?!" said Dumah to Macaria, as she joined Benedicta.

"May I know the meaning of this?!" yelled the mad abbess to the girls.

"That is what we ask" replied Benedicta with conviction. "What are you doing to sister Orabelle?"

The real nuns were horrified to find Orabelle in such a terrible condition and rushed to help and cover her. Lucero and his underlings were obviously taken aback by the unexpected event.

"May you control your girls, sister? We were in the middle of something important" said Lucero.

"And what is that?!" the nuns and novices screamed.

"For your information, this is an initiation ceremony for your sister Orabelle to reach a higher status", Lucero replied.

"That's bullshit!" Macaria exclaimed. The girls were shocked to see Macaria there and the abbess was bewildered. "This man is not even a priest. He's a manwhore of a witch."

Everyone gasped at her accusation and the abbess widened her eyes at her. "You silly girl, what are you doing back here?! You were expelled and you're not welcome here anymore."

"No, it seems you prefer to welcome men to defile the ones you should protect. It all makes sense now" Macaria replied.

The abbess attempted to slap her, but Lucero stopped her and feigned a smile. "Miss Macaria and Sister Benedicta, do you remember me? I'm your family, even if you don't believe it. How can you doubt me and my intentions?" he asked and his glowing yellow eyes penetrated their mind, but they shook them off, which surprised him.

"We know you are from our family, unfortunately. That is why we know you better than anyone here, witch" Macaria said, and Lucero clenched his jaw. "I will leave the abbess for you sisters to take care of. I hope you will bring some justice to Sister Orabelle and all the others who were sacrificed, while I will take care of this fraud", Macaria added.

"What can you do? You will forget this, like you forgot your father" said Lucero, who gave a signal to one of his underlings. "We may not be able to hex you in this place, but we are still able to poison you."

The underling pulled out a rather small metallic device and lit it. "What is that?" Benedicta asked, perplexed, as she had never seen anything like that.

"It is what I just said. It is something that will make you all forget what happened here", Lucero replied, as a strange smoke spread.

The girls attempted to stop it, but his underlings blocked their way. However, suddenly, a shot was heard and it hit the underling's hand and he dropped the device.

"That is enough. You will not get away" stated Dumah, putting his silver pistol back in his belt.

Lucero's eyes widened and his underlings panicked. They started to run away, as they screamed wildly "Inquisitor! It's an inquisitor!", leaving behind the strange smoky device. Lucero also attempted to run away, but the nuns grabbed him and Dumah apprehended him finally.

"Let's go" said Dumah to the sisters, but the abbess grabbed forcefully Benedicta's wrist.

"I will not forget this" the abbess said threateningly to the young woman, and Macaria pushed the abbess and took her sister away from that frenzy.