The Scroll of Osiris: An Eva & Lilura Novel

Chapter 16 Lilura

Chapter 16 Lilura

I had never felt better in my life. Except maybe when I was a small child and I didn’t have all the stress I had as an adult. Still, I felt bouncy and light. I could tell Tyr felt similar as he seemed to be bright-eyed and even had a small smile on his lips. We had just left the truck parked a little ways away from the cemetery. The day had turned to night quickly and as we entered the cemetery it had become unusually black with the stars erased from the sky. 

Kodan and Eva had done a quick scout around the perimeter and were returning now as we met them at the locked cemetery gate.

“He’s in there. I can smell him.” Kodan whispered.

“Yes, and I can smell magic too. He’s started the ritual.” Eva added. I could feel the gentle pulse as magic was quickly gathering to this area. 

“Let’s get in there. There’s still time.” I urged. Kodan grabbed the lock and ripped it off the chain, which rattled thunderously to the dirt. We all froze for a moment hoping we hadn’t just alerted Joseph. We all slipped through the gate into the cemetery.

“Something feels off,” I said quietly.

“It’s dark magic. It has a particular effect.” Tyr explained. We all crouched and weaved our way through the headstones towards the center of the cemetery. 

We all hid behind a headstone once we spotted a man walking among the graves in a large circle. He was chanting loudly from an ancient book held in his hand. He had already begun and I observed mason jars filled with the victims remains deliberately set at equal intervals around a large chalk circle. The others noticed this as well. 

Kodan charged first moving with speed and agility. But Joseph must have heard him. He spun around, handgun aimed and he took a wild shot at Kodan. The bullet went wide embedding in a tombstone. Kodan slowed down at the sight of the gun but still moved forward. Joseph fired again, this time clipping Kodan in the shoulder. Kodan dropped behind another headstone as Joseph fired another shot then resumed his chanting. I watched Eva race over to Kodan and help put pressure on his wound.

“Stay here,” Tyr said. I reached to stop him but he had already moved forward. I observed him conceal himself behind a tree and felt energy pulse around him as he reached out his hand toward Joseph. Roots erupted from the earth beneath Joseph’s feet and wrapped around him clamping his arms to his sides. The book and the gun flew from his hands in opposite directions. Joseph screamed out in pain. All of us moved out from behind the tombstones and quickly made our way to the circle. 

Blinding light flared up from the chalk ring and a shockwave sent us flying across the cemetery. My shoulder slammed into stone and I heard the crunch of bone meeting stone before I felt the excruciating pain shoot up my arm. The air had been knocked out of me too and I lay awkwardly in the grass trying to catch my breath. As I lay there I watched as an enormous figure began to form in the middle of the figure. First only a skeleton, then muscle and sinewy flesh wrapped around the bones, dark blue skin started to spread across the form like weeds. Then the face came into sight. It was both the most horrifying and most beautiful face. Sharp bone structure marred by scars drawn deep into the flesh and eyes like red coals. The man let out a terrible scream and the earth shook beneath me. 

Osiris was now fully formed. He had risen. The circle still burned with blue flames casting odd shadows across the cemetery. Kodan and Eva stood at the edge of the circle testing it for weakness but the flames went higher every time they got close. 

We were unable to cross the circle, and Osiris was unable to leave it. Joseph was still wrapped in roots and vines and struggling to get out. I saw Tyr still holding his magic on the earth to keep Joseph bound. 

“WHO IS THE MASTER OF THIS CIRCLE?” Osiris boomed and my heads went protectively over my ears. 

“Me! It’s me!” Joseph screamed from his cocoon of roots and vines. Osiris turned his terrible gaze on the pathetic human writhing in pain.

“I MUST BE RELEASED FROM THIS CIRCLE TO CONTINUE MY REIGN OF THIS WORLD.” Osiris bellowed. I stumbled to my feet. Joseph opened his mother to open the circle but my hand went out and my magic cut his voice from him and only air escaped his lips. Vines wrapped around Joseph’s mouth silencing him and I released my hold on his voice. I gave Tyr a nod. 

“WHO ARE YOU TO PREVENT MY RELEASE?!” Osiris screamed his attention now on me. 

“I’m Lilura Black!” I yelled back. This obviously was much less intimidating and did nothing to worry Osiris about his eventual domination of this world. He responded with a loud laugh that sounded like the shattering of glass. 

“And these are your companions also here to stop me?” Osiris asked in a much more subdued voice. He was also shrinking in size to a more normal height. His glowing red eyes had shifted to onyx black. 

“Yes. You are going back into your underworld prison.” I declared confidently. He laughed again this time much softer and more human-like. He was morphing to look more like a mortal I observed. 

“I think you misunderstand my purpose Lilura.” He said smoothly. 

“I am here to bring peace to this world. I can remove your people's suffering.” Osiris went on.

“By enslaving us?” I retorted.

“No, by setting you free. I can give you and your friends what each of you has always wanted.” Osiris cooed. He smiled, but there was something odd about it. I didn’t respond.

“Can you imagine being reunited with someone you love? All that grief just gone.” Osiris continued. I looked at the others and they all seemed to be enamored with his smooth words.

“What are you offering?” Eva asked, taking a step closer to the circle. 

“To reunite you with your son,” Osiris answered, turning toward Eva. Bloody tears had begun to fall from her eyes.

“Eva he’s lying!” I screamed at her.

“I’m not lying. I can bring him back to you Eva.” Osiris muttered softly. Eva’s eyes were wide with hope. Osiris waves his hand and a watery image of a young man appeared before Eva. Her son looked so much like her. More blood tears poured from Eva’s eyes. She reached out to him but Kodan grabbed her arm. 

“Eva it isn’t real! It’s an illusion.” Kodan yelled at her, but her focus was still on her son. 

“And what about you Kodan? What would you give to see your brother again?” Osiris interrupted. Kodan’s eyes widened as a second watery figure appeared. I recognized the man. Corey. He looked so much like Kodan except for buzz-cut hair and hazel eyes. He smiled his charming smile at Kodan, and Kodan was frozen in place. Osiris was too convincing. I looked to Tyr desperately but I could tell the effort to hold Joseph was getting to him. He gave me a weary look. 

I knew what I had to do, but I knew it would cost me a lot. I had to break the circle and still hold Osiris contained so that Eva could get to him with the blade. I knew I was still vibrating with the extra energy Eva had bestowed on me, but even that wouldn’t necessarily be enough. 

I reached out my mind, searching for a sign that told me I had reached Eva’s thoughts. A warmth washed over me and I knew I had found her.

“Eva, please! If you can hear me please listen. Osiris is fooling you. I can break the circle and give you time to get to him. Please please please hear. You have to stop him as soon as the circle breaks. I love you, Eva. Please hear me!” I pleaded. Osiris was still distracted by Eva and Kodan. 

I thrust my hands forward and surged my magic into them. I focused on the ring of Fire. I closed my eyes picturing the invisible walls enclosing Osiris. I imagined them dissolving beneath my fingers. I could hear the shattering of the circle as the earth cracked below our feet undoing the chalk circle. I heard a howl as Osiris realized the circle was open, but didn’t open my eyes as I focused now on chains of light wrapping around Osiris holding him in place. I prayed that Eva had heard me because he was already fighting me and my strength was giving out. 

I opened my eyes finally to see that Osiris had returned to his original form and light bound him in place. The circle of flames had disappeared. I could feel my spirit ripping apart as the force of the energy I was using was draining me.

I looked at Tyr running toward me, his eyes bright with panic. He was screaming something at me but I couldn’t hear him over the sound of the torrential wind howling around us. I looked at Eva. She was shaking the illusion from her mind and our eyes met.

She nodded in acknowledgment and I gave her a weak smile. I watched as she lunged at Osiris the blade ready in her hand.