Sigil | Ghost The Band

Archaic

"Let's get this over with," Calliope told the woman, finally standing up. Although these visions have only happened twice - from what Cal could tell - it was two times too many. She started doubting herself, her surroundings, all of it. How many of her interactions have been real? They felt real...

Her dad's mental history flashed through her mind, and she wondered for a moment if she was following in his footsteps. To others, she might appear manic, as her father did to other people.

But she knew she wasn't. Of course, she didn't trust herself fully, but she had to trust to at least some extent, to remain somewhat sane.

"Now? Don't you want to wait until Emeritus is gone?"

And wait until these visions become so frequent that I can't formulate a proper thought?

"No, I just need it done, Sister," Cal muttered, tugging down the hem of her shirt.

"Fine. But do not mention our agreement to Secondo," Imperator warned, her icy gaze fixated on Calliope's. "If you do, our agreement is void."

Calliope took a while to respond, finally bowing her head in a subtle nod.

Imperator stared at her for a moment, quietly assessing her before nodding with a sigh.

"This way."

Their walk wasn't too long, reaching a heavily obscured set of doors in no time. Imperator's knuckles rapped quietly against the dark wood, and they waited for a response.

It opened soon after, the man she'd been avoiding as much as she could these past few years stood before her, an ever-present scowl on his face.

"Sister," Secondo acknowledged, stepping aside to let them in, ignoring Calliope.

"She's ready."

"Is she, now? Delightful, it was keeping me up at night wondering when little Marianne would be ready," He said this all in a scornful, sarcastic tone, glaring at Cal.

She glared right back, even though she was in no mood to do so.

"Enough," Imperator cleared her throat. "Let's get this over with."

Secondo sighed, turning to the large altar Cal had been tied to all those years ago. It chilled her blood knowing she would most likely end up in that same position again.

He paged through an ancient-looking book, grabbing a dagger and some golden rope in his one hand as he studied the text before him.

Cal's eyes wandered over the marble surface, then down the sides of it where dried blood stained, trailing down to the stone floor.

Some of that may still be yours, you know.

Fuck off.

Eventually he turned around again, instructing them to interlock their hands. They did.

"Now, this bloodpact is quite atavistic, and I am unable to translate some of the texts-"

"It doesn't matter, just do it," Imperator instructed, straightening her skirt with her free hand. Cal quirked a brow at the action. She seems more nervous than I am.

Secondo rolled his eyes, but proceeded nonetheless. He started mumbling to himself in Latin, dragging the blade in an x-motion where their palms met.

He twisted the golden rope around Imperator's wrist, continuing his foreign rant, before doing the exact same to Calliope with the opposite end. Finally, he tangled the middle section over their interwoven hands, resting his on top of theirs.

She shuddered to think that these were the hands that would eventually end her life.

Calliope could swear something was burning her hand, and she soon became confident that something was. The feeling intensified and she squeezed her eyes shut to keep from pulling away.

The image of the second sarcophagus flashed through her mind, only... it was flickering between what she saw and it being completely shattered on the ground.

The eidolon was enough to distract her from the pain, it had to mean something. And she was certain that it did.

Secondo's hand finally pulled away, the searing pain ceasing in the slightest. He blinked rapidly, a frown on his face. He briefly met Cal's eyes before unwinding the rope, his gaze calculating.

She could finally let go of Imperator's hand, staring at the angry, red lines on the back of her hand and her palm.

"Now, because the two of you chose to remain so secretive, I couldn't apply the necessary accuracies to the pact. It should work fine, but I have not the faintest clue how it will turn out."

"What was the name of the pact?" Imperator inquired, still staring at the furious burn on her arm.

"A rough translation would be 'A Promise of the Eternal'."

Imperator made an acknowledging sound, watching small crimson droplets cover the floor as she reached for a towel.

Imperator's hand was bleeding something fierce, but Calliope's... the wound was there, that was for certain, gaping up at her, but there was barely any blood.

"What the hell does this mean?" She demanded quietly, showing her hand to Secondo.

He stepped closer, tugging at the wound as if to coax more blood from it. She made a disgusted face at him whilst she waited for a reply.

"Your predictions were correct, Sister. The ritual only served as an invitation for other entities to feed off her."

"I'm sorry- what?"

He ignored her, winding the rope into a neat roll as he continued. "It's no wonder all the ghouls are so energetic as of late. The same would go for my brother."

Imperator only nodded, wiping the blood from her hands. "Alright, Calliope, I've done what you asked. Now, tell me, who should we offer you to?"

Secondo perked up at this, his full attention on the two of them.

Calliope pursed her lips, wondering if she really should tell them. Amidst her doubt, a sudden sting on her arm pulled her back to the present. Good to know our deal is legitimate, I suppose...

"Buer, his name's Buer."