Dark Light

Chapter Eleven

Stubby candles lined the decorated red carpet, releasing a sweet, smoky aroma that filled the open room. Bath Kol regarded the thick carpet, thinking about the spiritual journey she was about to go on.

Though the sun was still bright and strong, the curtains had been drawn and the room was dimly lit, mostly by the candles around the carpet.

Bath studied the necklace in her hand. The large multifaceted ruby gleamed in the low light. She frowned, wondering once again why Camael had asked her to read it. The owner of the necklace, a woman named Alyssa Moreno, was someone who was killed under Cam's protection. Maybe Cam just wanted to learn more about the woman whose life he failed to save?

Lahabiel came up behind her. Bath turned to see her holding the spellbook against her chest, a furrowed look of concern on her long, haggard face. Her dark blonde hair hung loose over her shoulders, and looked a little frail and unkempt to Bath. She knew that her own appearance was not much better. It had been a long few days for them all. The Summer and Winter Solstice's were always the most trialling times of the year.

"Everything is ready," Lahabiel said. She bit her lower lip.

"You look nervous," Bath told her.

Lahabiel shook her head. "I'm fine. I just have never liked this, is all. Being here while our brothers are out there." She looked away, before her grey-blue eyes met Bath. "The police and fire brigade have been dispatched to the building. They must be causing some trouble over there." She sighed, looking defeated. "And we're here reading a random dead woman for Camael."

Bath rubbed Lahabiel's shoulder. "Camael requested this read specifically. If it was important for him, it's important for us. Even if the outcome is nothing." She nodded to the carpet. "Come on. Let's get this over with, and then we can continue surveilling our brethren's activity."

Lahabiel nodded, attempting a smile.

Bath couldn't blame her for worrying so much. There was so much going on out in the world, it was often hard to just stay indoors and watch things happen.

Stepping over the candles, Bath lay down on the carpet, careful not to brush her dress over the flames. She held the ruby necklace to her chest with both hands, and closed her eyes. Taking slow, deep breaths, she cleared her mind and felt her heart rate slow. The heavy aroma of the candles helped her relax, taking her to the place she needed to go to.

Lahabiel cleared her throat, and began reading from the book. Her low, soothing voice spoke the old language that their brethren first spoke on the mortal plane, the language they considered to be their old tongue. Before they became grounded on earth.

Concentrating on her breathing, Bath felt herself drift away.

Clouds of grey mist swam through a black expanse. Through the mist, the faint image of a woman's face appeared–long blonde hair, sensuous green eyes, stunningly beautiful. This was the woman they sought, the owner of the necklace–Bath knew it. Now she could see why Camael was so invested in her.

"What do you see?" Lahabiel's words echoed within the darkness.

"I see her." Bath's own words were dull and muted, sounding far away.

The woman's face grew, filling the world. Within the misty expanse, a new scene materialised. Several figures in black robes stood in a circle, surrounded by a formless black land that faded into darkness all around. A faint sound of chanting could be heard, though all the sounds were muted. Symbols were carved into the rocky earth, some Bath recognised as satanic images, some she was less familiar with.

"Devil worshippers," she told Lahabiel. "Deep in the past. The woman's past."

She attempted to focus on the chanting–but a hideous horned creature flashed into view. Bath cried out as pain lanced through her mind, a searing heat shocking her.

"What is it?" came Lahabiel's voice in the darkness.

The misty clouds swam through the black world as Bath gathered herself, attempting to focus further.

Vivid images flashed through Bath's mind. Various faces, places, moments in time–each one felt like a sharp jolt in her skull. The visions increased, one after the other, becoming a flickering blur of pounding blows. Within the turmoil, Bath discovered the true essence of what she searched for.

"Bath!" Lahabiel called out.

The mists evaporated as Bath was shocked out of her trance. Lahabiel stood over her, shaking her shoulder.

"Bath, are you okay? What happened? You were groaning."

Blinking back her focus, Bath rose onto her elbow, her heart racing. "That lady..." she said, attempting to make sense of all that she had experienced. "We have to warn Camael."

"I don't understand," Lahabiel said. "What did you see?"

Bath swallowed. Her eyes felt bruised, and she had to squint, despite the low light in the room. "Alyssa Moreno... she is a descendant of a group of powerful devil worshippers, who possessed actual demonic blood. This blood passed down her family line, and that same demonic blood runs through her veins." She tried to rise and faltered.

Lahabiel helped her onto her feet. "What does that mean?"

"Her... her mind was pure, in her human form. But her soul had a dormant demonic aspect. That's why the demon's wanted her. They wanted her dead, so that her soul could be released."

"But that would release her to Heaven. Or even to Hell. That wouldn't affect the mortal plane."

"No, no..." Bath rubbed her temple, still shaken from the visions. "I don't know how, but the demons can get to her. Her demonic spirit." She quickly looked around the room." We need to warn Camael."

"Here," Lahabiel said, rushing to a side table. "My phone."

She jabbed a few buttons and brought the mobile to her ear.

They waited in silence for several seconds.

"It can't connect," Lahabiel finally said. She looked at Bath with fear stricken eyes.

Bath shook her head. "Try the others. Try Balthiour."