Scattered Souls

Chapter 52 - Bright Eyed and Bushy Tailed

Xypher and I were the perfect embodiment of living each moment to the fullest in the few days we had left before the ritual.

Late night drives, coffee sessions, making out any and every where that we possibly could. We were making memories that would last a lifetime. Instead of being disheartened about him leaving, I decided to focus all my attention on enjoying the moment with him. I'd have plenty of time to sulk after he's gone. This was the time to focus on the present.

The priest was ready, the remains, the musical teapot and the locket had been taken over to the priest's house. The only thing left was for Xypher and I to get there that day.

**********

The morning of the ritual, I was up from about 3am, tossing and turning in anticipation of the day ahead. A million different thoughts were running through my head. Even though, I was certain about the ritual needing to be done, my emotions were on high alert now that the day had actually arrived.

When Xypher knocked on my door that morning, I was already sitting on my bed after showering, with a towel wrapped around me. I lacked the energy and motivation to even put any clothes on.

"Come in." I called out to him.

"Someone's bright eyed and bushy tailed this morning." he said with his usual smirk.

I managed a small smile in response.

"I assure you it's not bribery this time." he said holding up the familiar brown paper bag from Treat Yourself bakery.

The sight of him smiling with the bag in his hand was enough to start the waterworks.

"I'm going to miss you." I said with a sob, the tears just rolling down my eyes. I'd been holding back my emotions for the sake of enjoying the moment for far too long now. I couldn't contain them much longer. 

He placed the bag on my pedestal and kneeled down in front of me.

"I'm going to miss you too, love." he said, while stroking my cheek.

"If I managed to find another loophole in time, I would've stayed." he pointed out.

"Even though I'll be gone, our love will never die. It's going to live on forever." he reminded me.

"As Alexa said - it's an Epic Love Story." I told him.

I crashed my lips against his, without even waiting for him to respond.

It was different this time. Instead of the usual urgency, we slowed down, both of us wanting to savor the last few minutes of being together.

After reveling in each other's embrace a few minutes longer, we decided it was time to head for the priest's  house.

**********

"Come in, my children." Father Bennet welcomed us as soon as we got to his house. He was far more chirpier this time, most definitely a result of finally being reunited with his son.

"Are you'll ready?" he asked us. 

"Yes." Xypher and I said simultaneously.

"Follow me." he said leading us into a little room down the hallway.

The room was prepared with markings and candles on the floor and a little alter in the corner.

"That's the alter of sacrifice." he explained. "Each item will be placed on each one of the markings that I have on the floor."

"We will call upon the dark souls and then the sacrifice will be done in steps. Starting with the locket, then the teapot. Followed by returning Jordan's soul to his body. Then you, Robyn. And finally Xypher's remains." I was glad that he explained in such detail.

"Are you'll okay with that? Do you'll have any questions?" he asked.

"I'm good." Xypher said.

"How exactly will I be sacrificed?" I asked, needing to clarify what that would entail. I didn't want any surprises popping up in the middle of this ritual.

"Well, you'll merely be offered as a component of the ritual. " he explained. "No harm will come to you, my child." he assured me.

"Okay, I'm good." I said,  breathing out a little sigh of relief.

The priest went through the steps with us one more time before he called upon the dark souls.

They were just clouds of black that appeared in the room. Even though they didn't say anything or have much of a form, it was as if you could feel the power radiating off of them. It filled up the room, heating it up, making it feel as if we were in an oven.

The priest placed the locket in the middle of the alter, he chanted a few words which resulted in the locket bursting up into flames. I gulped in response, this certainly wasn't what I was expecting. Was this even supposed to happen?

I let out a breath I didn't even realize I'd been holding when I saw that the locket was still intact. The flames hadn't destroyed it. 

The priest repeated the same process with the teapot. I was slightly more prepared, but still in awe as I watched.

I almost passed out when it was time for Xypher to stand at the alter. This was the part during which Jordan's soul would be returned to his body. I felt lightheaded as soon as his form went up in flames and eventually I had to cover my eyes.

After the flames disappeared, Jordan's body fell to the ground immediately. Father Bennet assured me that it was normal, it merely meant Jordan's soul was being restored.

Now it was my turn. I really wished I had been sedated for this part. A part of me wanted to run away, however,  I knew I couldn't leave the ritual halfway through. So I mustered up as much courage as I possibly could as I stood in the alter.

"It's going to be okay." Father Bennet assured me once again. "You're not going to feel any pain."

As he started to chant, I braced myself, I was expecting to feel the heat or warmth of the fire at least, I was surprised to find that I felt like I was being thrown into a bucket of ice cold water instead.

It was over quicker than I expected and I felt pretty normal, aside from a small shiver afterwards.

The priest did the same thing with Xypher's remains. Then he placed the locket, the teapot and the remains at the alter and chanted something different. This caused the remains to burst into flames and completely disappear, leaving behind the teapot and the locket.

That was it, Xypher was gone for good.

Jordan recovered after a few hours, a little disoriented, the last thing he remembered was the accident that he had.

I made up a story about how we came to the priest for his healing, which he bought in no time. And we headed home. I was honestly just grateful he wasn't bombarding me with questions that I wouldn't be able to answer.

I called Alexa as soon as I got home.  As soon as I entered my room and placed the locket and teapot on my dresser, I noticed the Treat Yourself bag on my pedestal. I was still clutching onto it and balling my eyeballs out when Alexa arrived.

I was left with a feeling of nothing but emptiness. Still trying to wrap my head and heart around the fact that Xypher was really gone.