“Are we ready?”
Kayel stood in the centre of the large, stone chamber. In front of him was a cast iron cauldron, slowly being heated by a small fire. Around him, his friends stood patiently, from youngest to oldest. Zitel first, followed by Thitel, Veeyel and Ksiel, with Psivee-En at the end. On the ground, an intricate pattern had been drawn, using a mixture of water, blood and other, less sightly bodily fluids.
“This is it…”
As if on command, the seven beings all began to hum. A low, deep hum, only just audible. The cauldron began to heat up, its contents quietly simmering within. Kayel gently stirred the mixture, checking a timer on his wristband. After a minute and six seconds, Kayel put out the fire, allowing everything to cool down, sprinkling a pale, silvery powder into the metal pot.
The hums grew louder. Kayel added more ingredients to the cauldron, causing the liquid to hiss and splutter, before turning into a loud, crackling noise. Beneath it all, a faint knocking could be heard. Someone trying to get in. But they were sealed inside. No one was leaving or entering until the ritual was complete.
Finally, the mixture began to thicken, turning from a wet, watery fluid into a heavy paste.
Kayel raised his hand and everyone else fell silent. He stirred the mixture one last time, then closed his eyes.
“Anaveh.”
The cauldron lifted itself off the ground. Kayel walked towards Psivee-En, revealing several ornate, silver knives. He scooped some of the mixture out with the blade and forced it into Psivee-En’s mouth.
“Min Aniigis.”
Psivee-En nodded and kept the knife in his mouth as Kayel did the same with his fellow Ksa, feeding each one a mouthful of the mixture. It tasted horrible, but they knew it was for a good cause. Kayel then returned to the centre, placing a knifeful in his own mouth. Unlike the others though, he removed the knife, instead tucking it under his armour so it was still in contact with his body.
“Pieh Pisoh.”
The cauldron slowly hovered back to the centre of the room. The six beings all stepped forward, their feet constantly in contact with the bloody markings on the ground. Kayel began adding more ingredients to the cauldron, once more heating it up. One by one, everyone took a small, ornate knife, cutting along their index fingers and letting their blood drip into the cauldron, before returning to their positions.
“Migmazeh.”
The wooden spoon Kayel had been using to stir began mixing the cauldron and its ingredients on its own. Once again, after a minute and six seconds, Kayel took it off the heat, kicked out the fire. The mixture had turned into a dark, crimson colour. A paste of blood.
“Ton Allakson Ee Teletorgia, Arkix.”
This time, the others repeated Kayel’s words, removing the knives from their moves and holding them in their left hands.
“Allazomeh. Ginoum Enan.”
“Allazomeh. Ginoum Kenour.”
“Allazomasteh. Mes ke Eks.”
“Allazomasteh. Panton ke Panton. Epsis Panton.”
“Pistevohmasteh.”
“Ginomasteh.”
Once again, the others all stepped forward.
Suddenly, Kayel thrust his arms into the cauldron. It was still incredibly hot. Kayel didn’t care. He swiftly pulled his arms out again. Each being forced their arms into the cauldron, coating themselves with the paste. They all then placed their right hands on each others’ shoulders, while Kayel walked around each one of them.
“Anaveh. Akoloutheh.”
The cauldron rose into the air and followed Kayel. As he stood in front of each being, he ran his blade down their left arm, then their right arm, then coated the shallow cuts with more of the dark paste, muttering a single word as he did so.
“Gineseh.”
Kayel then returned to the centre of the circle. Veeyel stepped forward and did to Kayel what he had done to them, making shallow cuts in his arms and covering them with the paste.
“Gineseh,” Veeyel muttered.
“Ginomasteh…” Kayel replied.
“Ginomasteh!” everyone else repeated.
Without warning, the paste within the cauldron began to bubble and expand. As it did so, so did the paste, slowly crawling up their skin, covering the six beings.
“EIMASTE!”
The paste continued to spread, rooting the six beings in place. The bloody marking on the ground began to glow, and particles became electrified, causing sputters of lightning to flash about. The candles lighting the room were all blown out in a single, strong breeze.
The mixture finally cocooned the six beings and began to harden, trapping each being within a crimson, almost crystalline shell. The shells became less and less translucent, obscuring whatever was going on inside.
Everything suddenly fell calm and quiet, and the room went dark. The remaining paste bubbled and boiled away, dissolving the ritualistic blood markings.
A knocking sound though could still be heard. The knocking turned into banging and shouting. Sounds of anger and concern. There were beings outside, wanting to get in.
Something flashed. A huge bolt of lightning. The room was bathed in a bright, white light.
“GET THEM OUT OF THERE!” a Thrakian voice roared as two smaller Thraki finally managed to wrench the heavy stone door open. “We have to… Oh no…”
Multiple Thraki stormed into the room, rushing around, trying to work out what was going on, where those weird noises came from, what had happened inside the chamber.
But they were too late.
The chamber was empty.