Chapter 361 - The Ritual
Friday, Midnight.
Sylvia was looking at the full moon above from the window of her room. She was wearing a black ensemble, consisting of a black dress beneath a flowing cloak.
She recalled the time when she was successful in getting Laura's soul from the netherworld and planted it on the couple's dead baby.
She knew that by doing so she would have to pay a heavy price, unfortunately, she didn't expect that her beloved youngest son will also die and his soul taken away in exchange for Laura's soul that was reincarnated into the baby's body.
This time she's more than prepared.
Her main purpose in visiting the netherworld is to find her great-great-grandfather's soul and bring him to the current world and inhibit the unconscious guy's body.
To make sure that no one in her family member will die again, she already prepared three virgin women slaves as her offering for the guardians of the netherworld so that they will allow her to roam the world of the dead to find King Rhazien's soul.
.
A knock on the door broke her reverie.
"Madam, the ritual room is ready!" the servant's voice echoed outside the door.
"Good!" Sylvia replied and closed the window. She went to the table and picked up the black box containing her grandfather's treasure box containing his most prized medallion and other personal belongings. Based on the ancient book, the gold medallion contains a thread of his great grandfather's soul. The medallion will produce a red glow once the owner is near.
She went to the door and exited. "Everything is ready?" she asked the maid.
"Yes, Madam!" the maid replied.
"How about the virgin women?" she inquired.
"They're already inside the room in their unconscious state," the maid responded.
"Good! And how about my son, Nathan?"
"He's also waiting for you in the room, Madam."
"How about Lord Corbin and Lord Zalvo?" she asked.
"They haven't returned yet, Madam," the maid answered.
"Okay, let's proceed to the ritual room," Sylvia said.
They went downstairs and entered the secret door that will bring them to the underground hallways that connect the whole property.
While walking in the hallway, Sylvia spoke again, "How about my grandfather's body?"
"He's already inside the room, Madam," replied the maid.
"Good!" Sylvia murmured.
After a few minutes of walking in the hallway, they finally reached the ritual room.
Several men were already guarding outside, they opened the door as soon they saw Madam approaching the room.
Sylvia and the maid entered the ritual room.
On the right corner of the room, the bodies of the unconscious girls were lying side by side covered by a white blanket. On the left side is one bed ready for occupancy, and that is where she would lie down. She would leave her mortal body behind and enter the netherworld with her soul.
Nathan was sitting on the chair near the unconscious guy's bed.
Sylvia went to the table near her bed and put the black treasure box containing her great grandfather's personal belongings. She opened the box and picked up the medallion and fastened it around her neck.
Then she looked at her son and said, "You know already what to do..."
Nathan nods his head. "Yes, Mother," he replied.
Sylvia picked up the three chalices, the candles, and the sharp dagger, she was assisted by the maid.
Her first stop was on the first girl. The maid put the candle above the unconscious girl's head and lighted it. Then the chalice was placed beside the burning candle.
Sylvia holds the sharp dagger in her right hand. She removed the cover and stared at the girl's face, then she recited a dark spell that lasted for a few minutes... done reciting the spell she slashed the girl's neck, making the poor girl bleed to death. When the girl died, her soul in the form of white light floated in the air and entered the chalice. Sylvia shut off the lid, trapping the soul inside the chalice.
They moved to the next girl and repeated the same process.
Done killing the girls and trapping their souls in the three chalices, Sylvia ordered her men. "Bury the girls body somewhere!"
"Aye, Madam!" the men replied and carried the corpses outside to be buried in unmarked grieve.
The maid brought all the burning candles to the table together along with other ritual paraphernalia.
Then Sylvia lie down on the bed and stared at the ceiling, grasping the golden medallion with her two hands. She shut her eyes and recited an incantation that would enable her soul to travel outside her body and enter the netherworld.
After fifteen minutes of chanting...
The candles died and the room was plunged into pitch-black darkness for a few minutes.
Sylvia's soul departed from her body and began its journey towards the netherworld. Her soul entered an infinite space... blackness surrounded her soul as she floated in a never-ending void... then suddenly... her soul finally entered the place of the dead.
The entire place was desolate looking, surrounded by dark valleys and no plants in sight.
The guards were standing outside the enormous rusted-looking gate, Sylvia went to their side. "I would like to see Docor, the custodian," she said in a calm voice.
The guard looked at her closely. Since she didn't come through the usual protocol that every dead people have to undergo, they know that she come to the place for a special purpose.
"Do you have the special pass?" the guard asked.
"Yes, I have..." Sylvia replied. She closed her eyes for a few seconds, chanting a spell in her mind, then she opened her palm. A black diamond emerged from her right hand and glowed amidst the dark surrounding.
"She got the pass! Open the gate!" the leader of the guard ordered his comrades.
The colossal gate opened and one of the guards accompanied Sylvia to the waiting place where Docor, the custodian has been residing for centuries.
"Stay here for a moment, the custodian will arrive soon. He's taking care of important errand outside. I still have to notify him of your arrival," he explained.
Sylvia nods her head and lowered herself on the rusted chair. The structure of Docor's dwellings was like that of a crumbling, abandoned barn house that badly needs a repair.
Sylvia looked around here, the desolate wilderness, dominated by black and gray color can give anyone instant depression. Nothing changed the last time she comes here.
After a few minutes of waiting...
Docor appeared in front of her, his immortal aura instantly enveloped her in a warm hug.
Sylvia rose to her feet and bowed her head. "My lord, nice to see you again! You looked dashing as ever!" she said animatedly.
Docor went to her side and examined her face. "Still looking beautiful than ever! When are you going to return here and stay by my side forever?" he asked, teasing her.
Sylvia smiled demurely. "My lord, I'm still enjoying my stay on earth, I won't be leaving that place anytime soon," she replied in a serious tone.
"I see... enjoy your stay in the world of the living as long as you want. If one day, you got bored on earth, you're always welcome to stay in my place. You will always have a soft spot in my heart," he said affectionately.
Sylvia smiled. "Thank you for offering me a place to stay, my lord," she said.
"Alright, why you're here?" Docor asked, getting into the business.
"I'm here to find my great-great grandfather's soul, the mighty vampire King Rhazien that died thousand years ago due to a curse," Sylvia explained. "He was suppose to reincarnate in the world of the living at the current times but until now, I can't detect his soul anywhere," she added.
"Okay, I'll go and check my long list of souls, just wait here..." Docor said.
"My lord, wait for a moment... I have a gift for you, your favorite! Fresh from my place," Sylvia said wickedly.
Docor grinned happily. "Ah, an exotic delicacy... give it to me!" he said excitedly.
Sylvia opened her palm and the chalice containing one of the virgin's souls appeared in her hand. "This is yours, my lord!" she said and put the chalice in his hands.
Docor smiled with anticipation. He quickly removed the lid of the chalice and opened his mouth wide, sucking the girl's soul. He closed his eyes for a moment, relishing the intoxicating feeling of consuming a fresh virgin's soul. It invigorated his whole body, giving him a vitality boost like no other.
Sylvia smiled in amusement. Docor's weakness is always been a virgin maiden's soul, harvested fresh from the world of the living.
A few minutes later.
Docor opened his eyes and smiled brightly. "Good job, dear. I like your gift very much! Now let me check the long list of souls that are still staying under my jurisdiction. I will let you know if I found your grandfather," he said and entered the door.
"Take your time, my lord!" Sylvia said.
Docor disappeared behind the door.
Sylvia lowered herself into the chair.
Fifteen minutes later.
Docor exited the door.
"My dear, I'm sorry to say this... but I can't find King Rhazien in the long list. Which means, he might be in another place. Check the other other two remaining places, maybe you can find him there," Docor said.
Sylvia's spirit sank.
"Ah, don't worry dear. I'll let you borrow my special pass so that you can go to the two towers and approach the other custodians with ease," Docor said and opened his palm, a black silver necklace with a black opal pendant appeared in his right hand. He put it on the visitor's hand. "There you go. Just show them the necklace..."
Sylvia smiled. "Thank you so much for your help and support, my lord! I'll return this precious thing to you after I found my grandfather's soul," she said, eager to leave the place.