Purification Ritual

The day was dull. Although spring was welcomed by winter it was still chilly. She had a bad morning only allowed minimal activity. But today she had decided to accept the servants' plea.

A few manservants carefully raised her unconscious husband to the mystic garden springs under her instructions. The void had been eating his soul for longer than anyone could remember. And now the dark patterns became more visible on his right shoulder from back to his chest.

The patterns were oddly shaped depicting the ancient demonic runes. They slowly descended the huge stone steps and entered the mystic ice gardens allowing the gates to be opened before them. Nemesis was left inside with Mina to look after him until the ritual ended.

She felt the calm ripples of the hot spring embrace the small stones at its edges.

She went down and placed her hand on the surface of the water chanting the holy scriptures. The spring water sent more ripples in response as if it trembled upon hearing her chanting.

-"It's purified." She confirmed with a faint glow on the surface.

She got up and turned back where they had his body on a thick wooden planks attached together to keep him from tumbling over.

Jafar and Blake lifted him up and slowly submerged him into the spring. The water immediately reacted by forming black bubbles mixed with faint golden light around him.

Many of them including Blake backed away instinctively. The water seemed to be boiling repulsively reacting against the void.

Luciana bit her lower lip.

"This is worse than I anticipated." She winced and then took a deep breath.

"Everyone, step back. I will take care of things here." She was wearing a lighter robe that looked like a chemise.

She took off the cloak and began reciting something in a low voice. She entered the spring carefully, checking the depth at the same time. His body was already afloat on the surface of the water refusing to accept him.

She had once seen how her father had carried out a purification ritual on one of his soldiers who was gravely effected by a paralysis curse. She had only hoped that she was doing it the right way.

They had to strip his upper body bare where the marks appeared most visible.

She placed one hand on his chest to check his heartbeats. There were noore heartbeats. She knew the void had consumed his life force as his vortex stopped. The right hand place on his abdomen where she could feel his scar freshly healed. His body seemed all beaten up. The sun reached overhead at the peak of the day,when she began the ritual. At first the rejection was intense as the black fog arose around him. She felt stinging sensation in her hands as she recited.

She continued the chanting until something like a black mass slowly tried to leave the body. His body trembled violently and his groans turned into painful screams. His eyes turned white. The marks on his body began to burn as smoke rose from the patterns. She was pushed back as he tried to free himself. Blake had to restrain him with Jafar's help until the black mass entirely came out of his body. His mouth foamed in pain as he screamed louder than before.

The water was boiling hot. Jafar could feel his legs scorched.

When the last part of the black mass finally left the body with a jerk he gradually stopped screaming and left a little moan before he went back unconscious.

She could feel her hands scorched and burnt. The pain was overbearing. She was only worried about the fetus in her womb being effected as she exceeded her limits.

The ritual took more than half of the day. The black mass had gained a faint form of something she noticed.

"What is that!" She heard gasps and strange looks from his aide and butler.

-"It appeared as his heart." She observed it.

It was ugly to look at. Blackened by the curse and burning in black flames. It was too dark.

A black light appeared in it's center.

"The soul is trapped inside the black mass." Jafar said and warned her to be careful to not touch it directly.

"It may attack you or consume your life my lady. You'll have to be more careful now."

Purifying it was a greater challenge than extracting.

She gulped and tried remembering how it was done in the great temple back home. It took a lot of divine energy to purify the diseased soul, and heart than one's body.

She was already dragging it beyond her limits.

-"Just one more push. God please I beg for strength." She prayed in her mind.

"My lady! Destroy it before it extends its roots back inside master's body."