Chapter 34: The Gathering of the Damned Part 1
North Council, Orrius Forest, Barcelona
It was the day after the Summoning of Regina's soul. Although there's still daylight, Meridith, the Prima of the North Council did not go into her coffin. She sat in the study of her chambers, awaiting the arrival of Vlad her sire, and the Leader of the North Council. Accompanying him would be Carmillo, her brother, who likes to don the feminine garb. Their appearance is almost alike but the main difference is their sex organ.
Although Carmillo tries to fight his nature and runs away, he cannot escape his destiny. In the end, he succumbed to the calling of his nature. He still became part of the damned, now bearing the Mark of the Beast on his chest.
The creaking of the door alerted her of the two new presence in her room.
"Greetings Sire, it is my pleasure to welcome you and my brother back to the Council," Meridith said while curtsying to the undead lord.
"What in damnation happened Meridith? If you have no satisfactory answer, I will let your head roll immediately. Forget about being the Prima of this Council." Roared the newcomer.
Although afraid of her Sire's temper, Meridith still exuded calmness, "It is what I've said in the missive. Yesterday, the second central tower lit up, and the elder of the second manor found Regina lying in her own pool of blood. She used her body and the remaining half of her soul to activate the portal that would take her directly from Castile to our base. She was bleeding black blood sire, from all of her orifice, and her chest caved, the mark of our faith burned through her body." She relayed.
"We actually did a summoning last night and asked her what happened. According to her, a heavenly presence came. She is not sure if it is one of the inhabitants of Eden or a Heavenly Soldier itself that came to stop the plan of the Fallen Lord. The only reason she survived was because of her distance from the Cathedral." Meredith added.
"Did you obtain a stone recording of the event?" Her Sire asked, now pacified by her answer.
"Of course, this is the recording of last night's summoning. I believe the other Council Heads would also like to add their input. From what I can gather, the Fallen Lord is in a dire situation. The priority right now is to facilitate his rescue, but we are unsure of the situation there, Regina told us that everyone, except her and the Fallen Lord, perished."
"I understand. It has been hard on you child. What about the preparations for the coming of Council Heads and their Primo and Prima?" her Sire asked her again.
"All taken care of Sire. There are enough children and virgins to entertain our guests. We also traded some slaves from Kaibabawan, they were caught by our poachers." She told him with a smile.
"Perfect. Let us rest and welcome the arrival of our guests." Vlad smiled wickedly.
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10 Post Meridiem, North Council, Orrius Forest, Barcelona
The booming sound of drums reverberated through the dense forest, creating an almost hypnotic rhythm that seemed to pulse with the heartbeat of the earth itself. Naked men and women, their eyes glazed, stood dazedly and orderly at the entrance to the ancient Colosseum, ready to welcome their guests and whet their appetite for the feast to come.
The air was thick with the scent of pine and damp earth, mingling with the acrid smell of smoke that drifted from the massive bonfire blazing at the center of the gathering. It roared with a ferocious intensity, the flames, licking the night sky and casting eerie shadows that danced across the faces of the onlookers.
The crackling of the fire was punctuated by the occasional pop and hiss. Around the bonfire, tables were set up, laden with an assortment of raw meats, their surfaces glistening with fresh blood. Jars filled with dark, viscous liquids, some wine and others blood. They stood alongside black-colored fruits and grains, some of which were still teeming with writhing maggots. Their rotten appearance appeals to their guests' preference.
The statue of the golden ram glittered brilliantly under the bright flames that illuminated the Colosseum. It stood proudly at the makeshift altar in the center, the polished surface reflecting the flickering light of gold and fire.
Surrounding the altar, black-cloaked figures stood like sentinels, their faces and identities concealed by the elaborate ceramic masks that they were wearing. The ceramic masks, adorned with intricate but grotesque designs and paints, have one thing in common, an open eye, etched to the foreheads of the masks. This added an air of mystery and foreboding to the scene, making the figures appear almost otherworldly.
In stark contrast to the silent sentinels made up of the Elders and Heads of the different Manors in their Council, the High Priest and Priestess stood outside, their wide-spread hands reaching towards the heavens. \
Their voices rose in a powerful chant, each word resonating with ancient magic, hair-raising ancient magic, as they invoked wards upon wards. The rhythmic cadence of their incantations created an invisible barrier, shrouding the Colosseum from the prying eyes of the Garuda, the Lightworkers, and even the Knights that hunted their existence for centuries. The air around them seemed to hum with energy, vibrating with the potency of their spell work.
As their chanting continued, the atmosphere grew increasingly charged, the air crackling with unseen power. The flames of the bonfire and torches danced higher as if responding to the High Priest's and Priestess' call. The golden ram statue, inside the Colosseum seemed to glow even brighter, its presence dominating the scene. The black-cloaked figures remained motionless, their silent vigil adding to the sense of solemnity that permeated the upcoming gathering.
Meanwhile, in the Underground Chambers of the North Council
Meridith and Carmillo gathered outside the chambers of their Sire. The siblings are garbed in white robes with blood-red cloaks, with no other adornment other than the golden clasp featuring an ouroboros. They are also wearing a red clay mask, their eyes, the only thing discernible, and of course, the standard open eye, etched on their forehead.
In the One-Eyed Society, High-Ranking Members need to be masked when attending a Gathering.
The disposable minions on the other hand required little secrecy, for their fates were already sealed. They are mere scapegoats and sacrifices, their mortal lives were nothing more than playthings for the powerful beings, namely, the High Ranking council members, and The Great Tenebrio, orchestrating the events. These minions had already sold their souls to the Master anyway, rendering them expendable in the grand scheme of things.
Meridith's inner thoughts were interrupted by the loud ringing of the bell from thirteen different towers. The sound shook the tower's walls and could even be felt in their underground chambers.
When the bell rang, their master opened the giant door leading to his chamber with an air of authority. He wore a pristine white robe, almost glowing in the darkness of their underground abode.
He was adorned with golden serpent-shaped arm bands whose scales gleamed in the flickering torchlight. Strapped around his waist was an obsidian dagger, its dark blade a stark contrast to his immaculate attire.
Glossy black wings served as his robe, emitting an eerie black vapor, it remained furled on his back. The wings' dormant state did not diminish their Sire's imposing presence.
His face was concealed behind a golden mask, the carvings and pattern, just like theirs, intricately engraved with an open eye in the center of the forehead. Only his blood-red eyes were visible, piercing through the mask with an unsettling intensity.
His neck was protected by a scale-like mesh, hinting at the presence of an underarmor beneath his robes, a subtle reminder of his readiness for any threat.
As he strode forward, his golden boots clinking softly against the stone floor, he motioned for his Prima and Primo to follow. They moved in unison, a silent entourage, as they prepared to welcome their guests.