Chapter Text
CHAPTER 26: DUSK
After a thorough exploration of the clearing and its surroundings, her security team removed themselves from the area to create a perimeter of approximately one kilometer in diameter, or click, as they called it. She wanted to respect Eva’s desire for privacy, but they couldn’t really be effective on a wider range cordon.
Victor had told her that they should be dressed as if for a party, but taking into account that it’d be among the trees, on wet earthy ground, so she’d chosen high boots, almost to her knees, and a cocktail dress, dark green, hanging up to her thighs. She hoped to avoid getting mud on it, that was the reason why she hadn’t taken something longer. It wasn’t her usual color, also, but she guessed her effort to wear a subdued tone would be appreciated. And avoiding sequins, of course, which was quite the sacrifice for her. Luckily, there had been no rain during the day.
She was standing a bit apart, watching curiously the preparations. Daffodil had started to mumble, so she’d sent him farther away, so he’d pester Bailey instead of her. Lavender was close, but she couldn’t stop making rounds in surveillance. She couldn’t make that girl to relax, for God’s sake. It was a commendable trait in a bodyguard, but she didn’t think there was any cause for worry, right now.
The Tremere should be still doubtful of what had happened. The markswoman had escaped, but they got the rest, except their leader, dead in the Labyrinth. The last member of the team that they hadn’t captured should be there, also, but it wasn’t probable that he could have gotten out. She had people watching the exit are, and they hadn’t detected him. Jasper said he’d give him a couple weeks to let lack of blood to force him into torpor, before going for him.
They had neither had contact with the Magic Castle Chantry. The Nosferatu had it under close watch, and none had contacted them, neither the two team members still free, nor Tremere hierarchy. It looked as if they were playing the waiting game, and see who the one to take the first step was. Well, she had her two prisoners under heavy guard, and she, for her part, could wait.
The Wyrd Sisters were getting the clearing ready for whatever it was that they were going to do there. Although, more or less, they kept their usual outfits (Hester with her black tube dress, Violet with her pants, velvet shirt and vest as if she was an elegant lady croupier in the Old West, Kyoko with black leather pants and jackets in a modern style), they’ve all donned some kind of white front-opened robes and crowns of flowers, as if they were officiants.
She guessed that, by the end of the ceremony, they’d discard the robes, and they didn’t want to lose time getting dressed again. Current-day priests did the same, they were dressed in daily clothes, and donned their chasuble for mass, taking it out after it. Few times they were undressed below the holy vestments. She could give word of that, she remembered, feeling naughty.
Eva had talked to the Sisters for a while, and then she’d walked to the attendees, Victor, herself and their three Ghouls, who had gathered for a moment to listen to her.
- I beg discretion as witnesses of what will unfold tonight. – Eva was wearing a heavy brown mantle, hooded, not revealing anything she may wore behind it, not even her hair. – Some people – she smiled, and Nelli knew who she was thinking of, someone who was still unseen – are very secretive and wouldn’t want their part in this ceremony to become public knowledge.
They all assented and separated again, to watch the surroundings or, like Nelli, the preparations. The Sisters had placed a small wooden, old-looking table near the center of the clearing. Around, in the limits of the imperfect circle that the trees defined, they’d arranged metal bowls with aromatic herbs and oils. Leaning on a tree was something like an arch made of wire. Flowers of several kinds, white, blue and red above all, had been woven on it. There were two red roses, a crown made of daisies and several lilies inside a wicket basket.
At one point, as she was pacing around watching the scene, in a completely intentionally accidental way, Victor stopped beside her, at a distance slightly longer than his arm. He was dressed elegantly, as he used to, that is, as if a rapper had decided to disguise himself as a businessman. She had to admit that he wasn’t that bad tonight. He was wearing a white shirt, without buttons with laces to close the neckline, in a renaissance style, but without lace edgings in the sleeves (she think those were tacky), matched with dark leather tight pants, and one of his ridiculous hats. She could allow for him to be seen beside her.
- Well, what do you think about this?
- Oh, I don’t know. – She looked at him through her long eyelashes, almost sideways. – These ceremonies are too naturalistic for my taste, but I think I’ll get through it.
- I think it’s… intriguing. – He took the opportunity to come half a step closer. – I’ve never seen anything like it, and you know I love arcane rituals. – He made a gesture to encompass the clearing, though he actually refrained from doing those things with his fingers he used to when mentioning magic. He was behaving very well tonight.
- Mmm. I guess it may be interesting, especially, that part about “celebrating the living”. – She said that lowering her voice into a deep and sensual pitch, to make him nervous. – What do you think they mean with that? – She raised an eyebrow and changed posture, closing half a step towards him.
- Err… I don’t know, actually. – He looked around briefly, clearly trying to avoid looking at her – I guess dancing among the trees, or something like that.
- Dunno, dunno. – She was inside her arm’s reach by now, and she crossed her arms with a wide movement, almost brushing his chest with her right hand. – Eva is heavily covered, we don’t know what she is wearing down that mantle, and Jasper is nowhere to be seen, as if he was ashamed. – She leaned a bit backwards, supporting her weight on her left leg and with the right one forward, head tilted, watching him through her lashes again.
- Ha! – He crossed his arms and spread his legs, a strong, firm posture, with his body pointing to Nelli’s right, not her directly. – Imagine? With the shame they show each time we mention sex, even in passing. – He nodded his head towards the youngest of the Sisters. – Or directly, of course.
He smiled widely, honestly. He was having fun, with this exchange. Nelli had to admit she was in a cheerful mood tonight. No ruling concerns, no quarrels for territory, just enjoying a night out, a party she hadn’t organized.
As they talked, they had stopped watching the preparations, which had seemingly finished. Suddenly, they heard the Sisters intoning a wail, kind of a wordless mourning song, each one in a different harmony.
Eva had left the clearing, and now she entered among the trees with Jasper at her left, also dressed with a full mantle, with a hood. They both were walking carefully so that they didn’t open and reveal their garments. Or lack of them. Nelli glanced at Victor sideways and pointed purposefully, sounding a small “mmm”. He chuckled silently, not wanting to disturb the solemn occasion, but clearly amused by her lewdness. As they turned to look at them, they both stood almost touching, his left elbow almost resting on her shoulder.
The covered couple walked slowly to the table, where they settled several objects they had been holding under the cloaks. They did that at the same time, and they could see nothing, until the stepped back. On the table, they could see a tie clip with a pentacle inscribed on it, a wrench and a silver pitcher, smooth, without ornaments or filigree.
After a moment, the chant ceased, and Eva started speaking with a voice which was much more firm and powerful than her usual tone, which was soft and gentle, almost as if she didn’t want to be heard.
- Tonight we gather to reminisce, to remember those who had crossed the Veil. – Though her voice was much stronger than usual, she moved no muscle, and looked at nobody, her eyes were fixed on the items over the table. – We didn’t know them for long, or in depth, but the presents they brought to us were immense, and we’ll never be able to repay in full. They gave their lives for us, but they also showed us their affection and shared the love they had for each other with us. They reminded us what hope was like, what you feel when you share love with another, they helped us be better and overcome our fears.
As she spoke, Jasper kneeled, dug a shallow hole and buried something. Over it, he placed the two roses, the crown of daisies around them, and the lilies touching the crown of flowers. He stepped back and then he spoke, with his hoarse voice, but also clean and firm.
- May this acorn germinate and turn into an oak to remember them. May these flowers stay here as offerings, and then wither and feed the tree. And so, Death begets Life.
- Death begets Life. – The Sisters repeated the phrase, as if it was a prayer
- Usually, – Eva took to the speech again – we would now perform a ritual to guide their Spirits to the Other Side, and we’d bury their corpses. – Jasper and Eva placed themselves in front of the table. – However, they had their own Guides and I don’t think they need our help. And their bodies were sent to the Other Side directly. Thus, we can only honor their memories, and show that we’ve learned from them. That is why, tonight, we celebrate our existence, and our Love.
With these words, they let their mantles fall to the ground. With great surprise, Nelli saw Jasper was completely clad in white. His outfit was no different from what he used to wear, fitting pants and hoodie, but they were immaculate white. Also the shoes, usually black-
Eva wore a blue dress, as the sun-illuminated sky, but dappled with small silvery stars. She also wore a small silver tiara with blue jewels. The effect on both of them, with their cerulean skins, was certainly intense.
Hester and Kyoko each took one side of the flowery archway and put it over the couple, standing on the ground. As they moved, the youngest was throwing small flames from her free hand, lighting the bowls she’d prepared before.
Violet took a silk ribbon out and, taking Eva and Jasper’s left arms, she tied them, with a smile and, perhaps, tighter than strictly necessary.
First Eva, then Jasper, bit their wrists, over the ribbon, and placed them over the silver pitcher, letting their blood drip and flow, through the ends of the silken rope, to the interior of the pitcher. After some time, they closed their wounds.
- Now – Violet took the pitcher – you are one being. She gave the mix of blood to Eva and Jasper, alternately. – You are forever together, under the sky. – She turned to the attendees. – Bear witness.
- They…they…they… – Nelli blinked, it looked as if her sight had blurred through a red veil. – Are they getting married?!
Then, she realized she’d been crying. She didn’t remember the last time she’d done it, in fact, she didn’t even know if she could shed tears, even blood ones. She thought they had dried forever. For a second, she thought she shouldn’t, that her dress would be ruined, her makeup…
She felt an enormous arm wrapping her. She cuddled against his body, not peeling her eyes from the ceremony, though she could barely see anything through the tears. She felt an intense desire, not sexual, but of affections, comfort.
- Would you…? – Oh, but she hated sounding that weak. – Keep me company tonight?
He was silent. Scared by her vulnerability, fearing his rejection, she looked up, and saw that Victor was watching her in silence. Though it wasn’t a flood, some blood tears fell from his eyes.
- Nothing… – he had to clear his throat, his voice was strangled. – Nothing would make me happier.
Together, they turned to keep watching the wedding, even if they didn’t remember too much of it. Next night, maybe, they would be rivals again. But tonight they would love again, perhaps, as they’ve done before.
She wrapped her arm around Victor’s waist and, for a time, at least, felt content.