The Portal

[Arcana]

The Portal

20. The Morning Star

Rosey linked onto Damien's arm and shared her umbrella with him, as they made their way through the swirling mist, towards The Morning Star Inn. Though Damien possessed the mind of a forty year old man, outwardly he still looked like he was in his twenties. The ageing process had stopped for him ever since he emerged from the portal, all those years ago. Though it was fashionable for younger women to be attracted to older men, on the face of it, they appeared to be a pair of young lovers, both more or less the same age. As Rosey's heels echoed down the cobbled street, Damien was struggling with his desire to become better acquainted with the beauty on his arm, whose looks were quite breathtaking. Rosey kept glancing at Damien as they walked together, smiling at him through her fulsome lips, which were enhanced by the bright red lipstick she wore.

Finally The Morning Star Inn materialized before them, from just beyond the billowing mist. It was a typical English country pub, very quaint and olde worlde, with thick beams on the ceilings and walls. A cozy open fire crackled from the hearth of a brick chimney breast, that was decorated with an array of horse brasses, crowned by a painting of a hunting scene. A group of locals were drinking ale and playing dominoes in the corner across from the bar. They rudely stared at Damien and Rosey with a sneer, whispering among themselves and laughing, making it clear who they were laughing at. Damien wasn't particularly surprised by their stares, as Rosey had a look about her, that when she walks into a room, people can't help but stare. As Damien went to the bar to order drinks from the buxom serving wench, who was casually leaning over the bar, to purposely give Damien a good eyeful of her heaving cleavage, his attention was drawn towards witch marks and pentagrams, carved into the old oak beam above the bar.

There was something odd about the preoccupation with witchcraft in this rural community, predominantly occupied with farming , in the sleepy village of Chadwell Pickering, Damien thought to himself. He knew that even the name of the Inn, 'The Morning Star', is associated with the Devil. Rosey sat by the fire, as Damien called across, "Wine you said earlier, let me guess.... Rosé perchance?" "Yes, Rosé would be perfect Damien," Rosey replied with a giggle. Damien ordered himself a brandy and took the drinks over to sit next to Rosey by the warmly glowing fire. "Are you from around these parts Rosey?", Damien asked. "Not far from Chadwell Pickering," Rosey replied ambiguously. "I'm more interested in the great Damien Devlin, I hear your anecdotes are fascinating and highly prized at parties, among the rich and famous," she said, like a cat toying with a mouse. "Flattery will get you everywhere," Damien replied smiling. "I see that there are witch marks and pentagrams carved on some of the old oak beams in here, it seems as though the folk around these parts have been greatly troubled by witchcraft at some time or another," Damien said, watching for Rosey's expression, at the mention of witchcraft. "Oh really, I wouldn't know Damien, I'm just a clairvoyant,"Rosey replied. "Rosey, what is that short for?", enquired Damien. "Rosalyn," Rosey replied. 

"Damien, when I told you earlier, that my spirit guide told me that you may need to sacrifice yourself to save the missing child, I was told that you would have to face something horrible, in some strange and foreign land. I was told that the child you seek is still alive, but his health is greatly diminished. I was also told that there is someone in this strange land who knows you and has been watching you from afar for many years.", Rosey explained, "Does any of this make any sense to you Damien?", she asked. "Not just yet," Damien replied, as he continued, "Tell me something Rosey, have you ever heard mention of the name Ruth Rose?", Damien quizzed. "Didn't she own Darvil House many years ago, I heard all the rumours surrounding her mysterious disappearance and that she was later pronounced dead, even though they never found her body. Most people round these parts have heard that story." Rosey responded, "Why do you ask?", she retorted with a look of concern. On hearing the mention of Ruth Rose's name,  the group of farmers sitting in the corner suddenly stopped playing their game of dominoes and shouted across to Damien and Rosey, "We don't like to hear that name mentioned round here, after all she did at the Devil's House. We're particular about who drinks in our pub, so I think it's time you left Mr high and mighty and take that hussy with you!", the farmer said as he stood up aggressively. "How dare you speak to this young lady like that," Damien replied as he rose from his chair and squared up to the farmer and his group of friends. "Please leave it Damien, let's go before there's trouble," Rosey said grabbing Damien by the arm. "So much for local hospitality," Damien muttered. By now he saw the barmaid was laughing and considering that he was outnumbered, decided that discretion was the better part of valour.

As they left the pub, stepping back outside into the cloak of mist, Rosey turned to Damien and said, "Look Damien, I like you, but I'm worried about what's going to happen. I sense that something dreadful is going to happen to you, this very night. Promise me you'll take great care and think hard about what I said and whether you're truly ready to sacrifice yourself?", Rosey implored, before bidding Damien farewell. Her footsteps faded, as she became swallowed up by the mist. Damien now had to walk alone, the half mile back to Darvil House and as he walked, he couldn't help but wonder, what kind of sacrifice Rosey may be referring to? As he hurried along the cobbles, Damien knew that the night was still young and he had much to do. As he considered the prospect of what may lay ahead of him, for the first time in years, Damien felt a cold shiver run down his spine.

To be continued....

[Arcana]

The Portal

21. A turn of the key

By the time Damien arrived back at Darvil House, everyone was eagerly awaiting him, Ernest and Miriam, Father Murdock and not forgetting his faithful butler, Boggs. "I brought the salt and Sage as you ordered sir," Boggs declared. "Capital Boggs, now I want you to spread the salt over the outline of the pentagram on the floor in the attic and leave a small area clear, just big enough to step inside. Then I'd like you to spread salt in the four corners of the attic and place a stick of Sage in the middle of the pentagram, along with a circle of pillar candles. Once you've done all that, put enough sticks of Sage in ashtrays, to place one in every room throughout the entire house, lighting them as you go, there's a good chap." Damian ordered."As you wish sir," replied Boggs.

Before long the faint smell of the burning Sage began to percolate through the entire house. It was not a particularly pleasant smell, reminiscent of burning grass. "Is this really necessary?" questioned Ernest, twitching his nose in disgust at the noxious aroma. "I'm afraid so my man," Damien replied. "This will help to cleanse the atmosphere throughout the house and discharge any lingering negative energy, or malevolent spirits," Damien explained. "Now let's crack on," he announced, leading them all upstairs towards the attic room. The attic was enormous inside, running the entire length of the house, which was just as well, considering the battle that had taken place there previously. The angels were still standing stationary at their four stations within the tenebrosity.

Darkness pervaded every inch of the dusty attic, without any shaft of moonlight coming through the skylight, the moon unable to penetrate the dense mist outside. Damien lit a candle and led them all into the pentagram, outlined with salt, being careful to enter it through a small gap in the salt, that Boggs had left, as instructed. Damien then entered the pentagram himself and lay salt over the gap they had entered by. He proceeded to light the pillar candles, telling everyone to kneel on the floor and join hands to form a circle. "Now to turn the key," Damien said, as he placed his hand on the planchette, which was still sat atop the spirit board inside the pentagram, lit by dancing candlelight.  "Is there anyone there," he called out, then began murmuring a mantra over and over, saying, "Calm down, calm down, calm down eventually, calm down, calm down, calm down eventually, protect your energy, I am protected, I am protected, I am protected, I am protected, calm down, calm down, calm down eventually, calm down, calm down, calm down eventually, protect your energy, you are protected, you are protected, slow down, calm down your energy, calm down, slow down, slow down your energy, calm down, calm down, calm down eventually, protect your energy, I am protected, I am protected, I am protected, I have protection, calm down, calm down......"

At first there was nothing, then they all began to feel a faint vibration, as unexpectedly without warning, the candles all blew out at once. Damien relit the candles and the stick of Sage and waited. The vibration seemed to be slowly growing in intensity, as tiny pieces of debris on the attic floor began to move with the tremor. All at once, a bright light began to appear overhead as 'the key' had served its purpose, once more unlocking the gateway, that bridged this realm to another. No voices were heard calling from within this time, as the portal grew brighter and brighter in intensity, lighting up the entire attic. Still the motionless angels stood by, unflinching in the radiant blaze of light that surrounded and engulfed them.

Ernest, Miriam, Father Murdock and Boggs had to shield their eyes from the dazzling brilliance of the light, as Damien turned to Boggs and solemnly said, "Say a prayer with Father Murdock for me my man, I think I'm going to need all the help I can get," Then he turned to Ernest and Miriam and said, "I won't come back without Bertie, on that you have my word!" He then proceeded to reach into the portal with his hand, watching it disappear. Damien looked at his four companions for a brief moment, then without warning, plunged himself into the portal, completely vanishing from sight in a flash of light, as once more the portal dissipated until it faded completely from sight. Boggs turned to the Blyths, wiping a tear from his cheek on his sleeve, as he spoke, "If anyone can rescue your son, Damien can, may god help him."  

To be continued....

 

[Arcana]

The Portal

.

22. Pandemonium

As Damien plunged through the portal, he felt a blast of hot air on his skin, as if he'd hurled himself into the middle of a desert, that was baking in the midday sun. He removed his jacket and looked at his fob watch, which to his surprise, appeared to have stopped. As he surveyed the panorama that stretched before his eyes,  he observed that wherever he was, it appeared as a scene of complete bleak desolation. The sky appeared as if in a state of twilight, with a slightly reddish hue. The ground beneath his feet, was dunes of sand and in the distance, he saw what appeared to be deserted, derelict buildings that were crumbling in a state of decay. The heat was quite uncomfortable and torrid, as he removed his waistcoat and unbuttoned his shirt.

As his eyes adjusted to the surrounding dimness, he started walking towards the derelict buildings in the distance. His feet sank into the sand, causing him to have to labour with each step. It vaguely reminded him of his trip to Africa, when he was once escorted into the Sahara desert in search of a nomadic tribe, to learn from their customs and beliefs. It struck him that the experience of the dry heat was very similar, though the desert has a tendency to cool after the sun sets, whereas here, it seemed to remain perpetually hot. As he neared the derelict buildings, he saw that rather than being a few scattered ruins, it was an entire city that extended out into the gloom. It was indeed a most infernal place, as the hot, dry winds blew through this scene of devastation, whistling with an eerie eolian hum, that almost sounded like a sea of pleading whispers. Damien entered the nearest dilapidated buildings to investigate, only to discover that they appeared as if they'd been abandoned for centuries. Damien continued to walk through the city, which at first appeared to be completely deserted.

As he penetrated further into the bowels of the city, his ears met with the sound of a woman wailing and bitterly crying. Damien followed the sound to its source, only to be greeted with a sight that sickened him to his core. His eyes widened with horror, as he saw  a wrinkled hag feasting on human entrails, gorging on the gore and wailing, as if each mouthful was inflicting pain and remorse simultaneously. For a moment the withered ghoul stared at Damien and stopped feasting, pausing only to say, "Tasty, come here and join me, it's so delicious." "Come, come nearer, they'll be here soon," she said, before resuming to guzzle on the cadavers. Damien ran from there as fast as he could, only to stumble into a huge pile of rotting corpses, seething with maggots and flies. He was physically sick, as he climbed over the dead bodies, the stench of their putrefaction, caused him to gag. As he bolted away, the stinking pile of rotting flesh began to squirm and writhe, as if reanimated by some unseen force. Damien knew he had to press on with his search for Bertie, despite the diabolical scenes he was bearing witness to. As he tried to navigate his way through this Pandemonium, he witnessed a central square among the ruins, where some vast orgy was taking place, in which beautiful women were being ravished by demons. To his utter disgust, he saw them writhing and moaning with pleasure, in ecstasy with their demonic lovers caresses.

Damien rushed past them and saw a large building ahead, that appeared more complete than the rest, with domes and spires, sat atop rows of stone steps. He made his way up the steps and entered a vast hall, where someone was sitting at the far end, flanked by demons. Damien always wore a crucifix for protection, that Father Murdock had bestowed upon him, after his previous encounter with Asmodeus. He reached down and held it tightly to his chest, as he stepped forwards, moving nearer and nearer towards the shadowy figure at the far end of the hall. As he became close enough to see more clearly, what or who it was, he witnessed a beautiful woman's smiling face peering up at him, with a child sitting on her knee. Damien instantly recognized the child from photographs he's seen on the Blyths walls and mantelpieces, it was Bertie. "I'm so happy you could join us Damien, what took you so long,"the woman said with an evil grin, as she continued, "Allow me to introduce myself, my name is Ruth.........Ruth Rose."

To be continued....

[Arcana]

The Portal

23. I die you die

Ruth Rose stared at Damien, smiling while she toyed with Bertie on her knee. "See how happy he is with me, so much more so than with those dreary fools who called themselves his parents," she said. As Damien looked at Bertie, he noticed that he looked tired and drained, as though he hadn't slept in months, with dark circles beneath his eyes and a deathly pale complexion. He knew instantly that Bertie had been drained, victim of a powerful pranic vampire, who was suckling on his youthful life force, to invigorate herself. Ruth Rose saw the look of horror on Damien's face and simply nodded, as if agreeing with his assessment without a word being spoken. The demons that knelt by her sides were growling and clawing at the air with their talons, waiting impatiently for the command to tear Damien limb from limb. Ruth Rose laughed aloud as she said, "Don't mind them, they are my offspring, I gave birth to them and they do my bidding as I see fit, beautiful aren't they." "But why...... and how do you know me by name?", Damien demanded. "I'd have thought the why is obvious Damien, these children sustain me and keep me young and beautiful. Here I am immortal, I can choose to come and go whenever I please, I can even control the fabric of time, if it pleases me to do so. Why then would I choose to spend my days growing old, being scorned and ridiculed by the simpletons in that pathetic village. Here I live like a queen, I have such power and just look at me, you must admit that I am very beautiful, wouldn't you like to take me here and now?" ,she taunted. "You repulse me you vile creature," Damien cried, as he declared, "Your appearance is just an odious perversion of the truth, a mask to hide behind. You don't fool me with your selfish narcissism, I would never go near you, I would sooner choose death."  "That can easily be arranged, though that wasn't your attitude the last time we met Damien," Ruth Rose goaded.

"What are you talking about, we've never met before?", Damien shouted. "Oh Damien, poor little Damien, have you forgotten so soon, can't you remember  the events that happened here the last time you came to visit me?", she teased. "Damien had no recollection of what befell him the last time he entered the portal, back when he was in his twenties. All he remembered was a vague recollection of an encounter with someone, but nothing more than that. It was as if his memory had been completely erased of all the events, preceding Father Murdock's exorcism, of his poor tortured soul.

"I can still remember it like it was only yesterday, that look on your face when my brood delivered you to me. You were so defiant, so deluded in your pathetic attempts to rescue the child I'd taken, you honestly believed that you could challenge my power. It was so simple, all it took was to infect you with possession, so you could savour the glorious taste of evil, then you were mine," Ruth Rose said as she gloated. "No, you're lying, I don't believe it....," Damian screamed, his voice faltering with self doubt. "We had such wonderful times together Damien, you and I. You couldn't get enough of me back then, we fornicated over and over, it was so deliciously depraved. You even used to join in when I pleasured myself with my demon lovers, our carnal delights knew no bounds" she said with deep satisfaction. "No, it can't be true, you're trying to trick me!", Damien screamed.

"Really, then what about your illegitimate daughter that I bared, back in the world of men. I had to hide my true name from the villagers so she wouldn't be persecuted. All I ever wanted was to have her by my side, but there was some part of you in her, that held her wickedness at bay. Some vile residue, of your self righteous desire to fight the divine evil that resides within us all. She refused to embrace it, so I cast her aside and abandoned her. I named her Ruby, she'd be old enough to be your grandmother by now," she laughed, taunting Damien whilst spitting out divulgences, as a cobra would spit its venom. "It is through our unholy union, that as my body fluids co-mingled with yours, I endowed you with eternal youth. Don't you see yet Damien, we are inexorably linked, your youth is only preserved as long as I continue to feed on childish innocence. If I die, then you must surely die along with me," she revealed, howling with laughter.

"By the way, let me introduce you to 'the master', you may know his name as Draven Hemlock," she explained, as a handsome man with jet black hair, and huge dark wings entered the hallway, "There are many other titles he goes by, 'he of the left handed path, the glorious morning star......Satan himself!" 

To be continued....

 

 

 

Edited November 14, 2020 by Arcana

[Still Waters]

Sounds like Damien has got himself into a spot of bother! and that's putting it mildly.

On the plus side, he's found Bertie. Goodness knows how he'll get him out of there though...

[Arcana]

6 hours ago, Still Waters said:

Sounds like Damien has got himself into a spot of bother! and that's putting it mildly.

On the plus side, he's found Bertie. Goodness knows how he'll get him out of there though...

Indeed, I'm starting to wonder myself how he's going to dig his way out of this hole?

[Arcana]

The Portal

24. Quid pro quo

Ruth Rose knelt before Satan as he sat upon his throne, licking his feet with her tongue. "Look who has returned to us master, just as you said he would," she said submissively. Damien was confused and in shock, barely able to believe what he was hearing, after all the dreadful disclosures that had now been revealed to him. He felt sickened to the pit of his stomach, to think that he'd shared any intimacy with the evil old witch, that scoffed at his past. As if that wasn't bad enough to attempt to come to terms with, to have it further emphasized by knowing he'd sired a daughter through her, who'd been left abandoned for all those years, was unbearable. It seemed bizarre to the extreme, that his daughter could now be so much older than him, by some cruel twist of fate.

Satan looked intently at Damien, then spoke, "I know the blasphemy of your acts, but I can grant you forgiveness and absolution, if you just kneel before my majesty. I can grant you such power, you may have anything you desire within my realm. No-one will judge you here, no-one will condemn you for following your basest instincts, nor revelling in pursuit of your own hedonistic desires. These are the qualities I cherish, when promoting my minions up our mighty Satanic hierarchy. Awaken to the truth of being and come dine with us at the table of Belial, Asteroth, Azazel, Dagon, Moloch, Chemosh, and all my other faithful brothers. Asmodeus awaits you too, he enjoyed the taste of your soul so much, he yearns to sate his appetite afresh," Satan declared.

By now Ruth Rose had worked her way up from Satan's feet with her tongue and was kissing Satan on the buttocks, in adoration and devotion. She paused to look at Damien, still holding Bertie's hand and hissed, "Join us Damien, you know you want to, taste the freedom that we have to offer you again. I can be yours and you mine, for all eternity. Together we will share such things, they will surpass far beyond your wildest dreams." Damien saw past the attempts to pervert his immortal soul, his only focus was to find some way out of this execrated wilderness with Bertie. Knowing his situation was dire, he closed his eyes and muttered a silent prayer, praying for forgiveness and the strength to oppose the power of this combined evil that besieged his soul.  He grasped his crucifix with one hand and uttered silently beneath his breath, "Hear my plea, O mighty Elohim, for the sharing and bestowal of your be-graced and everlasting gifts upon our fallen natures, which are insufficient to the tasks before us and in need of angelic assistance. I ask for your help, as I stand before you, Holy, Mighty and Immortal Creator of all and all of this in the name of Christ Jesus, the Lamb, seated at your right hand. Amen." Damien followed this with a recital from the 'Book of Shadows, which he shouted aloud', "Hearken by my solemn word, calls the angels and the Lord, moon above and earth below, sky's cool blue and sun's hot glow, in this right and ready hour, fill this blessing with thy power, may no unprepared eye to see, the secrets which most trusted be, to I who walk the hidden road, to find thy heavenly calm abode, guardians from the four directions, hear my words, lend thy protection, may these truths of earth and skies,shaded be from prying eyes, unto all those whose map this be, may the way be plain to see, Mizrach, Darom, Maarab, Tzaphon, Ehyeh, Shaddi El Chai, YHVH Sabaoth, Elohim Sabaoth, Agla Adonai haAretz!"

Satan read Damien's lips, aware of his silent prayer and attempt to use his knowledge of magick, then laughed aloud, "Foolish son of Adam, prayers won't help you in this place, you are lost, all hope abandoned,........ do you really think you can usurp me with magick, my patience wears thin, now send for Asmodeus," Satan commanded, as demons took flight to do his bidding. Within moments, Damien heard the sound of beating wings overhead, fearing that the end was nigh and once more, he was about to be robbed of his humanity and ability to act of his own free will. Little Bertie began to cry, his innocent tears streaming down his pallid cheeks. "Silence you snivelling little brat, before the master," Ruth Rose shrieked. As Bertie's teardrops cascaded down his chin, they fell onto Ruth Rose's hand, scorching her skin like acid with his uncorrupted innocence. Ruth Rose reeled back, screaming in pain and anger, as she briefly relinquished her grip on Bertie's hand.

Damien immediately saw his opportunity and grabbed Bertie, scooping him up in his arms and hugging him tightly. The demons that surrounded Damien grew more and more agitated, as their growls turned to snarls and bellows. They approached ready to seize Bertie back from Damien's clutches, as Satan watched on, controlling his demon horde like some infernal puppeteer. In the distance, Damien heard a trumpet, which he dreaded may be heralding the arrival of the mighty Asmodeus, prince of demons. What followed, was neither expected, nor anticipated, least of all by Satan, as without warning, four angelic warriors flew into the hall with their swords drawn.It was the brave and magnificent archangels, Michael, Raphael, Gabriel and Uriel. They circled overhead, staving off the horde of demons, that immediately launched an attack by Satan's decree. Damien knew that though the archangels were indeed fearsome generals in God's Army of Light, here they were so vastly outnumbered, that it was all they could do to prevent themselves from being torn to pieces. As the hall became littered with fallen demons, the angels flew over Damien's head and began to encircle him, flying faster and faster. The faster they flew, the harder it became to perceive their forms, as they began to blur into a circle of blinding light. Ruth Rose ran to Damien, clutching onto Bertie and desperately trying to wrench him from Damien's grip. As the two of them wrestled, it became a battle of good versus evil, with poor little Bertie as the prize.

Meanwhile the circling angels overhead began to create a swirling whirlpool of blinding, cathartic, angelic light, which began to tug and pull at Damien. Satan made a lunge for them, but it was too late, as they ascended into the brightly glowing portal, created by the archangels. Gabriel blew on his trumpet once more, this time so loudly, that the entire building shook, sending pieces of plaster and masonry crashing to the ground. Satan screamed obscenities in anger, as Damien, Bertie, Ruth Rose and the archangels, disappeared into the portal and departed his domain. No sooner were they sucked through the portal, than the archangels vanished, leaving Damien by himself, stumbling into the attic of Ernest and Miriam's house, still hugging Bertie with all his might. Ruth Rose was also still attached to them both, holding on with a death grip. As her grip began to loosen, she screamed a piercing wail, then began to decompose before Damien's eyes, quickly returning to her natural decrepit age.

As her flesh disintegrated into a pile of dust on the floor, Damien turned momentarily, to see Father Murdock, Boggs, Ernest and Miriam, all still kneeling safely inside the protective pentagram, watching aghast at the events that were unfolding before their astonished eyes. Then, quite suddenly, Damien sank to the floor himself, beside Ruth Rose's skeletal remains, where he lay deathly still, quid pro quo, a life for a life. Miriam cried out to Bertie and leapt from the circle, hugging him in her arms and repeatedly kissing him,  hysterically saying, "Oh Bertie, I hope you're alright my sweet little angel, we're so glad to have you back, we love you and we've missed you so very much." Bertie appeared restored by his mother's love, as the colour began to return to his cheeks and a twinkle appeared back in his eyes. "Have the monsters all gone now mummy?", Bertie asked, wiping the tears from his eyes. "Yes darling, you're safe with us now," Miriam replied. Ernest followed closely behind Miriam, wrapping his uninjured arm around his beloved son, in a tender embrace.

Boggs rushed over with Father Murdock to the figure of Damien, lying motionless on the floor. Not only did Damien appear not to be breathing, but he had aged significantly and now appeared to be in his  late forties. Father Murdock instantly began praying, as Boggs attempted to resuscitate Damien, pushing down with all his might on Damien's chest, whilst attempting to blow air into his lungs, but to no avail, "He's dead," Boggs cried, "Damien's dead!"

 

To be continued....

[Arcana]

The Portal

25. Capital!

As Damien's lifeless body lay on the floor, Father Murdock stood over him and gave thanks for his great sacrifice and successful rescue of an innocent, from the evil clutches that had held Bertie captive. Boggs wept inconsolably, not only for the loss of his employer, but also for his dearest friend. Miriam and Ernest both mourned the loss of their brave champion as well, he who'd paid the ultimate price for defying evil, in rescuing their precious son. Miriam laid a blanket over Damien's corpse, while Father Murdock said a parting, tearful prayer. All at once, they heard a loud knock on the front door and went downstairs to see who could possibly be calling at this hour, during the early light of dawn. As Miriam opened the door, there stood Rosey looking deeply concerned, "Is Damien alright, I've just had the most awful premonition that something terrible has happened to him?", she cried. "Who are you?" asked Miriam. "I'm Damien's  friend, we met for a drink together, yesterday evening at The Morning Star," she replied. As Rosey looked into their faces, she saw the glistening tears upon their cheeks and in that instant, knew her deepest fears had been realized. Miriam invited Rosey into the drawing room, where they sat in silent reflection for a while, while Father Murdock explained the events they'd all witnessed earlier.

"I must see him immediately!", declared Rosey, as she tried to staunch back her tears. "It's no use I'm afraid, he's gone now, no doubt to a far better place, where he now rests at peace," said Father Murdock. " He fought a battle where he knew all to well, the odds were firmly stacked against him, but nonetheless he succeeded in his aim and for that, he is surely eternally blessed," Father Murdock attested. Rosey broke down in streams of tears, "So he did sacrifice himself in the end, he was very brave, one of the most virtuous souls I've ever met!", she declared. Father Murdock comforted Rosey in his arms and told her that arrangements must be made for Damien's demise and he would inform her of the date of his ensuing funeral, should she wish to attend. As Rosey left Darvil House, she could not resist passing one final glance back, at the final resting place of Damien Devlin. Though he was only a person whom she'd come to know briefly, he'd left a lasting impression on her life. As she looked back at the house, she saw a flash of light emanating from the attic, that shone brightly above the encroaching dawn. Upon seeing this, she dashed without hesitation, back to the front door of Darvil House and began knocking fervently on the door knocker. Boggs answered on this occasion, asking how he could be of further assistance?

"I can't explain why, but you need to look in your attic immediately!" Rosey declared in earnest. Boggs summoned Father Murdock by his side, and together with the rest of the household, they ventured forth into the attic.  As they opened the door to the attic room, to their combined shock, they saw archangels Raphael and Uriel standing over Damien's deceased  body, cradling it in their arms. Raphael stared back at them, as Uriel laid his hands on Damien's corpse, causing him to inhale a sudden deep breath of astonished revival. Upon seeing this, the archangels swiftly departed without a word being spoken, leaving their resurrected charge, 'like Lazarus', raised from the dead.

As Damien drew a deep breath in, inhaling the essence of life itself, he bolted upright, demanding to know whether he was alive or dead? Rosey shrieked with delight, upon seeing Damien restored to the land of the living, as Boggs immediately ran to his side and rested his head in his arms, saying, "Thank goodness sir, I feared you had left us  and was lost to us forever." Damien appeared very different now, to the man Boggs had known for the past ten years, the only semblance that remained, was his piercing blue eyes. He now sported a mallen streak down the side of his long flowing locks of hair, to serve a lasting reminder of his ordeal.

Damien looked drowsily into Boggs eyes, giving him one of his piercing stares and declared, "Nonsense my good man, do fetch me a cup of refreshing Lapsang will you and  some cake,.....I must have cake!" Boggs smiled back at his beloved friend and said,"Nothing would give me greater pleasure sir, apart from clearing up this mess on the floor beside you, disposing  of that accursed spirit board, cancelling all your funeral arrangements, service, flowers and invitations, it's not as if I have anything better to do!"

Damien looked up at his dear, faithful man servant and simply said, "Capital Boggs......just capital!"

The end?

 

[Still Waters]

After reading Damien had died at the end of chapter 24, I was wondering if that really was the end of him or would you be bringing him back to life somehow. I'm glad you decided to bring him back, your last chapter 25 finished the whole story off neatly.

All's well that ends well and I like happy endings. I've really enjoyed following your story Arcana, it's very good. 

Thank you 

[Arcana]

1 hour ago, Still Waters said:

After reading Damien had died at the end of chapter 24, I was wondering if that really was the end of him or would you be bringing him back to life somehow. I'm glad you decided to bring him back, your last chapter 25 finished the whole story off neatly.

All's well that ends well and I like happy endings. I've really enjoyed following your story Arcana, it's very good. 

Thank you 

Thank you SW, not only for expressing an interest but also for all your help along the way with edits. It has been quite a challenge finding the time to write this, so it's great to know that someone enjoyed reading it. Thanks for everything.