4. The Ritual

Alexielle received her instructions and proceeded to walk deeper into The Sanctum. She had been there many times, instructing her own students on their abilities to wield the darkness they had opened up to, but this time, she was going to be the student once more. She chuckled at the thought. It had been years since she was a student and the last time she tried to learn from someone, he tossed her aside and ignored her pleas. This time, Talionia had told her to go straight to the training rooms. Her students would be sent out on errands until her training was done for the day.

As she approached the cold room, she noticed the candles were lit with green fel flame. She took a deep breath and entered the chamber. “Hello?” There wasn’t a response, so she proceeded to the altar at the end of the room and noticed a dagger, two tomes, and a black silk cloth. Alexielle was now a bit hesitant, but if Talionia had sent her, it had to be important. She looked at the flames flickering on the candelabra on the altar and the curiosity made her reach out and touch the green flame. Being a user of fire, it didn’t hurt, but it sent a shiver down her back when she touched it. With a smile, she exhaled and reached out to touch it again.

“Beautiful, isn’t it?” a voice whispered in her ear. She gasped and froze in place. It was an unfamiliar voice, but then again, she wasn’t expecting anyone familiar to begin with. “This flame is the power we can learn to wield if we truly accept the fel power in our art.” With her fingers still near the flame, Alexielle gasped a little and trembled as she reached for the flame once more. “Go ahead, touch it again. I guarantee that the fel within you is yearning to feel it once more.” She did as she was told and that sensation tingled through her body again. 

“Who are you?” she whispered and the male backed away from her, walking only a short distance from where she was standing. She turned around and saw an elf with dark, black hair to his shoulders and dressed entirely in a black robe with a violet sash across his waist. 

“Raziel Darksun. I found one of the many tomes belonging to Kanrethad Ebonlocke and I was able to unlock the power that pure fel has to offer us.” He gestured to the altar. “There’s a tome there for you, if you wish to accept it. The leaders here believe you have what it takes to become powerful.” He walked to the altar and placed a hand on the books. Alexielle watched him closely.

The idea of more power caught her interest, but she was a warlock. She knew there was nothing for free in her world. “What’s the price?”

Raziel grinned. “I see I’m not working with an amateur here. They ask for you to train the young ones. Nothing different there. However, I’m here to train you and prepare you for the challenges ahead. Accept my training, and you will become powerful. Reject me, and you have proven the masters here wrong.” Alexielle remained silent and he pointed at the door. “If this is too much for you, my dear,  there’s the door. I’m sure we can find someone else who is capable of taking this challenge and absorbing the stunning fel power that is being offered to you.” She turned toward the door and considered her family. How would this affect them? Then again, she considered how tantalizing so much power would feel. Her cravings began to take over and she turned to look at the flame once more. 

“I’ll stay.”

“Good.” Raziel made a simple gesture with his hand and the door slammed shut. Alexielle jumped a bit and turned to look at him. He was walking toward her and without any intention of stopping, she moved back a little, feeling slightly uncomfortable. Then, he stopped. “I need your complete dedication, Alexielle.” 

She looked below and noticed that they were standing in a ritual circle. He stood not too far from her when he removed the dagger from under his sleeve. “You will have it,” she said rather quickly.

He nodded and with the dagger’s edge, he gently passed the tip and edge along her face and neck. She fought hard not to close her eyes, but she gasped softly. “I know I will, but we are people of rituals, my dear, and that is exactly what we shall have here.” He reached for her left hand and gripped her wrist tightly, turning it up to face him. In one fluid movement, he passed the dagger across her wrist and Alexielle flinched, looking up at him in disbelief. Her blood fell onto the circle below and she tried to apply pressure on her wrist, but gasped again when he sliced across his own left wrist. Raziel then reached for her bleeding wrist while he lifted his to her mouth. Without a word, Alexielle felt his tongue and mouth over her wrist and she obediently placed her lips on his wrist.

There was something about his blood that tasted bitter, yet she wanted more. Raziel pulled his wrist away and chuckled at her. “Now, now, my dear, we’re not san’lyan.” He moved away from her and Alexielle blushed brightly, cleaning the blood from her lips, although she did find herself licking her fingers. The taste was intoxicating.

Raziel walked toward her with the silk cloth and gently wrapped it around her wrist. “You are my student now. This symbolic ritual shows the bond we have.” He reached out to touch her hair gently. “Return to me tomorrow. We will begin our first lesson.”

“Yes.”

He gripped at her chin and smiled down at her. “Is that the proper form of addressing me?”

Alexielle knew what she had to say, but after so many years of not saying it, the words burned on her tongue. She didn’t want to, but she knew it had to be done; it was part of the price. She took a breath and said, “Yes, master.”

“Good girl. Now go. Your students must be back already.” Raziel watched Alexielle leave and he turned to look at the spilled blood on the circle below. He grinned wickedly and began to speak in eredun, closing his eyes as he repeated the chant over and over. The circle began to glow brightly and as a dark portal opened, he noticed horns, a pair of wings and finally hooves emerge. The succubus giggled and turned around, shocked to see who was there.

“You’re not my mistress,” the demon said, although she wasn’t too disappointed in seeing the man in front of her. 

“No, but for a while, I will also be your master. Come here.” The succubus walked toward him, her hips swaying from side to side as she approached him. He smiled and as soon as she stood before him, he grabbed her by the neck. “You will do as I say, and you will tell me everything I desire to know about your mistress.”

The succubus nodded quickly before a shadowbolt blasted her into the wall. “Be gone, bitch. I don’t need you right now.” Diswen disappeared back into the shadows and Raziel smiled. He couldn’t wait to get started with his new rag doll.