Page 12 of Semper
"That's my Phoenix," Pandora murmured, the name slipping out too casually. Keres shot her a quick glance, eyebrows raised.
The two of us exchanged a look over Pandora's head.
She had never said his name before. I could sense something more in the way she had. Affection maybe?
The deer-masked man,Phoenix, suddenly spoke again, his voice booming with finality. “Bow forDiabolus,” he commanded, the words slicing through the still air like a blade.
Without hesitation, every masked figure in the pews began to shift, the movement almost synchronized as they left their seats and knelt on the floor in front of them. Heads bowed low, their reverence palpable. I hesitated, unsure of what was expected of me, but something inside me refused to drop to my knees. Not even Seraphine’s watchful gaze could coax me into subservience as she dropped to her knees along with Selena.
He couldn’t even see us.
Keres and Pandora remained seated as well.
The organ began to play once more, the haunting melody reverberating off the stone walls.
And then he appeared.
Alexander, orDiabolusas they all called him here, made his way down the aisle. He had changed, now wearing a black demonic mask like the others—his presence was unmistakable, commanding as always. Two more masked men flanked him on either side, dressed in similar dark robes. The slow, deliberate cadence of their footsteps matched the organ’s slow wail, and with each step, my heart seemed to pound louder in my chest.
When they reached the front of the Chapel, the organ fell into silence. The air felt thick as if we were all holding our breath. Alexander, now fully transformed intoDiabolus, turned slowly, his gaze sweeping the room from behind his mask.
The atmosphere grew heavier under his presence, every person in the Chapel locked in place.
When he spoke, his voice reverberated, deep and commanding, as though every word was etched into the very walls.
“My devoted,” he began, his tone rich with authority, dripping with a dark charisma that could bend even the strongest will, “We gather tonight not just as kin, but as those chosen by Impío, bound by blood, by oath, and by power. We gather to ensure our faith and our home remain protected from outsiders, and those that have turned to non-believers.” He paused, letting the weight of his words settle over the room like a heavy fog, his gaze sweeping over the kneeling masked figures, ensuring their submission. “I thank myMagistri Tenebrarumfor their unwavering loyalty," he said, his tone carrying a dark reverence. "And now,MagistriBishop will lead us in prayer."
A tall figure stepped forward, bowing low beforeDiabolus, then turning to face the congregation. I couldn’t see his face due to the mask he wore, but I recognized the name and stature—the cocky man that had been with Alexander at the resort.
“In the name of Impío, Dominion, and Darkness,” Bishop began, his voice low and rhythmic. “Amen.”
The Chapel echoed with the collective murmur of voices repeating after him, "In the name of Impío, Dominion, and Darkness, Amen."
The final word,Amen, rolled off their tongues like an incantation, reverberating through the room with dark power, as though they had sealed themselves in this twisted bond all over again. Bishop's voice filled the air as he began to lead the prayer, the congregation chanting along with him in unison. The words dripped with dark reverence.
"Domine Abyssi, Rex Profanum,
Sub obscuritate coeamus, in umbra peccatorum, filii Impii.
In luxuriam et indulgentiam, tua manus nos ducit, per desideria noctis.
Revela nobis arcana carnalis, ut in tenebris voluptatibus immergamur.
Te imploramus, ut peccata nostra celebramus, et nos ad aeternam luxuriam guidas.
Mundum profanum nobis offer, et dona nobis potestatem super carnes nostras et aliorum.
In nomine Impii, Luxuria et Obscuritas, Amen."
The sound of their voices, laden with conviction, sent a shiver down my spine. Even Seraphine and Selena bowed their heads, reciting the prayer with a reverence that felt almost suffocating.
I shot a glance at Keres, when she muttered under her breath, "Damn, and I thought I was dramatic."
I bit back a nervous laugh, my lips twitching at her comment. The prayer, spoken in a language I didn't understand, swirled around me like a dense fog. Each word felt heavy with meaning I couldn’t grasp. Still, I sensed the darkness woven through every verse. For a moment, I found myself drawn in, the allure of thosewords pulling at something deep within me, like a whisper I wasn’t supposed to hear but couldn’t resist.
I shook it off, forcing myself to stay anchored to reality, refusing to let the darkness pull me under. The prayer ended, and Alexander's commanding voice cut through the silence. “Rise and be seated,” he ordered, his voice firm yet smooth, like silk draped over a blade.
As one, the congregation responded, “Yes,Diabolus,” their collective voice was a haunting echo that made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. In perfect synchrony, they moved back into their pews, their movements eerily coordinated. I glanced over at Seraphine and Selena. They, too, had risen from their kneeling positions.