Apotheosis

Caius continued his summoning ritual, walking around and around the pentagram counterclockwise and repeating the same mantra over and over.

“Let the fleshless have flesh,
Let it receive the blood,
Let it be reborn
to destroy the world.”

The incantation was in Latin, but, of course, Caius knew Latin. It wasn’t a real problem for him to speak the same words over and over. The only problem was, if some stupid mortal got too close, he had to blast them apart and start the entire ritual over. It was annoying, like swatting mosquitoes. You god rid of one, two took its place.

But oh well, they were innocent blood spilled in the name of an upcoming war, so Caius added their ruined bodies to the pentegram as well.

It was wonderful how things always seemed to work out with him.

As he continued the incantation, another annoying mortal came sauntering up to where the Church of the Nativity used to be before a couple of hours ago. Caius groaned at the intruder. Another bloody interruption. Caius stopped the ritual and went to check on this new threat. Perhaps he could slice this one into little itty bitty pieces and sprinkle the flesh over the pentegram like he was sowing seeds.

“I don’t think so,” muttered a voice. The voice, low and dangerous, seemed to come from all sides at once.

“Uncle?” Caius muttered, recognizing the voice instantly.

“No need to yell,” the voice continued. “I’m aware of what you’re thinking, feeling at this very moment.”

“Uncle, show yourself.”

“Why?” Claudius said. “Why should I give myself a fleshy body? You were just about to kill it and add its blood to your little playground, weren’t you?”

“How are you able to exist in the mortal world, with no flesh and blood, no corporeality?” Caius began to walk slowly until he run into a wall. He pushed his back up against it, so he wouldn’t be attacked from behind.

“You did this,” Claudius growled. “You made me so...terribly angry. With your betrayal, and your stupidity. You dishonor your own family.”

Caius laughed, a short high laugh like a hyena. “Oh, and I suppose you’ve done any better than I have? The man who ordered his first wife beheaded...”

“For infidelity,” Claudius added.

“The man who almost destroyed the empire for some naive ideals about the Republic was dad long before you became Emperor.”

“A...that was an oversight, I admit,” Claudius said slowly.

“And you sent your son into exile, adopting instead a madman who was almost as manaical as me. Almost. Ah, I loved my work. Nero, he took no pleasure in anything. Nothing except fire. Pity. You were never a god, Uncle. You spent many years in infamoy, along with the rest of us. You even lied to your so-called ‘friends’ and made sure they knew that you were just a silly little shade until you became a Theo. And now, it appears that your rage has gotten the better of you. You’re no different from any of the rest of us.”

“If I am not so different,” Claudius grunted, “Then why was I not included in their plans?”

“It’s simple, Uncle,” Caius said. “You were never in on the plan because you are an idiotic historian with a tragic obession with the mortal realm. All historians are like that, you know. It was decided that you would have been a hindrance to us and our little secret plan.”

Claudius suddenly emerged in a fleshy body that Caius could finally see with his own created mortal eyes. “Say that to my face, nephew.”

“I’m sorry for this, Uncle, but it must be done,” Caius sighed. He plunged a knife into Claudius’ gut, allowing the makeshift blood to begin to pour down onto the pentegram. “It’s true, you know. I think you weren’t evil or mad. Just sadly misguided.”

Claudius slumped over onto the pentegram, spilling his blood onto one of the points. His face was a mask of complete and utter surprise. He blinked once, twice. Why had he come down here in the first place? Ah, yes, he was angry. And that rage blinded him, made him drop his guard. As soon as he took on a mortal body, he was vulnerable to anything an ordinary mortal was vulnerable to. He blinked again, and tried to leave the body as quickly as he could. But he couldn’t. It was like he was anchored down by something heavy. His essense just couldn’t leave mortality.

“Oh, and if you’re trying to leave your body, don’t bother,” Caius said. “The incantation prevents that. Once Lucifer arrives, he’ll absorb your body and the last of your power. And that will be just enough to push him into mortality. You were the last ingredient, Uncle. I’m glad you came.”

“Damn...” Claudius muttered before losing consciousness.

***

The cake didn’t seem to be leaving the Land of Nod, and the Trio starts to get worried. If there was no way to find out who wanted to steal Becca in the first place, then their running around will be for nothing.

“I think it’s slowing down,” Ron says, watching the cake carefully. “Yeah, it’s sinking!”

“Keep whatever hole it’s dug for itself open!” Watson snapped. “Use all of your power!”

Meanwhile, inside the gigantic chocolate cake, Becca sits in a chocolate stupor. Like many female mortals of the Western world, Becca is a self-professed chocoholic. Her mind is giddy with the scents of it all around her, but something in the back of her mind tells her that this isn’t some nice dream or her deepest wish come true. This was a nightmare and it has just swallowed her up.

But why?

Her sensations of going forward are soon replaced by sensations of going downward. The cake was probably sinking into the sand. Well, Becca thought, at least I’ll know who or what’s been after me all this time.

She is suddenly propelled out of the cake, spit out and covered in chocolate cake and frosting. She looks up, wiping the cake away from her eyes.

Her own eyes stare right back at her.

Becca blinks. The cave she is in is brightly lit and warm. No, she isn’t looking in a mirror. She is looking at faces she has never seen except in old, faded photographs.

“Rebecca, sweetheart, we’ve found you at last,” says the woman who looked like Becca.

“It took you long enough,” sighs a man.

“Well, we’re not the only ones trying to find her,” the woman snaps.

“You’re...you’re my family,” Becca says slowly. “Dad’s family. The ones who...”

The woman smiles. “Yes, we are Ethan’s grandparents, your great-grandparents.”

“But you died in the camps,” Becca says.

“True, but dead never really means gone,” the woman says. “Especially when it comes to family. Let’s get her cleaned up, Henry. She looks a mess.”

“I have the towels right here, dearest,” Henry grins, offering Becca one. “They’re not, what is it, store brand, but they will do.”

Becca gratefully takes the towel and begins to wipe away the chocolate from his clothes, her skin, and her hair. Miraculously, the towel works quite well, taking off even the smallest crumbs from Becca’s body. “You’re Henry and Anna Sidler. Grandfather told me about you. About how you...um...”

“Just say it, my dear, you’re not going to offend us!” Anna grins. Anna has a sweet smile, a smile that photographs never did justice to.

“Grandpa got separated from you,” Becca says, relating a story she had known ever since she was old enough to understand. “He managed to escape, but you, you never did. Why are you here?”

“Because, sweetie, you’re in danger. The other side wants you. Not just you, but all the descendents of the Holocaust survivors.” Anna says, tending to the small oil lantern that illuminates the cave.

“No one told me that,” Becca says.

“No one has noticed, so far,” Henry says. “You know there is a backlog of people coming into the After, dying but not quite dead. They died in the portents, but they haven’t arrived in the After. Most of these victims, at least from America and Europe, most of them are descended from Holocaust survivors. And you’re the last one they need. It’s lucky you ran into so many good Theos to help you.”

“What do they need us for?” Becca asks.

“The ritual to bring Lucifer into the mortal world,” Anna starts, “It needs the blood of the innocent to work. The truly innocent. That is, the blood that flows through your veins. Our blood.”

“They need all of the descendants for the ritual to work,” Henry says.

“And I’m the only one left...” Becca mutters. “Hey, why did you kidnap me if you knew I was in the good hands of so many Theos?”

“Well, we are a bit selfish, I’m afraid,” Anna admits. “We wanted to see Harold’s granddaughter.”

“And he is right, you are a beauty,” Henry adds.

The cave rumbles and shakes, bringing debris down on the top of the small group.

“Oh, what is going on now?” Anna asks.

“I don’t know. And we came such a long way to find you, Becca. You have no idea how it is for normal shades to travel in the After. We had to hitch rides from Theos. Oh, you know, we met Captain Nemo, he...”

“Henry, shush shush!” Anna exclaims. “She doesn’t want to hear about Nemo.”

“Becca!” a voice echos through the chamber. “Becca!”

“John?” Becca shouts.

“Ah, Dr. Watson. Our Becca did good for herself. Falling in love with a doctor, no less!” Henry says.

“Love?” Becca says softly.

Watson comes running down the corridor. “Oh, Becca, I’ve found you! At last, at last!” He gathers her up in his arms and embraces her tightly.

“John, John, I’d like you to meet my great-grandparents,” Becca grins as they finally stop hugging. “This is Henry and Anna Sidler.”

“A pleasure,” Watson says, bowing slightly at the waist.

“So polite,” Anna says.

The Trio come running up to the group.

“Why are you all having a party without inviting us?” Ron mumbles. “And with cake as well!” He points sharply at the dirtied up towels lying on one side of the cave.

“I take it these are your young friends,” Henry grins.

“Yes, this is Harry Potter, Hermione Granger, and Ron Weasley. They’re all fictional Theos.” Becca grins.

“Goodness,” Anna sighs. “Such famous friends!” SHe smoothes out the wrinkles in her simple little dress.

“Not really famous,” Ron says, blushing slightly.

“Pleased to meet you,” Hermione says.

“And so polite,” Anna adds. “And, you, dearest, you must be Harry Potter, yes?”

“Yes. Um, I’m sorry I can’t greet you properly. I’m blind at the moment.”

“Blind?” Henry repeats.

“Yeah, the others stole his sight,” Ron frowns deeply.

“Oh, I see. That’s a big problem.” Henry says. “Well, we shouldn’t stand around like this. We need to get Becca and her friends to safety.”

“But how?” Watson asks. “The Land of Nod is the only place in the After where she can keep her mortal body.”

“Who said anything about staying in the After?” Anna asks.

***

We need one more!

“I’m working on that right now,” Caius says.

That woman is surrounded by powerful allies. She won’t go willingly.

“She’ll come. I’ve done something to her little group that will make her come.” Caius pokes at Claudius’ fleshy body with a small stick.

We cannot wait for long.

“But you have to. The summoning won’t be complete without all of them.” Caius says. “Once they know their precious ‘leader’ is here, they’ll come. Although, I’m not sure why anyone would come to save this idiotic mortal-wannabe.”

Posted by Michelle at November 27, 2002 8:59 AM