Faustus stared at the magical seal on the ground, inspecting for any slight imperfection that might ruin the ritual. His old fingers traced along the outer edge of the red ink that stained the cold stone floor, being careful not to disturb his own handiwork. As he silently mouthed every word of the incantation with his dry cracked lips, his mind raced with every possible outcome of the ritual.
Slowly, he hobbled his way to the wooden chair that faced the seal, before settling himself down slowly. Taking a deep breath, he went over every step of the ritual in the smallest detail in his head. All of his research and years of dedication to the magical arts had led him to this. While he still craved more time, he was as ready as his old body would allow. Slowly, he raised his staff before slamming it on the floor.
THUD
The sound resonated off the walls of the dark room, before echoing to an eerie silent stillness.
THUD
Again, he slammed his staff, as the candles around the seal sprang to life with azure eldritch flames. Their pale light dancing across the walls, as though shadowy birds circled the room. Watching with their empty hungering eyes.
THUD
Slamming his staff a third time, the lines of the seal itself burst into deep violet flames, casting the room with a faint purple hue as the air crackled with the magical energies that dances from candle to candle. Slowly the shadows melted away, leaving only the centre of the seal as a dark empty void.
Raising his arms, Faustus' deep voiced commanded into the darkness, as the eldritch candle fires quivered with every syllable.
"Oh Lady of the Night, I beseech thee in this hour of darkness! Oh Seeker of the Forbidden, I call you forth in the name of knowledge! Oh Queen of the Crows, I bow before you and your counsel. Come forth, oh benevolent Corvitrix, the Ravenous Eye!"
As he bellowed the final word, he slammed his staff one final time. The darkness that dwelt within the seal began to bubble and thrash against its invisible cage. Slowly clawing its way up the air, dark bird like talons lashed at the seal as the shadowy mass began to condense and take form.
Faustus stared in awe at the pale figure that would tower over most mortal men. Her thick thighs and wide hips delicately gave way to a narrow waist and voluptuous breasts that would have made even the most pious of priests forsake their vows. Her soft ivory skin a stark contrast to the long raven black haired that flowed from her head and down to her curvy buttocks. In a word, her beauty was divine to Faustus.
However, those were the only traces of human form and beauty that her unearthly figure possessed. Her longer slender legs were covered in dark feathers from the knees down, ending in a pair of raven clawed talons. Similarly, her arms were covered in the raven feathers from her shoulders down, her hands smooth and black, with fingers tipped with sharp talons. While her face was hidden beneath a silver mask, shaped like a bird's skull as crimson red eyes glared at the old wizard.
"What lowly worm dares summon me and willingly sacrifices themselves to my ravenous hunger." the demoness bellowed in a voice that dripped with sensual desire and predatory malice.
"Please forgive this old fool, my Raven Queen." Faustus begged as he feel to his knees, with his arms outstretched towards her and eyes downcast. "I have sought all manner of forbidden truths in your service, but alas my body now fails me while my dedication remains true."
"In my service?" Corvitrix laughed lightly, barely containing her contempt, as her talons traced along the ethereal wall of the seal, leaving behind sparks of energy through the air. "So that's why I presume you have attempted to cage your Queen like a pathetic songbird in a gilded cage?"
"I... it was... I mean... the only ritual to summon..." he stammered before he was abruptly cut off but her deafening laughter that seemed to shake the walls of the room.
Her ebony talons pierced through the air as the walls of the seal danced and crackled with arcane energies that surged and arced across the room. As she pulled her hands apart, the wall of the seal began to rip and shatter under her might, as crystallised energy rained upon the floor before evaporating into the ether.
Slowly, Corvitrix strode forward, her hips sensually swaying as she approached the frightened old wizard. Frozen in both fear and awe, Faustus could only stare as the demon queen slowly knelt down to his level, as one of her taloned hands gracefully pulled down her raven mask to reveal her pale ethereal face. Her sharp angular features of her face resonated both with elegant beauty and graceful predator. Slowly her black lips formed a wickedly sadistic smile as a cruel laugh escaped.
