Sixteen
I stood on a stone floor. I lifted my gaze to see I was in an immense cathedral. It held all the hallmarks of a church, but the longer I stared, the more I noticed how different it was.
Strange runes were carved into every piece of stone from the walls to the floor. There were no pews, but an altar stood at the far back. Stained-glass windows glowed along the walls. They were gigantic with symbolic images of demonic and grotesque monsters among them.
A dark gloom pressed down on me the longer I stood in the strange church. Whispers touched my mind, imparting shadow knowledge and slipping away as quickly as they came. My heart thudded in my chest as the sound of my pulse pushed at my ears.
I wanted to feel awful. Instead, I felt perfect, like I always belonged here. My senses tingled as I stood. I looked down and saw a thin mist slid across the stone floor. It grew thicker with each passing moment until the floor was covered in a shadowy mist.
The fog around my ankles writhed. I looked over and watched a gray and green tentacle rose up. It swayed in the air as another emerged, followed by another. Soon, I was surrounded by writhing tentacles.
"My handsome nephew," came a voice.
I turned and smiled. On the other side of the writhing tentacles, my aunt Violet stood. She smiled as she looked to me. Her hair was a dark, wavy purple. She was as tall as my mother and aunty Lily. A tight, purple dress hugged her voluptuous curves. It was so tight; I could see her nipples pointing through the almost sheer fabric.
I took a step closer and the tentacles curled toward me. I stopped my advance and watched as the tentacles returned to normal.
"Aunty Violet," I whispered.
My pale aunt gave a small, slow nod as she never broke her gaze. "I miss you terribly. I miss my sisters as well. The dream cities have been so lonely without my sisters."
I gave her a small smile. "Theo is with me. I think he will help us to bring you back."
Violet looked away, a sudden sadness filling her eyes. "My son is not strong, unlike you. He listened to my final wish when he should have ignored it. The only way we could return is if it is against our will and wishes. It is the truth path of Draygon. Take what's yours and love it."
"Aunty, Rose and Lily miss you. I miss you. I want you to return, but we need Theo. I want him to join my coven. I want all of us to spread the dark word to the world."
Aunt Violet nodded. "I know, my love. You were always so loving and strong. But you must listen to me. Do not give my son a choice. He must help bring me back. Draygon has been pleased with your progress and wishes for it to continue. Summon me and we can continue with our work."
"I will. I will make sure you return to us," I said firmly.
Aunt Violet's eyes shined like a pair of onyx gems in the dark. "I always knew you would lead us. It is why my sisters and I loved you so much."
My shoulders relaxed as I looked at my aunt. A small, nagging thought touched my spirit and I relented to it.
"Aunt Violet, will you be cruel to Theo?"
My aunt's eyes narrowed as a seething aura glowed around her. I could see she was agitated and it didn't come much as a surprise. When we were all younger, my aunt Violet was a force of nature. She would come into parties and gatherings with a boisterous flair. She always became the life of the party, but we all knew her dark side. She was often overbearing and sometimes cruel with Theo. I remembered some of the family whispering to each other that she hated her son. He was the cause of her unhappiness, dragging her down and keeping her away from her party lifestyle.
The aura faded away and my aunt lifted her hand and looked at her nails. "My son must become stronger, like you. When he is stronger, he will gain my respect and love. He knows what he must do, he just doesn't have the spine to do it."
Aunt Violet turned her gaze to me and an evil smirk formed. "But you are here and he is not. Tell me, my nephew, when I arrive, will you do what you have done for my sisters? Will you love me? Will you let me suck on that delicious cock of yours?"
It was my turn to smile. "Tell me the truth, have you desired me?"
Violet's eyes flashed with a heat. "I have all my memories from my past life. I remember our little secrets, me letting you drink from my wine glass when you asked in private. I remember how you grew into a teenager and wanted to touch my breasts to see how they felt. I knew the lust in your eyes for all of us, just as we knew it in you. It is why it calls to me, a dark light in the distance."
I nodded. "Aunt Violet, we will do what the rest of our family and friends could not. We will bring dark knowledge to the world and realms beyond."
My aunt nodded with a wide grin. She slowly stepped back into a growing darkness as the tentacles closed in on me. Inky shadows covered her form until only her eyes shined in the dark. Tentacles caressed my body as I stood. I watched her disappear and a gentle laugh emerging from the darkness.
My eyes slowly opened as cool air touched my face. I blinked as I was gently pulled from the limo. I stood on my own feet as hands helped keep me up. Energy filled my muscles and with each passing second, I felt better.
The front doors were open. My mother, Aunt Lily and Victoria stood. The wind began to pick up and soon it was howling like we woke the dark gods themselves.
"Quickly, inside," my mother said authority.
Spirals and wavy motions caressed my mind and soul. Drugs and dream sang with a mystical song. Every blink was terribly slow as every moment in time filled my senses. I felt every step up the stairs, every tendril of wind across my face and every one gathered staring at me with concern.
The next thing I knew, I was inside and the door was closed. Heat and warmth washed over me as the chill began to recede. My mouth with twisted in a smile and my eyes were wide. I weaved on my feet, trying to keep it all together as everything else began to melt and drip away. The world had become an ever-shifting ocean of movement, light and sound and I swam for deeper waters.
My mother gave me her full attention as Harold helped to keep me standing. "My son, are you well?"
I parted my lips to speak, but no sound came out. I was overwhelmed by drug addled reality.
Dana turned her angry gaze to Theo, "What happened in there? Why were drugs in his drink?"
Theo shook his head, "Like I said, nothing would have been added to his drink unless he asked for it. It must have been a mistake."
Rose's eyes remained cool as he stared at Theo for a moment. I watched and felt my mother, trying to gleam some truth from Theo. After a short moment, she turned her attention to Aunt Lily.
The room continued to curl as my mother gave my aunt a small nod.
Aunt Lily moved to my side and curled her arm around mine. I found myself leaning to her touch, her scent filling my nose.
Rose addressed everyone in the foyer, "I don't sense any dark truths. Theo is telling the truth."
Aunt Lily nodded. "We have to take care of Gerald until the drugs have left his system. I will take him to his bed chamber and watch over him."
Rose nodded and looked at Theo, Dana and Beth. "The four of us will have a private sit down and talk for a while. We can catch up and discuss the future. Since what happened to Gerald seems to be some kind of accident, we will wait until he feels better to decide what to do next.
"But for tonight, Theo will be our guest," my mother smiled.
Theo bowed his head. "I will be happy to spend as much time needed. It has been too long Aunty Rose and Aunty Lily."
I watched as my mother moved closer to my cousins. They were very small compared to my mother's seven-foot-tall height. Victoria and Harold stayed close, waiting for more orders. The room began to spin and my legs were turning to jelly again.
"Come with me," Lily said softly and led me away.
Hushed whispered touched my ears before they faded away. The hallways and corridors bled together like a very long painting. Colors glowed across my senses and before I knew it, I heard a door close behind me.
I slowly spun around, seeing that I was in the master bedchamber. The lights were low and the howl of the window outside pressed against strong glass. I turned my gaze up to see my aunt standing before me in her red dress. Blonde hair framed her face as she looked down with caring eyes.
"We have to help you be comfortable," my aunt said with a small, genuine smile.
Her pale hand took my hand and she led me to the bed. When we reached it, we faced each other at the edge of the bed.
"When Dana was a teenager, she often came home late at night, intoxicated, drugged or both. I have had some experience with calming and soothing her addled mind.
"Dear nephew, I want you to know that under the influence, we can often become different people. You never have to worry about your true self coming out to me or what you desire. I'm here to comfort you and listen."
I weaved as I looked at her. My inner demons growled as I stared. My body pulsed with eager and hungry needs, but her words cut through the fog and touched my mind. I knew as a high priest, I could say and do as I wish, but I still held back. There is something to be said for being too honest or too hungry. But the way Aunty Lily looked at me, I knew she spoke the truth.
"Aunty...It's hard to think," I managed as I breathed.
"Don't hide yourself. It will only further create stress," my aunt said as she stepped forward, bent her head down and kissed me on the lips.
We lingered in the kiss and the unusual sensations subsided a hair. When she pulled back, I saw my aunt whom I knew and loved. My thumb touched the mystical ring on my finger and tired thoughts swarmed my mind.
"I...want to rest. I want you to help me rest," I said and took off the ring.
I turned my body and placed the ring on the nightstand. I then turned back to my aunt as she looked at me with warm eyes and a dash of concern.
"Gerald, what if I..." Lily trailed off.
"I trust you," I smiled.
Aunt Lily blinked as she looked down on me. I tried to step toward her for another kiss when my leg weakened. I fell sideways and onto the bed. My senses were reeling as I couldn't find my balance. I barely sat up, the room beginning to spin.
Hands touched me. Fingers hooked under my shirt and helped pull it over my head. Pale hands touched my belt and moved methodically, unbuckling it and undoing my pants. Reality swam into odd waters as shoes and clothes were pulled off of me. Gravity pulled harder and I resisted. I turned my attention to my aunt.
