21 October 2012
(Apologies- it's a long one but I hope you enjoy)
"Exorcizamus te, omnis immundus spiritus omnis, satanica potestas..." Cecília's voice was assured , measured but powerful. She continued repeating over and over again.
"You fool, you cannot expel me." Füst raised his hands, palms forwards and began in that same strange tongue.
A mighty gust of air swept through the room. Cecília did not waver, she continued against the invisible force; her hair blowing wildly behind her.
"Go away, Satan, the inventor and master of all deceit..." she proceeded in Latin.
"Witch, just like your mother before you. You will burn whore!" His eyes were wild with fury.
The room was no longer cold; everyone felt the sudden heat; all the candles were now lit and burning. Their terrified faces watching the horror before them as he casually flicked his finger, as each candle fell over one by one. Instinctively, Forgach violently pulled the black curtain from its anchor above the door, but Füst stopped him in his tracks.
"Exorcizamus te, omnis immundus spiritus omnis, satanica potestas..." Cecília recited again, this time with more conviction. Her eyes focused, unblinking.
"Burn witch!" he smiled.
The flames were starting to take hold, slowly on the Persian rug and the countless tomes on the shelves.
"For Gods sake! Someone, do something!" Anna screamed hysterically.
Füst let out the most repulsive, mocking laugh. His arms outstretched wide like a crucified antichrist.
"Burn!"
"Be humble under the powerful hand of God, tremble and flee!" Cecília now shouting over the horrifying chaos.
The flames were diminishing under her battle with evil. As she sustained her attack.
It was at this point that Gabriella stirred, stood, and stood shoulder to shoulder with Cecília. Together they performed the ritual hand in hand. Füst was momentarily confused; Forgach saw the opportunity, released from his hold and propelled himself next to the girls. Holding Gabriella's hand, he joined in the rite.
"Exorcizamus te, omnis immundus spiritus omnis, satanica potestas..." All three repeated.
The flames were under control, but the smoke was billowing in the room. Anna,Alfréd and Mária were now crouched on the floor, searching for an inch of clean air.
"Excorcusanmus...." The three continued
Füst fell to his knees, panic and bewilderment etched across his face. The flames extinguished and the room was once again returned to an unwelcome darkness. They could hear the body screaming in grotesque fury.
Lazlo was writhing in the floor in agony. The battle to expel the demon within him was slowly killing him. What had he done? He was now aware; no longer did he feel controlled as the three battled against the dark one within.
Maria no longer felt the rasping from the smoke and saw her chance to put the lights on again. "Mária , join hands, increase the power if the ritual" the familiar voice whispered in her ear, 'help him.'
Without thinking: "everyone join hands, before its too late!"
The three continued: "From the snares of the devil free us..."
Lazlo was now fitting in the floor, his body and face writing in pain until a final grotesque sound exhaled from his mouth.
Then silence.
A black smoke rose from his body.
"Quickly! Form a circle around him"
They all did as instructed.
"I command thee, return to Hell from which you came!"
The smoke darted to the ceiling of the library, then dissipated on the polished wooden floor, next to Lazlo's spent body. All that remained was a charred mark on the floor.
No one had noticed the banging on the door, until Henrik and the others broke through.
"In Gods name, what the hell is going on?"
They all looked to the body of Lazlo on the floor. He no longer had that self assured, arrogant look on his face, his features were soft, enhancing his beauty. Henrik rushed to his side, placing two fingers on his neck.
"He has a pulse. Help me move him!"
Alfréd and Forgach moved Lazlo on to the Chesterfield, while the women slumped on the floor among the debris of the fire. Gabriella and Cecília, no longer entranced were exhausted. Anna clasped her husband as if it were the last. Mária, sat against the wall, staring at black mark on the floor. Why? She said to herself, her head in her hands. The warm tickle travelled down her spine. 'I love you Mária, and always will, but its time for you to move on my love. There is another who will cherish you. Love him. I cannot stay here. My time has come to move on. I love you"
She recognised the finality in his voice.
"Oh my love, I'll never forget you." The tears now freely fell from her eyes. And once again her back was cold.
She looked over to Henrik and the body on the chesterfield. Lazlo's eyes were now open and staring at her, not as before, but warmly and she smiled.
~~The Gathering~~. The Finalé • Opuss № I