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Sonia’s apartment looks like it was decorated by two very different people. Entering the suite reveals a calming white and blue toned interior. Exotic flowers, sleek wooden furniture, royal portraits, and a couch of the silkiest velvet available. The only thing out of place is a weathered game console, a gift from her college roommate.
Further on, the contrast becomes more apparent. Sonia’s decor leans towards a morbid feel. There are fewer potted plants and landscape paintings with careful strokes. The hallway is filled with hasty sketches of catacombs and graveyards. A scroll with strange red symbols hangs on Sonia’s bedroom door. Within, the white walls are obscured by a mass of movie posters and newspaper clippings. Beside her walk-in closet is the limited-edition poster of the ‘Gore-maggedon’ film series. Signed by the monster’s three puppeteers, it is her most prized possession. Her bookshelf is stocked with thick tomes bound in curdled leather. A stuffed animal that resembles Cthulhu sits atop her massive bed, silently watching as its owner races around the room.
Sonia tosses the last of her clothes into the laundry bin. A glance at her phone shows she has less than 10 minutes before Gundham’s arrival. All of yesterday was devoted to preparing for the date. The idea was to stay ahead of schedule so there would be no last-minute panic. But it seems idle hands are the devil’s playthings. Sonia has cleaned and re-organized her suite three times now.
She has to find the perfect balance of ‘excited’ and ‘aloof’ ; she doesn’t want to seem too easy. It’s only their fifth date and she’s not the kind of woman who invites just anyone over for a Pagan Blood Ritual. But she has to keep her bouncing excitement under control, the last thing she wants to do is scare Gundham off. No one has ever shared her interests in the dark arts, at least as much as she has. Next to serial killers it is her greatest passion.
Gundham is everything a woman could want. Dark and mysterious. Good with animals. Familiar with the arcane. And his sense of fashion, so few men are brave enough to wear overcoats and black leather boots. Not to mention his finesse with makeup could rival the greatest of Novoselic’s court beauticians. Gundham Tanaka is a sight to behold.
Sonia rushes to the mirror. She looks fine. A bit rosy in the cheeks, but that will fade. The robes aren’t too baggy and sweatproof makeup holds true. She rolls up one of her sleeves. Her pale skin is covered in earthy brown sigils. Despite the nervous sweat that runs along her forearm the makeup is un-smudged.
Deep breaths.
Five minutes left. Sonia goes to prepare the charcuterie board. She retrieves the Novoselic prosciutto from the fridge but makes a harrowing discovery. Mumbling a string of curses Sonia empties her fridge. Pulling the Tupperware from the back, her gut seizes up. She had forgotten to take the blood out of the fridge.
Sonia peels off the lid and is struck with a rancid stench. Her eyes water as she fights to reseal the container. The ritual calls for the blood to be ‘red, true and viscous.’ All she has is a congealed spongy blob. Sonia feels faint. Perhaps she can heat it in the microwave.
No, the smell would spread to the entire floor. Her lone neighbor, an Indonesian Count, is on vacation but will return tomorrow. He's already lodged complaints about Sonia's odd activities, another mistake could get her in trouble.
Sonia paces and presses her hands together. Her mind sifts through its encyclopedic knowledge on the properties of blood. Unfortunately, the only solution is for a natural thaw. And she doesn’t have time for that.
In fact, she is out of time.
There’s a knock on her door.
Sonia’s head snaps between the bloody container and the door.
The charcuterie board is swiftly assembled. Sonia refills her fridge of its contents, excluding the blood Tupperware. Sonia sprays half a bottle of air freshener to hide the curdled stench of blood. The putrid scent still lingers but the power of vanilla does help lessen that. She will have to improvise to ensure today is not a total disaster, but she will triumph!
She stands before the door, forcing her hand to stop shaking as it reaches for the handle.
“Hello.” She opens the door.
Sonia is grateful for the doorway. Had it not been there, Sonia surely would have fallen as she listed to the side. Her eyelids flutter and her breathing becomes a soft series of gasps.
“I found it prudent to bring an offering.” Gundham stands with his back to Sonia. He twists on his heel and with a theatrical flourish of his coat, the two are face to face. Gundham is but a half step from Sonia. She’s so lost in his eyes she’s startled when a single black flower appears before her. “I hope it is to your liking.”
Sonia manages a coherent ‘I adore it’ before accepting the flower. She brings it to her nose and soaks in the wonderful aroma. She steps aside to allow Gundham inside. Gundham removes his boots and satchel while Sonia reboots her brain. With a clearer head she realizes Gundham is not dressed in the ritual robes. Worried she is overdressed Sonia throws down the hood and rolls up her sleeves.
“D-did you find the place alright?” She smiles, attempting a casual tone. Goodness he’s so hot she is beside herself.
Gundham is distracted by the size of her apartment. He stares wide eyed and slack jawed as he steps into the living room. Sonia politely clears her throat.
“I, yes, my All Seeing Eye lit a path to your palace. Fret not.”
They stand in silence. Gundham lifts his scarf over his nose. Does she smell? Oh, perhaps it's the blood.
Sonia politely excuses herself to the bathroom. She applies a fresh spray of deodorant and chances of a small dose of perfume. Sonia checks there’s no blood stuck to her fingers, only to find she brought the flower with her. There’s a small vase with a plastic flower hung over the toilet. The fake flower is dumped onto the floor to make room for the gift.
A flower. He’s so romantic.
Sonia fills the vase with water, using this as a moment to recollect herself.
She exits to find Gundham curiously examining the charcuterie board.
“Oh,” Her voice causes him to jump. “Please feel free to help yourself.”
Sonia finds a place on her windowsill for the vase. The lone dark flower sits comfortably beside the colorful bouquets from politicians and family.
“It is known as the Queen of the Night.” Gundham seems to glide towards her, balancing the board on one hand. “I felt it appropriate.”
“That was so thoughtful.” Sonia says a little louder than she meant to. “Um, not to reveal my inexperience, but am I overdressed for the ritual?”
Gundham gives her a quizzical look. Sonia must motion to the flowy brown robes she wears for Gundham to understand.
“No, you look perfect.” Her heart flutters. “I merely stored my own cloth within my phantom realm.” Gundham motions to his satchel by the door. “It also contains the blood needed for the ritual.”
“Blood?” Sonia feels her shoulders relax as the stress is lifted from her body. The ritual is saved. “Thank you.”
“Think nothing of it.” Gundham gracefully lays the food on the coffee table. “If nothing else it is payment for entreating me to your realm.”
Sonia sits down on her couch. Gundham stands stiffly, rigidly folding his arms over his chest and gazing into the distance.
“Would you like to sit?” Sonia pats the space beside her.
Gundham turns away, for a moment, Sonia fears she offended her date. But the initial turn evolves into a dramatic pivot. He roughly adjusts the end of his coat and floats down onto the couch.
Gundham smells divine. She can’t place the scent but it has an oaky scent that makes her get goosebumps. His makeup is immaculate, and skin is so fair.
‘Stop staring!’ Her brain cries.
“Uh.” Sonia folds her hands in her lap and snaps her gaze to the ceiling. “So, uhm-”
“Are,” Gundham barks, seeming to startle himself. “Are you familiar with Moder’s Summoning Ritual?”
Sonia perks up, a wide smile on her lips as she hastily professes her love for the arcane.
“Oh yes. I have not practiced it myself; my Pagan fixation was during my early teens. My parents prevented me from acquiring the needed supplies and I could never find a partner. As I grew up, I fell out of the Pagan phase and into the Shogoths. That isn’t to say I have no love for the Pagan. It will always hold a special spot in my heart. In fact, I still have the tome I bought during the height of that phase, it’s in excellent condition. If you’d like I could show it to you.”
“Truly?” Gundham leans forward. He’s so close. “I knew you had an affinity for Satanism but to also be knowledgeable of the Lovecraftian. You continue to strike me with awe.”
“Oh, it’s,” Sonia laughs nervously as she plays with the rope tied around her waist. “It’s nothing really.”
“I must disagree. Perhaps such a feat seems insignificant to you, but that is because your mightiness makes such trials seem mundane. One such as you could scoop the stars from the sky with all the ease of breathing. Truly you are a marvel.”
Sonia grips her fingers into a tight fist. She checks they’re still in her lap, and they haven’t shot out to grab Gundham. Sonia is dangerously close to abandoning her morals and letting Gundham do whatever he wants with her. If he continues to rain such praise, she may do just that.
“My book,” Sonia tries to distract herself. “The one I spoke of earlier; it is actually the one we will be using for the ritual. Would you like to see it? I’m so excited, this will be my first time being able to use it.”
Gundham grins devilishly. “Yes, I am eager to see what wretched tomes you possess.”
“It’s in my bedroom, join me, I’ll show you.” The words get out before she realizes their meaning.
Gundham’s smile drops. A hint of color pours into his cheeks. Sonia shoots off the couch and takes fast rigid steps to her bedroom. The door closes behind her. She locks it. Waddles over to her bed. Buries her face into Cthulhu’s soft belly, and screams.
Out of breath, she drops the stuffed horror back down. Sonia uses her bedside mirror to ensure she is presentable. The messy hair is a simple fix, but the red plume on her face is a whole other beast.
In. Out. In. Out. In. Out. In. Out. In. Out.
Breathing exercises are useless when done so hastily. She rushes to her bookshelf and retrieves the Arcaneum of Dead Trees . She flips through the familiar contents. Reading passages she’d memorized long ago. The simple, and repetitive task cools her mind and her cheeks.
In.
Out.
In.
Out.
Excellent. To be safe she reads one more passage on Hags. She holds the book to her chest. Gentle in her embrace. More than a decade has passed since Sonia obtained this treasure. Wear and tear have gotten the better of it. But at long last she has the chance to practice one of its rituals.
Sonia finds Gundham pacing the length of the couch. He seems to be deep in thought. Sonia makes her presence known and Gundham yelps. He drops back onto the couch and crosses his leg, accidentally banging his foot against the table. Gundham’s face tightens but he does his best to uphold his ‘brooding overlord’ expression.
“S-s-so you’ve returned.” Gundham casually massages his foot. “I was merely preparing myself for the dark ritual we are to undertake.”
“Oh,” Sonia takes a deep breath. “In truth I am also nervous.”
Gundham sputters and recrosses his legs, careful not to hurt his foot this time around.
“I am Gundham Tanaka!” He folds one arm across his chest. The other extends with curled fingers splayed towards Sonia. “There is nothing in this realm that could ever phase me.”
“Oh,” Sonia can't help but smile. “Such mighty confidence.”
A choked noise breaks from Gundham. The hand by his chest slides up to hide the growing blush on his face. “Y-yes, as if something so obvious needed to be said. I would suggest you hold your tongue.”
Sonia skips back to the couch. Gundham’s adorable behavior has not only eased Sonia’s nerves, but she also feels mischievously emboldened. She hovers over Gundham, hands folded behind her back.
“Is there something wrong with praising one so mighty?”
“Cease such nonsense.” His voice cracks as he presses back into the couch. Gundhma turns his body as much as he can to hide the blush on his face. He tilts his head upwards, exposing a patch of skin on his neck. It’s so smooth and it would be so easy to lean in and-
Sonia covers her mouth. She can no longer trust her thoughts.
“Forgive my teasing.” Sonia says through her fingers. She takes a step back in case the temptations arise once more. “I just found your reactions adorable.”
A noticeable shiver runs up Gundham’s body. Culminating with his shoulders shuddering slightly. “I will forgive this slight. Your trickster nature holds something to be marveled at.”
“Well, shall we begin the ritual?”
“Yes!” Gundham snaps to his feet and strides towards his satchel.
Sonia moves the table and couch to the far corners of the living room. With the space cleared she spreads out the large painter's tarp. She smooths out the last corner just as Gundham returns. It’s uncanny how attractive he can make a simple brown robe.
The cloth is baggy and slightly too big. The sleeves extend past his hands, perhaps hiding a ritual dagger, or an obscene talisman of old. And the tip of the hood rests perfectly along the bridge of his nose. With proper use of shadows Gundham could look even more menacing than he does normally.
“Here.” Gundham fishes through his satchel. A few candles and a bottle are extracted. Lying beneath them seems to be- “Gah.”
Gundham is quick to close the bag, but Sonia recognizes what he hid. Afterall she is holding a copy of the very same book.
“Whatever you think you saw,” Gundham slowly wriggles the fingers of his free hand. He pivots his body so the bag is out of sight. “It was merely an illusion I concocted.”
Sonia feels her chest tighten and heart quicken. The book Gundham had was clearly in better condition. The black cover has no sign of fading. The spine was healthy. There even were a few notecards sticking out between the pages, suggesting he’s used it and made notes.
“You are most powerful to summon such illusions.” Sonia sighs. She produces her tattered tome. Gundham gasps and recoils. His fingers held before his eyes, tented in dark sigils.
“Such power emanates from this book. I dare say this may be one of the most ominous tomes I’ve been in the presence of.” A deep chuckle passes from his devious smile. “Yes. With this at our side we shall perform such godless deeds.”
Time slows down. The world around Sonia fades into colors as Gundham shines bright like the sun. The shape of his nose. The color of his eyes. The way his lips move when he talks. Like staring at an eclipse, Sonia knows she should look away, but she can’t tear her eyes from the person before her.
Sonia has fallen in love. Helplessly, head over heels, in love.
The painter's canvas is a faded gray cloth. The ritual isn’t picky about what surface the runes are etched on, but Sonia knows blood is a real ‘son-of-a-bitch’ to clean. To summon Moder they require four candles. Sonia bought some fresh from the Goth Topic at the mall, but it seems Gundham came prepared.
“This sacrament produces a foul miasma that lingers for a millennia. With these enchanted candles, we can prevent that from occurring.”
“A genius idea.” Sonia marvels, lifting one of the scented candles to her nose. It has an earthy scent of pine, with a rough waxy base that looks like earth. Sure to appease the god they seek an audience with.
“Dark Queen.” Sonia preens at the sound of her nickname. She turns to face Gundham, stifling a gasp as he kneels before her.
His hands raise up to present her with a weathered paintbrush. He looks like a knight offering his sword in vassalage. Sonia must consciously remind stop herself from knighting Gundham with the painter’s tool.
“This brush was crafted from the roots of the Treefather and hair of a unicorn. It has served me well; I offer it to you.”
Decades of royal training pay off. Sonia does not jump into the air kicking her legs, squealing in delight. She daintily takes the offered brush. And with a perfect 42-degree angle bow, thanks him. After that, Sonia calmly pivots to ensure her face is not perceived by Gundham.
‘Mary Ann Nichols. Annie Chapman. Elizabeth Stride…’
Sonia repeats the names of Jack the Ripper’s victims in her head. She is running out of methods to calm herself. Hopefully this will be the last time she must do so.
Gundham, armed with his own paintbrush, has retrieved a bottle of blood from his satchel. He unscrews the top, unlike Sonia’s, the smell is not offensive and is the expected metallic scent.
The two kneel on the canvas and begin sketching. The symbol is simple. One must draw the skull of an elk facing forward, you must not give it antlers. A bouquet of flowers must be made sprouting from the eye sockets. Sonia finds it appropriate to draw The Queen of the Night.
Afterwards the candles are placed in a diamond pattern around the sketch. Gundham lights them while Sonia peeks out into the apartment hallway. With her neighbor gone there should be no one else on this floor. The ritual is strictly a two-person job, and even a bystander could ruin things. Thankfully they are alone. Sonia locks the door and switches off the lights.
Sonia stands at the low candle near the snout of the elk. Gundham is situated opposite her closing the window shades. The room grows dark, lit only by the four flickering candles. Sonia clears her throat and dons her hood once more.
The ritual requires the tome to be held, but necessarily read from. Sonia has memorized the entire process and debates doing it from memory to impress Gundham. At the last minute she decides against it, not wanting to mess up and embarrass herself.
Sonia speaks in the language of the old gods of the woods. She projects each word with power, but humility. The air goes hot, like humid heat in the forest.
Darkness creeps around the edges of Sonia’s vision. Whispers from a hoarse voice, inches behind her urges her forward. Sonia remains composed, her eyes feel tethered to the words beneath her. Like a leash pulling her along. She can hear the blood gurgle over Gundham’s chanting.
An owl hoots. Branches break. Leaves rustle in the wind. The floor of her apartment softens until it feels like loose soil between her toes. Sonia’s voice seems to echo throughout her apartment.
The candles extinguish. Returning to life with a massive green flame. The fire lets out an animalistic cry as it dances along the ceiling. Through the flames Sonia can see the sigil twitch and come to life.
The skull rises, blood sloughing from its massive frame. The flowers sprout from the eyes and branch off like the antlers of an elk. Sonia feels a powerful energy focus on her. An ancient voice bellows.
“Who summons-”
Like a switch is flipped the apartment is returned to normal. The firm floor at her feet. The candles flicker, orange flames at the expected size. There are no scorch marks on the ceiling. Even the book has shut itself. The only evidence of the ritual is the hoof prints on the tarp and the withered bouquet of flowers at the center.
“Did I do something wrong?” Sonia nervously swallows.
Gundham shakes his head. “You were perfect. I cannot fathom what-”
The whirring of a vacuum interrupts Gundham. The two race towards the source, finding one of the building’s cleaners has reached the top floor. Sonia and Gundham give a hum of disappointment. A simple case of bad luck.
They cannot attempt to call Moder for another week, and they can’t use the same blood as before. As such the ritual was a failure. But Sonia would not describe it as a failure. Never has she had such success with a ritual and with her date of all people.
After cleaning the couple enjoy a documentary on the Roanoke colony in America. Sonia uses that time to build up the courage to ask a question just as their date wraps up.
“Um, Gundham.”
He turns to Sonia, partway out the door.
“If you would permit, I would like the two of us to become official. Boyfriend and girlfrie-”
“Yes!” Gundham squawks. He clears his throat and drags a hand out towards Sonia. “I mean, that alliance would please me greatly. Let us form our pact with the brand of shadows.”
Ecstatic, Sonia brings her hand to Gundham’s. He grips her tightly, and Sonia almost wants him to never let go. But it does end. Gundham pulls his hand away and smirks. Sonia giggles nervously. They’re officially dating.
“I had a wondrous time with you.” Gundham fidgets as the two stand in the doorway. “Perhaps when the stars align, we could convene for another dark sacrament. Only if that is acceptable to you of course.”
“I would love that.” Sonia leans forward. She’s hypnotized by his lips. The day has been nothing short of perfect the only way it could get better would be-
Gundham gasps. He points behind Sonia. “W-w-w-what is that?”
“Huh?” Sonia turns.
Gundham moves in the corner of her eye. His warm breath wisps along her skin. His lips brush her cheek like a calm breeze. Sonia turns to Gundham with wide eyes and flushed cheeks. Her hand sleepily rises to touch the site of his kiss.
Gundham leaps backwards into the hall. He attempts to flourish his coat, but only tangles his hand in the article. His footsteps clop through the empty hall as he sprints towards the elevator. He frantically mashes the call button as Sonia leans out. She’s absolutely intoxicated by his glory.
Ding.
Gundham flails his arms. And cries out a flustered: “Till we meet again, my Dark Queen.”