It took alot of time to get away from the bakery, after I told mom that I'd had a bad day, she almost pried out every bit of information but I held firm and just told her I was going home.
She seemed a bit sad I didn't want to talk but honestly each part of the day was either mildly embarrassing or highly unbelievable, I couldn't say anything without making mom worry more or ending up at the doctor's office.
I had to stay shut!
Somehow I managed to swindle a strawberry cupcake before I left, honestly people who are severely thin are lucky, so much sweets to eat all the time.
But enough of that, I had to focus!
As soon as I got home I opened the door and shut it, locking it tight and rushing up to my room, the tarot deck in my hands, feeling heavy despite being nothing but paper.
"Okay, okay." I sat on my bed and put the deck down. I had not looked at it at all on my way here, how could I?
I was terrified of these things! The last time I got involved with these cards I was sent to New York city and gone from my body for a week. As far as I was concerned these cards were definitely witchy and cursed things.
But they could help me find Lucas, hopefully.
"Here goes." I took out the cards I'd gotten from the witch when she read my fortune, damn did I regret not paying her back then.
I'd have a few bucks less in my pocket but my best friend would still be here.
The five cards were now set in the order I'd gotten them; The Empress reversed, The Lovers, The Hermit, The Tower and Death.
The Empress sat on her throne, beautiful and imposing, yet royally alone in her power unwilling to let alone in.
The Lovers were in each other's arms, holding on as if afraid that a second would pull them apart, yet the love in their eyes was unquestionable.
The Hermit stood alone in the dark, his lantern the only thing illuminating the space around him even as he seemed to walk further into the void's embrace.
The Tower blazed as corpses and lighting struck it, catastrophe and devastation incarnate on the paper, with upheaval it's only message.
Lastly, Death stared on with cold empty eye sockets from a skeletal visage that seemed haunting and eerily familiar somehow.
Yeah they were definitely something to behold now, after everything, but how were they going to help me?
I took a card and tossed it in the air and when it landed near the rest I turned away expecting an explosion or something.
"..."
Nothing.
I turned to the cards with a frown.
"What the ham?" I took two cards and rubbed them together to see if anything would happen but nothing did.
"Glob darn it!" I grumbled angrily as I rubbed them together harder," Come on, work!"
But nothing worked, I tried different cards but none of them started to float or did anything strange.
"Now what am I going to do?" I sighed in frustration as I layed hack, the rest of the deck falling down onto the floor.
Lucas, I thought sadly, I don't know how to do this without you.
I shut my eyes and tried to think of anything else, but I was just a normal person in over her head so most of my ideas were impossible or outright illogical. The responsibility weighed heavily on my shoulders and I was not used to it.
Think, I told myself, how can I help Lucas? I have to help him. I needed to.
Unbeknownst to me, as I thought hard on getting Lucas, one card rose up into the air and slowly floated towards me and settled on my face lighter than a feather. I felt a wave of exhaustion and sleepiness overcome me but I tried to resist it.
However it was like trying to resist a cyclone, and I succumbed.
My mind drifted through a void before I felt myself get yanked to a small white dot in the nothingness. The white dot grew more definitive and clear, until I saw it was a grey white mask with a veil and I realized what it was.
"It's you?" I asked outloud and my eyes grew wide as I looked around finally realizing that I was in a space similar to the shadow pool.
"Now now, calm yourself or the trance will collapse." The mask, Bans, said in a her raspy echoing voice but I was too scared to hear it.
I clawed around, trying to swim out and escape, I had to escape and breath.
Air, I needed air!
"You can breathe in here, calm yourself. Oh," Bans sighed softly as she floated to me," Alright, this space makes you uncomfortable, I understand. So, I will accommodate you."
"ERA Codex:{MAUSOLEUM}"
The black shadowy void imploded and expanded like a cosmic phenomenon, then started to evaporate around us, and my panicking slowly stopped as I found myself in a very familiar room.
A red carpet, between a path of pillars and tiled floors around was all I saw before I screamed.
"Ahhhhhhh! Nooooo!" I screeched and a soft voice chuckled.
"From silent terror to screaming horror, you are a dreary delight, Sarah." The same voice spoke up as the mask floated down to me," Why are you scared?"
"This place is a tomb. There's no doors or windows and there's this crazy woman on a throne who's hiding from her friend because he confessed his feelings. This place is like the worst." I said dejectedly.
I was back in the throne chamber from my first tarot card dream, the same satin and lace red carpet under my feet could not be mistaken.The torches on the walls were less bright now though, before they had been like headlights but now they were struggling embers.
Most noticeable was the empty throne.
"It is good to see you again Sarah. I do apologize for my absence." The mask said softly," Allow me to introduce myself if you've forgotten me, I am or was, both I suppose, A Vessel. My name is Bans."
"Bans? BANS!!?" I screamed in shock and disbelief.
"Yes, that is me. I understand you've heard the name before, recently too." The mask, Bans chuckled," You have lost much peace and I am truly sorry for that. The things you've experienced and seen, the fears, I am sorry."
"Oh, I... thank you, I guess." I said with a small smile," But if it isn't too much trouble can you please explain... Everything this time? I'm not dying I think."
"Haha, yes. This time and from now on, you need not necessarily be on the verge of death for us to speak." The mask smiled," Now, I plead you ask important questions, breath, think and then ask. Alright?"
"Seriously? Umm, okay, okay." I closed my eyes and tried to think hard," I... yeah I can't do this. Can't I just ask what I want to ask? I feel like you owe me alot here and telling me breath and stuff seems like a waste of time."
"..."
"So can I ask my questions now? I got alot and to me they're all important." I crossed my arms and tapped my foot.
"Well you certainly have impatience like me, so I'll understand that. You may ask." Bans said patiently, she became very aware again that she was talking to a child.
"Okay, first questions, How are you here? And why are you here?" I asked her and she seemed surprised.
"Very important question, but I can't give you the full answers yet."
"Hey that's not fair, you say one thing and now you say thi-"
"If I tell you how, you might die." Bans interrupted and I gasped.
"Dying from just asking a question? Unbelievable. Then can you tell me why you are here?"
"Easily, I am here to help you, guide you and prepare you for the true world you will be forced into. You had but a taste of it when we met, but let me tell you now; that was but a taste, a minute drop in the sea of horrors you will face."
Each sentence made the dread in my heart compound like a nuclear explosion.
"Why me? What did I do to deserve this? All of this is like a... a curse!" I said in frustration and anger.
"You did nothing. I can't answer why you but I can tell you this; the fault lies with me... and Iazel."
"Who's Iazel?" I asked her and she floated around me slowly," Don't tell me... It's that guy!?"
"The one with eyes like the shifting moon, yes. That is Iazel. My Companion and Warden." She replied," To answer that questioning look, A Vessel and Warden are beings born in the Underworld, meant to collect the souls of the dead. A Warden finds the dead, takes the soul and the Vessel contains it, till it's marked in the Underworld.
The relationship between a Warden and Vessel is like siblings and yet stronger than a marital contract, needing each other like fire needs air. So, Iazel is bothering you because of me, his Vessel."
"Then can you kindly get out of me, and go to him? He's been in my head for days, and since it's your fault, kindly go away. Please." I bit my lip and she laughed.
"Hahaha!" She floated closer," Firstly, I can not leave here even if I wanted to, secondly, I do not wish to go back to him. Thirdly, do not overstep yourself, I am here to help you but I am a being above your mortality, kindly respect that, Sarah."
"Okay, okay, sorry. Ugh, this is all so... Crazy. I don't even know what to say," I rubbed my brow and took a deep breath," Okay I'll accept the grim reaper stuff I guess, and try to ignore that I'm involved without my consent and ask what I really wanted and needed."
"Go on."
"Lucas," I said softly," How can I help him or better yet, can you help me find him please. I need him back."
"Ah yes, that was something I was waiting for, barely took you two minutes." Bans sighed," I will be as honest as I was when we first met on this matter. Finding a singular soul in The Pit is nearly impossible, like finding a grain of dust within the void without the sense of touch included.
The place he is in what humans call Hell, and I say this now, the stories humans have imagined it to be is not even half of the horrors down there. It is a place of fiery and profane darkness where wickedness and evil blossom upon the suffering and weakness of all."
"Oh... Do you, think he's okay?" I asked her quietly.
"Truthfully? I can not say. Had he been an average human, I could say with absolute certainty that he was dead, damned and to give up any hope. However, he is the only mortal who's soul I have never seen through your eyes, not his aura or thoughts." Bans landed on my head," He is an anomaly like you, so is he alright? I would say the odds are even either way. That's all I can say."
"Can I help him? Find him and bring him home I mean?" I asked her and she sighed again but this time I felt like it was in a way I didn't like.
"There is a being who can help more than me in my current state, but you will not like it." She said.
"Tell me who! I'll do whatever it takes, I'll find Lucas no matter what it takes. I'd even kiss a toilet if it meant Lucas was safe. " I said with determination.
"Nothing so vile is needed here dear, just you to face your fears." Bans took a deep breath (I think), " You need help from a Warden, one who is acquainted with you and has strength to assist you."
"You...mean him!? No way! Never ever gonna happen! I refuse right now and that's a freaking full stop at the end of the idea!" I shook my head and angrily looked away.
She was talking about that pale eyes, pale skinned, cloak wearing bastard!
"I see, your vehement refusal is heard loud and clear. Since you cannot stomach the thought of him, then you'll need to... do some espionage acting and lying."
"Huh?"
Bans floated around me," You need to find another Warden and Vessel to help you, making them think you're a distraught Vessel who's Companion was taken into The Pit. By law they are meant to help you, as the Chancellor and Mistress did."
"Hey, I thought you said the Chancellor wanted to kill me, now you change your mind?" I asked her.
"No, the Chancellor did not initially want to kill you, because he like the others saw you and saw the visage of a Vessel. Your mortal nature and disorientation are what led to your falling." Bans smiled (the mask lips lifted up)," So what will it be?"
"I...," I licked my lips and took a deep breath, calming myself," The second one. I would do anything that doesn't involve... him."
"Fear, anger, helplessness... he embodies these things. Again."
"What?"
"Nevermind, it is not important now. When you awaken, you will be as you were in New York, dressed in a Vessels visage. You must go to the town cemetery and look for the Wardens there."
"Wait, there are people like that at the cemetery? Sam and Ezek go there all the time and alot of other people." I said apprehensively.
"Fear not, Wardens care little for the living, usually, and only care about fulfilling their duty and collecting souls. No human is in danger, and also Wardens are forbidden from hurting mortals without true cause."
"What about me? I almost got killed." I pouted angrily.
"You? My dear, you're mortal yes but you are no mortal. Now remember, when you awaken go to the cemetery, find the Wardens and ask for their help in finding your Companion who has been trapped in The Pit. From there, I'll be directing you... hopefully."
"Hopefully!? You don't sound sure at all." I noticed her tone.
"My perception of self blurs and that is why you often don't hear me, even when I talk to you. For instance, before you came here, I was trying to tell you that the witch you met in the fair was near you in the bus."
"What!??!" I gasped and covered my mouth," Who? The dog? The little Lucky Camper girl?"
"No, it matters not, she'll never take on that form in our presence again. However, this time as she looked at us, I looked deeper at her than when we first met. She is a Hedge witch, a hybrid of two witch bloodlines, one of them is Greed but the other one I am unsure."
"Umm, I have no idea what that means. Can you explain witches before I go?" I asked her.
"Witches are half human and half demon, possessing powers that they get from their demon blood. The higher and stronger their demon parents, the stronger they are. Hedge witches are children of warlock and witches, possessing two or three types of demon blood in their veins.
Witches are hated by most of the Paranormal and Unseen worlds, regarded poorly and treated like vermin, they mostly keep to themselves or are normadic. This one has her sights on us, she's been watching, I can feel it but there's nothing we can do, so do not panic."
"That sounds like alot of reasons to panic."
"Don't worry, she won't do anything." Bans replied and I asked her how she was so confident," It doesn't matter now, you'll find out soon enough. Now, remember what we've talked about, remember what you must do and focus when you hear my voice."
"Okay. I think I've got this. I can do this. It's like lying to get extra lunch privileges at the cafeteria." I said with a smile," Just the lunch lady is grim reapers and the cafeteria is a cemetery... ugh."
"Fear not Sarah, for although Lucas is not here with you, I promise; you will never be alone." Bans said and gave me a kiss on the forehead.