When Darkness Falls

As she wondered through the house lighting candles and begging for blessings, she was determined not to let doubt creep in. She needed this to work. She needed to be free. Held captive by her own mind, she needed this. As she passed the mirror in the hall in all its shattered glory, she gazed at herself in her floor length, sheer light blue gown with such awe in her eyes. She couldn't believe how beautiful she looked. A perfect image for a perfect ritual. It started to grow dark and she could feel her mind unleashing the demon she was hoping to lose tonight.

As she stepped off her back porch she noticed the same dark shadow she saw earlier. Frightened by how close it had gotten, she hesitated to step off the porch, but the fire pit needed to be lit. She was sure to keep an eye on the shadow figure as she approached the pit. It had rained the day before so her sacrifice slab was freshly washed. She reached down to the pit and lit the sage and kindling. She knew the fire would lite the palo santos so she didnt bother with it. As the flames grew she chanted," Loki, hear my plea, rid me of this monster" she continued, " clear my mind, free me from myself." "Valkyrie, protect me from this creature who creates the darkness,"..she let out a breath as she could feel the deities surrounding her. "Frigg, grant me the strength needed to release this from me, guard my heart so that nothing changes me." "Bless me, bless me." She could feel the fire growing while the sweet smell of sage, santos and wood mixed in the air. She was sure it was perfect for her gods. "As above, so below." She continued "as within, so without." "So mote it be" she spoke as she let the environment fall around her.

She prepared some food for the gods the day before. Bread, wine, chicken guts. She prepared the slab half with her wine and food offerings as she made way to the other chicken. Being sure to thank the gods for their blessings and guidance. It was time to sacrifice the second chicken. She placed the chicken on the slab with such poise. She had to make sure everything was perfect. She wasn't sure she could a second time. "Swiiiiiing" she heard, she paused. "Swiiiiiiing." She looked around. She could feel the shadow creature at her back. She stammered "Y-You will n-n-not ruin this for me", with such a rage in her eyes, she turned around and swung. As she watched the blood pool in the bowl below, she could feel the shadow surrounding her. What was happening right now? she thought. She felt a rush of anger at such a magnitude she was unaware she had that in her. She could feel the flames warming her, but wasn't sure it was more than a dream. She gazed around wearily, for the energy she used made her feel faint. She reached for the wine as she began to laugh in a manner she had never heard before. A sense of power came over her at that moment. Miranda had always felt odd for most of her life and she never knew why. But this, this felt like home.

Miranda could see the festivities and her guests were having such a wonderful time. She know not of her guests, for they weren't invited. Just that one day they would come. Miranda ate bread as she spoke to a maiden, "How do you like your life?" she asked matter of factly. "Is it everything you dreamed of?" With tears in her eyes, she looked at the maiden. "Have you ever wanted different?" As she continued sobbing the maiden responded, "It is exactly as I dreamed it." With a look of cynicism and between tears, Miranda rolled her eyes. All of this was a hallucination she thought. Who were these people and how did they get here? As the flames grew, the guest began to dance and chant. Miranda grew even wearier the more her unknown guests chanted. She had no idea what was happening. She tried to get up and move, but she was paralyzed as she couldn't get her legs to work. "OH GODS, IS THIS HOW I DIE?", Miranda thought. She could see a figure come closer to her face, with a slithering tongue and a face made of stone "Soon you will be mine", Miranda heard. She wasn't sure what was going to happen as she was in a dreamlike trance.

She began to dance and sway around the flames diligently in tune with the others, she almost didn't question it. It felt real for once. She was happy to at least have that. As the night burned on, Miranda had less and less control over what happened to her. Surrounded and in a drunken like manner she stumbled about the alter area. Reaching for a chair or the sacrifice slab to hang on too. Something kept stopping her, she couldn't reach it. It was like she had no control. She started freaking out inside, still unable to move. She had yet to realize this is what she asked for.

As the night grew later and later, Miranda could feel the presence of a power bigger than anything she had ever encountered before. Since she could no longer control what was happening, she gave in. "I am yours", she cried. Miranda did not realize that she signed a contract as she spoke those words. Her world was about to be exactly as she wanted, but to what extent she wondered. She could no longer hold herself up. As she lay there outside in the grass, she surely thought this was the end. The gods, on the other hand had a different plan for her. Miranda wasn't sure what was going on, as her guests helped her up and began tossing her between them. She knew the ritual was far from over. As they passed her around like a backpack at a sleepover, they each individually chanted something she couldn't quite make out. All she knew was at this moment she was hoping for blessings.

The chanting continued for quite some time. Swirling Miranda around the fire, everything so colorful, so blurry. Fiercely fluttering her eyelids at the vast amount of bright colors entangling every piece of Mirandas body. She could feel it beginning to take over her mind. She could feel it in every fiber of who she was, coursing though her veins, taking over her muscles like it didn't matter how much she wanted to resist. Miranda was out of it so much that all she could do was allow it to happen. The comfort of knowing she was in control was replaced by feelings of animosity and fear. She was no longer in control and she wasn't sure she was ok with it.

As the night grew later and the flames died down, so did the chaos and noise. After what felt like eternity, Miranda began to gain some of her own control back. Stumbling through the grass, not sure she was really moving she made her way inside. She began to feel the shadows moving around her, gathering closer and closer as she grew weak. In the moments she remembered last, all she could do was close her eyes and hope she was safe.