The Obsidian Order

A struggle and scuffle left the male bound and seated on a back pew. Jacob suffered from a solid-state of shock while the three cloaked forms conjoined in an intense, low conversation near the altar. Candles again lit up the cathedral with an audible whoosh, flickering in a strangely slow dance.

“Are you sure that it is him?” a monotone male voice lifted behind a thick black hood.

Jacob’s eyes bounced about the room in confusion after he came to, brows knit together in frustration and concern. He wasn’t sure whether to start shouting from the adrenaline in hopes that someone outside of the building would hear or try to run again. That obviously didn’t work the first time either attempt, so he remained quiet. His ears still rang from the rush of pure fight-or-flight as he tried to eavesdrop, the voices at the front of the cathedral pinging off of the thick stone walls and pillars.

“I am!” the female barked, an iridescent mist circled her body. She pulled her hood back in a quick jerk and dispersed the aura sharply; the two figures near her recoiled at the same time before forced composure.

“Yes Ma’am.”, they stated thinly in unison.

“Do NOT make me turn you /both\ into ferrets again.”, she hissed, a dark turn of character.

Was this the same woman he was having tea with only moments ago? Maybe only in physicality, but it’s not like he really got to know her. Jacob groaned in the thought of the probable therapy trips he would have to pay to get past these memories-... if he survived this, that is. That thought caused him to gulp and clear this throat, which caused the group to turn their attention back to Jacob.

“You won’t die.”, one of the twins smoothly manifested right next to him on the pew, the other appearing in a light, iridescent mist. Jacob choked on a gasp, unable to muster a coherent sentence. Both of the twins pulled back their hoods to reveal snowy white hair and glowing white skin. “We are the good guys.”, they cooed in attempts to settle the male’s wrecked nerves.

Flaming red hair bounced in loose curls as the third party member approached, her steps graceful and full of purpose. “Jacob, I know this is abrupt and I’m sure you have several questions.”, the same voice that brought him comfort before now sent chills down his spine. His voice quivered, “Why am I here.. What is happening..?”, he managed to blurt out.

The female beckoned the twins to her side, “We are called the Obsidian Order.” Black mists swirled up from the two white-haired males’ corporeal forms and quickly reassembled on either side of the woman. “We protect the darkest truths of planet Earth and assist in the positive influence of all humankind. As you might have gathered, we are not human beings. Though I originated as one, I am a witch. These two are the Soul Dancer Twins. Names are not important at this point.” A light smile crept over her lips, “You, my child, found the book and decoded the message with absolute ease.”

Jacob looked absolutely stupefied and silent.

“My small black book of Ovilus messages, dating back to before the Roman Empire, led you to a comfortable sum of money. You are to use this money any way you like but we need your mind to assist in, to be blunt, saving planet earth as you know it. Consider it a sign-on bonus if you choose to help us.”

“What if I don’t..?” he inquired shortly.

Thin fingers extended to cup the chins of the twins, “These Gemini project portals that allow me to check in on you and give you your next task.”

“My next task? I haven’t even agreed to any of this.”

The red-headed woman tilted her head, “Then you die. Along with the rest of humanity.” Green eyes glittered from the candlelight as her tone was very a-matter-of-fact.

Her answer made Jacob’s eyes widen like saucers. “O-..Oh...I guess I’m helping you guys out then.”, his retort was a failed attempt at humor at the moment. “..Where did the book come from..”, he asked and shifted uncomfortably on the wooden pew and forced himself to take an even breath.

“The book came from a long line of witches like me. Communications with other planes of existence. There are so many souls needing closure as well as those warning us of what is to come. The Obsidian Order is here to assist where we can and to carry those messages or well-wishes to their respective recipients.” She glided in to sit on the pew in front of Jacob. The twins chose across the aisle, bright blue eyes fixed on the red-headed witch.

Jacob’s parents instilled a sense of spirituality in him but not to this extreme. “Ovilus..?”, he repeated. It sounded familiar. “Is that..like an automatic writing thing?”, questions flooded his mind, and he attempted to remember where he had heard that term before. The dots connected quite quickly in that brilliant brain.

“It’s a bit mainstream with research technology now.”, She added and probed at Jacob, “What do you know of ghost hunting in this age?”

The male’s eyes lit up for a moment, eyebrows shot up in realization. During his relaxation times at home, he watched quite a few shows about the paranormal. “Uh-.. I know the tech they use now uses a word database that can be manipulated by the change in the electromagnetic fields around it. I also know it was created by Bill Chappell after his daughter died in a pretty gruesome car accident...” Jacob broke off from his thought, “Are you saying that the small black book is an ancient ovilus?”

“Bingo!”, she cheered then shot a look of ‘I-told-you-so’ to the twins who watched intently. They moved closer to the two, brows perked with a look of wonder dancing in their eyes.

Jacob then continued, “But.. I’ve also read things about automatic writing not being a purely unconscious reflex act, but the product of a conscious individual? Or maybe it could be cryptomnesia?” He started to ramble a rebuttal, “Though.. psychiatrists state that it can also be a method of tapping into the unconscious mind but how do you--” One of the twins abruptly leaned forward over the back of the pew Jacob sat on and placed a glowing white finger to the male’s lips to silence the barrage of aggressive inquiries that were about to burst from Jacob’s mouth.

“All in due time my friend.”, the twin’s voice sounded ethereal and smooth as honey. Jacob stilled and steadied his breathing again, silent as the twin removed his finger.

“Also, the book is a way to test the human soul.” A twin started, the other finishing. “There are literal demons out there who want nothing more than to slice throats and gnosh on still beating hearts for shits and giggles then go stir the reality-series-gone-sour that is the human experience.” Their faces are eerily monotone, but the other soon followed with light laughter when one broke a smile. The atmosphere seemed less tense.

“But seriously though...Demons.”

Jacob gripped at his jacket with anxiety again, momentarily distracted by the surreal realization he still had the $20,000 tucked into his jacket pocket. Demons..? Is this really worth the money, though?

The red-headed witch cleared her throat. “Also, The money isn’t a trap. But, incentivize outside help we have found that humans are easily manipulated by greed or desperation. The point is how you were able to find the envelopes so quickly and think outside of the box of stocky societal terms. It shows you still have hope for larger things in life that..honestly has no obligation to make sense to anyone questioning it. Money is insignificant in the grand scheme of the universe but it took capitalism to get to the common human perception of this time and space.”

He tilted his head in thought and blinked as the red-head stood from the pew; the cloak billowed at her sides when the twins shot to their respective side of the witch. “Obtain a modern Ovilus. I will communicate with you through that. I will say your name before I give the task. Return to your home as normal.. and I do apologize for the unceremonious way we had to get you back into the church.”

Her aura burst from her feet, engulfing the three before the twins elegantly lit the cathedral halls with a blinding light. They opened a portal in the middle of the aisle and left Jacob with a baffled expression once they de-materialized from sight. A low whoosh brought darkness to the church, yet the candles dissolved from reality. The engineering student sat absolutely still in the darkened building. The buzz of energy had left with the three beings, and he digested the events leading to this entire ordeal.

That really just happened...His heart skipped a few beats, and he triple-checked the envelopes in his pocket. Still thick with the banded capital. “Okay... An Ovilus. Shouldn’t be that hard to find...right?”, another large breath filled his lungs before the male stood and walked to the giant wooden doors for a second exit.

It sounded easy enough, but he was still mildly grappling with the fact that THAT JUST HAPPENED.

The snowy outdoors met his eyes, catching a glint of broken glass before him. “..Ah shit.. my phone.”, he bent to pick up the device and examine the cracks spider-webbing across the screen’s surface. “Damn...Well. I guess I can get a new phone now.”, he tucked the phone into his other pocket and carefully made his way down the stairs of the church. He took a moment to turn and view the architecture and front door again before a cab pulled to the side of the road.

“Ey buddy! Need a lift?”, Jacob turned to see two other cabs pull in behind to pick up other passengers from the sidewalk. “Sure.”, he called out and picked up his gait to a light jog towards the vehicle and slid into the back seat. “Electronics store, please! Gotta get a new phone..”, he sheepishly pulled out the broken one from his pocket, and the cabbie gave a snicker. “Bet, buddy! Gotta be careful with those little things. Breaking so easily.”, a thick accent coated the driver’s words. He lifted his phone from the front cup-holder; A Nokia. “Y’need ta get one of these yo.” Jacob chuckled as the car pulled forward towards his new destination in the busy New York.