Chapter 1 - Solstice
pandemonium (n.)
Pandæmonium, the name of the palace built in the middle of Hell, "the high capital of Satan and all his peers," from Greek pan- "all" + Late Latin daemonium"evil spirit," from Greek daimonion "inferior divine power," from daimon "lesser god".
Over two weeks of research, buried in books at every moment awake, yielded little but the most technical definition of the word "Pandemonium". The abode of all demons, the Grand Palace built in Hell for the Dark Lord and His Aristocracy. The answer just gave her more questions and she could not help but feel inadequate and unprepared, however, as loathe she was to admit, the feeling of satisfaction derived from the insane idea she was supposed to have power over Hell itself has been present and refused to go away.
She knew the very thought was supposed to be blasphemy in the church, but things started to make sense with this new concept, the huge amounts of time and energy to make sure she signed her name in the Book of the Beast, the amount of power she had and ease for her to use and control magic lately, even if her time has been spent mostly in research, her attraction towards exercising her new powers was similar to a compulsion, she had to actively resist the desire and focus in her task at hand.
The two weeks of obsessive research yielded little but headaches beyond that definition, however, it brought her much needed distance and distraction of the many issues that plagued her social life, beyond the concern from her family due to the late nights and sleep deprivation.
"Cousin?" The sound of knocking in the door along with her cousin's voice snapped her out of her memories.
"Ambrose? Come in." With a wave of her hand the door unlocks with a loud click and soon it is opened, with the figure of her cousin soon entering her bedroom. A worried look is visible when he sees the many books spread in her room, a few of them levitating around her.
"Aunt Zee asked me to take you away from the evil books that have kidnapped you in those days." The usual joking tone is present but Sabrina could detect apprehension behind it. "Have I been so negligent to my family?" The thought hits her like a sledgehammer and the guilt comes along with it.
"I will be right down, dear cousin, you may report your mission as successful to your Mistress." Jokes the witch right back. His face seems to clear with the joke and laughter colour his face as he makes a mocking bow, Ambrose goes back down after closing her door.
"Time really flew by, The Winter Solstice is tomorrow already." Mutters aloud to herself as she uses magic to put her books back in their places. "I will take a break with all of this, at least for the Solstice." With a sigh, she takes Salem in her arms and goes down to meet her family for the celebrations of the day.
The Spellman living room has always passed the feeling of solemness and tradition. It couldn't be different, of course, being where many clients of the Spellman Mortuary are received and, most importantly, decorated by her aunt Zelda. In this day, however, there was nothing of the kind. The living room was decorated with typical Yule decoration, but Sabrina could notice many of the things she liked about Christmas, even if disguised as Yule decoration. "Aunt Hilda's handwork, no doubt about that." A warming feeling spreads through her at thoughtfulness.
When the young witch arrived her aunts were already around finishing the preparations. "Hey, can I help with something?" Offered awkwardly, just now realizing she has helped with nothing ever since that night in the rooftop, in contrast with past years where she had a lot of fun with everybody decorating and just passing time with her family.
"It is okay, dearie, we are finished already, just sit a bit, there is eggnog at the table if you want to drink something." Answered Aunt Hilda in a soft and animated voice, pointing with her finger at the table to the side.
"It is nice to see you back with us, Sabrina, as much as I support your studies, burying yourself in books because you broke up with your boyfriend is not the answer, you are better than that."
That wasn't the first time Aunt Zelda used this argument, and yet how could I tell her that wasn't the case. If there was one good thing that came up with this new obsession was that I had an excuse to not dwell about the collapse of my love life and the strange awkwardness with my mortal friends, however, explaining what was that I had been researching would not only lift eyebrows, but had the potential to become a terrible breaking point in the harmonious family situation that I enjoyed, even more because at this point, I realize that in the end, they are those I can count the most.
"Aunt Zelda, It isn't like that, I just have all this power now, after signing my name in the Book of the Beast, and my education has been lacking to properly wield it, I am just trying to recover any time lost and use well what I was given in exchange of my eternal service." The bitterness in my voice is much more subdued than expected, given how much I rallied against this situation before that night.
Aunt Zelda's returning frown and rebuttal were stopped in its tracks as Ambrose enter the living room with a log in his hands. "Dear family, I bring you the protagonist of this night, The Yule Log!" His joke causes laughter to escape from Aunt Hilda and myself and softens Aunt Zelda's expression. After a few minutes the log in securely in the fireplace and all members of the Spellman family around it, Aunt Zelda with a lighter in hand.
"Tomorrow is the Winter Solstice, one of our most important traditions and unholy rite. The Shortest Day and Longest Night, when the veil between worlds is at its most vulnerable. We light the Yule Log, so our home is protected during this time of all spirits, malevolent or not, that see fit to wander around the world during this short period of time. Those flames must burn uninterrupted until the end of the Solstice, let its shine mark the start of our celebrations!" After lighting the log, a content and warm feeling spread around the living room, when we have a traditional Yule dinner, with Winter Solstice Soup, Sun King Soup, Pork Roast with Rosemary and Garlic, Pork Pie and Honeycakes.
The next hours let me calm myself, eating a family dinner, playing with the kidnapped baby Aunt Zelda intends to raise as a long lost relative and watching old Christmas movies with Aunt Hilda were enough to settle a great deal of uncertainties that have been distracting myself and for the first time since the disastrous necromantic ritual and the venture in Limbo, I allowed myself to ache for the mother I have lost so long ago. After weeks of worry and obsession, I cried myself to sleep and no thought was spared about the vague words of the Dark Lord.
