Chapter 20: Ritual

"The sacrifices shall come soon. Are you ready to begin?" Goth and Phoenix were perched on the highest branch of a tall tree, overlooking the horizon, gleaming orange under the descending sun. The treetops were covered with a thick, yellow tint, and the air was warm and teeming with the sounds of various insects.

Phoenix looked at her mate. "Ready if you are, king." Goth snorted sarcastically but secretly felt proud inside. The two stared on into the sunset and caught sight of a multitude of creatures rising over the horizon, flying toward the pyramid. Soon they became a multitude of thousands upon thousands – creatures engulfed in what looked like pitch-black mist, blotting out any sunlight that dared try to touch them. Even the sky seemed to darken with their presence.

"The dead have arrived." Goth said triumphantly.

"And so have our sacrifices." Phoenix added.

"Yes…so have our sacrifices." The dark creatures flapped in what looked like a perfect single file and owls or wolves were clamped into each and every one of their claws. "Shade Silverwing has no chance." Goth said to himself.

The Vampyrum king looked at his mate. "We must prepare the ring and line our troops up for the ritual."

"Didn't you attempt to do the Hundred Hearts Ritual years ago? Why try to accomplish an even more difficult one?" Phoenix wondered.

"All that matters is that Zotz will rise inevitably."

"Don't get your hopes up Goth. You might screw up again. You don't know how to control this new power of yours." With that Phoenix lit from her roost and flew into the pyramid to make the preparations. Goth was left with a hot head. Who was she to predict unlikely things?

The shadow creatures had arrived at the pyramid with a surprising visit to the Vampyrum colony. Most of them scuttled as far away from the dead army as possible. The mere sight of them was enough to penetrate the soul. Goth fluttered into the main room where the creatures waited. He silently and carefully inspected the wicked creatures, hovering with great patience. Goth chuckled to himself and pointed to an opening to the side that led to the lower levels.

"Take our sacrifices to the Bone Room to be imprisoned until Zotz orders the ritual's start." The creatures obeyed and one-by-one flew into the opening, disappearing into the darkness below. Goth called out to the lounging bats above.

"Go into your defense positions. Even with this power by our side, we cannot afford to fail the ritual…a third time."

Goth entered the main ritual room where he saw Phoenix carefully inspecting the ancient Stone and the ring that sat beside it.

"Third time?" Phoenix asked without looking back.

"You heard?"

"Yes, in fact, you do talk a bit too loudly."

"It's what kings do, darling."

"Answer my question."

"What question?"

"You know, what do you mean third time? I didn't know there was another time the ritual was being done."

"A long long time ago it was, in our history."

"Well, enlighten me."

"First, I must show you something. Follow me." Goth pointed to the circular hole on the ceiling just above the Stone. Both of them flew upwards and into a room that was lit orange by the setting sun. The room was slightly long, and at the end was a rectangular hole.

"Where is this?" Phoenix asked as they walked slowly towards the hole.

"I'm surprised you don't know yourself. Your powers of exploration are weak I presume."

"Bite your tongue, Goth. I'm surprised you are able to keep up your snotty attitude at a time like this." Goth was taken back and didn't say anything else. They reached the hole and Phoenix peeked down. There was nothing – there was not even a whisper or any kind of sound coming from the void. It almost made her sick.

"This is where the ritual was done first." Phoenix looked at Goth with a look of shock.

"I'd say with something like this, it would have to be a totally different ritual."

"Let's say the ritual is the same, but the ways of the ritual are different." Goth replied. "Ancient markings written by our ancestors say that this hole was used to throw the sacrifices' hearts in. The climax, however, were two special sacrifices."

"Special? How are they any different?"

"They were the Sacrifices of the Sun and Moon, said to be part of Nocturna's prophecies or some garbage like that." Phoenix snorted in response. "However, even so, Zotz even called them special - they were the key of the ritual. They would block off all barriers between life and death. If we destroy the barrier with these two special sacrifices, Zotz will rise."

"How, do you suppose, are we going to find this…special duo?" Phoenix asked testily.

"Zotz will set the time right."

"You're just as crazy as the things you just explained."

"I would assume people would like to think of it that way." The two were silent, staring into the pit of silence.

"I'm growing uncomfortable around here." Phoenix said, breaking the silence. Goth laughed.
"Get used to it. We're going to sacrifice the Sun and Moon in this very spot."

After the ritual explanation, Goth and Phoenix hunted together for the night. Goth was back in his main throne room, seated in his massive, throne made of stone. He was thinking again, like usual. He liked to think in the room. It was usually completely silent, thus being the perfect place for contemplation and thought.

Winds suddenly blew sharply around the room and the atmosphere thickened. Goth got up from his throne and kneeled formally.

"Goth, the bats are arriving at a quick pace." Zotz's voice sounded out.

"They haven't died yet I see."

"They haven't even encountered the worst just yet. They shall be separated in time, and no one will get out alive. The ritual will be a success, Goth. There is no way it will go wrong, is there?" Goth sensed a mocking tone.

"Yes, Lord Zotz." Goth said behind clenched teeth.

"Good. Prepare. The sun rises soon." With that, the presence disappeared, and Goth stood upright. For once, Goth felt like everything would go out just right. Nothing could really stop him now. Not even Shade Silverwing.

A few hours passed and Goth was seated in his throne still, thinking of the ritual customs and how they work. He had been interested ever since he knew about them. Even Nocturna's prophecies had some sort of influential benefit for the ritual's processes. The Chosen Five were a force not to be dealt with a carefree attitude. A spiritual war was in progress, but with the great power that Zotz had given him, Goth knew there would be no chance for them to win the war.

Phoenix entered the room and fluttered towards Goth. She sat right next to him and looked around the room as if he wasn't even there.

"What do you want?" Goth simply said. Phoenix didn't look at him.

"Oh, just looking around. This is a very nice room, you know. Those humans really outdid themselves." Goth leapt up from his seat.

"Phoenix, I am being serious. There is something on your mind isn't there?"

"Yes, actually. I'm worried for my children Goth, are you?" Goth did not want to go over this again.

"They will be fine."

"That's what you always say, Goth!" Phoenix shouted, her voice echoing throughout the room. Goth stood still, startled for a moment.

"I care about them, all right? My son is the heir to this colony, you know that. My daughter is as much of an importance to me as Shadow is."

"Then why do you let them take the responsibility of a formation so dangerous?" Phoenix asked.

"Zotz will protect them. He will protect them just like he did me. My children are like a part of me." Phoenix didn't reply to this and just nodded. She bowed her head and sniffed a couple of times.

"Hey." Goth put his claw under her chin and lifted her head so that she was looking at him. "Everything will be fine. I know it will."

Shadow and Selene crawled deeper into the pyramid through various tunnels and openings in the maze-like underbelly of the structure.

"Remind me what Dad told us to do again, Shadow?" Selene said from behind as the two crawled through another tight tunnel-way.

"The Sacrifice of the Sun and Moon. We have to seek them out and take them into imprisonment. Two of the Chosen Ones of Nocturna are definitely them. The ritual writings said so."

"Funny that Dad always talks about killing the Sun. I wonder if that has any significance." Selene replied. Silence followed and the only sounds were the skittering of their claws against the stone. "But how do we know which ones are them?" She added. Shadow was silent for a moment.

"Zotz will tell me. Dad always says that Zotz solves everything out."