Chapter 7: And the Physical Shape of Light Bled.

After the dream Dahlia was convinced that one of the God's had blessed her. He had said that the purification ritual would need to be performed on Alessa. Dahlia proceeded to look for it, and she found it in the Golden Ceremony.

The Miracle of Purification.

As lead is simple so is flesh.
As gold is pure so is a God

The Holy Vessel is flesh
To turn the Holy Vessel pure follow this procedure.

12 hours after the time the vessel has emerged from the womb wrap her in the sacred robes of Valtiel. Bind her with the chains of Coatlbara to a rotating poll. Gather up the people and one hour later gather forth the kindling. When the time is right you will hear the Divine Serpent say "Holy Vessel be purified."

Take the flames of purity and light the vessel asunder.

If this is performed by the miracle of Purification the Vessel will become Holy and the God will be born to save a nation in peril.

Dahlia had noticed that there was no mention of implanting a God. She did find something in the Book of Lost Memories.

One act that the cult would perform is the implanting of Incubus into the Holy Vessel's subconscious. This was not a belief shared by everyone. Many of the cult members believed that Valtiel and Incubus though once one had separated.

Dahlia looked amazed. "So it was Incubus who had visited me!"

With a new found excitement Dahlia looked in her books for the ritual on implanting Incubus into her daughter's subconscious. Finally she found it.

She studied it.
"Say, Uncle Joseph can you tell me a story?" Alessa asked.

Joseph groaned, "I'm tired. Go play Barbies or some shit."

"But I don't have any Barbies." Alessa told him.

Joseph let out a huge sigh.

"What's wrong?" Alessa asked.

She was concerned.

"NOTHING IS WRONG YOU UNHOLY WITCH!" Joseph screamed suddenly.

Alessa became scared and started to cry.

"Shut the hell up!" He yelled.

He took out a knife and walked towards Alessa.

"I think I'll kill you. Then that will prove that you're nothing holy." Joseph growled as he stepped closer and closer to the young girl.

Alessa was terrified. She knew that she could be killed soon. She closed her eyes and prayed for something, for a miracle. She braced herself for the impending pain that was to come...

THUMP!

There was nothing.

Alessa opened her eyes to see Joseph lying on his stomach. Alessa noticed that he wasn't breathing.

She started to cry.

She leaned over him and tried to do something.

Nothing.

Alessa started to cry again. She hadn't meant to do it. She barely noticed when her mom and Anna came rushing in.

"Alessa, what happened?" Anna asked.

Alessa said nothing.

Dahlia was quick to notice the knife in Joseph hand. Dahlia immediately made the connection.

Dahlia gathered up her daughter into her arms.

Despite all the other times those arms were used to hurt her, Alessa felt safe in them.

"My daughter your powers are growing stronger." Dahlia whispered.

Alessa cried a little more. "I didn't mean to do it, honest!"

"I know I know."

Anna looked at Dahlia. "What are we going to do about Joseph?"

"Will announce it tomorrow. We may perform the ceremony of Xuchilbara on him. I'll be taking Alessa to bed." Dahlia told Anna.

She put Alessa down and led her to her bedroom.

Anna covered Joseph with a sheet and left him.

Everything was a bright pulsating red. The walls and floor beneath him were pulsing with radiant crimson colors. The sky above him was the purest black ever. The moon was bleeding red.

"Is this paradise?" Joseph asked aloud.

As he walked he came to a green serpent. The serpent climbed a branch and stared at Joseph. Finally it spoke.

"You were killed by the Holy Vessel. How lucky for you!"

"Who are you?" Joseph asked.

The serpent flicked the air. "I am the black god."

"The angel of Nihilism." Joseph muttered.

"Yesss."

"You rule over the place of torment. What am I doing here?" Joseph asked.

"The opposite of love is not hate Joseph. The opposite is indifference. You have shown a nihilistic attitude towards the Gods. For that you must atone." Coatlbara told him.

The God then left Joseph alone.