…Powerful incantations provide the means to harness the unseen energies that pervade every breath of air and every grain of sand. Properly channelled, these forces can be used to advance the goals of the skilled Mage...
He was acutely aware that dark magic increased the practitioner’s psychic energy and allowed them to manipulate the world around them for their own gains. The specific words and symbols used during powerful incantations create frequencies that influence outcomes by aligning the energy of the participant with the person, object, or situation they are trying to influence.
The Disciple surveyed the exquisite book with great fondness. It was one of many in a collection that had taken over three decades to accumulate. There were two other books on the coffee table beside his chair; a rare edition of the 1854 ‘Dogme et Rituel de la Haute Magie’ (Dogma and Rituals of High Magic) by the occultist, Eliphaz Levi, and ‘The Clavis Inferni’ (The Key of Hell), a late 18th century book on black magic.
A cruel smile flickered across his face as he turned to the first of several chapters that dealt specifically with sacrificial rituals; if he ever appeared on Mastermind this would definitely be his specialist subject.
The Disciple had undergone a period of fasting in preparation for the impending ritual, allowing himself only enough liquid to survive on. The lack of sustenance was starting to take its toll, but he was confident the adrenalin rush would keep him going until it was safe to resume eating normally.
He glanced down at the engraved Rolex that adorned his left wrist; a gift from his – soon to be expired – wife, given back in the days when she still professed to love him.
It was ten-thirty p.m.
In ninety short minutes All Hallows’ Eve, or Samhaim as the Celts called it, would begin. For the majority of people Halloween was a time for making jack-o’-lanterns out of pumpkins, dressing up in silly costumes, and taking the kids out ‘trick-or-treating’. For those in the know, however, it was one of the four High Holidays, or Greater Sabbats. In fact, it was the most important of the four and was sometimes referred to as The Great Sabbat. He could not imagine a more fitting date to commence his work. The thought triggered a sudden surge of adrenalin, making him feel excited and anxious at the same time. He took a deep breath and released it slowly, counting to ten as he exhaled. This was a night in which calmness needed to prevail; he could not allow his emotions to get the better of him, even for a moment.
Twisting the book sideways, he attempted to study an intricate occult diagram, but after a few seconds of staring at the page blankly, he realised that further reading was pointless. Carefully placing the heavy book on top of the others, he continued to focus on his breathing as he ran through the plan for the millionth time. During the coming hours he intended to perform the first in a series of ancient dark rituals that were as powerful as they were obscure. The successful completion of each one would make him significantly stronger until he finally reached a point where he would be able to bend the powerful forces that shape destiny to his will.
The Sheep would be horrified, of course. To them, his actions would seem unforgivably brutal, but to him, the sacrifices were simply a means to an end.
Well, that wasn’t quite true. Every slice of his knife would bring him exquisite pleasure, but that was merely a fringe benefit, and he wouldn’t allow it to distract him from seeing the bigger picture.
He had carried out experiments with minor hexes and charms before, of course, but he had never attempted anything as dark and as powerful as what he had planned for tonight. Of course, he had been preparing for the coming events for a very long time and he knew exactly what was required of him. The documents he had read had been very specific:
…The chosen organs must be consumed within a single cycle of the sun or their power will be spent. The organs taken must directly relate to the corresponding zodiacal region of the body. Thus, the heart of a Leo will be eaten; the intestines of a Virgo will be eaten and the genitals of a Scorpio…
At least identifying and removing the organs shouldn’t be too problematic. His anatomical knowledge might be a little rusty after all these years, but he was confident it was more than sufficient for what he had planned. What worried him was that if he consumed the wrong organ – for instance, if he killed a Scorpio and then ate her liver instead of her genitals – the ritual would not work, which was why it was so vitally important that he establish their star signs before killing them.
…Only by spilling the blood of the damned, which must be released through ritual mutilation and offered as a sign of worship, can the necromancer obtain true power…
Those who practice diabolism understand that a ritual sacrifice releases an instant burst of power that can be harnessed and channelled to assist particularly complex spells. Animals of varying description are most commonly used, but the most effective and powerful sacrifices require the offering of human life. In these rites, the victim’s blood is drunk and their flesh is consumed.
The rituals he intended to carry out represented his last chance at salvation. Success would lift the curse that blighted his life, and prevent the controlling bitch that ran it from depriving him of the rewards that were rightfully his. It was a last throw of the dice in which he risked everything, from his freedom to his immortal soul.
The stakes were high, but to do nothing was to lose everything anyway, so what choice did he have? Besides, taking petty revenge on the heartless bitches who had done their utmost to
