“What on earth do we want with that old dagger?” asked the Reverend.
“It's not a dagger, it's now an athame. Have none of your nocturnal nosey readings taught you anything about the way of Wicca or the arcane?”
Ruby knew it was time to bring the Reverend properly into the picture; to make him fully aware of just how stupid he had been. She told him to remain seated, while she explained that, through his ignorance, he had re-opened a portal through the Privy of Simon between two planes of existence that should never, ever collide. No doubt David had stumbled upon the existence of this portal while clearing weeds from the cemetery and the surrounding area, possibly while he was moving tools in and out of the cupboard in the Privy, or, equally likely, the Reverend's own readings had helped cause a crack in the continuum, and then it was really only a matter of time before somebody suitably susceptible was careless enough to go for a call of nature and find themselves usurped by something of an unholy nature at one and the same time.
“Due to your unwise activities within the privy,” Ruby summarised, “You have opened a particularly nasty can of worms that we now need to shut – quickly, tightly and as permanently as we possibly can.”
The Reverend looked increasingly abashed as Ruby continued:
“I shall now name and consecrate this item.”
She indicated the athame.
“It shall be dedicated to Saint Michael. The Communion Set one may safely assume has already been covered with blessings countless times over the years. After I have done this, you shall take the talisman into your keeping and I shall take the athame. I fear that we may have nave need of them far more than I had previously calculated. Reverend – would you please be so kind as to find Pearl and tell her to come to me. Then locate David and prevail upon him in your strongest manner to renounce Hariman (or whatever he now chooses to call himself) and all his works. You MUST convince him to do so, and do so immediately, for his soul is in mortal danger. Now go. Make haste, man!”
The Reverend did not need to be told twice. Without another word, he jumped from the stool and speedily left the tent. He had been an utter fool, but it wasn't too late to try to put things right...
**********
As soon as he had gone, Ruby picked up a blank piece of paper and a marker pen. In bold, clear letters she wrote a sign for outside the tent so she would not be disturbed; it read: ‘Fortune Teller. Closed due to unforeseen circumstances’.
Assured now that her concentration would not be broken for at least a few precious moments she began to prepare...
First of all, she cleared the table of everything bar some incense in a holder, a small bowl of water, the athame, and the small vial, goblet and wafer recepticle. At the point of the small table that was furthest to the North, she placed a pinch of salt, sprinkled upon a small cob of bread, to represent the Earth. To the South, she placed, and lit, a red candle in a small candlestick, to denote Fire. To the East she scattered a few lavender heads, to represent Air. To the West she placed an earthenware chalice of red wine to signify Water.
Ruby then turned to the East and, with her index finger drew a pentagram in the air in a specific way which invoked the Air Spirit. As she did so, a bright blue neon line seemed to emit from her finger. She then brought her hand up to her chest and thrust it out sharply, stabbing the centre of the glowing blue star that was now seemingly hanging in the air, and intoned:
“Yeh-hoh-wah!”
She then quarter-turned on the spot to face the South, still keeping her arm and index finger outstretched, tracing the neon blue line through the air as she did so. She then formed another blue star in the air, this time in such a fashion as to invoke fire. Thrusting her hand, dagger-like to the midpoint of the hanging star, she spoke in a serious, clear tone:
“Ah-don-eye.”
Still keeping her old arm thoroughly straight, Ruby rotated a further quarter-turn to the West and drew yet another blue star in the air, again changing formula so that this invoked water. Stabbing the middle of the star, she said:
“Eh-ee-yay.”
She then made yet another quarter-turn until she was facing North. She marked her final blue star in the air, summoning Earth to her aid. As she finished drawing, she hurled forth her wizened old arm shouting:
“Ah-goo-la!”
Her arm still outstretched, Ruby turned one more quarter on her heel and completed the circle.
She was standing now in a pulsating blue circle of light, punctuated by shimmering blue pentagrams, humming with positive power and energy.
Ruby stretched out her arms so that she stood in a 'T' shape. Arms open wide, feeling the power radiate to her, she shouted joyfully.
“Before me Raphael!”
A great yellow orb of light with a violet aura appeared before her.
“Behind me Gabriel!”
Another orb appeared, this time an intense blue light with an orange aura. It throbbed at her back.
“On my right Michael!”
Again, an orb of light sprang forth, this one bright crimson, edged with green.
“On my left Uriel!”
A final orb grew at her left; an amazing green with a red and rust-brown ring flitting around it.
Each orb had its own note, and as each appeared, it was as if a holy choir was coming together; celestial voices, each in harmony with one another.
Ruby waited a few seconds to take in what was happening around her, and then continued with the rite.
“Above me, the
