The Seven Deadly Sinners

19

"Answer it. New permanent mark on your body that'll hurt a little to get."

"How big is it going to be?" I asked.

"About the size of the circle at the end of a cardboard paper towel tube," Mike said. I thought for a second. I'd been thinking about getting a skull on the back of my neck, under my hair. Might as well just do that.

"In the middle of the back of my neck," I said.

"That'll work. I'm assuming you don't know Latin?" asked Mike.

"You would assume correctly," I replied.

"Alright, Charon's going to repeat what I say in English. There will be some instructions for you guys to follow and some things that won't matter to you. Pay attention and do as I say," said Mike. Brennen turned off all of the lights and closed all of the blinds and curtains around the house until it was pitch black. "Satan, come back out here."

We heard Colby take a few steps out toward us and then a loud bang.

"Ow! Fuck," he hissed. "Couldn't have turned the lights off after I got over there?"

"No. We don't want her dead before we even start," said Mike. Colby slowly walked the rest of the way over and I heard Mike move to him. Mike set Colby's hand on my back, making me jump a little from not expecting it.

"Put your mark right over hers," said Mike. Colby's fingertip lightly traced the bare skin of my back until he felt the waxy semi-circle. "All of you. Marks together," ordered Mike. "Okay, now hold at least one hand with each other. Two if you can, but contact between your marks stays. We need at least one hand."

Colby's hand reached out and gently took mine in his. I felt my chest start to tickle inside.

"Uh, Mike?" I said uneasily.

"Fuck, your chest?" he asked.

"Barely, but yes," I replied.

"Damn it, you guys. Stop it," Mike said.

"Stop what? I still don't even know what's causing this," I replied.

"Yeah, yeah. Think about pain. Physical pain. Like when that guy shot you. Think about how the bullet felt," Mike said.

"Uh, okay," I replied.

"Focus on it. Really focus. But keep your eyes open and listen to my voice."

"Alright," I said. Mike took a deep breath.

"Septem peccatis, gubernaculis tractanda ego dabo vobis," Mike said.

"Seven sins, I give you guidance," Brennen translated.

"Animarum errantium: spirituales nequitias."

"Wandering souls, lost spirits."

"Ill cupiditates et affectus involuntarium."

"Ill feelings and involuntary desires."

"Et posuit ei requiem hodie, et ceterorum domantur,"

"Will be put to rest and tamed today."

"Offeram tibi domum quoque octavus."

"I bring before you the eighth house."

I stopped listening to Mike and focused on the English Brennen was translating to.

"She gives guidance, she knows structure. Lilith brings forth the final key to reuniting what was destined to be."