Chapter 33: Witches of the Seelie
“Well, it’s a magic circle,” corrected Phantasia, “There’s nothing demon-summoning about it at all!”
Indeed, this was nothing like the circles used to communicate with other planes, manifest spirits in physical form, or even gather energy to create leansídhe – this was a binding circle, like the sort the rogue faerie Apeliotes had used for Bishop Wotan’s benefit. Not that Dante would know any different – all he would see would be the markings on the ground – but Phantasia could see everything, including the spirit of a young woman shackled to the circle with ethereal chains.
Are you an angel?
Her voice had established a telepathic connection. That would help matters. Dante wouldn’t have to hear a thing. Phantasia could be herself.
Nah, I’m just a faerie. Elemental spirit, guardian of the planet, or something like that.
A spirit? But you have a body… The girl was downcast, cheek stained with perpetual tears. Phantasia wanted to reach through the wall of dark power that created a barrier around the circle and send every drop of purifying energy she had to her.
It’s not a body really, she thought, more a manifestation. I mean I can still touch and feel and all that, but not like humans do.
I’ve forgotten how to feel. I’ve forgotten the smell of flowers. I’ve forgotten the taste of chocolate. I’ve forgotten the touch of velvet and the sound of rain. All I can see are colours, a haze of colours…
Yeah, same here, see that all the time. Phantasia frowned, wondering if there was anything she could say to ease the girl’s suffering. Eh, guess I’m not helping much, am I? Say, eh, why you here anyway? I mean I know you’re trapped here, but how and why?
I’ve forgotten. It was so long ago. All I see are the colours coming to me. The people. I give them my feelings, my memories, my life…
Phantasia put a hand to her mouth in silent shock. The poor girl had been turned into a psychic drug! No wonder the residents of the mansion reminded her of the victims from the World’s End – just like the desperate Ravens seeking transitory ecstasy the lumbering ‘zombies’ were trapped in a dream-like stupor of hallucinations. Instead of coming from their own desires, however, these feelings had been ripped from an innocent victim forced to serve until her very spirit crumbled to dust. A spirit chained to the spot, her malnourished body stripped naked as if she were a perverse model for the mansion’s inhabitants to lust over.
Is this Hell?
As close as she would ever get, but Phantasia couldn’t bring herself to tell her the truth – the girl had suffered enough already. She would have to break the circle – and the spell – and purify what was left of the weakened spirit.
I’m going to try and set you free, she thought. She reached out for one of the chains, wincing as the blazing corruption surrounding the circle seared her arm. She had to overpower the magic contained within the circle but, while she was in the middle of a decrepit mansion, her strength was weakened. The chain snapped but regenerated itself before Phantasia could even think to break another.
The spirit trembled, her eyes blinking back illusionary tears. I’ll never escape.
