Chapter Four: All's Well that Ends Well
Hope Springs! Just when you think all is lost, a certain gothette with mad research skills comes to the rescue. Speaking of research, I actually had to do a little to come up with the details in this chapter. The reference to the Formicarus (1435) and St. Theophilus isn't made up--by some quirk of Fate I actually came across these online--spooky. In any event, there are only seven more chapters left, and I am gonna drag out the suspense all I can, evil person that I am.
* I do not own the BT series characters. They belong to a much-more talented individual. I am however, more than willing to take credit for characters/scenarios not featured in the books or television series. No copyright infringement intended*
Mike sat down heavily on one of the plush leather chairs and buried his head in his hands. Coreen’s words still rang loudly in his ears and he instinctively tried to shut them out, refused to believe that what she had just told him was true. Vicki willingly selling her soul to the devil? It just couldn’t be true-couldn’t! It was ludicrous, it was preposterous, it was any combination of adjectives, and it just couldn’t be true! Coreen and Dr. Sagara merely sat there, the blank-paged book open before them. They couldn’t deny the evidence before their eyes no matter how painful the truth may be. Dr. Sagara sympathized with the young man and understood his apparent grief, but sitting around in denial was certainly doing nobody any good, especially Ms. Nelson. She rose to her feet. “There may be a way to reverse this.” Both Coreen and Mike looked up at her expectantly, and she continued, her voice sure and unwavering. “History is peppered with accounts of certain individuals who have made pacts with the devil, and there are more than a few mentions of how they managed to break them.” When they said nothing, she continued. “The Formicarus, which was written in 1435, gives us the first account of an historic figure named St. Theophilus who was the archdeacon of Adana, Cilicia. According to my readings, he made a pact with the devil sealed with his own blood to become bishop. However as the years progressed and he grew closer to death, he understandably had some reservations.
The story goes that he fasted for forty days before the Blessed Virgin appeared to him and he begged her for forgiveness.” She paused briefly to gather her thoughts and then continued. “It was only after he had fasted for an additional thirty days that she appeared to him again, whereupon his contract was returned to him and burned to ash.” During her narrative, Mike had raised his head to stare at this woman with a mixture of fascination and admiration. Her dogged sense of determination to stay strong in even the most dire of situations and her refusal to roll over and play dead, reminded him of Vicki-Vicki, who lay in the next room on the brink of death with her soul hanging in the balance. Instinct told Mike that despite the apparent happy outcome concerning the historic bishop, that there had to be a cosmic catch somewhere along the lines. There was always a catch. He ventured a tentative remark: “Then what happened? Did he live to a ripe old age and was saved from hell?” Dr. Sagara’s face was unreadable. “Unfortunately no. Once his contract was destroyed and thus broke his pact, he died from sheer happiness. As for the ultimate destination of his soul, no one can say for certain, but it is safe to say that it was not condemned to the pit-at least no historian has dared say otherwise.” Coreen looked hopeful. Mike snorted and the sound was devoid of all humor.
“One problem,” he said standing up and crossing his arms over his chest. “Vicki doesn’t have two months to fast and pray for forgiveness-she’s barely clinging to life as it is, and it’s a pretty safe bet she won’t make it through another day…” His throat constricted suddenly and he had to swallow hard before continuing. “From what you told me she performed this ritual without being completely aware of the “rules,” or whatever the hell you want to call it. She didn’t willingly sell her soul or make a pact with the devil in return, and the fact that these other people intentionally did so, and she didn’t, should mean something, shouldn’t it?” His voice had taken on a desperate tone and his hands were clenched tightly into fists. Dr. Sagara smiled sadly and took one of his hands in hers. “While that may be-evil-real evil like the one that was invoked that night, doesn’t play by the rules and fairness has no meaning to it. It is safe to say that Vicki was not in control of her actions this morning, but the fact remains that she did conjure up dark forces. Regardless of how selfless and pure her intentions may have been at the time that was intention enough as far as it was concerned.” She continued. “Her blood sealed the pact the moment it touched the page, and anything short of repentance and an extensive fast is going to be powerless to break it. I’m sorry.” From somewhere in back of them Coreen tentatively cleared her throat, and they turned around to face her. “That actually may not be correct.”
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