"Hecate, the goddess of magic, witchcraft, the night, moon, ghosts and necromancy. Pleased to make your acquaintance."
That left me openly gawking and then it hit me- " I'm dead aren't I?"
I wouldn't call you dead yet, but you're close. I would say close enough for a mortal being to be thought of as dead in your world. However while your body may have given up, your soul has not yet departed therefore you do not count as dead in the next realm.
- Lady Hecate, while I immensely enjoy this conversation I would like to ask, why am I here?-
- Oh my, look at the time I guess it's better to ask right away before your soul actually departs-
- Ask? Ask what? Lady Hecate?- however it was as if she didn't hear me, she just kept muttering to herself.
- Lady He… - and then I felt it, mind searing agony encompassing my body that allowed me to only gasp in pain.
- So it has begun…. - Lady Hecate said while looking at me with her luminous eyes.
- Wha..what has begun?- the pain abated but it didn't leave and it disturbed me how calmly she looked at me as if we were discussing the weather.
- Sirius Orion Black, do you swear your allegiance to the goddess of magic and the protection of her legacy? - she was looking down at me as if all was agreed upon, waiting for my answer and at that moment I knew.
I knew I never had a choice, I knew that if I wished to see Mother and to be there for Reggie I had to obey, I had to submit to the whims of the gods.
- I do. – with those words thunder rumbled as she smiled at me, however, that smile made me shiver and left me to wonder…what have I agreed upon?
the goddess started moving towards me - Young wizard, you swore yourself to my legacy. The legacy has been worded into two words by your ancestors. - when I heard her, my heart dropped.
-Toujours pur . - oh no....
-Always pure .... should you break your oath death awaits you, and when you are close to breaking it warning will be given. -
those were her words as she closed the distance between us and touched me where my heart should be. As she touched me, her finger lit up my chest and I felt the weightlessness lift as I started to fall.
The further I fell the bigger the goddess seemed. Then I felt something grabbing a hold of me and temporarily jerking me in a different direction. Right before I was freed, I saw jaws full of sharp teeth, heard the wailing of miserable souls, the cackling of what sounded like three women, and then….. Nothing.
Just endless darkness and constantly increasing pain.