BLACK HOST (PART 3)

The Mass of St. Secaire was said to be a type of Black Mass done to mock the Roman Catholic Mass through saying the whole liturgy, psalm responsorial, and even the Homily in reverse. However, no one knows that the theatrics behind this Mass which an eclectic mix of devilry and hedonism held a secret that only a handful of mage is willing to explore.

St. Secaire’s Mass is a ceremony to bless someone with death. By saying the name of your intended victim at the end of the mass, you will grant its soul with a mark of the reaper. After saying the last blessing, its breath will cease as the sickle reaps its precious spirit.

In short, the Mass of St. Secaire is a spell meant to kill. This is why few only dares to do it because like any magic with a high stake; the price to pay for it is astronomical in measures.

Besides the peril, this Mass can only be done ironically by an ordained priest.

Eddie found himself pondering why the hell did such ritual exist for a priest who abhors anything with magic as he tries to swerve his thoughts away from the annoying to at times agonizing headache that becomes more frequent after the seance.

What’s make him more nervous is that each week, blood will keep on spurting in all of his orifices. His weight is decreasing significantly and even his appetite is getting worse.

Their head priest upon hearing what is happening to him ordered Eddie to cease from conducting Mass for a while which he gladly complies with; anything about mass becomes a jink to him or perhaps paranoia is finally struck him

Yet on the last week of the month while trying to rest inside the empty church alone, a female altar server that he hasn’t seen before approaching him. Something is off with the server besides the way she walks is slow, dumb pace and the repugnant smell that reeks from her clothes

When he asked what he wanted, the server didn’t reply but instead gave Eddie a bowl full of black communion wafer cut into triangular sizes and a glass bottle containing noxious smelling water; all of these make Eddie’s blood run cold.

“Take those away from me!” He shooed the altar serve but it didn’t move.

“Are you deaf? I said get those away from me!” Eddie’s scream made him pant. His body has been getting weak that even a slight movement exhausts him.

“Eddie…you must do it now.”

The priest grew pale upon hearing the voice that is coming from the altar server. He was completely stunned that he can't even react when Salome appears behind him and touch his shoulder.

“I am sorry if I am barging inside the house of your lord. We are even now I guess.” She smiled at Eddie but the priest only looks at her with wide eyes.

“Why is he here? Why did you bring Alejandro here?” He asks with his cracking voice.

“Again, I am very sorry but we are running out of time. Besides’ Alejandro is so persistent that I have no choice but to agree on his plan.” Salome explained all that conspire from being visited by Alejandro who managed to hijack a corpse of someone to spy on Feliz down to collect all the materials needed to conduct the mass of St. Secaire.

“He will kill you before the year ends…it was a voodoo hex, Eddie. A black doll.” The altar server said with the voice of Alejandro coming from her lips. Using a black doll in a spell means that the magician is preparing its victim, not for a prolonged pain but death.

“I--I can’t! I can’t do this Alejandro. I won’t gamble with magic again. Never!” Eddie turns away his head as he saw the dead white eyes of the altar server and not the bright blue eyes of Alejandro that is full of zest and life.

“Yes, you will Eddie. You will because I won’t allow you to suffer on the other side. Those who dabble in magic will not be treated like soul there. Trust me…you need to live as long as you can here.” Even if the corpse he’s been using is already as cold as ice, Alejandro decides to reach out the arms of Eddie and his former friend and lover feel his warmth from the other side; the same warmth that still remains inside of him even though he is but a hollow version of his former self now.

But Eddie didn’t need to see those blue eyes nor feel that warm touch to realize the concern and care from Alejandro behind the rotting flesh he is using. He knew that even Alejandro put him in hell, he is also the one who also made him taste heaven even though in the wrong way.

And how can it be so wrong if it feels alright when they are together? Be it casting magic or just becoming one below the sign of Venus?

“I hate to interrupt the two of you but we all know anytime this church will be open and Alejandro can’t stay inside the corpse for too long,” Salome interjected as she looks on her watch.

“What should it be, Eddie?”

The priest holds on tightly to the hands of Alejandro in the form of the still death deprived body and nods firmly.

“May God forgives us all…” He said as he kisses his rosary for the last time before he commences the greatest blasphemy he will ever make since the day he sold his soul to magic and gain it back again.

Yet once again, he will have to sell it to save himself. And also for good time's sake.