A black hooded cloak wisked through the Castle and into Tower Mystica as midnight approached. The figure came to a halt just inside the chamber, pausing to feel the wealth of souls there. Lady Arianda knew of them and so she could see the shades in motion. She did not fear them in the least. They were all there by choice, to watch the occurrences through the Phoenix Gate and to commune with each other.

Passing through the shadows toward the Gate, Arianda felt and heard the excited hum as all gathered were anticipating the rite. She stepped up onto the dais and turned, feeling their collective focus gradually shift to her and empower her part in the proceedings. Slowly she drew one hand out and pointed some short distance from her on the stone platform. She began to turn in place, drawing an imaginary circle upon the stone. As she turned, the circle ignited from its beginning along the path she mapped for it.

When the circle was complete, the flames burned low so Arianda could still look out into the crowd of shadows. She began to hear soft whispers among the gathering of souls, murmurs of rousing energy. Now, in her protective circle for the living, Arianda could begin her whispered incantation:

"Abiding shades of mortal end
Thy restless souls may stir again
To dance outside the fire's light
Assuming life again this night
And to the living world be drawn
Although thy fleshly lives have gone
Thy souls may take this magick hour
When Old and New exchange their power
Then in the passing of these two
May wanting souls come into view
The brightness of thy days returned
The breath of life in thy breast burn
Restoring flesh to less than air
Once more allowing each to share
And let thou feel the world again
As once ye did, when Now was Then..."

Lady Arianda continued her chanting, repeating the last of her incantation over and over in a whispered hiss, "And let thou feel the world again... As once ye did, when Now was Then..." She watched from the cover of her hood as the shadows moved about and became more easily visible. Gradually they took on features, faces, clothing. They each turned to another, sharing smiles that could now be seen, embraces that could now be felt, and kisses once again warm, moist and exhilarating. Some would choose to sit and talk quietly, others would dance together as they once revelled, and still others would share this flesh to again take part in pleasures long left to memory.

At last, Arianda watched silently, absorbing the energies they all emitted in this temporary animation. Yes, she would have to release the spell in some few hours, drawing the veil closed again. But, for this measure of time, the chamber was resonating with the joy of living.

Phoenix Gate

All Hallows

Present Day
Oceanside Madness
Traffic Violation
Crowded Places
Eye of the Beholder
Vegas Blues
Lost & Found

Victorian Era
Lady and the Spider

Old West
Hawk & Willow (1-5)
Hawk & Willow (6-10)
Hawk & Willow (11-...)

Ancient Egypt
A Lost Tale from the Book of the Dead
Nura and Anubis

Out of Time & Space
(ie, warped)
Korran's Find

story