Global Disclaimer: All BtVS characters belong to FOX and the marvelous Mr. Joss Whedon. This story is for entertainment purposes only. The author intends neither profit nor defamation herein. Also, Dr. William Robert Woodman was an actual person. (Look him up if you find him interesting.) I mean no ill will toward his memory or his estate by his inclusion in this story, only the utmost respect and interest. This is just for fun and frolic, folks.

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Summary: This is the tale of how Cecily got from where we last left her at the end of my story, Bloody Marvelous, to becoming the vengeance demon (yes, she prefers justice demon) known as Halfrek. You may want to read Bloody Marvelous first if you have not already.

A/N: I know that a lot of you are not Cecily fans. Bear with me and give the story a chance. I promise it will be well worth your while. Ok, here we go.
 
 

Chapter 8 - Ceremony

Only the light of a dozen candles aided them in reading the spell, laid on the floor before them in the library. The girls wore rough wool robes, at the insistence of the doctor and his friend Henry. A needed item of Jonathan's, a handkerchief Lucinda had borrowed to have with her during the wedding, was placed atop the bowl of roses. Lucinda nodded to show they were ready to begin.

The two men began chanting, the words flowing out of their mouths easily though the language was unknown to either Cecily or Lucinda. At least Dr. Woodman had been kind enough to translate what the girls needed to do into English.

Lucinda took a knife, picked up the handkerchief and started cutting while Cecily spoke. "Like Osiris is he rendered into fourteen pieces." Lucinda placed the fourteen pieces of cloth on back on top of the roses, strikes a match and throws it into the bowl as well, lighting the contents on fire. Cecily spoke again. "Like Osiris is he made one again by the burning fires of love."

The flames in the metal bowl suddenly leapt up until they were three feet high and bright blue. Yet, no heat came from the flames. Instead, a raspy voice asked, in perfect English, "Whose ka do you seek?"

Cecily spoke in a tremulous voice. "Oh, great Osiris, Lord of the Underworld, we seek not only the ka, but the ba as well. We seek Jonathan Spencer, who died before his time."

The disembodied voice answered, flames dancing in time to its words. "You would have me release an entire soul from the Underworld? Whose soul would you offer in exchange?"

The question came unexpected. Dr. Woodman whispered to Henry. "This must be what we missed the other time, why it went wrong. We forgot to ask for the ba and thus, never made a trade."

Lucinda, tears running down her face, answered the question. "I would offer the soul of his unborn child."

"No!" Cecily yelled. Lucinda at her, clearly confused. Cecily looked to Dr. Woodman to confirm her action. He nodded to her, telling her to continue. "I would offer mine instead."

Lucinda grabbed her friend in a tight hug. "No, Cessy. You cannot do this."

Cecily pulled away. "I must, for the sake of the child. Please, let me do this. I have never been of much help to anyone until now. I have caused more pain than happiness. If it were not for me, William would not have killed all those men. It was due to the pain I caused; I know it. The three of you could be happy. Let me help you." At Lucinda's reluctant nod, Cecily addressed the flames. "I offer my soul in exchange for his."

The voice said, "Reach into the flame to prove your worth."

Cecily slowly reached a hand forward, easing it into the blue flames. Surprisingly, she felt no pain, no heat. It felt as if her hand were dipped into ice water. Then, the strange tugging sensation began near her heart. She tried to breath but found she could not force the air through her throat. A white light issued forth from her chest, moving slowly until it had made the journey all the way down her arm and into the flames. At that point, the flames seemed to explode, sending all four people in the room flying back away from the bowl. When the smoke cleared, the bowl was gone. In its place lay Jonathan, barely breathing but alive.

Henry and Dr. Woodman carried Jonathan upstairs toward the girls' bedroom. The girls followed behind silently. After they lay Jonathan in the bed, Cecily asked, "Should I not be dead?"

Dr. Woodman spoke. "I am puzzled about that, my dear. Perhaps you were allowed to live but you have forfeited your soul. Might I suggest now that you give serious consideration to meeting that friend of mine?"

Cecily was taken aback by his line of questioning. "What would that do? Can he help me get my soul back?"

He smiled and handed her a calling card. "No. He may have options for a girl without one, though. All you need to do is read that card aloud."

Cecily studied the card for a moment before walking out of the room. Alone in the hall, she read aloud. "Blessed be the name of D'hoffren. Let this space be now a gateway to the world of Arash Ma'har, where demons are spawned."