Eternally Bound

by T. A. DeMellet

  Just as the moon was beginning its ascent into the night sky, Namesh appeared in her doorway. Mud was splattered all over his muscular calves, his feet were bare, and his hair a disheveled mess, but she found him beautiful all the same. She stood quickly and put out her hand, avoiding eye contact.

  “Well, do you have the personal item I asked you to bring?” Usha demanded.

  “Yes, it is a pair of earrings that once belonged to her,” Namesh responded, handing Usha the small silk parcel. Usha carefully unfolded it to reveal a magnificent pair of gold earrings inlaid with rubies and small diamonds.

  “This will do. Did she wear these often? This has to be an item that was dear to her, that she actually wore.” Usha knew how royals were - how they had piles of jewels they never donned.

  “Satvi wore these earrings often. They were a gift from her grandmother, whom she cherished dearly.”

  “Perfect,” she purred. Everything was in place now, and Usha was doubly thrilled that they would be performing the magic under the light of a full moon, which always increased the power of a spell. The conditions were indeed perfect.

  “Usha?” Namesh hesitated briefly. “Are you sure you can do this? What if there are… complications?”

  “Oh Namesh, dearest, I hope you are not underestimating my powers. I have the abilities necessary to perform this spell and bring your precious Satvi back in one piece,” Usha reassured. She sauntered over to a small wooden table where several misshapen lumps were covered by a white linen cloth. There she placed the earrings, then turned toward Namesh, her hands at her sides with both palms open to the heavens.

  “Are you ready to begin?” she asked, a wicked smile playing upon her lips.

  Namesh had no idea what to expect. He had never before been witness to a performance of magic, especially of this caliber. What he was asking Usha to do defied nature. It was a direct violation of the cycle of human life, and it would most likely anger the gods. He had contemplated the dangers of his request, as he clutched the small silk bundle holding Satvi’s earrings. During his walk back to Usha’s home, he considered the complications and ramifications of bringing a dead person back to life, but the thought of living one more day without Satvi in this world cut through him so deeply, he was willing to take the risk. He would rather die himself than spend one more hour living in this hell of constant grief.

  His mind wandered to this unhappy place as he watched Usha gather bottles filled with strange, murky liquids and dried herbs tied with twine. Namesh was so filled with despair that he felt detached from this world, as though everything he was watching through his eyes was actually a dream. Nothing felt real anymore. Nothing felt worth living for either.

  Before Usha began her spell, the air seemed to constrict, as if the dark energies around them knew what was about to be performed. She became acutely aware of the shift and trembled in anticipation. She walked over to the scrubbed wood table and lifted the white linen cloth, revealing the items necessary for her work tonight: a stone mortar and pestle handed down from her mother, several candles made from tallow, her trusty jade-handled khanjar - its blade sharpened to perfection, and a variety of dried herbs, vials of liquid, fungi, and stones that would be needed for both parts of her complicated spell. Among these items lay Satvi’s charred and blackened finger, which Usha had carefully detached from her body so that the fingernail would remain intact. Next to the finger, Usha placed the exquisite golden earrings.

  She took several steadying breaths, clearing her mind and refocusing her mood. All dayaanis knew the importance of minding one’s mood and thoughts before beginning a spell, for everything is added in. Usha placed the candles in five points along the earthen floor and lit each one. Next, she grabbed a bundle of white sage and set the ends on fire, wafting it’s smoke and scent as she walked around the room, cleansing the space. Finally, she burned a small bundle of dried mugwort and inhaled it’s fragrance deeply. The plant was especially useful in stimulating psychic awareness and prophecy.

  Once the room and her mind were properly cleansed, Usha could begin her craft. She began by drawing a circle of black salt, closing herself into the sphere. She quickly stole a glance at Namesh, wondering what his expression might reveal, but his face remained stoic as he watched her work. Grabbing her mortar and pestle, Usha placed her first ingredient into the bowl: Boji stones, to encourage tissue regeneration. On a subtle level, these stones were typically used to help realign the chakras, but enhanced by Usha’s powers, they would help rebuild Satvi’s body. She ground the stones until they were a fine powder before adding more mugwort and several other dried herbs that would help heal and rebuild Satvi. Usha took some of the mixture and covered both of Satvi’s earrings with it. Holding her palm above the covered earrings, she began saying the words that would initiate her resurrection spell:

  From dust and soot and ash and fire,

  Shall Yama send forth as I conspire.

  Free the body and soul you’ve recently gained,

  To soothe the heart of a lover greatly pained.

  For I shall rebuild her bone by bone,

  Flesh from flesh,

  Stone by stone…

  Then Usha said the sacred, ancient words of the dayaani, sealing her incantation. The wind began stirring furiously outside, proof that her magic was being heard. Usha smiled and continued repeating her incantation, chanting as she added several lingzhi mushrooms to her mortar bowl. These fungi were known as the “mushroom of immortality” and had been favored by Chinese emperors for centuries. The bitter mushroom was Usha’s secret ingredient, the main component for the curse that Namesh knew nothing about. She crushed the small, burnt orange fungi into the mix. Two drops of cobra venom were added from a small vial; it’s contents extremely precious to Usha because it was hard earned - she had milked the snakes herself. Then, much to the horror plainly painted upon Namesh’s face, Usha added Satvi’s fingernail to the mix and began crushing the ingredients meticulously.

  Usha stopped her chanting momentarily, beckoning Namesh to join her in the circle. He reluctantly stepped inside and as he did, the candles’ flames began to flicker maddeningly. Usha grabbed the khanjar which she had earlier placed in the waistband of her skirt, and unceremoniously slashed along the inside of Namesh’s forearm.

  “Aah! What on earth was that for?” Namesh cried out, wincing in pain.

  “Quiet!” Usha scolded, as she squeezed his arm above the mortar bowl, watching eagerly as the thick, dark liquid dripped and pooled, mixing with the other ingredients. She flung his arm away from her, then handed him the dagger.

  “Namesh, you must cut me now so that my blood may be conjoined - my blood will help bind the spell, making it stronger. We must ensure that the spell is perfect, or else Satvi will not be fully restored,” Usha lied. Her blood was not needed to bring Satvi back, but it was a necessary part of the curse. “We do not want her roaming this world as an undead creature,” Usha finished explaining.

  Namesh shuddered at Usha’s words, then nodded thoughtfully. He grasped the jade handle delicately and carefully placed its point on the skin of Usha’s forearm. She trembled slightly at his touch, enjoying the proximity of Namesh’s body to hers… the thought of their blood mingling filled her with a strangely erotic pleasure. Usha sighed as the blade pierced her skin and her blood flowed freely into the bowl. The very moment her blood touched the rest of the contents, the air was sucked out of the room, extinguishing the candles.

  “What happened?” Namesh whispered, his voice quivering with fear. Usha knew her magic had worked; she knew the spell was almost complete. All that remained was the incantation - the words that would forever bind the three of them, making Satvi and Namesh’s love feed her own life and grant her immortality. Namesh and Satvi would be together at last, but at a price. For whenever they would come together, their combined life forces would cause the two of them to perish, and as a result, Usha would absorb their precious energies, thus making her immortal. The triangu
lar-shaped amulet she chose to harbor the pieces of their souls, also served as a cloak or shroud, hiding Usha from the eyes of the god Yama, who would surely see her evil trick and drag her away to the underworld.

  With a flick of her fingers, Usha ignited the candles again (more for Namesh’s sake than her own - she was perfectly happy spellcasting in the moonlight). She saw the fear in Namesh’s eyes; saw him mentally reconsidering what he had begun. “There is no turning back now, Namesh. The spell is almost complete. Prepare yourself, for once I recite the next incantation, it will weaken you severely. But you and I must lend our strength so that Satvi may rise again, understand?”

  “Yes, I understand. I am prepared to do whatever it is you need me to do, Usha,” Namesh said with renewed vigor.

  “Splendid. Let’s continue…”

  ***

  Namesh stared wide-eyed as Usha held up his bleeding forearm and pressed it against her own laceration, the sticky warmth of their blood dripping from his elbow. Usha’s eyes glazed over and she began speaking in a language he didn’t understand; the unfamiliar words flowing quickly from her tongue. He knew all of this was wrong - he knew he had made a poor decision using these unnatural powers to bring Satvi back, but now it was too late, and the thought of having Satvi close once more clouded all his other thoughts.

  Namesh began to feel a weakness in his legs, as if he had been standing far too long. He felt himself swaying, trying desperately to remain upright. Usha tightened her grip on his arm, her dark eyes warning him to be still. All the while, she continued spouting off in this ancient, foreign tongue. Namesh felt dizzy now and his vision began tunneling. He tried to tell Usha that he was falling; he tried to explain that the weakness she warned him of was now upon him, but the words would not come from his mouth. The room began tilting sideways… and then darkness consumed him.

  ***

  When Namesh opened his eyes, he could scarcely remember what had happened. Suddenly, blurry memories of what transpired the night before came flooding back into his mind. He lifted his right arm with great difficulty, and saw the long cut Usha had made with her blade. It was real. All of it.

  Namesh must have fainted from exhaustion, because he couldn’t recall how he ended up lying on the floor. Usha did warn him that the spell would drain him of his strength, but he didn’t realize how much it had actually weakened him. He tried lifting his head, but it ached terribly. That’s when he noticed the figure lying beside him. At first, he thought it might be Usha, but when he focused his bleary eyes he saw that it was not.

  The angle of her cheekbone

  The ebony curtain of silk that was her hair

  The delicate curve of her breasts

  Satvi’s radiant body was there, lying next him on the ground. Her chest moving slowly up and down, indicating that she was in fact breathing.

  Namesh moved quickly despite the tremendous pain, and knelt before her. He tentatively reached out to touch her face, afraid that she might be a figment of his imagination, but stopped himself when he noticed Usha sitting near the hearth; the dying embers casting a soft glow upon her face revealing how utterly depleted she was. Namesh smiled at her and tried to move toward her, but she put a hand up to stop him.

  “A thousand thank you’s, Usha, for the wondrous magic you have performed. Look, she is here, whole and perfect once more!” Namesh bent his head and gently brushed his lips across Satvi’s forehead, but she remained still. “Usha, why is she not waking?” He started to worry that perhaps something had gone wrong.

  “She needs more time,” Usha whispered, her voice trembling with fatigue. She took her time standing up, bracing herself against the wall for support. Namesh rose slowly as well, and went to her. Although he was tired, he appeared to be regaining his strength much more rapidly than Usha was.

  “I must go to the river and bathe - I must cleanse for the new life we have brought back into this world. You and Satvi must do the same once you have regained your strength,” Usha pronounced, knowing full well that they would never get the chance to feel the vibrancy of this life. Their energies were now meant only to sustain Usha, and she would receive that gift in a few days time. “Do not disturb her just yet, and if she wakes of her own accord, do not go anywhere. When I return I will make a special tea for both of you to drink, to help restore your strength. Satvi will especially need it. I shall return shortly.” And with that, Usha walked out into the morning sun, leaving Namesh to kneel happily beside Satvi, admiring her glorious form.

  Namesh gently traced the soft planes of Satvi’s face with the tip of his finger. He couldn’t believe it worked - Usha’s magic had brought Satvi back to life. He stared at the rise and fall of her chest, counting each breath of her new life… the life they would finally get to live together. All of a sudden, Satvi’s eyelashes fluttered and she gradually opened her eyes. Her sudden intake of breath made Namesh hold his. She was obviously frightened, and the fear in her eyes made Namesh’s heart constrict. How would he explain what had occurred?

  “Namesh?” Satvi’s hands went immediately to her throat after she spoke. Her voice was hoarse - barely above a whisper. “How is it that you are here? Oh please tell me you are not dead too!” Her eyes glistened as she looked pleadingly into Namesh’s eyes.

  Namesh smiled slowly and said, “No, I am not dead… and neither are you, my darling.”

  She looked questioningly at him, then turned her head from side to side, surveying her surroundings. “But I remember… Namesh, I remember burning.” She said the last word with such ferocity that it gave Namesh chills. “I can still feel the fire in my throat - the heat that would not end until it consumed me.” Satvi’s expression was dazed and dream-like all of a sudden, and Namesh began to worry.

  “Stay with me Satvi,” he said, grasping her cold hand in his. “This is going to be difficult to explain, but you have been brought back. Yes, you died, but now you are whole and here with me once more.” Namesh didn’t want to tell her all the details yet, although he saw no way to avoid it. She would demand to know, and he would have to eventually tell her that he sought the help of a dayaani - a witch - to do the unthinkable and bring her back from the dead.

  “How?” Satvi asked, her question echoing in the small space where they lay. Her expression was haunted and distant, and it frightened Namesh. He hoped Usha would return soon so that she could explain everything.

  “Satvi, I want to tell you all that happened, but in due time. For now, just rest my love. You have undergone a tremendous journey and your mind and body need time to heal,” Namesh explained, bending his head closer to Satvi’s. She looked so fragile, as though she would break under the slightest pressure, therefore he took great care as he kissed her ever-so-softly on the mouth. She closed her eyes when their lips met and smiled contentedly. Within seconds, her breathing became the heavy rhythmic breathing of sleep.

  Before Namesh could avert his gaze from Satvi’s face, Usha returned. Her hair was dripping wet, cascading in long, black waves down her back. She looked renewed and every bit as formidable as she had always been. She glanced into Namesh’s eyes and held his gaze with a hunger that entranced him, prohibiting him from looking away. That’s when he noticed that her eyes, which were once the color of rich soil, had now taken on a golden hue reminiscent to a bird of prey. With great effort, he broke the intensity of her stare and returned his attention to his precious Satvi.

  “Usha, she opened her eyes while you were gone. She spoke. She remembered dying. I didn’t know how to begin explaining what we did to bring her back. Perhaps you…”

  “Did you tell her?” Usha interrupted.

  “No. I was hoping you would be able to,” Namesh admitted, standing up and making his way over to where Usha was.

  “Good. It is not yet time to burden her mind with such heavy information. Come, you will help me make a restorative tea for the two of you to drink.” Usha bustled over to her working table and began absentmindedly grinding the random dried herbs
at her disposal. The tea wouldn’t matter anyway; the sand in the hourglass had already begun to fall.

  Namesh felt a weakness in his legs similar to what he experienced the night before, and clutched the wooden table for support. “Usha, is it normal that I have not yet regained my strength? How much time will it take for the effect of your magic to wear off?”

  “The tea will help,” was her only answer. Namesh glanced over to where Satvi was lying and noticed her breathing was becoming labored. She was struggling to pull the air into her lungs. He quickly knelt down beside her and gently began shaking her shoulders, trying desperately to wake her.

  “Leave her be, Namesh. She needs to rest. You should probably sleep too, it will help you regain your strength,” Usha said, a strange smile playing upon her lips.

  “No, something is wrong. Usha, why is she laboring so? She seems unable to catch her breath. Did something go wrong with the spell?” At this, Usha’s eyes flashed with fury and she directed a cold stare at Namesh.

  “Nothing went wrong with my spell. Everything is as it should be,” she snapped, planting her feet firmly on the packed earth and slowly lowering her hands, her palms parallel to the ground. As she did, the earth began to tremble and shake causing a fissure to open in the floor, exposing what could only be described as human bones intertwined with dark roots. Namesh gasped in surprise at what he was seeing… what she was capable of doing.

  “Look! Look how my power has grown!” she exclaimed triumphantly. “And it’s all thanks to you, my darling Namesh! You and your precious little whore!” Usha let out a spine-chilling cackle which made the hairs rise on the back of Namesh’s neck.