Photograghic Memory

Photographic Memory
Warnings: For this chapter, none.
Word Count: 2461
Disclaimer: Sitting alone in my creepy-ass basement, by candlelight, I made this up. It is fiction. I don't own the people or the characters. I make no claims about their sexuality or lifestyles. Still no profit being made.

Chapter 21
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The elegantly robed figure approached Viggo and extended both hands, palm up. "We have been waiting for you."

"Really? Well, this is private property. Who the fuck are you and what the hell are you doing here?!" Viggo moved away from Orlando to stand directly in front of the other man.

"You must understand," the figure spoke in a slow monotone voice, his arms dropped to hang limply at his sides, "In the last 200 years the opportunity to correct what was.. a very grievous error, has occurred only three times. Everything must be in perfect alignment." He motioned toward the dark sky with the slow sweeping wave of one hand.

"Tonight," He continued in a slow drone, "Everything is perfect." He nodded at the two figures posted in front of the fire. Turning and going in opposite directions, they circled back around the bonfire again.

"Uh-huh," Viggo was not impressed. "That explains nothing. One more time, who the hell are you people and why the fuck are you burning my tree?!"

"I understand you extinguished all the chimney fires, that's very good. At least you have some idea of propriety." He continued as though Viggo hadn't said a word. "You forgot a few candles, but no worries, we took care of them." He clapped his hands and two more people emerged from the forest carrying baskets.

"You were in my house?! Who the hell do you think you are?!! Who the fuck ARE YOU PEOPLE!!? I want some answers NOW!!"

The hooded figure turned slowly around and studied Viggo from head to toe. He then spent more then a few minutes taking in Orlando's appearance, as well.

"I thought I had already explained that." He sighed deeply. "One more time. Try to follow closely, please."

He motioned Viggo's group together and waited as they gathered closer before he began. "We belong to an Sect that is very old. This "debt of honor" has been passed down generation to generation."

"At one time we practiced all our rituals on this land." The figure spread his arms wide and motioned around him. His robe flared out and picked up the colors of the bonfire. It looked as if he were engulfed in flames. "Then there was an incident." He paused, as if thinking. "An accident, really.." his voice trailing off, "I'm not exactly sure what I can divulge to you. Wait here."

The mysterious figure turned around and walked through the gate into the cemetery. He circled the bonfire, which was a good ten feet high at this point, and disappeared behind it.

There was an obvious change in the group surrounding them when the one that appeared to be their leader walked off. They moved in closer together, tightening the circle around Viggo's group, virtually eliminating any thought of leaving.

Viggo surveyed his little group and sighed. How could something so simple get so out of control. All he really wanted to do was take a few pictures for his boyfriend. Why did it seem like everything was going against him?

This distraction was annoying. He was on a time schedule! He did not want these guys out here when the "incentive" kicked in. If they were back at the house, totally wrapped up in each other, they might not notice. However, they might get suspicious if we are still standing here in front of the cemetery, surrounded by a group of strange people, and everybody suddenly starts getting aroused. Nope, that wouldn't be good at all.

While Viggo was pondering this and calculating approximately how much time he had left, his little group was having their own thoughts on the situation.

Boxed closely in together, Orlando had become like a second layer of skin. These people were making him very nervous. Were some of them reporters, fans, or maybe even worse? He had been lectured so many times on safety related to large groups of people and the possibility of injury. Orli felt very vulnerable and helpless.

Over the years, anytime these two feelings took over, Orlando had been conditioned to reach out for Viggo. Viggo would take care of him. So, he had one arm around the older man's waist, his fingers threaded through a belt loop and clutching it in a death grip. Viggo, for his part, had returned the gesture, and wrapped an arm possessively around the younger man.

Karl and David were in their own little place. Whispering, giggling, and playing some sort of pinching game that kept them alternately bumping into Sean.

Sean really had his hands full. In one arm he had Billy, who had his face pressed to Sean's chest mumbling something that sounded alot like a Catholic Rosary. Billy really didn't like graveyards. Really, really, really didn't like graveyards.

As far as Billy was concerned, they had drug him out here, against his better judgement. Now, ghouls at a graveyard, on Halloween, surrounded them, and nobody even knew where they were. Yes, they were all going to die.. Or be sacrificed.. Or something even worse that he had yet to think of. Apparently the dear little Scotsman could be a wee bit melodramatic.

Sean's other arm was also pretty full. His hand clutched tightly at the back of Eric's shirt, keeping him both vertical and preventing him from stumbling off.

Sean was patting and rubbing Billy's back with one hand, occasionally jerking Eric back to his feet with the other, and taking it all in stride. Standing there, with his legs spread slightly to maintain his balance, Sean offered Viggo an amused grin.

Before Viggo had time to contemplate that, Elijah shrieked, drawing everyone's attention.

Dom jumped back, sticking his hands behind his back, trying to look innocent and Elijah clapped both hands over his mouth in surprise.

"Iss Om's aul." The muffled noise escaped through his hands.

Dom grabbed his wrists and pulled them down. "Can't understand ya, mate."

"I said it's your fault."

"Is not!"

"Is too!"

"Shut up." Sean growled quietly at them as he pulled back on Eric again, then turned to smile at Viggo.

Sean could tell Viggo was less than happy with this situation and was rather enjoying it. It wasn't too often one got to see Viggo have control taken from him. It was interesting, and down right amusing to watch.


The crowd gathered around them began to back off some, signaling the return of the figure wearing the bright robe. They stepped aside, letting him through and he once again gracefully moved to stand directly in front of Viggo.

"I have discussed it with my Elders. At this point in time you own the land, therefore, you have a right to know certain things. But, only you," nodding toward Orlando, "And your mate. Please accompany me over there," He motioned to the left of the graveyard, "Where we might have some privacy."

Without waiting for a response he proceeded to head in the indicated direction. Viggo turned to Orli and sighed. With a shrug of his shoulders, (and holding on tightly to Orlando), he followed the stranger.

The figure stopped and turned abruptly when he reached their destination. "I will not repeat myself, so listen carefully." He hissed in a low tone, "Most of the older rituals were more complex; more detailed; more powerful."

"This particular ceremony started out as a simple one. A couple were to be joined, it was to be a joyful time." He sighed and paused, as if collecting his thoughts before he continued, "Sanctifying the union, purifying the grounds for their home, blessings for the future, just typical stuff."

"Obviously certain parts of the blessing had to be performed by virgins. Their purity and innocence protected them from certain influences. Tragically this ritual was tainted, one of the virgins, was not pure." It was the only time emotion entered his speech and it was full of venom. "It should have gone smoothly, instead.." he took a calming breath, "Events were set into motion that we were unaware of at the time. Two seasons later the priestess; to say gave birth, does not do justice to her death. She was dead by the time it clawed its way from her body and tried to feed off of her. In our haste to.. be rid of it, more damage was done."

"We cremated our priestess, with the appropriate blessings. The beast she had borne was quickly destroyed. Its head was removed and the abomination was buried. They did not realize what they were dealing with. The herbs and spells they used were inadequate to handle the situation."

"As her ashes were scattered to the winds the three virgins from the joining ceremony were struck mute. During the next two seasons, by the anniversary of the joining, everyone involved in that ceremony was dead, except one.. It was then that she let her guilt be known."

"That was when the tree first appeared. Growing upon the spot where it had been buried. The tree is, as it always has been. Never growing or changing, never flowering.. never living. Its roots do not go deep for it rejects the nurturing of Mother Earth."

"The essence of that demon cursed our every day. Much tragedy has been visited upon our people over the ages. It cast its scent over the land, controlling the growth of the forest and the things living within. When a joined couple homesteaded here it tried to claim their lives as well."

"Fortunately, evil, no matter how powerful it is, no matter what form it takes, can not claim anyone. People have the ability to chose. Right from wrong, good from bad. Evil cannot claim you, you must choose to follow its path. The Demon could lay no claim over them, but it could, and did, end their mortal lives."

"This.. thing, has had an effect on every person that ever lived on this soil. Some were fortunate enough to flee before it took hold. Others were less fortunate; it tempted them and when it could, consumed them, trapping them in their sorrow."

"But.." Orlando tried to look at the man's face. It was impossible to make out any features in the dark. "What happened to the kids that died here? Except for Victoria, we haven't seen any."

"A child's spirit is different. They contain an innocence that protects them. They are here, but they sleep. They have been watched over by the first ones, you may know them as Jonathan and Peter. There is a valley at the far corner of the property where a stream cuts across. Among the daffodils, their souls wait in slumber."

Orlando nodded his head in understanding, although, not really understanding a thing.

When Viggo first mentioned the ghosts, Orli had been afraid of a little ghost kid peeping at them when they were shagging. Viggo had explained that Victoria was the only child he had ever seen and she stuck to the hall downstairs most of the time. She didn't wander around much, unless she was following you.

"Wait a minute, that doesn't explain Victoria." Orlando commented.

The person in the flaming gold robe stood there and said nothing.

Ah-hah, not part of the rehearsed speech, Viggo thought. He tightened his hold on Orlando unconsciously as he spoke.

"Yes, explain Victoria and while you are at it, exactly why are you burning my tree."

"This tree serves only to protect the entity that was buried beneath it. The tree is an extension of it. By burning "your tree", as you put it, we will be able to cremate the beast buried beneath it. Hopefully this will destroy the anchor that holds the innocent here."

"You will carry the flame from the bonfire into the house and you will light all the chimneys from it. This will help spread the energy force of the fire."

"With this done, some of the suffering we inadvertently caused will be corrected. However, the incantation to break the actual curse requires much more energy. You.. are aware of this? I assume Peter and Jonathan have had some contact with you. You look so much alike, it is really quite disturbing, you know."

"Yes, I have some idea of what you are talking about." Viggo replied in a low tone.

"Our people will be working on that as well. The rest of my.. group, will be here before mid-night. You and your people will be back in the house long before then. You may want to turn off your security cameras; we don't want this filmed. We will continue to disable them if we have to."

"Sure, no problem." Viggo easily replied. His thoughts, however, ran along the lines of, Whatever the fuck you want. Just shut the hell up so I can get these guys back to the house. I don't have time for this.

The people circling the fire turned suddenly and left through the gate. The rest of the people that had gathered around them began to wander off as well.

"Everything is set. They will be back later with the others. We leave you to light your torches and home fires with whatever blessings you deem appropriate. Someone will return to watch the fire when we see you leave."

Their robed acquaintance then walked away from them over to the bonfire. The lone figure stood there silently for a few minutes, facing the flames. After a few moments of contemplation he turned to follow the others into the forest. Pausing just before he stepped out of the light cast by the roaring fire into the darkness of the trees, the figure turned one last time to address Viggo's group. "I strongly suggest, to all of you, stay close to your loved ones as you return and don't leave the house again until sunrise. We would truly regret it if someone else got hurt." Stepping into the dark shadows he was lost from sight.

Orli leaned over to Viggo's ear, "What was that all about?"

"I don't know, but if a coven, order, group, or what ever else they want to be called, wants to use my graveyard on Halloween, I'm not going to stop them. Speaking of which," He turned to address his group, "Change in plans guys. Let's light the torches and get the hell out of here. I will give you your photos when we get upstairs."

There was general agreement all the way around with a resounding cheer from Billy who volunteered to lead the way. They lit their torches and started back to the house.

It was during the long trek back to the house that something occurred to Viggo. Their new acquaintance had successfully managed to avoid discussing Victoria.

~Continued~