Chapter 37: The Vessel of Darkness

Part 37

As the cultists fled and the ritual leader fell, the priestess stood tall, her eyes fixed on Eira. For a moment, the two women locked gazes, and then, in an instant, the priestess's body began to change. Her eyes turned a deep, fiery red, and her hair transformed into a wild tangle of white locks. Two curved horns burst forth from her forehead, and her skin took on a subtle, otherworldly sheen. The party froze, shocked by the transformation. Kael and Valoric instinctively readied their swords, while Scorch drew another arrow, her eyes fixed on the priestess. Eira, however, seemed hesitant, as if she didn't know what to make of the priestess's sudden transformation. The air around the priestess seemed to ripple and distort, as if the very fabric of reality was being warped by the demon's power. The party could feel the dark energy coursing through her, a malevolent force that seemed to be building in intensity. But just as it seemed that the priestess was about to unleash a wave of dark power, she suddenly stumbled and her eyes flashed back to normal. Her hair returned to its natural brown color, and her horns disappeared, leaving her looking like a normal woman once more. The party breathed a collective sigh of relief, but their respite was short-lived. The priestess looked at them with a mixture of confusion and fear, and then she spoke in a voice that was barely above a whisper. "What...what happened?" she asked, her eyes darting back and forth between the party. Eira took a step forward, her daggers still at the ready. "You were part of a dark ritual," she explained. "The cult was trying to summon a demon." The priestess's eyes widened in horror. "I remember," she said. "I was being used as a vessel...but something went wrong." Kael stepped forward, his sword still in hand. "The ritual was interrupted," he said. "But it seems that you...absorbed some of the demon's power." The priestess looked down at her hands, and then back at the party. "I can feel it," she said. "A dark energy, coursing through my veins. But it's not...it's not in control." Valoric frowned. "What do you mean?" The priestess took a deep breath. "The demon's power is inside me, but it's not strong enough to possess me completely. It's...it's like it's trapped, struggling to break free." Scorch spoke up, her voice laced with concern. "What does that mean for you?" she asked. The priestess's eyes dropped, and for a moment, the party thought they saw a glimmer of the red-eyed, horned creature she had briefly become. "It means I'm a danger to myself and others," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "The demon's power is still inside me, waiting for its chance to break free." The party exchanged worried glances, knowing that they had to be careful around the priestess. They also knew that they had to find a way to help her, to purge the demon's power from her before it was too late.