I don't ask the dead to speak. I TELL them. The grimoire gave me authority over every corpse that ever wore the Thornwood name. Tonight I hold the séance. And the dead will ANSWER when called. I light the candles BLACK I draw the circle in attack formation Not a prayer — a DEMAND Not communion — COMMANDEERING the dead's nation ELIZABETH THORN — I summon you — SPEAK! "I am here, daughter. I have always been here." SILENCE — I didn't ask for commentary I asked for the TRUTH about the ceremony The one you performed in 1847 The one that turned the garden into your own heaven SPEAK — or I'll revoke your rest I hold the grimoire and I am the BEST Reader this bloodline has ever produced And the dead serve ME — that's not a truce Séance at midnight — I COMMAND the floor Séance at midnight — OPEN every door The dead don't speak unless I grant them voice The dead don't move unless I make the choice Séance at midnight — HEAR me, underground Séance at midnight — RISE up at my sound I am the grimoire's CHOSEN instrument And every ghost is MINE to reinvent JACOB THORN — RISE — account for your sins "Granddaughter — you don't know what you're—" I KNOW EXACTLY what I'm doing, grandfather I read past page thirteen — past your disaster Past the chapters you were too WEAK to finish Past the rituals where your NERVE would diminish MARGARET THORN — the matriarch — COME FORWARD "At last. One of us with spine enough to hold the book." Finally — someone with RESPECT Now tell me about the Thornwood Architect The one who designed the house to be alive The one who made sure the walls would survive "That was me. I drew every wall in blood. The house is my body. The garden is my flood." Séance at midnight — I COMMAND the floor Séance at midnight — OPEN every door The dead don't speak unless I grant them voice The dead don't move unless I make the choice Séance at midnight — HEAR me, underground Séance at midnight — RISE up at my sound I am the grimoire's CHOSEN instrument And every ghost is MINE to reinvent "You go too far—" "—the grimoire was not meant for one person—" "—you're not commanding us, child, you're CONSUMING us—" "—the book is eating you from the inside—" "—we are not your servants—" "—WE ARE YOUR WARNING—" SILENCE! I hold the book. I hold the blade. I hold the blood. I am not afraid. You are ECHOES — I am FLESH You are memory — I am FRESH NEW blood in OLD veins — I COMMAND Every dead thing in this LAND Séance at midnight — they KNEEL before me now Séance at midnight — every ghost must BOW The dead don't speak unless I grant them BREATH The living grimoire conquers even DEATH Séance at midnight — I've SEIZED the throne Séance at midnight — I am NOT alone I am the grimoire's FINAL instrument And every ghost is mine — PERMANENT "Yes, daughter." "Yes, keeper." "Yes... mistress." "Command us."
