Excerpt: Souls (working title)

[Note: I wrote this before NaNo, and I'm not counting it in my NaNo wordcount, but it's my beginning and I thought it gives a good idea of the novel. :) ]

I'd just decided that nothing is as charming as someone's death.
The small room was full of people in colorful clothing, which caused a terrible heat, and my ceremony attire was awfully itchy, but I couldn't have cared less. The whole scene was incredibly fascinating, and I strained my eyes trying to take it all in. The cement basement was certainly nothing next to the Indian caves I'd heard of, but it did convey the atmosphere required. The heat was further worsened by the oils and incense that burned around the room. I was surrounded by colorful dresses, pinks and golds and blues and greens everywhere, sprinkled with glitter, beads and golden threads weaving through the fabrics in intricate patterns. The men's clothing was less flamboyant, but still everyone had put on their most beautiful attire, pants and shirts a practically blinding white. Even more fabric, scarves in every color of the spectrum, was hanging from the ceiling and around the otherwise austere furniture. And finally, in the middle of the room, stood the magnificent bed in which lay a distant cousin or aunt of mine. The bed and the cousin were covered in every jewel imaginable, presents and offerings that had been brought by everyone present. Golden trinkets, necklaces, bracelets, small cups, rings, all sporting precious gems.
And yet, even among the complete chaos that was the decoration, the room was completely silent. There was a sort of quiet organization, which was unspoken of but somehow known by everyone. The guests were still bringing more offerings to the bed. They each kissed theirs silently and pressed it against their forehead, closing their eyes, before gently resting it beside my cousin. But I may have expressed myself unclearly: she was not yet dead, had not yet crossed over. She was, in fact, sporting a weak, wonderfully happy and content smile which deepened her delicate wrinkles. Very few families waited too long to have the ceremony, for that situation brought immense disgrace and gri ef. The deceased must be prepared before they crossed over, in the hopes of obtaining a better life after this one. To be completely honest, I didn't think it made much of a difference. Why should a few jewels make such a difference? For me, it was more a celebration, a grand farewell to the person in question.
After the guest to my right came back to sit herself on the floor, I stood and slowly, solemnly made my way to the bed with my pendant. When I was in front of the cousin, I went through the procedure—kissed the pendant and pressed it to my forehead—, and carefully put it around her neck. There were already several of them, so that she looked like a beautiful, old bohemian. I didn’t bother trying to shut the clasp behind her neck, for who was I to disturb her? Suddenly, her eyes snapped open and she stared at me. Her gaze was tranquil but hard, like a deer unafraid and curious. No, no, no, I barely touched her! But then a serene smile spread on her lips to reveal her small brownish teeth.
“You are the one,” she whispered. “You will save us all.”
I bowed, my heart beating hard, and started walking backwards slowly—wether it be for solemnity or for balance’s sake—, keeping my head down. I settled myself. After all, she was old and dying. She was probably delusional or half dreaming. When I got back at my place, I’d already tucked the strange thoughts in a safe corner of my mind. I gathered my bright turquoise skirts and sat cross-legged on the floor, the cold basement floor welcoming back my already cramped butt.