Young Writers Society

Merin sat with her legs crossed on her hard cot in the dark room one of the sisters had led her to with a window to her back. The gray of post dawn was spreading through the room, and she was trying to balance a white porcelain wash basin in her lap so there would be no ripples to distort her reflection. She ran her fingers over her smooth scalp, frowning at how alien it seemed. The sisters in the infirmary all promised it wouldn't be forever though they all wore scarves over their own heads. She tied her own black scarf around her head and studied her right hand detachedly. It was bound in a mitten of bandages and reeked of a sharp herbal tang that stung her nose. She had heard no promises about her hand.

~

Bana petted Elmanya's hair, humming softly. The girl thrashed in her sleep. One of her eyes was purple. Her lip was split. Scrubbing at a spot of blood on the yellow silken sheets, she grimaced as she just smeared the crimson drop onto a larger area. Her own body was covered with bruises, and she moved stiffly, but the other women who slept in their room had made no comment. She sincerely hoped what had happened wasn't normal. She shivered as Elmanya gave voice to a keening cry. They wouldn't survive.

.

After the sister had left, Merin had waited, naked, bald, in the dark. There was no way to know how much time had passed, and she was beginning to think this was just a way to get the homeless women off the streets. They cut her hair for wigs, and She shrieked and squinted against a bright light which bloomed into the room. Three dark silhouettes stood against the white, and one began to speak…

~

"Oh yes. We can work with you." The voice, coming from the shadow of a woman, flowed over Bana, seeping into her, down to her bones. It was smooth, soothing. Elmanya dropped her arm, and Bana felt herself relaxing. "Dears, I need you to drink this. Come here." Bana hesitated, but Elmanya went forward immediately. Gold flashed in the dim light as she lifted a bowl to her lips. Bana followed when nothing seemed to happen and the woman cooed, "Trust me. You're my daughter now. What would I do to harm you?"

The liquid was thick and coated Bana's mouth. It was tangy. Almost too sweet.

"Keep drinking, babies. Until it's gone."

Bana obeyed wordlessly. She started to enjoy the taste instead of thinking it was cloying. She didn't even realize something was wrong until the last drop slid through her lips. Her knees buckled. Her eyelids drooped. She saw Elmanya collapse. The last thing she saw was a woman's overpowered white face through blurry vision as she lit a candle before her eyes shut of their own accord.

.

"What is your name?"

She stared at them. They had robes that shimmered with rainbows of color. One hood was filled with fire, another with air, and the last held nothing but darkness. Though only one spoke at a time, they seemed to take turns talking per word, flowing as smoothly as though it had come from one mouth.

"Answer!" The one of fire billowed up, the flames acting as its face burning even brighter.

She pulled away, whispering, "Merin Cortanyas."

"The goddess takes nothing but purity. If you know you are not, ask for mercy now, and your death will not be painful."

She was silent, her breathing painful as she tried to take in enough air without making a sound.

The dark faced one came forward, took her hand.

She screamed.

~

She opened her eyes blearily.

A huge man stood before her, arms crossed, smirk in place.

She looked around, stretching her arms above her head.

The world was a hazy gold, surroundings undefined in a fog. "Where am I?" she murmured sleepily. Her mind was still moving slowly.

He picked her up, seeming not to hear her gasp. "Ryn did good this day." His voice shook in her chest as he held her close, as if he was guessing how much she weighed.

She hung there, shocked. His golden eyes roved over her, and he suddenly crushed her against his chest, his arms circling around her instead of under her arms. She thrashed as he brought his lips over hers, beating his shoulders. He pushed her against a wall, to free one of his hands for more exploration. Jerking her head away to take a breath she tried to scream for him to stop, but he invaded before she could voice anything.

"You stupid mortals. You never realize what I am at first. I am your god. You pledged yourself to me when you drank that blessed stuff Ryn pours into you. You, your soul, your body is all mine." He gave a chuckle that made her blood run cold. She struggled more as her heart fluttered in her throat.

He abandoned her when there was a rustle. "Two?" His voice sounded like that of a child's who's just discovered that he could have a second dessert.

Elmanya blinked up at them sleepily.

.

"We warned you." Now only the dark one spoke. His voice was cool, emotionless, much like the sister who had shaved her head.

She tried to jerk her hand away. "No. Stop."

He- it laughed, but it was mirthless, robotic. "Were you faithful to your husband?"

She swallowed around a lump in her throat, refused to speak, biting her lips instead.

"You can't hide it."

Her eyes widened as her mouth opened of its own accord. "…N-no." She screamed as her hand began to burn.

"Wait."

She sobbed in relief as the thing backed away and a golden light filled the room.

~

Bani covered her ears. He had taken a liking to Elmanya. She was screaming, screaming, screaming.

When he had turned his eye on Bani again, she had taken his attentions silently. That seemed to be what turned him off so. She wish she could tell Elmanya the same thing.

"You girls have been nice."

Elmanya was curled up in a ball now, crying.

"Maybe I'll call you back."

Bani certainly hoped not.

The golden glow that had been her surroundings for hours slowly faded to black.

.

The voice was a glass of cool water. A woman, her face serene, her hair woven with desert blooms stood before them all. She waved the three torturers away, and they left without voicing resentment or regret.

The woman eyed her. The gaze was of pity and kindness. "You have been very sinful, Merin Cortanyas."

Merin bowed her head in shame, cradling her hand.

"You were unfaithful." She paused, waiting for Merin to look up, and continued when she met the pained gaze, "And then you shifted blame to your sister, your own flesh who was only trying to save you from your path by following you to stop you." Her eyes were still kind, but there was also iron. "By all rights, you should be writhing on the floor now."

Merin sobbed.

"But there is something you have that I would like."

"Anything," she murmured humbly.

"A life for a life."

Frowning, Merin shook her head in confusion.

"Your lover gave you a gift, Merin, and I want her."

Merin stilled as understanding dawned. "Please," she begged.

"Your life for hers."

Merin bowed her head. She was a coward. "Take it."

The goddess smiled. "Smart, Merin."

.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.

The sisters made promises to try to bring their new priestess out of her gloom, but they were empty. She knew.