A cold feeling crept thru my back, we had arrived at the abyssal hole, the horses had stop. I had to brave to save this town and my sister, from being swallowed by this other realm.

"Come out now, we still need to prepare you for the sacrifice. The night is almost here"

I tried to be brave and kept quiet throughout the preparations. The first of them being a black cloth to cover my eyes, my jaw was shaking, I was afraid and in darkness. Purifying powder was applied on my arms, chest, legs, hair and neck; it was a rushed cleansing, they kept my clothes on, but my sandals. Only the visible skin was purified. A hooded cape was the finishing touch, I was ready to meet my end.

Walking blinded to my death was a torture in itself. The man was silent, I could only hear his boots on the bricked road of the magistrate's halls. But I kept walking on my own, doubtful, but determined to save the lives of those who live in this land, determined to save Sarah's life. She has to live for me. If the magistrate had chosen her instead of me, I would have jumped into the void, if that meant she could live another day.


We stopped, a chill breeze welcomed us to the outdoors, an energy of sadness and desolation welcomed us to the edge of the abyss.

"Ishtunur ent alenaer! Ishtunur bor alenaer!"

An elder mage shouted a conjuring, a call to the abyss.

There were many around me, I could hear their gossip and prayers mixed in an mash of sound hard to understand.

The judge pushes me forward, I take three steps, a fear like I've never felt before rushed thru my veins. A barrage of air came from under, from the abyss, an inch from my nose, a sound as if fire and iron were fighting for dominance, an spectral glow that pemated thru my blindfold.

"Treeerttertasreth auhrumanderherer salaah"

A voice? A sound as if fire could talk. It sounded as the size of A voice talking to me…

"Your name, it wants to know your name, young maiden"

The elder mage seemed to understand that awful sounding… thing.

"Abby from Seris", my throat was dried and my words unheard by everyone, but that thing

"Do not fear me child, I am not your end, death is but an illusion," its voice was mine, it was an echo, did that thing stole my voice?, "You will be a great vessel, young and beautiful. A body in its prime. I will give you power and pleasure like none of your lo…", and she stopped, if that was a she. A chuckle before proceeding, "well, a new kind pleasure for you."

"An anuth alenaer, be nustuz ilinotare", the elder mage said, but this time I understood him, 'We offered you sacrifice abyss, a reward is due'.

"But of course, how could I forget about your reward," she purred with satisfaction, "Man in red, present you hand to me, you have will be blessed for bringing this pure maiden to us."

His boots approaching, and then I could feel his presence next me.

"You too dear Abby, raise your hand to heart level, it is time"

A tear dampening the blindfold as I stretch my arm as she instructed and then, the light dimmed, it no longer passed my veil, a dead silence… but not for long.

The judge was screaming, the sound of his body collapsing on the ground, the people that have gathered to watch my execution were running and screaming.

My instinct kick in and I tried to run. But to no avail, my feet were not touching the ground, and had not been for a while it seemed. A soft hand touches mine, delicate, a woman's hand, "Our time has come, let us be you, let us love you, let us roam with you…", it was that thing that stole my voice, each word, she got closer until her lips touched mine, the first kiss I was saving up for…

A kiss that was never meant to be.