Day twenty! Have a… I don't know… folklore AU? Actual God AU? I don't know how to explain this to you guys…

Also, this is technically in a different universe than the FNaF-inspired one (I assume that's obvious), so relationships are both the same and different. You'll understand what I mean when you guys get to read more of the FNaF's one.


It's nothing personal.

The village stresses that when the two are old enough to understand their 'destiny' and the trouble that comes with it. They're sisters – twin sisters, although that fact hardly matters where this is concerned. The village promises them that it's nothing personal. Their family's name simply came up, and since the two are old enough to be used, they're going to be the sacrifices.

It's nothing personal. Just bad timing. They were born in the wrong cycle, and now they have to pay for their misfortune – or, as the village deems it, great fortune.

The village offers the sacrifice of young maidens to the various gods that look over everyone. Typically, the offering would be only a single maiden to a single god, but fate has it that the years have aligned to require two sacrifices – one to Fire and one to Darkness. In order to stop a war from breaking out and ensure the village's safety, they have to be sacrificed. All her life, Blake has been told that if the gods are not appeased, the village will suffer as a whole. It's nothing personal; it's just that no one else wants to die for the sake of two more innocent girls.

Well…

Blake doesn't know that they're going to die, but it's what she assumes. None of the maidens sent away have ever returned. Parents continue to mourn their children, despite being told it's an honor to have your child be selected to save the village. Blake thinks her mother will mourn for her and Braelynn, and that her older sister will miss them both. She doesn't know, however, whether or not she wishes they wouldn't. Part of her wants to be greedy and vindictive and hope they never are allowed the peace of mind to forget what's happening.

When she and Braelynn find out which of the gods they're each being sacrificed to, Blake sees Braelynn squirm. Braelynn has never been fond of the stories told about the God of Darkness. She's always preferred the God of Fire, joking that he would be warm at least. Perhaps even kind. Blake, meanwhile, has always feared the God of Fire due to having a substantial fear of burning. It's then that they decide to switch places. They're identical, after all. Who will be able to tell?

They spend their eighteenth birthdays surrounded by family and close family friends. Braelynn spends the night laughing and making the most of things. Blake knows that her sister is trying to deny what's going to happen to them when dawn rises. Unlike her sister, Blake doesn't pretend to be pleased or accepting of her fate. She sits alone in a corner while the rest of the village celebrates what, to her, feels like a death sentence.

"Not enjoying the party?" Someone asks.

She looks up and notices a man standing in front of her, a bemused expression on his face. She scowls. "Hardly. Why should I celebrate my fate, when I'm nothing more than a sacrifice waiting to be made?" She accuses.

The man holds up his hands in defense, chuckling. "I don't believe you should. There's no need to get angry with me."

Blake frowns. After a moment, when she realizes that the stranger isn't going to leave her alone, she gestures next to her. He sits down in another chair with a polite smile, before he glances over to look over the guests.

"This is a bigger party than last time," he notes. "You must have quite a lot of friends."

"They aren't my friends. They're my family's friends and my sister's friends," she corrects. "I don't have friends, or did you not notice that no one came to see me except for Braelynn, Isabel, and my mother?"

He shakes his head. "No, I didn't. I just arrived."

"Pay more attention, then."

Blake looks out the window, determined to ignore the stranger. Outside, the moon has risen. It's as pretty as it always is, shining in the sky and lighting up the stars. The night is truly a beautiful thing. She wonders whether or not this will be the last time she ever sees the sky so pretty.

"I'm sure you'll be fine," the man tells her. "But it's getting late, and the party's ending. You should head to bed. The morning will bring you new things."

She turns to face the stranger, but he's already gotten up to leave. As he pointed out, the party is ending. People are flooding out at a gradual pace, and soon the house is nearly empty again. Blake looks around briefly before getting to her feet and walking to the bedroom she and Braelynn share. Morning will come too soon, so sleep is probably the other thing that will keep her sane.

She wakes up at dawn, as she expects. Ladies from the village lead she and her twin out by their arms, and Blake is only mildly aware of the fact that she had gone to sleep in Braelynn's bed to help fool people. Her mother and Isabel are missing, having been taken elsewhere the night before to sleep. They won't return in time for the ceremony. It would be distressing and distracting if they did, which the village will only fear happening.

It's nothing personal.

Blake shrieks when cold water is dumped over top of her head. She struggles immediately, trying in desperation to get away from the chilling temperature, but the ladies hold her still and laugh softly at her reaction.

"Relax, dear, it's just to make sure you're awake. Wouldn't want you falling asleep in the bath, would we?" One of them teases.

Next to Blake, Braelynn seems to share a similar feeling about the wake-up. Before Blake can say anything, though, she's told to strip out of her clothes and get into a bath of warm water. As soon as she's in the tub, the ladies return and start bathing her.

"I'm an adult. I can take a bath by myself," Blake insists, pulling her arms away from the ladies who scrub at them far too roughly with cloths and soap.

"Everything needs to be in the proper order, Braelynn," one of the ladies scolds, dumping a bucket of water over Blake's head.

Blake coughs and sputters, spitting water out of her mouth. In spite of their plan, she had almost responded to correct the lady upon being called her twin's name. One look over at Braelynn tells her that her sister has barely stifled herself from responding to it. Blake grumbles and crosses her arms over her chest, resisting the urge to pry her right leg away from the hands washing it for her.

One of the ladies laugh. "My, my, Braelynn. You're in quite the mood this morning. I'd expect such from your sister, but—"

"Hey," Braelynn interjects.

"—But you're usually the morning bird," the lady finishes.

"I didn't sleep well," Blake says.

"We can tell. There's dark circles under your eyes. Dear, you knew how important today was. You must look your best."

"Look my best for a god who's going to kill me…"

"It's—"

"Nothing personal, I know. Just hurry up, alright?"

The lady sighs, and another dumps more water over Blake's head. Blake grimaces, blinking her eyes when droplets fall into them from her bangs.

When she's helped out of the bath, she's dressed in beautiful clothing. Silks of the finest make, and of the darkest colors. Her sister is dressed in reds and golds, while she's dressed in black and silver. One of the ladies paint intricate designs onto Blake's face that Blake things look like pretty stars. On her left hand, a moon is painted. It directly offsets the sun on Braelynn's right hand, and to offset her stars are petals. Both of them have small jewels scattered throughout their hair, and each has a significant addition to their appearances. Braelynn has an orange lily tucked behind either of her ears. Blake idly reaches up to touch at the strange, silvery-white feathers made to look like tiny wings that have been woven into her hair enough that the look like they're coming out from above her ears, pointing backwards.

Braelynn smiles at her when they get to look in the mirror.

"You look beautiful," she compliments.

"You do, too," Blake returns.

The ladies have left them alone for now, and all Blake can smell is the lavender and jasmine that they've both been forcibly bathed in. It's a calming mixture of scents. She wonders if the affect is there for them, or to please the gods. Either way, she's grateful for such a small mercy.

"No matter what happens, I don't regret this," Braelynn says. "We're doing the right thing, Blake."

Blake frowns. "I don't think so. Why do we have to die?"

Braelynn sighs. "I don't know."

The two stay in silence for a few moments longer before they're walked outside by a priest. Blake doesn't pay attention to the words the man says. People from the village present gifts of jewels and gems of all kinds. The next presentation to the gods is food, which Blake thinks is silly because what need do gods have for human food? Surely they have their own delicacies. Finally, Blake is nudged forward along with her sister and made to sit on her knees in-between the food and royalties being offered.

It takes a moment, but the gods appear. Neither one seems happy for their year of sacrifice to have fallen on the same year as the other, but they don't look prepared to start a war over it, so Blake supposes that's good enough. She looks between the two gods as they approach. The redheaded god, whom she assumes is the God of Fire, splits the offerings into two equal piles. Once that is finished, the gods turn their attention to the twins.

"What's your name?" The God of Fire asks Braelynn.

"Blake," she responds. "It's an honor to meet you."

The God of Darkness turns to Blake, meeting her eyes, with perhaps an unhappy expression on his face.

Blake freezes. The god is none other than the man who had sat next to her at the party. The stranger who she had be cold towards because she was afraid to be a sacrifice to him. Her heart races in her chest, fear quickly grabbing hold of her.

"Are you afraid of me?" He asks.

"I-I… No," she lies.

The God of Darkness chuckles. "What is your name?"

"Bl-Braelynn," she stutters.

He sends her a knowing look, but pulls her up to her feet. Seeing his reaction, the God of Fire does the same with Braelynn. Blake finds herself barely able to keep her legs from trembling in fear, while Braelynn seems to be standing with ease. Her sister is standing more confidently and calmly. Blake isn't sure how she manages it.

The gods say something – and it must be offering thanks and their blessing, because the villagers disperse more quickly than they had the night before. Once everyone else is gone, Braelynn and Blake exchange a glance.

"We should tell you that we lied," Braelynn admits.

"We're aware that you did," the God of Fire informs.

Blake glances between the two gods, expecting there to be a punishment or to be switched from being in the arms of Darkness and into the arms of Fire. Instead, the gods seem extremely calm about the whole ordeal.

The God of Darkness offers Blake a smile and almost gently – almost sweetly – brushes a hand over her cheek. Blake blinks at him, surprised by his tenderness. "You'll both be coming with us to our own homes," he tells her. "You'll be allowed to see one another as often as you like."

The other god nods in agreement. "It's not our goal to part a family."

"Does that calm your worries, Blake?" The God of Darkness asks.

Blake nods a bit. She turns to Braelynn to say goodbye, but her sister laughs.

"I'll never be rid of you, will I?" She jokes. "I'll see you soon, Blake. Don't cause too much trouble."

Blake grins. "No promises."