Sarafan Priestess

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Thirteen years later

"I gotcha!" the voice of Raziel triumphantly said as he found Rasha's hiding spot and caught her.

"HahahahaAHHHHHHH! DON'T TICKLE. HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!" Tears crept from the corners of her eyes as he tickled her nearly to death. When he stopped, she caught her breath and touched his shoulder.

"You're it! Catch me if you can!" she yelled as she started running off, her long hair flowing out behind her. Before Raziel could even blink, she was gone.

'Man, that kid can run fast!' he thought as he began his search for her. But as he rounded a hedge, he heard her shrill scream. He panicked and ran in the direction of the scream. He passed by the lake and stopped. There she was, but there was someone else there too. A Vampire! He had her in his arms and was bending over her throat. She seemed to be in a trance, unable to move while he feasted upon her blood.

"Rasha! No!" he yelled, drawing his sword. The Vampire stopped just inches from her vein, looking at him and giving a hiss of anger.

"A Sarafan! I guess this means I have your woman," it hissed at him.

"Heh, she's only a child I have to take care of. Her mother died and her father is unknown. I swore an oath to protect her. Now, let her go before I run my blade through your stomach," Raziel threatened.

The Vampire growled and threw Rasha at Raziel. He caught her and the Vampire disappeared. She began to stir and opened her eyes, keeping them half-lidded, to look up at the Sarafan Priest with wonder in her eyes.

"You...you saved me. Thank you," she said in a voice he had never heard from her. A voice that sounded more mature, more womanly. He set her on her feet, but as soon as her feet touched the ground, her legs buckled and she flopped into the dirt. Giving a small laugh, he picked her up and hoisted her onto his back. Once he was sure that she was situated, he began walking. Rasha rested her head in the crook of his neck and kept it there, watching as the forest around them began to dissipate and they exited the forest.

"Are we going home?" she asked.

"Yes. I think you've had enough for one day," he replied, smiling as the Sarafan Stronghold came into view. He walked up the steps and was greeted by the Time-Streamer Moebius.

"Raziel, the time has come. It is time for Rasha to succeed her mother as a priestess."

"Already!" Raziel said, outraged.

"Raziel?" Her voice sounded small and worried.

He let her down and handed her to Moebius, who grasped her hand and began leading her down the hall to the chamber where a person was made a priest. Raziel watched with anger and yet, sadness in his heart.

The young girl whimpered as two maids dragged her into the temple. The seven Sarafan Priests: Malek, Dumah, Zephon, Melchiah, Rahab, Turel and Raziel all were there, waiting for her arrival. Through her tears, Rasha blushed. Even though he was much older than her, 24 years old, she had a huge crush on him. Raziel's short-cropped black hair was always wafting into her face and making him look cuter. She struggled mightily, almost throwing the maids off her, but they were stronger than her.

"I don't want to be a Sarafan Priestess. I don't want to fight. I HATE FIG-"

"Be silent child!" the voice of Moebius rang out, "It has always been your destiny to succeed your mother and take her place. But before you can become a priestess, we must age you first. We will put you into a sleep and lay you in the lake. There you will emerge a 20-year old woman, old enough to be a priestess."

He cocked his staff and a shaft of light surrounded her, making her body think it was too tired and fall asleep. The two maids from before picked her up and all of the priests and Moebius walked out and toward the lake. Once they approached it, the maids stripped Rasha of all her clothes...right..in...front...of the priests! She was well-endowed for a girl her age. The maids then walked to the lake and laid her in the deepest part of the body of water. Her body sank slowly into the depths and disappeared. Moebius dipped his staff into the water and whispered a spell. The water sent a shock wave out to where she had been and disappeared.

It had been well over three minutes and the priests were beginning to panic.

"Why does she not rise? Has she drowned?" Rahab said, his voice edged with panic.

They stepped forth, but then a brilliant shaft of blue materialized out of nowhere where she had been and slowly rising out of the water was Rasha. But this was no longer the child they had known. This was now a fully grown woman, more beautiful than ever, much more beautiful than her mother. She began walking their way and the maids rushed forth, carrying one of her mother's outfits she had worn as a priestess.

When she was fully clothed, her eyes opened and took in her surroundings. Looking down at her hands, her eyes widened and she gasped.

"How is this possible? Six years of my life have come and gone," she said, her voice melodious.

Looking up, she took in the priests and Moebius. She walked toward Moebius and he placed his hand on her shoulder.

"As with the others, you will be given an unbreakable vow of celibacy. You are allowed to break this whenever you fall in love. Do you uphold it, Priestess Rasha?" he said.

"Yes, I do."

"Then I now decree you a Sarafan Priestess," he said happily.

All the priests cheered except for Raziel. He was not happy that years were taken off her life just so that she could be a priestess. He didn't think it was right. However, her attention shifted to him and he froze underneath her ocean gaze. Those blue eyes boring into his very soul, penetrating. She was suddenly very precious. Something he couldn't let out of his sight. When Moebius handed her the staff that had been her mother's, Rasha held it for a moment before twirling it between her fingers and clutching it firmly in her hand. She was also given her mother's bow and arrows. She was delighted with all the gifts and tested each of them first. As they headed back to the stronghold, the priests chattered incessantly except for Raziel. His eyes were trained on her. He also noticed the way the golden wires threaded within the thick fall of her hair. It was pretty on her. Everything was pretty. They got to the stronghold and Rasha was given a mentor to teach her how to use the bow and staff. Raziel remained to watch as she tried. She succeeded at every single one of them. He smiled. She was pretty and talented. Still smiling, he left the room.

Hope you enjoyed!