Trigger warning: from this chapter on, rape and sexual assault are very common themes. Do not read if you do not feel comfortable.
…
SIXTEEN YEARS LATER
"Sister Emilia, it is time for afternoon prayers."
Emilia looked up from her bed and beamed. "Is it that time already, Sister Isabella?"
"Indeed it is." Twenty-one-year-old Isabella, who wore black ceremonial robes, smiled back at her ward. "Today, Mother Cassandra wishes us to focus our prayers to Vesta."
"Vesta is my second favourite god," Emilia said happily. "After Diana, of course."
Isabella couldn't help smiling. Emilia had absorbed their teachings extremely well: Diana and Vesta were the two most important gods to the Vestal Virgins, simply because they were both virgins themselves, by choice.
"Excellent. Let us go, then."
Emilia got up, put on her robe, and followed Isabella out of the room and down the corridor. As they walked towards the prayer room, a blonde-haired older women and an auburn-haired younger woman joined them. "Sisters," Eunice said. "Are you ready for prayers, Emilia?"
"Yes, Sister Eunice." Emilia smiled at her. "I cannot wait to tell Vesta how much she means to me."
Eunice and Angelina exchanged a delighted look. Eunice, who was now thirty-four years old, was delighted that her niece had taken to life in the temple. She was completely dedicated to being a Vestal Virgin, just as Eunice had hoped. She had shown no desire to leave the temple or begin a courtship, despite her having interacted with men and boys her age.
When they reached the prayer hall, Emilia spotted Erebus standing to the side, behind the priest leading the prayers. She immediately looked away, hoping he hadn't seen her. She knelt down and pressed her hands together, preferring to focus on her love for Vesta.
Dear Vesta.
I know I don't say it often enough, but I love and admire you more than words can say. You are my idol, my inspiration, my role model. You asserted yourself as a virgin and everyone respected that. And if anyone dared try anything with you, you made them back off. I wish I was as brave.
Vesta…I fear I will not be a virgin for long. This man…he has been hurting me. Doing horrible things to me. I fear he will make me impure and then I can no longer serve you and Diana. I try to be brave and fight him off but he just comes back and hurts me worse. I can't report it because he will make me impure. I am terrified, Vesta. Please give me the strength to fight him off. Please allow me to stay a virgin. I do not know what I would do if I couldn't devote myself to you and Diana anymore.
Please. And thank you in advance.
I love you.
Amen.
The prayers were over before long. Avoiding making eye contact with any of the priests, Emilia got up with Isabella, Angelina, and Eunice, and left the room in the middle of their pack. She felt safer when she was with them; Eunice in particular was one of the senior Vestals and the most highly respected. Eunice was also the person who had saved Emilia and brought her here, so Emilia owed her life to Eunice.
"We are going out today," Eunice told the group. "The Vestal Virgins are going to the orphanage to visit the children there. Emilia, are you coming?"
"I was thinking of doing some meditating," Emilia replied. "Just alone in my room. I feel a strong urge to pray to Diana and Vesta again. But if you want me to come-."
"No, no," Eunice said quickly. "Either is fine. Meditation is very important for the soul. Would anyone else like to stay?"
"You do not have to stay on my account," Emilia said. "I will be fine alone."
But even as she said it, she felt a cold feeling trickle down her spine.
"Very well," Eunice said. "Is everyone in agreement?"
Emilia was half-hoping at least one person would argue, but nobody did. Going into her room, she watched as her group walked down the corridor and disappeared round the corner. She closed her bedroom door behind her, wishing there was a lock on it. But that couldn't be helped.
She went to the centre of the room, lit a few candles, and sat down on the floor, folding herself into the meditation position. She closed her eyes, feeling herself relax.
She had barely gotten through one prayer before she heard a knock at the door. Choosing to believe it was Isabella or someone like that, Emilia went to the thick wooden door and opened it a crack. But, to her utter dismay and terror, it was Erebus. She tried to close the door but he forced it open and came into the room, pushing her onto the bed. His leering smile was absolutely terrifying her, as he turned and closed the door.
Emilia cursed herself. She had lost her opportunity to scream and have a chance of someone hearing her. She had also lost her only escape route.
Erebus turned to her. "I missed you at prayers today," he said, sickeningly sweet.
"No…" moaned Emilia, scrambling backwards. "No, no, no!"
"Is that any way to talk to your sweetheart?" Erebus smirked as he came nearer to her.
Erebus was not that much older than her; he was about twenty or twenty-one. But that did not make what was about to happen any less horrifying.
"GO AWAY!" she screamed, attempting to push him away. "GO AWAY!"
Erebus caught her hands and held them together so that she couldn't struggle. "You know what will happen if you tell anybody about this," he said casually. "Don't you?"
Emilia tried to scream but Erebus clamped his hand over her mouth. "There's nobody to help you," he whispered threateningly. "Everyone's out."
Emilia knew he was right, and that terrified her even more.
Vesta, Diana, please, HELP! PLEASE! I NEED YOU! PLEASE HELP ME!
HEEEEEEEEEELP!