Westchester County, New York – October 16th, 1996
They dragged her outside, kicking and screaming the entire way. Once they stopped, she managed to kick the masked man, sending him crashing into the side of the house. Sarah Frost bit down on the woman’s arm, causing her to scream. Sarah scrambled to get herself up from the ground, running away as fast as possible, but the man was much faster than anticipated. He pulled her by the hair, a blade inches away from her throat. “If you move or scream, I will kill you here and now,” he whispered into her ears in such an icy tone that it sent shivers down her spine.
All she thought of was her sister, lying in a pool of blood along with her parents. Sarah stared into his icy blue eyes, knowing he meant it. He tied her hands behind her back and added a blindfold. “Please – let me go!” she exclaimed.
She didn’t hear a response, just more arguing. Whatever vehicle she was in suddenly stopped, tossing her around in the trunk. She attempted to break the bonds on her hands, but nothing she did loosened them even a smidge.
They walked a bit further for no more than ten minutes before she heard more voices asking if she – Sarah – was the right one, just like the woman had asked before. The man confirmed in his husky voice that it was. Right one? Sarah thought. Why are they doing this?
One of the voices, another woman, jabbed her finger into her ribs. “What’s your name?”
“S-Sarah,” she replied.
They tossed her into the back of a van. It felt like a few hours or possibly even several hours. Sarah spent that time sobbing, having no idea where she was being taken. She thought of how her sister didn’t even know what was happening, lying there in her blood, wondering if her older sister would help. Emma, I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.
Where are they taking me? She continued sobbing until the van halted. She heard car doors open and slammed, with loud footsteps heading toward the trunk. When it was opened, hands grabbed her, pulling her to her feet.
She couldn’t see what place they had brought her to except for the smell of lavender, which was everywhere. Through the blindfold, she saw several lights like candles along the walls. She hesitated to move but was pushed ahead, a firm hand on her shoulder urging her forward.
“How is it her? She’s skinny and almost lifeless,” one member whispered.
“Don’t question the leader’s choice,” another spat back.
“But she won’t help us. I thought the –”
Amidst the arguing, another masculine, loud voice boomed, “ENOUGH!” It was loud enough to gather the attention of the others. “Let me see her.”
She heard feet treading toward her from a direction, but she wasn’t sure where. She stood perfectly still. “What do you want from me?” she demanded. The other man lifted her chin. His hands felt raw and rough on her smooth skin. “Please, tell me.” No answer could be found in him.
“She’s definitely what we were looking for.”
“James, are you sure?”
“More than sure. The ritual will commence in a few days. Have her bathed, fed, and rest,” the man named James ordered. Sarah felt arms guiding her to another room, where they took off her blindfold and untied her hands. There was nothing else but a toilet and a futon to sleep on. Like a freaking jail, she thought. She couldn’t stop thinking about her parents… how before they asked the intruders any questions, they were both shot. Then, her younger sister, Emma, was stabbed to death while she was in her room.
Sarah’s whole body trembled, the memory of them now stained in her mind. She wanted to escape and find the closest police station, but the room was windowless, and the door locked. She barely slept that whole night, not even eating what they gave her until the following day. She waited for an opening, for a way to escape. From what she could see, no paths led to an exit. At least for now, she noted.
When the door to her room opened, Sarah jolted awake after falling asleep for a few hours. They said nothing to her, only to give her more food. “Why am I here?” she shouted at the silent member, who only shook her head. Sarah stood up, pulling the member’s arm back. “Tell me!”
The member gave in, smiling at her and gently taking Sarah’s hands. “You have been chosen for a sacrifice, Sarah.” She smiled at Sarah grimly, sending a shiver down her spine. “Don’t worry; your death will not be in vain because your blood will transcend into another world.”
“Another world?”
“For reincarnation.”
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And with that, the female cult member left the room, shutting the door behind her.
A few days later, Sarah was forced to bathe after eating what they called her last meal. She wore a white robe and was pushed forcibly forward for every step she didn’t want to take. She refused to be their sacrifice. She needed a way out and fast.
They lead her to another room with a blue circle surrounded by strange letters. The smell of the candles made her want to throw up, but she wouldn’t give them that satisfaction. She saw the man with blue eyes, no longer wearing his mask. She glared at him, knowing he was the one who killed her parents, and although he did not kill her sister, he gave the order. About ten or more other members watched her, chanting in another language.
She held back her rage, knowing it might make matters worse. If she stayed calm and collected, she could take advantage and escape.
All the members stood on either side of the room, still chanting. The blue-eyed man who killed her family stared at her as she walked by him. He grinned at her. Sarah ignored him, continuing until she stopped in the middle of the room. “Guess you will be joining your family soon enough,” he whispered in her ear for only her to hear.
“You bastard!” she screamed.
“Your parents begged for you and your sister to be spared, that they would do anything they asked. A shame that was all in vain,” he said. “They all suffered, you know.” A few members pulled Sarah away from him toward the circle. When she looked back at him, he was still grinning at her. He knew what he did, and he was happy with himself.
All self-control was lost. She snapped, pulling away from the members who held her back.
She rushed at him, pushing him to the ground before he could raise the knife. The two of them struggled, knocking over the candles on the tables and setting fire to the room. He overpowered her quickly, dragging her into the blue circle. He held her hands down, plunging the blade into her stomach several times. Sarah couldn’t even scream; the pain was beyond manageable.
The blue-eyed man dropped the blade, seemingly out of breath. Sarah took the blade with some strength left, stabbing him only once. The man panicked, taking the knife out and falling to the floor. Sarah knew she wouldn’t make it, but at least she took the man who killed her family down with her. The blue circle lit up all around her as the room was blazing. Several members scrambled around while James ordered them to find water.
Sarah glanced at the fallen murderer beside her in the circle, her eyesight slowly blurring until she saw complete darkness.
In the darkness, she heard a bell tolling twice—one for her and one for the blue-eyed man.
From there, she saw a bright light, blinding her as she became closer to it. Sarah didn’t want to go near it until she heard a soft, angelic voice. “Don’t fear the Light. You will be born anew.”
The bright light took the form of a person standing before her, holding their hand. She stared at the hand for a moment. Reborn? She thought. Where else will I go? I’m dead. They still had their hand out for her to take, but she wasn’t sure if it was a good idea.
Hesitantly, she moved her hand forward, touching their hand.
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Stag, Tethys – 1397 AE
Healers rushed around a young woman, Enora, with Alaric II Raith, her husband, by her side. She was heavily pregnant, in the later stages of labor. The doctor discovered the baby was not facing the right way inside the womb and would need to perform surgery on the woman. The healers stood by them, chanting their spells for quick treatment. As the doctor cut open the woman’s womb, he carefully took out the tiny infant, cutting the umbilical cord, and placing the child in the midwife’s arms.
“Congratulations, it’s a girl.” But there was something wrong with the child. At closer inspection, the baby was not breathing. The midwife handed the baby into the husband’s arms, and the wife panicked and screamed to know what was happening.
Alaric took the child, lightly tapping the infant’s cheek. Nothing worked. How was he supposed to tell his wife their firstborn died? No, he couldn’t. “This can’t be happening…” he whispered. “She’s cold.”
“No!” Enora screamed. “How? We were careful. We took every precaution to make sure she was healthy!”
Alaric took Enora’s hand, forcing himself not to cry, but he had a hard time. “I’m sorry.” She cried, loudly wondering what she had done wrong.
One of the healers took the baby, trying to figure out what was wrong with her. A shaman was called in. She momentarily observed the tiny infant and turned to face the window. Alaric watched her studying a horse-eating grass. Lifting her hand toward the horse, she chanted a spell, and a stream of blue magic hit the horse at a fast velocity. The horse panicked but soon fell to the ground, empty.
“What… what are you doing?” Alaric asked, a little alarmed. He tried to reach for his daughter, but the other healers held him back.
The Shaman, with her dark brown eyes, stared back at Alaric. “It’s called Transference. The child had no life energy; I took it from the animal. Now, all I need is a soul.” She chanted more spells, laying the baby on the floor. The entire room shook, electricity flailing around until only a single orb floated in the air. The Shaman guided the orb, waiting for it to disappear into the child’s body.
The infant’s eyes shot open, and a loud cry was heard.
Alaric’s daughter was alive. The midwife cleaned amniotic fluid from the baby’s body and swiftly handed it to Enora, who was elated. Alaric was about to thank the Shaman, but she left without uttering a word. “What should we call her?” Enora asked her husband, who was too busy admiring his daughter for a moment.
His parents, Aurelius and Lara, stepped into the room with smiles on both their faces. It wasn’t their first grandchild, but she was their first granddaughter. Aurelius held the babe first, gently swaying her back and forth until she calmed down. She grabbed his index finger with her tiny hand, and Alaric knew that was all it would take for their bond.
“Any suggestions on a name?” he asked his father.
He only had to think for a short moment. “Alessia – because it’s the name of my favourite flower,” he said, handing the baby over to Lara. Alaric wasn’t surprised by the name he chose for his granddaughter. “It also means defender.”
“Does it?” Alaric said. The infant’s eyes opened, staring at her grandmother – trying to grab at her hands. He nodded. “I like that name. What about you, Enora?”
Enora’s eyes were slightly red from being awake for so long, and the bags underneath had already formed, but she also gave him a nod of approval. “It’s a beautiful name.”
He stared down at the tiny infant, smiling. “Then it’s what we will call her. Alessia.”