Samhain

Sephora grimaced for the fifth time after looking at herself in the mirror, whilst reaching blindly across the table for a hair pin, to hold back another section of thick auburn hair. She had not slept well.

Despite the warmth of the thick duvet and the plushness of the pillows and soft mattress, Sephora couldn't get to sleep. The duvet was so high that it reached her chin and began to make her sweat, despite the cold autumn air. The mattress was too soft, so much so that she felt as though she were sinking and couldn't settle her limbs enough to relax; the pillows were no better, her head felt like she were drowning as the feather down pillows smothered her. And the room being so light and airy, and the curtains consisting of nothing but some thin netting; the sun had indeed come pouring in through the windows - waking Sephora up at the crack of dawn.

Now, even as the clocks tolled for 1 pm, Sephora still had dark rings under her hazel eyes, making her cheekbones look sharper than usual; not only that but her face was still puffy with the lack of sleep and over-indulgent pillows. And not forgetting to mention the spectacular headache that Sephora had discovered upon awakening, that had kept her company all morning and even now, as she sat getting ready for her grand party; her temples still lightly pounded with a lingering pain.

Sephora grumbled and arose from the dressing table, satisfied that she couldn't possibly make herself look any better, considering her situation, and dragged herself from her room. As usual, Sephora had styled her hair half-up half-down, her long thick mahogany waves reaching just past her shoulder-blades, as she walked down the stairs to the foyer.

She hissed, almost tripping on the long skirts of her dress on the way down. Sephora had been given a brand new wardrobe, at the Elder's request as an added bonus of having merely hours to live. She felt uncomfortable about it at first, but then saw how expensive the materials were and how beautiful the clothes were, and suddenly realised if they could afford such luxuries; then she would take advantage of the small amount of time she had, and exploit it for all it was worth.

Sephora had chosen a simple but gorgeous dress. It was a navy blue satin evening gown, with long sleeves and a plunging collar that exposed a thin line of skin down to her navel. Just enough material to be modest and just enough revealing of skin to be scandalous, Sephora loved it. And ignoring the fact that her headache hadn't yet taken leave, Sephora felt good in it too. it would at least make up for the lack of elegance in her face.

Sephora arrived at the foyer, to see two of the Elders talking. Both dressed in expensive suites and hair combed back, one of them looked rather familiar. And just as the two gentlemen ceased their conversation to turn and look at her, Sephora was pleased to see one of them was her father.

Sephora smiled upon seeing both men's faces go slack in surprise and awe.

The Elder next to her father sighed, his eyes completely set on Sephora, "Such a pity..."

Sephora knew what he was implying and before she could make her disgust apparent, her father cuffed the man over the head with a firm hand. Sephora blinked, she'd never seen her father make such a violent gesture in all her life. Even the Elder was surprised at her father's reaction and turned to give him an incredulous look.

Her father didn't even blink as he glared at him,

"Don't talk towards my daughter like that."

The Elder seemed to notice the anger behind those words and even bowed his head lightly.

"Sorry Markus, I meant no disrespect." He turned and humbled his gaze to Sephora.

"Apologies, Miss Beltane."

"I'm sure you won't make the same mistake twice." Sephora said, as her way of accepting his apology. The grown man nodded, quickly excused himself and walked away. Leaving Sephora alone with her father.

For a moment, they were both quiet, not knowing what to say. Sephora was about to open her mouth, but her father beat her to it.

"You do look beautiful, Sephora." Her father's eyes were soft, almost proud. Sephora couldn't help but smile, it was rare indeed for her father to pay her a compliment. Perhaps her dying like this wasn't so bad after all. Her father took a few steps toward her, looking very smart in his suite.

"I want you to know that I meant what I said yesterday." His gaze was sad, yet determined . Everyone gets so excited and distracted by the ceremony, that they do forget that it is possible to become Nuanam. Who knows how many sacrifices actually survived the shift and made it to Igritann. I don't know how it happens or if there is a secret way to survive it, but if there is - you find it." Sephora nodded, ignoring the tears that had resurfaced and were now falling down her face.

Her father continued;

" You hold on, and you fight it for as long as you can. Don't give up, because you have so much more to give and I can see it in you. So keep that in you and let it drive you. Keep that fire inside you, Sephora, and don't let it go out - until you have nothing left to give." Sephora once again nodded, and froze in silent shock as her father brushed away her tears with a gentle hand.

"Can you promise me?" He asked quietly.

"I promise." Sephora declared, with every shred of her beating heart.

Her father smiled and held her hand, giving it a gentle squeeze. It was the most affection Sephora had ever received from her father, it almost threatened to make her tears resurface. But Sephora mastered herself, giving her fathers hand a squeeze of her own, before letting go and saying a quiet goodbye. She didn't want to be late for her own party.

Once again, the Town Square was bursting with people. The atmosphere was coated with excitement, happiness and the smell of the richest and most indulgent food you could lay your eyes on.

Citizens tirelessly worked and prepared from breakfast, all through lunch and now only finishing at noon; the Town Square had been completely transformed. Gone was the old wooden platform, gone was the eerie silence and feeling of dread, gone was The Roghnoir and it's dark flames. And in their stead, were colourful streamers and baskets of flowers .

There were live musicians playing and dancers jumping and twirling around in brightly coloured costumes. Fire-pits cooking rich meats, were dotted around banquet tables, filled to the brim with fruits and cakes and exotic dishes; contributed by people from all over the land.

Sephora had wished for a celebration of life, and that is what she had been given. It brought a genuine smile to her face, as she gazed upon it all from the tall steps of the Elder Guild Hall. A familiar face instantly caught Sephora's attention, as they raced up the steps to meet her.

"Sephora!" Zach called out, his smile lighting up Sephora's fading joy. He hugged his sister when he reached her, his little rib-cage expanding and deflating tremendously, after sprinting up those steps. They pulled apart, to survey each other. Sephora smiled at the miniature bow-tie around her brother's neck, and knew that he'd spent a lot of time polishing his own shoes, which now shone under the light of the flaming torches around the square. Zach looked up at his big sister.

"You look like a proper rich lady!"

Sephora grinned, "And you look like a rich lord."

Her brother beamed, "Like an Ardanam Lord?!"

Sephora stiffened, uncomfortable at the enthusiasm her brother showed toward their kind.

"No." She replied tightly.

The light in her brother's eyes dimmed.

"More like an Elder - like dad."

Her brother seemed to accept this as a good alternative, as he nodded with a sudden importance. Sephora held back a smile. She took her brother's hand and together they walked down the steps to join the festivities.

Sephora's mother was talking with her father, as she delivered her brother back to his mother's side. Her mother looked beautiful, with her chestnut hair pulled back into a long fish-tail plait, and flowers woven in with it. Her dress was plain black, as though she were in mourning, although along the hemline were white and pink embroidered flowers. An effort, in her mother's case, who didn't like to wear many colours.

But Sephora couldn't help encouraging her mother, "You look wonderful, mother." She tried not to wince, as tears instantly sprang to her mother's eyes in gratitude, and then in awe - when she took in her daughter's apparel.

"You too, Sephora. I..." Her father placed a reassuring hand on his wife's back. Her mother cleared her throat. "Make sure you enjoy yourself."

Sephora smiled and gave her mother a kiss on the cheek, before going to find herself something very strong to drink.

' Carpe diem', she thought to herself.

Sephora had the faint notion that someone was calling her name, but wasn't sure as she stumbled over someone passed out on the floor. She emptied her glass of wine,just as gentle hands wrapped around her arms, turning her until she was face to face with some twins.

Funny, she didn't know her mother had a twin, she would have thought she would have known if she had an aunt. And how on earth did they manage to coordinate their outfits like that. Sephora frowned, as the twins now converged and her mother's worried face came into focus.

"Sephora, are you ok - you need to stop drinking now, before something happens." Her voice was distant and demanding. And Sephora didn't want to be told what to do.

"How am I supposed to enjoy myself, if you're here... telling me what to do?" Sephora pushed her mother away. "Stop worrying. And don't cry... why do you always cry... do you... enjoy crying - you must do if you enjoy it so much." Sephora turned away from her mother, to see the dancers still performing by the light of the fire.

"I'm gonna dance... you can stop worrying - unless I fall in the fire, and then you can start worrying." She waved off her mother, dismissing her concern entirely. It wasn't as though she'd lost all common sense. It wasn't as though she was going to sleep with anybody - she was fully committed to staying a virgin until she was married. And since now she would never get married, there was no way she was going se

she wasn't oblivious to the subtle glances and hints many of the men had been giving her throughout the evening.

Sephora fought a cringe, and walked up to where the dancers were doing their performance. Without even thinking, she began to join in; painfully trying - and failing, to copy their movements, but she had lost all coordination. She'd never been drunk before in her entire life, but seeing as it was ending in a few hours, she didn't see any harm in it - she didn't have to worry about the consequences or the hang-over she'd get the next morning.

Amazingly she'd managed to rally an audience, who had now begun to clap and chant her on, driving her to dance more, a smile plastered on her face. Eventually a massive crowd was around her clapping and cheering, some people even joining in, while the musicians began to play a tune in time with their movements. Everything was happy and content, Sephora was in full bliss, when the Elder Guild Hall clock sounded the gong. Midnight.

"Silence!

The music stopped. The people stopped clapping, stopped dancing, ceased their cheering; and that eerie silence reclaimed its territory across the Town Square.

Sephora was still dancing, until she realised everything had stopped and looked around, wondering why. The crowds began parting and in their wake, four hooded figures cloaked in black, emerged from the masses. They stopped before Sephora and then she suddenly realised why they were here. It was time.

[Present]

Sephora bucked and kicked again, thrashing and twisting anything to relieve that iron grip on her arms and legs, but to no avail. Her head was spinning; this couldn't be how it all ended, she still had so much she wanted to see and do, so many days with her family that she'd looked forward to. She growled again at the four figures dragging her, their dark hooded faces revealed nothing and said nothing.

Sephora screamed this time, louder and more desperate than she'd ever screamed before - that it was more like a bloodcurdling roar, that shattered through the silent forest sending birds scattering and shrieking in their wake. She cried out again, hoping, praying, begging someone to save her - even though she knew it was all in vain.

No matter how hard she screamed, no one would come and save her tonight.

Sephora felt something hot and wet sliding down her cheek, before she realized she was crying. And That moment Sephora remembered her promise to her father. That no matter what happened she would find a way out, she would fight it until her last breath. She would not die.

Her hooded executioners slowed their pace, telling her that they were close to the veil. Sephora gave a shiver that had nothing to do with the cold. They set her on the mossy ground, leaves crunching under her as she knelt, looking before her. And she could hardly believe her eyes, only this time she knew what she saw wasn't the result of the two bottles of wine she'd ingested during the evening.

There before her, was what looked like only more forest, if it wasn't for the glowing pink/red light lining the forest floor. Not only that, but what appeared to be more forest seemed to only be a reflection that rippled and shimmered like a wall of water in front of her. It was the veil, the barrier that separated the Mortal world from Igritann; the land of the Ardanams. And the decider of her fate.

No, only Sephora would be the decider of her fate - only she would determine whether she was strong enough to survive the shift, the igniting of her soul. She would keep her father's promise.

Sephora didn't say a word, or even struggle when the hooded strangers lifted her from the ground and led her toward the veil. She even apologized for making such a fuss, when she knew they were only doing their job. One of them quietly told her not to worry about it, and she was surprised to hear that it was a woman's voice underneath that dark cowl.

They let go of her as she stood immediately before the veil. She looked into it, as if she could try to see the world beyond, but all she saw was the rippling reflection of the forest.

Sephora took a deep breath and slowly closed her eyes. She lifted her arms beside her, as if she were going to embrace the barrier, before she let her breath go. And stepped into the veil...