Giving In to Darkness

I remained silent as the maids primped and prepped me for the ceremony. Their hands deftly worked their way through my hair, untangling the knotted mess it had become, and creating a delicately, intricate style that appeared to look like rope along my spine.

At one point, one of them shoved a small cup of warm liquid in my hands, hurrying my to drink it.

“What is it?” I croaked, sniffing at the drink. It didn’t smell appetising at all.

The maids exchanged a look, and the oldest one rose her brow at me. “It is to flush your body of seed,” she said tersely. “So tou do not become with child.”

Horror must have filled my face because she gave me an apologetic look before pushing the cup in my direction again. “Best drink it fast, it doesn’t taste the best.”

I downed the liquid quickly, my throat gagging on the taste and swallowed as much as I could. It tasted like a mixture of dirt and grass, but I was glad for it. I didn’t want to become pregnant with Kainen’s child. He hadn’t exactl