The blade enters her flesh. A sound, a wet sound, barely audible. The skin opens, the flesh separates, and the blood appears. Bright red, shiny, first beading, then flowing in a thin stream down her thigh.She grits her teeth, her jaws clench, but she doesn't scream. Tears rise to her eyes, roll down her cheeks, but she doesn't cry. She watches her blood flow, fascinated, horrified, exhilarated."Into the bowl," I say.She leans her thigh over the bowl. The blood falls, drop by drop, onto the black stone. Each drop makes a distinct sound, a small plop that echoes in the absolute silence of the rotunda.The masked ones murmur. A deep sound, chanting, an ancient melody that fills the room, accompanies the falling blood, supports the pain and transcends it."More," I say. "More."She presses harder on the blade, sinks it a little deeper. The cut deepens, the edges part, the blood flows faster, more abundantly. Her eyes cloud, her face contorts, but she holds on, watches her blood fill th
Last Updated : 2026-04-01 Read more