Post by Sharon on Jun 14, 2015 1:46:35 GMT
Alexandria tossed and turned in her sleep, filled with horrible dreams of Emilia flying up to rescue the child that Appolion burned to death from the inside out. And his words playing over and over in her head 'Be careful what you wish for, Watch Wench!'
...Watch Wench.
Is that what she was? Adira sure seemed certain of it. Even saying that she'd MET Aelestia herself. Had bandaged her fingers that night at Faeneel's house. But her followers, as few as they were, had nearly killed her as an Emperial spy.
"What did you expect, Watch Wench? They are just as afraid as you are!" That horrible voice again. The voice of her Accuser, Appolion! "Wasting the powers Aelestria gave you!" Glowing red eyes stared into her very soul. "You knew you were marching into war and you didn't even bother to change your spells!" What did he mean by that? Did he not know what she was? That was a possible weakness she might exploit. But she did not have time to think about it as her nightmare continued.
Emilia was beside her, suddenly. "Alexandria, I know how you've dreamed of Aelestria coming to you, but you HAVE to recuse her. She's a heretic! Come back to the Cathedral with me, become a priestess and you can fly like me! Don't you want to fly, Alexandria? *She tugged gently on her arm.*
"Did you forget that you freed me?" The Beast roared, snatching her attention away! "Did you not think what anointing that crystal would do? YOU'RE just as responsible for the girl's death as I am!
"I AM!" She cried and fell to her knees, weeping bitterly. But Emilia's slap brought her out of it to stare at her dumbly.
"No, Little Watch Wench, I will not burn you. You will burn, but tied to a pyre of your own 'Blessed Divinity!' " His voice dripped with scorn.
And suddenly her dream shifted to where she was on the pyre, tied hand and foot. Emilia was flying about her on the wings of pure moonlight. "You should have listened to me, Alexandria. You should have recused her and come with me, back to the safety of the Cloister. Do you want to be burned alive? You're making me watch you be burned alive!"
Alexandria struggled and moaned and the next moment, Garret was there beside her, his hands roaming her bare shoulders and arms. "You said being ravaged didn't sound like much fun...do you still feel that way?"
And suddenly she ~was~ burning, but with desire!
Everything blurred and spun until an authoritative female voice said, "STOP."
All was calm then, and filled with a golden light like when the Saints would visit her in her dreams. She recognized her now, Aelesteria the Pure. But she was not alone, Saint Maximillion was there. He smiled at her and nodded then disappeared into the golden mist. Aelestria stood before her, with her sweet eyes and spoke to her in a voice as soft as a summer rain. "You are afraid, child. Calm yourself, here you are always safe. Maximillion asked much of you. To come here to a city you did not know. To fight the Eyes, and treat the Ashening. We are proud of you. But if you let those fears and doubts control you, you will not grow. You are fraught with dangers all about you. You do not know where to turn to, and Hallowed Ground seems a mystery. But look at your feet, my Blessed One. Wherever you walk IS Hallowed."
She smiled to her, enigmatically, stepping back into the welcoming fog and Alexandria finally woke.
...With more questions than answers.