Along a lonesome hilltop; there sat a noble church. Walls bravely tall and stern; Surrounded by trees of Birch. Iron Gates placed around the grounds like a firm protective hand. The wind was the only sound at night. Like a cold whisper. A chilling message. Yet...somewhat comforting.
Amongst the many windows that light could seep through; there was one little girl not sound asleep....Everyone else was sound asleep....She thought long and hard to the time before the tragic events that had just occurred. The usual self loathing and denial. If only she had done this....if only things had been different...If this little girl had foreseen the events that spiraled out of control; She would have done as she was told.
She thought to that night....that dreadful night....
It was a long and lonesome night.
The only joy she found in it was pressed up against the window and gazing at the stars.
There was a fist sized music box at her bedside that she was ever-so fond of. It was a beautifully crafted emerald piece; trimmed with gold patterns and encrusted with a large sparkling emerald in its centre. A present from her father multiple years prior.
When would up; the box opened to reveal a dainty figurine with glittering fairy wings. It played an ever-sweet melody. She had listened to it over a hundred times; and wod gladly listen a hundred more.
The tune felt like a soft voice....as though someone was singing her a lullaby. It made her whole bedroom seem much less lonely....her life...much less lonely.
It was one if those nights where the world felt most truly peaceful. When noises turned to a language of soft spoken winds that she strained to understand.
Sometimes she liked to wonder around at night. She knew full well the punishment that would await her should she be caught. But the time was right; and the night too beautiful to ignore.
She had known no other home. Just the sacred walls of the church. The nuns of the church looked after her and her family well. It was a grand building; Truly grand. The ceilings reached almost to the heavens from the little girls perspective.
The ceiling of the main prayer floor had always been her favourite thing to look at. It was full of celestial artwork. Almost like it was telling her a story...
A fair sized room she had herself. A bed big enough to fit all her toys; a room that she always kept tidy. Bed was always made. Curtains always opened in the morning to let in the sunlight.
She stretched out of her bed. Tiptoe after tiptoe across the floorboards towards the door....silent as a mouse....not to make a sound....*creaaaaaak* she opened the door as quietly as she could; but as old as the building was there were creaks and crackles at every turn. They seemed even louder at night...The stairs were not lit up at night. And the curtains of the windows were always closed. She struggled to see....using her other senses to guide her. Her feet to feel the width of each step.
Tiptoe tiptoe down the stairs.....Tiptoe tiptoe slowly down the stairs....once she reached the bottom. There was light that seeped through the large oak door. The prayer hall. *creaaaaaaak*
She sat on one of the hand-carved benches. Close to the front row. Clearly the work of the talented village carpenter.
The podium seemed like such a powerful position to stand from. Only the Pastor was allowed to stand there. She knew that very well. Everyone was required to attend church and watch him there every Sunday.
She wondered what people prayed about. Their hopes....dreams...? She had always been taught that the divine father is love. Is one. Is all. That she must honour him and in turn she shall receive his blessings for a happy life.
Though....this would not be the case for this poor little girl....
She often prayed to the divine for the chance to explore beyond the church walls. To see things of legends that she had heard in careless whispers and fairytales. She was forbidden to leave the grounds of the church. And she had never done so. She had never properly laud eyes on the outside world. She only wished and dreamed for a glimpse.
Sometimes it felt like her prayers would never be answered....
Suddenly
She heard voices.
Muffled.... She ducked behind the bench in case of being caught out of bed.
She listened closely....it was her fathers voice she could hear...? Only certain words....
"There is nothing more I can do for Circe"
Circe??? That was her name! Her father was talking about her? Now she had to know.
There was another voice...she crept up. Following the voices along the back of the door to a room. The Pastors office. The door was slightly open....
She pressed her head up near the door to listen...
"Nothing you can do!? Spare your only little girl from the terrible fate you have laid out for her!" It was her brothers voice! Arguing with her father? Why were they fighting?
"This is the greatest act of kindness a father can give his daughter, boy, she will lead a better life. And so will we."
"How will she have a better life with those Sadists!? They'll eat her alive!"
What!? What was that supposed to mean!? Circe didn't know what a sadist was...but the thought of being eaten alive scared her out of her skin...what was going on? What had her father done?
It was one of the only times she had heard her brother so angry in her defense. This made her sure something bad was going to happen. She didn't want to get eaten alive!...clearly her father didn't care about her at all!
He had always been a cold man as far as she could remember. However she didn't understand that her older brother had told her stories of their father before she was born. Smiling. Laughing. Happy.
She thought he hated her because her mother had passed away due to childbirth after having her little girl.
Since then; their father was hardly ever around. Always away on business. Leaving his children in the care of the nuns. Cedrius had always been a good brother to Circe. Sort of like a father figure in some sense.
"You're a monster. I hope Circd grows up to resent you as much as I do" Cedrius stormed out of the study as Circe darted away from the door. He caught her in a panic.
"Circe-!" He blurted- shocked to see the subject of his conversation standing before him.
"I don't wanna get eaten alive Ced!" Circe blubbered. She was a sensitive girl; so any form of confrontation made her overemotional. Her heart pounded in her chest...
"You're not gonna get eaten alive Circe. It's a figure of speech" he scratched the back of his head "Shouldn't you be in bed?"
He gently took her hand and lead her up to her room.
She claimed into bed as he tucked her in. "Ced?"
"Hm?"
"What's gonna happen to me....?"
Cedrius paused for a moment and sighed...."Nothing will happen to you Circe. I'm going to make sure of it as long as I am alive" he paused again "I plan to take you away from all this bad energy one day"
"Then let's run away together!"
"Haha what?" He chuckled "You really want to run away?"
"Father never looks after us. You always argue with him....he doesn't care about us....and you said you want to take me away from all the bad"
Cedrius' eyes paused in decise for a few moments.....
"I have some money we can use...." he inhaled "but we will have to leave the village"
"Just you and me, Ced" Circe's emerald coloured eyes twinkled.
"We go tomorrow night. Father is away so the timing is perfect....I'll pack everything we need ready." He kissed his sister on the forehead "make sure you get lots of sleep tonight. Remember. Not a word to anyone"
Cedrius left the room- leaving Circe to her thoughts. She was finally going to experience the outside world! Maybe Divine Galahiel had heard her prayers after all.
She faded into a deep sleep. Comforted by the assurance of her brother. Little did she know, that tomorrow night, would be the worst night that will have ever come.....
