Kadriya woke to a stiff neck and foggy mind. Inwardly she groaned and awkwardly stretched her limbs despite their protest; and her bound wrists. To gather her bearings she took a look around the small cell she shared with four other women.
To her left sat a young woman with a mane of golden curls. Her gown and cloak were of fine quality, the clothing of a respected lady. This young woman, however, did not possess the demeanor of one. She refused to cower from the burly seamen who kept them prisoner. Instead she remained tall and proud, meeting the men's gazes with her own ferocious hazel eyes.
Directly adjacent to Kadriya sat an older woman. A silver cross rested on her chest, one she kept mostly clutched in her hands as she prayed for salvation. Her dress was old and worn, but once might've been the envy of others. The woman's severe and stiff bun was now falling apart, tendrils draped over the woman's pointed face. She tried to push the hair back with her tied hands, but it's was a fruitless effort. The woman gave a a huff of annoyance and instead went back to praying.
A sniffle sounded in the small cell that dragged Kadriya's attention from the woman to a young girl wrapped in a strangers arms. She had knotted pale blonde hair, and oversized clothes of poor quality that failed to hide her frail body. Nor did the garment hide the old bruises that marred her skin. Her brown doe eyes were full of tears she was fighting. The strangers arms tightened around her and Kadriya's eyes traveled from the young girls round face to the stranger.
A woman possibly older than Kadriya herself, held the girl in the circle of her arms. The woman's straight scarlet hair was off to the side, revealing her high cheekbones and sorrowful yet empathetic blue eyes. Her dress was beautiful but of cheap material, while her cloak was dark, plain, and heavily worn through.
The matron opened her eyes, while continuing to pray, to give the girl a scornful look. When the girl let out another set of small whimpers, the crone stopped her infuriating chant to set her beady eyes in a glare upon her.
"Quiet yourself." The woman's voice cut sharply.
The young girl hiccuped and tried her best to comply to the demand. The stranger who held her met the glare of the religious woman.
"She is young and scared of what may happen. Surely you could sympathize." She challenged.
The old woman bowed her head and stated, "God will protect us."
"God has left us!" The young girl wailed and hid her face in her comforters embrace.
The woman gasped. "Such a horrible child! You shall go to hell!"
Th red haired woman whispered words to the girl. Trying to soothe her once more.
The young woman with gold curls decided to join in. With a set shoulders and a set mind she met the eyes of the old woman. "What a horrible woman you are. Frightening this young girl more."
The crone glared back. "Respect your elders, your parents must've never taught you manners!"
"I respect those who respect me." The young girl ground out from clenched teeth. "Certainly you don't deserve it." With a knowing smirk she mused "I'd rot in hell before I gave you any."
This sent the woman into another fit of shrill shrieks. The young woman seemed amused by it. "Unholy spawn of Satan! The Devil will gladly grant your wish and drag you down to a pit of endless woe!" She glared at her three offenders, her complexion growing red. "You are the reasons this is happening! God has done this to us because of your unbelief! We will go to hel-!"
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Sea Witch {UnderTheSea2017}
Fantasy"The Sea, once it casts its spell, holds one in its net forever." ~Jacques Cousteau It's only the beginning, of everything. Copyright 2016 any duplication or reproduction of all or part of the work without explicit permission by the author is illeg...
