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The Curse of Immortality
By: NightCat
Prologue
�Sacred flame� Sacred flame� Sacred flame��
On and on the chanting went. The circle of priestesses writhed and moved with the hissing rhythm, gathering and building their collective will toward their goal. Sitting in the middle was Ohica, the high priestess, staring intently into the smoke of the lit candle she was holding. She felt the power of her sisters building inside of her, but it was still not enough.
�Try harder, sisters,� Ohica commanded. The chanting became faster, louder, and harsher as the women focused with greater force.
Ohica tried to ignore the sound of banging on the outer doors of the temple. The many doors that separated the remaining members of the Sisterhood of Karn from the intruders would buy the priestesses some time. Ohica only hoped that it would be enough.
She felt the power build up more rapidly inside her. Just a little more� then she could connect�
A loud band almost broke her concentration. The intruders had broken though the thick, wooden outer doors.
�Almost, sisters,� she urged the women on, urgency creeping into her usually authoritative voice.
BANG! The second set of doors was breached within seconds of the first. The women would be found in minutes if they remained here. Found and slaughtered, like most of their sisters already had been mere days ago.
Ohica saw something in the smoke. �Yes! I can almost connect!� she cried. Just a little more�
Another crash. The third set of doors was gone. Now Ohica could hear their footsteps. Just two more sets of doors and they would find the priestesses.
Ohica felt like she was going to burst with the energy built up inside of her. She was so close to making the connection, she could feel it. The image in the smoke became clearer and clearer. Ohica concentrated all the built up power on the image, willing it to become clear and to see her. The image took shape and color, and became a pair of blue eyes. Their gaze wandered, taking no notice of Ohica or of anything really. They seemed preoccupied with something unseen.
�See me,� Ohica said to the eyes. Her tone was authoritative and stern. �Listen to me. You must listen to me.�
The eyes suddenly became alert, and looked straight at Ohica. The connection was made.
The Sisterhood needs your help, Ohica sent the thought out over the mental link.
There is little time. Hurry.
Just as quickly as it was established, the connection was broken. The eyes faded back into the smoke, and Ohica extinguished the flame. The power spent making the link almost drained her, and she was worn from it, but she didn�t let it show. She couldn�t let it show, not when she and her followers were so close to certain death.
�Enough, sisters,� she said to the group. The chanting stopped and the women got to their feet. The crash of the third set of doors made a few jump. Ohica knew that they would be as exhausted from the effort as she was, but she couldn�t allow them the luxury of rest. They knew this as well.
�We must make haste,� Ohica commanded. �Follow me.�
She led the group a secret hatchway in the floor. As the last woman through closed the door behind her, Ohica took one of the many torches that lined the dark hallway aloft and looked upon the priestesses.
�Move quietly,� she whispered. �And quickly. The rest are waiting for us at the foot of the mountain. Fiammetta and Pele,� she indicated the two priestesses at the back. �Extinguish the torches as we go. We can�t give our enemies any advantage. Let�s go.�
As she led her followers on, she felt in her pouch the key to the sacred flame. Without it no one could tamper with the flame or the Elixir of Life. Both would be safe for the time being; the intruders couldn�t destroy the Sisterhood without destroying the reason for their existence. Try as they might, the intruders would not be able to get to the flame or the Elixir without the key. Ohica knew this, and this gave her hope. The Sisterhood was not lost yet. Maren�s sacrifice would not be in vain.
She could hear heavy footsteps above her. Some loose rocks and dirt came loose and sprinkled onto the retreating sisters. Ohica remembered the ones who have already fallen in the Sisterhood�s battle with these intruders. Some of the girls slaughtered had all the potential to become powerful priestesses; there might have even been a future high priestess among them. Ohica�s eyes darkened at the thought of the circumstances of their deaths. Their sacrifice would not be in vain either; Ohica would make sure of it.
�High one,� Ohica�s second in command, Shula, whispered to her superior. �What if he decided not to come to our aide? We have not thought of this possibility.�
�True Shula,� Ohica whispered back. �But time would not allow us to consider the possibility. However, I believe that the likelihood of him refusing is very slim.�
�And if he does?�
Ohica looked at the younger woman. �Then we will continue to fight. Either way, we must not give up. Think of our sisters who have already died. Should their deaths be for nothing?�
Shula nodded her understanding and retreated a few steps back. Ohica led on, not allowing herself time to mull over the scenario that her second in command suggested. First she must get her sisters to safety, and then they will plan for worst case scenarios.
Ohica sped up a little, wanting to get her followers to safety as quickly as possible. She knew that it was only a matter of time before the intruders found their escape route. The sooner they were away from here, the better. They were too little of a force to fight the intruders now. All that mattered at that moment was survival and escape.
Ohica only hoped that her message reached its destination.
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