The Blood of the Gods
by Linda Akerman
She counted the steps over and over in her head. Only twenty more and she would be in the hall. She stopped and bit her lip. She wasn’t ready for this, how could she ever be ready for this? She knew what awaited her when she got there. Her family and friends, rejoicing for the honor bestowed upon her. She closed her eyes for a moment and took another deep breath. She had been groomed for this all her life. She looked down at her beautiful red velvet gown and started walking.
“Ghislaine”.
The entire court looked up at her when she entered. Her mother came and kissed her cheek.
“I am so happy for you my child”, her mother whispered. “All grown-up and ready.”
The queen took her hand and led her to the middle of the big hall. Everyone smiled and bowed. Her mother gave her one last hug and stepped to the side. She was alone and in front of her stood a pillar with a shiny goblet on it. In it, the blood of the Gods. She would drink it, and became the Tricksters new bride. She would be sacrificed to the 7 Gods to ensure good harvests and 40 years of tranquility. She would leave this human body and get a new life.
She swallowed hard and took the goblet.
“I serve the 7, I serve he who is and isn’t.” She took a zip, and her last thoughts were what if nothing waits?
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Listening for the words in a quiet corner of the night. The fiction, poetry, and photography of Jason Evans.
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34 comments:
oh my... what a neat take on the prompt! super!
Fantastic! Wow. Great POV from inside the head of someone who doesn't seem suicidal.
Very good take on the prompt
alex
This one's reached cult status!
Wow! I love the death to the gods, marriage to the unknown.
I definitely want to know more about the Trickster.
Left me wanting to no more about the world of these people and their Gods. Excellent writing.
Four Dinners
Hi Dottie,
I really must write down the add, came via your blog again :)
Thank you all. Now I feel like writing more, I want to go exploring in that world
That was wonderful! I loved it!
Interesting take. This could be developed into a much longer story.
Thanks Amy :D
That means a lot for me when it comes from you.
Hi catvibe,
I am glad you think so :)
Blodeuedd! This was really good. One of my favorites.
Thank you so much September :)
That is so much fun to hear
I loved the set up here. History and mythology interwined referring to an unknown world. If that doesn't catch one's attention, don't know what will.
The best part is even after read 158 entries people are going to remember this thinking Oh yes, the one in which...
Very well done.
Wonderfully original take on the prompt. Would very much like to read more of this.
Loved that last line - great job!
Nicely done, for sure.
She shoulda' made a run for it. :)
Anniket,
Thank you so much for you words. I am glad that it got your interest. History and mythology is what I like so I they sure showed up then :)
Absolute vanilla,
Thanks, hehe, glad you liked my last line.
deb S,
Thanks, too kind.
Bernard,
Aye she should, but well it was what she was trained for. poor her
Faith is strong in someone who submits willingly to death. At least they're not disemboweling her on a stone table or something. Eek.
PJD;
Oh gross, well I could have gone that way, but I guess it's not the way for me.
And I wanted her to have a strong faith, she did believe something was waiting.
And hey even if I left it like that, perhaps something is waiting or not
Hmm, not sure I agree with Pete. Yes, she had faith, but she's also been bred to have a sense of responsibility to her country and her people and her parents - the bit with the mother is so telling -
Oh, for heaven's sake, just write the rest of the novel and get it published so I can read it!!
Aerin,
You are right, she does want to do what is right. To her parents, to her country. It has fallen upon her, and even if she stops and thinks in the end, she still would do it cos of that. It's her responsibility.
Lol, I am glad you liked it. I do have some scenarios playing in my head on what really happens before and after. I do want to write something more.
It's definitely not easy creating a fictional world such as this in 250 words. I can see this as part of a much larger work.
Thanks JR.
I guess it's the way I write :)
Wow!! You packed so much into these 250 words!! Very enjoyable! Tightly written.
Original, powerful and beautifully written. Certainly a top contender!
Thanks Chris and Tessa :)
Hey - I think you should take Aerin's advice - there has to be a novel in here.
Thank you so much Janey,
That would sure be a dream come true
Just wanted to reiterate how much I liked this piece. You may not have won anything, but you were in my top 5!
Thanks Deb!
That is sure nice to hear after the contest. I am glad my little piece was to your liking :D
Pretty hard to be upbeat about being sacrificial. Her thoughts are understandable.
Welcome to The Forties Club!
Thanks Jason :)
happy to be here
One wonders if the story would have been different had her last thought occurred to her earlier. I hope she found what she wanted on the other side. Nice job.
Thanks Jaye :D
Well who knows what's on the other side
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