They nodded, and when she disappeared, I was taken to a milk bath. The water smelled of flowers and honey. Normally, I would wash, but tonight they scrubbed my skin and washed my hair.
When I was brought back to my room, I was given a brand new nightgown, and they brushed my hair until it shown like the high priestess’.
I was tucked into bed and visited by Magdalena in my room before sunrise. She smiled as she came to my bed.
“You are a true goddess,” she told me, kissing my forehead.
The next night I was told that I’d be staying in my room. They were planning a celebration of my sacrifice, and the High Blood Priestess was worried that someone would come to stop us.
“There are many men who want to use your gifts to destroy us. Never again.” Her eyes took on a far-off look as if remembering something I didn’t.
While I had no idea what she was talking about, I understood and spent my last night being pampered. The women assigned to me made me a special dress for the full moon. I had asked for black, and they had delivered. The fabric they had brought was as dark as the dogs that howled in the night. When you looked closely, there were thin, shiny red swirls weaved throughout the fabric, creating a hint of sparkle when I walked into the light.
I went to bed that morning at peace with my decision. But, as I tried to fall asleep, my mind went to the last person outside of these walls I talked to.
Desiderio.
Desi.
He was incredibly handsome. Which was how he got away with all of his wicked deeds, I was sure. He was close to seducing me completely in that forest, with only a few words and his eyes.
Those eyes.
The mark of the beast, Jaime said.
My mind drifted to that first conversation I’d had with him, and I suddenly could feel the thick bump underneath my pillow. I lifted my head and pulled out the cards. I stared at the ones that had somehow remained undamaged.
What did they mean?
The three of swords.
“It’s the card for broken hearts.”
I heard his voice clearly in my head. He had told me that once. When?
Had he been telling the truth? That these were, in fact, my cards?
I closed my eyes and ran my hands over the cards, trying to feel their power.
Please, I pleaded. Help me remember.
Flashes of Desiderio smiling at me, laughing with me, and… kissing me flew threw my mind so fast that I wasn’t sure if I had really been given the memories or if I’d imagined them. I’d be lying if I said I hadn’t thought of what it’d feel like to have my lips pressed against his. To have his tongue between my thighs, doing what he did to that knife. How could I love someone so evil?
How could he love me back?
Considering this only solidified my decision. Whatever connection I had with Desiderio, it was not worth staying around to figure it out. This evil needed to die with me.
I had a five-women team waiting for me when I woke up. I was bathed again, and they did my hair and makeup. I looked beautiful as I was escorted out and down the hill.
“Where are we going?” I asked.
“To the caves,” someone said. Everyone had abolished the facade of speaking Spanish with me after I had offered to sacrifice myself.
“The caves?” I had never heard of the caves. Where were they?
“We will take you,” another said.
As soon as we reached the bottom of the hill, I was ushered into a carriage. The bed had large purple pillows thrown about it, creating a rather comfortable bed for my ride. I looked around for horses or donkeys, but large Bloodborn men took the handles and began pulling me along.
