Post by Malabelle Shahrizai on Jan 6, 2007 16:28:41 GMT -5
Naked, I knelt before my private altar to Kushiel. The statue set upon the pedestal, the air in the small room thick with incense.
I prayed. In the beginning it was for the ability to be a worthy scion of his line, for while so many things in my family's line were tainted, the blood that coursed through my veins was from an old and direct line and above all I wanted to be worthy of it.
Then I knelt in silence, both internal and external, for a handful of moments. As I had known it would be, the next things I prayed for was strength, to punish Dominic for what he had done to me, what he had taken from me. Since the night when he had held me down and forced himself on me, the love that had always burned within me for him had grown dimmer with each breath I drew. In the past, my love for Dominic had always outweighed my hatred for him, but that wasn't the case any longer.
Silence wrapped me again, not as long this time though, as a smile touched the curve of my lips and I thought of Christophe. Reverently, I drew a candle from the box at the base of the pedestal and placed it at Kushiel's feet. Murmuring words of thanks, I lit the candle, Christophe's face bright in my mind.
Settling back into my kneeling position, I let my eyes settle on the statue before me. I had no idea how old it truly was, I had taken it from Gus's attic when I was little. It was one of the few things I always kept with me, no matter where I was living.
I felt deep and profound peace settle over me and I closed my eyes, Kushiel's face still shining in my darkened vision. A soft movement of air, the rush of wings in my ears, and I felt him near. Tears slipped from beneath my closed eyelids and ran hot down my cheeks. It lasted but for a heartbeat or two, but it was enough.
Opening my eyes, I smiled and stood. Leaving the candle to burn, I passed through the door into my bedroom. My dress had arrived earlier and now hung on a hook. It was lovely, and I thought Devon might faint when I had thanked him with a soft kiss. I lightly caressed the material, letting myself become even more excited about the party.
Soon, it would be soon.
I prayed. In the beginning it was for the ability to be a worthy scion of his line, for while so many things in my family's line were tainted, the blood that coursed through my veins was from an old and direct line and above all I wanted to be worthy of it.
Then I knelt in silence, both internal and external, for a handful of moments. As I had known it would be, the next things I prayed for was strength, to punish Dominic for what he had done to me, what he had taken from me. Since the night when he had held me down and forced himself on me, the love that had always burned within me for him had grown dimmer with each breath I drew. In the past, my love for Dominic had always outweighed my hatred for him, but that wasn't the case any longer.
Silence wrapped me again, not as long this time though, as a smile touched the curve of my lips and I thought of Christophe. Reverently, I drew a candle from the box at the base of the pedestal and placed it at Kushiel's feet. Murmuring words of thanks, I lit the candle, Christophe's face bright in my mind.
Settling back into my kneeling position, I let my eyes settle on the statue before me. I had no idea how old it truly was, I had taken it from Gus's attic when I was little. It was one of the few things I always kept with me, no matter where I was living.
I felt deep and profound peace settle over me and I closed my eyes, Kushiel's face still shining in my darkened vision. A soft movement of air, the rush of wings in my ears, and I felt him near. Tears slipped from beneath my closed eyelids and ran hot down my cheeks. It lasted but for a heartbeat or two, but it was enough.
Opening my eyes, I smiled and stood. Leaving the candle to burn, I passed through the door into my bedroom. My dress had arrived earlier and now hung on a hook. It was lovely, and I thought Devon might faint when I had thanked him with a soft kiss. I lightly caressed the material, letting myself become even more excited about the party.
Soon, it would be soon.