01-16-2017, 09:23 PM
What was time to the Khylsty? There was nothing to gauge the passing of moments except one's own breath. The Eye knew no more about the passage of time than anyone else, nor even completely understand the concept. Babies, rare as they were, came to be, they grew to children, who grew to adults. Age was irrelevant to them. Size, determination, strength and the time of Awakening was all that mattered. Valeriya craved more, though. She craved what the Eye within saw Above their world. While Regus slept, Valeriya was busy. She spoke with dozens of Khylsty, and toured all the factions of their group. Except the poor wretches that worked the pits. Nobody ever saw them. Or those that did descend to the pits were never seen by the others again. She wrinkled her nose at that thought, as though the putrid smell wafted across her senses just then.
Silly. She thought, and pushed the fear aside. She pushed aside the little bowl from which she'd eaten and wiped her hands on her dress. It was black, her favorite one, torn and mended a hundred times over. She'd added her own beadings to the bodice herself. Skulls and crosses that she carved from chunks of bone or teeth, sometimes the softer stones, but those were not easy to find. Among them was a shape that none of the others recognized, though. It was a circle of folds that each came to a point, and a smaller circle was nestled at its heart. She didn't know its name, but the Eye saw them growing far and wide in fields Above in all kinds of brilliant colors. She liked the blue ones best. She cradled it between her fingers just then as Illarion approached. As always, his footsteps were quiet, but she sensed the presence of her twin brother with senses that stretched beyond hearing.
"He's awake, great Eye."
he spoke, taking away the bowl and offering her another filled with water. She drank greedily.
"Has he said anything?"
She asked between sips, wiping the moisture across her sleeve.
"He wants to be taken to Rasputin's things."
Valeriya hissed, "he IS Rasputin! His things, Not Rasputin's things!"
Her glare was daggers. Illarion's shoulders hunched. "Certainly sister! He was taken to his belongings. That's all."
Seeing her twin wounded by her words, Valeriya went to him and pulled him close for a hug. She nestled her face into his shoulder and twined her arms around his chest. It was almost like she could feel what it was to share their mother's womb again. The closeness was rare. All the more so for being an abomination. Twins were a sin to the Khylsty, but they were allowed to live given that it was unknown which of them would bear the Eye.
When she felt him relax, she tilted his chin aside and pressed her lips to his briefly, smiling. "It's alright. I forgive you. Go watch over him. I do not trust Matvei and the others alone with him."
Illarion nodded, released from her grasp. For a moment she missed his presence, but reminded herself that someone much better awaited.
She took her time in finishing the meal, however long that was.
Silly. She thought, and pushed the fear aside. She pushed aside the little bowl from which she'd eaten and wiped her hands on her dress. It was black, her favorite one, torn and mended a hundred times over. She'd added her own beadings to the bodice herself. Skulls and crosses that she carved from chunks of bone or teeth, sometimes the softer stones, but those were not easy to find. Among them was a shape that none of the others recognized, though. It was a circle of folds that each came to a point, and a smaller circle was nestled at its heart. She didn't know its name, but the Eye saw them growing far and wide in fields Above in all kinds of brilliant colors. She liked the blue ones best. She cradled it between her fingers just then as Illarion approached. As always, his footsteps were quiet, but she sensed the presence of her twin brother with senses that stretched beyond hearing.
"He's awake, great Eye."
he spoke, taking away the bowl and offering her another filled with water. She drank greedily.
"Has he said anything?"
She asked between sips, wiping the moisture across her sleeve.
"He wants to be taken to Rasputin's things."
Valeriya hissed, "he IS Rasputin! His things, Not Rasputin's things!"
Her glare was daggers. Illarion's shoulders hunched. "Certainly sister! He was taken to his belongings. That's all."
Seeing her twin wounded by her words, Valeriya went to him and pulled him close for a hug. She nestled her face into his shoulder and twined her arms around his chest. It was almost like she could feel what it was to share their mother's womb again. The closeness was rare. All the more so for being an abomination. Twins were a sin to the Khylsty, but they were allowed to live given that it was unknown which of them would bear the Eye.
When she felt him relax, she tilted his chin aside and pressed her lips to his briefly, smiling. "It's alright. I forgive you. Go watch over him. I do not trust Matvei and the others alone with him."
Illarion nodded, released from her grasp. For a moment she missed his presence, but reminded herself that someone much better awaited.
She took her time in finishing the meal, however long that was.
The Eye of the Khylsty