"Aurora are you mad?!"
Aurora flinched at the constant use of madness when it came to her and she wondered if she should change her name to that.
"Ella you're overreacting." Aurora muttered as she avoided looking at the angry face of her closet friend.
"Why would you leave your window open at night? Don't you know it's not safe?"
"Don't you think you're overreacting?" She threw back her question at her, crossing her hand defensively.
Ella huffed and had the urge to hit her friend but if that were going to do anything, she would have done that ages ago.
"Why are you even outside of your house without your Ma. I hear it's not safe again even in the day."
Aurora groaned in stress and pinched her temple. She had snuck out of her house hours after her mother had gone for the council meeting. It was a rare opportunity for her to leave and she was going to make use of it.
"Relax Ella. With the way you nag, you'll have more gray hairs than my mother in few years. My house isn't far from you and I won't stay long. You don't have to worry."
Ella pressed her lips together and fought the urge to say more. She was worried about Aurora. Asides the fact about the curse, she knew that Aurora was different from the moment she met her. Her hair and eyes seemed like an endless abyss and her beauty, was out of this world. It was no surprise that he mother locked her up more than the average child. It was even by luck that she had managed to meet her.
Aurora stretched out her hand and beamed at her friend. "I got a gift for you."
"What is that?"
Aurora opened her hand and two pairs of sliver bracelet were on her palm."Friendship bracelets. I've been meaning to give you but mother has refused to let me out for the past 2 months."
Ella took the bracelet and her smile matched that of Aurora. "How'd you get this?"
"I made them. You like it?"
Ella nodded. "I love it."
Aurora opened the bag that she was carrying and brought out a cupcake. "Happy birthday Ella."
As Aurora sang, tears polled down Ella's face and she tried to mask it.
"Thank you so much Aurora, thank you for this."
"Ella, this isn't much. Next time I'll get you a giant cake. Don't worry, I'm sure that one day the demon will be defeated and we'll all be free."
"Aurora I have to tell you something." Ella started and her brown eyes seemed to lose its spark.
"What's wrong?"
"I'm 19."
"I'm aware. Isn't that a good thing?" Aurora questioned, puzzled by her friend's change in mood.
"Aurora the thing is—"
Just then, the door opened and a tall man walked inside. "Ella who are you with? Aurora?"
"Gooday sir." Aurora mumbled a greeting to Ella's father but for some reason, he seemed irritated.
"Does your mother know that you are here?"
"No but—"
"Then you should leave." He turn dto his daughter and signalled for her to get up. "Escort the guest out."
Aurora stood up from her chair and smiled apologetically at her friend. "You don't have to escort me, I can find my way."
"But—"
Aurora waved her hand and walked towards the door. "You'll only slow me down. Have a wonderful birthday!"
Aurora paused to stare at her friend once more before she dashed out of the room.
She stopped running when she was close to town, making sure to burn each thing she saw inti her mind. She didn't know the next time she would be allowed out of her house so she might as well make as much memory as possible.
"Aurora, is that you?"
Aurora turned and saw a girl that was about the same age as her.
"Hello Lia." She said dryly.
"How long has it been? Does your mother know that you are outside?"
Aurora flashed a smile that failed to reach her eyes and she paid for the basket of fruit that she had picked up. "Does that concern you?"
Lia took in her appearance and snarled in disgust. "If I were you, I'd never show myself in town again. I'd hide in shame forever."
"Why would I? In fact I don't care about gossip from you. You're free to speculate on anything you want."
Lia laughed and folded her hands. "It seems you haven't heard, that's why you're still confident."
"What haven't I heard?" Aurora asked, her curiosity piqued.
"Your mother went for the council meeting didn't she? Why don't you ask her what she has done. I wonder if you'll be able to still lift your head in confidence after you find out that you now have blood on your hand." Lia swayed her hips as she walked away but looked back briefly. "I'd hurry home if I were you."
A chill ran down Aurora's spine and she left the basket of fruit that she had paid for and began to run home.
What had happened that was so terrible? What was going on?
Was that why Ella's father also sent her home? What had the council done and what terrible decision had her mother made?
Once she got home, she flung the door open and dashed inside.
"Mum! Mother! Where are you?!" She opens every single door and found echa raggedy room empty.
Finally, Aurora stopped at her own room door and flung the door open. Her mother looked up from where she sat and frowned at the disheveled look of her daughter.
"Where were you Aurora?!" Her mother demanded.
"I'm asking the questions here mother. What in heavens name did you?!"
"Aurora —"
"Mother, tell me! Why is there blood on my hands?"
Her mother sighed and bowed her head. "So you have heard already. I had hoped you'd never know of it."
"Know of what? What is going on?"
"Aurora, have a seat." Her mother gestured for her to take a sit.
Aurora hesitated but proceeded to sit down. "Now tell me."
"We held the council meeting today and a medium was called to find out who will be offered as a sacrifice. For the first time in years, there was a definite reply."
Aurora clenched her fists, dreading the truth.
"Aurora." Her mother continued. "It was you. You are the sacrifice. The demons wanted you."
Aurora took in a sharp breathe and she struggled to breathe, everywhere suddenly felt choked up.
"Mother, why are you talking in past tense?"
Her mother looked away at the question and Aurora shook in fear.
"Mother, what did you do?"
"I had to Aurora, I'm sorry."
"Mother, talk."
"The sacrifice must be 19 years of age and since you're not that, I suggested someone else." Tears fell from her eyes and she slammed her fist on the table. "How could I have them have my only child?!"
Aurora stood up from the chair and stared at her in horror. "Who did you suggest?" Her voice came out raspy as she struggled to speak.
"Lia."
"No."
"Aurora I had to."
"No." With each word, Aurora took a step away from her mother.
"Any mother would have done that!!"
"No! You monster, you fucking monster!" Aurora screamed through her tears.
Her best friend was going to die for her sake, her best friend was going to be sacrificed instead of her.
Aurora turned and ran out of the room.
"Aurora come back!! It is almost night!" Her mother yelled.
Aurora ignored her shouts and ran outside of the house.
She ran as fast as her legs could carry her, without stopping even when she ran into a thorn bush and the pricks tore her skin, she bore the pain. She deserved the pain, she deserved to suffer.
Because of her, someone was going to lose their life.
She kept running even when the sun set and the darkness came upon the land. Nothing was going to stop her, not even if hell came loose.
A strong gust of wind blew and a force pushed her backwards causing her to be thrown into the air. She coughed up blood once she landed on the floor but she struggled to stand up, fighting against an invincible force.
"Let me go!" She screamed to the darkness.
A creature with glowing red eyes stood in front of her, holding a sword. It bared its black fangs and advanced towards her, trying to stab her.
Aurora turned in time and struggled to take the sword from the creature.
"I will not die, not today. Hell be damned if I let one of its slaves take my life!" She took the sword and stabbed the shadow. She didn't care if she lost every shred of her humanity.
More creatures appeared once she defeated one of them and she held unto the sword, ready to kill everything in her path.
Her knees buckled from the pain and the loss of blood and her vision became blurry.
"Not now, please Lord, send someone to save me." She whispered with her last breath.
Just then, a figure appeared holding a sword of flames.
A shrill scream was heard and the last thing she saw as she lost consciousness was a pair of golden Iris.
***