The air inside the temple felt so hot due to the multiple candles burning from every corner. The air smelt of molten wax and myrrh, it's scent clinging to Aveline's skin as she knelt in front of the altar. She could feel her knees already aching against the marble floor which had been polished so well that it almost looked like a mirror. She desperately wanted to leave and head back to her room, but she couldn't. Not when the towering eyes of the goddess's statue stared down at her almost as if it stared into her soul. Everyone called her the light of Syris. Even though the title sounded so appealing,it felt like a chain was around her neck,a chain which is forged with expectations that bound her to this sacred prison.
Aveline was finally nineteen,even though the years seemed to pass by in a blur. She moved her delicate and unblemished hands with grace as she lut the rows of candles before her. It was her turn to light the temple today which meant she was the only one in the temple at the moment. She enjoyed the silence in the temple except for the soft hiss of wax as it dropped onto the stone and the distant voices of the priests as they hummed the evening hymns, their voices echoing through the spires of Lyrither. Aveline had no idea what was beyond the stained glass windows as her life now was now within the walls,walls that were meant to keep her as pure as the goddess herself.
Aveline parted her lips slightly as she whispered the hymn. "O Syris,mother of the eternal, guide your servants heart..." She continued to recite the hymn which had been engraved in her head since she was ten.
She continued to light the candles as she hummed, her fingers grazing the hot wax when she was suddenly pulled from her thoughts by a shattering sound. It sounded like a low groan followed by the sound of boots hitting on marble floor. The temple was highly secured and it's gate was locked at dusk which meant no one could enter because it was impossible to seek the high priestess blessing at this hour. She turned to stare at the door at the far end of the sanctum,the heavy oak doors slightly open even though she had remembered closing it when she entered. She caught a glimpse of a shadow moving towards her, swaying like a drunkard hurrying to an event.
"Who's there? You're not allowed to be here at this hour" She said,her voice coming out sharper than she had intended. She rose to her feet,the hem of her white dress brushing against the floor as her heart raced in her chest. The figure didn't respond but it continued to move towards her.
She could tell that it was a man. He seemed very tall and she could notice him gripping his sides tightly. She noticed something sliding down the floor from where the man stood.
Was that blood?
The sight of it made her nauseous. The only blood she had seen since she was taken in the temple was during period as she was supposed to stay pure thereby avoiding any contaminate like blood.
"Don't come close to me" Aveline said in a shaky voice,her hand reaching for the pendant around her neck. It was the sigil of Syris which was meant to chase away any intrusion. But the man continued to advance towards her. He kept coming closer,his boots clicking against the marble and when he was impossibly close to her,he called out her name.
"Aveline."
Even though his voice sounded rasp and rough as gravel she still recognized it. There was no way she couldn't. Even though she hadn't seen him in nine years. Her breath caught in her throat as she tightened her grip around her pendant. He stumbled closer falling right at her knees and his hood slipped back to reveal the face that was now engraved in her memory.
Kael.
He looked so different which was expected since nine years had gone by. His hair was now longer,a tangle of dark brown with streaks of dirt and sweat falling into his gray and piercing gray eyes. He now had a scar running down his left cheek and his jaw had a rough stubble adding to his appeal. The man before her was so different from the wiry ten years old boy who raced her through the field. He was no longer the boy who smiled at her with broken teeth and promised to give her anything she wanted.
"Kael? What are you doing here? You wrote to me that you have a job in the next city and you won't be returning soon " She said her voice filled with disbelief. She still couldn't believe that he was right in front of her. Younger her would have hugged him in excitement but older her was supposed to remain pure. The temple is sacred and hugging a man...it was something that the goddess would frown upon.
She haven't seen him since she was ten even though they communicated secretly through letters. He made sure to tell her tales about his travels in his letters. And his life was completely different from hers.
"Wow, what a warm welcome , Aveline" he rasped out sarcastically,his voice thick with pain. "I just need you to hide me from them. They're coming " He moved his hand from his side to reveal a deep gash under his torn tunic,deep and jagged, oozing red. Aveline gasped Audibly at the sight. She haven't seen so much blood before.
"I don't understand. Who's coming for you?" She asked bending in front of him. He smelt of sweat and iron with a hint of leather and something smoky which was different from the soothing incense around her. She raised her hands over him unsure of where to place them. "What did you do this time? You're always getting in trouble "
Even though he was in a great deal of pain,he still managed a crooked grin which made her heart skip a beat. "Are you perhaps worried about me, princess?" The old nickname pulling her back to the time when she only had him and him her. Now she was Syris's light. "Hide me Aveline"