Conclusion: Revelation

(art by Sui Yumeshima)

A month has passed and I am still waiting for her to come to me. I dare not leave my chambers in case  I miss her. I do not care for food or drink...or sleep. I have become a ghost of my former self, I feel I have lost everything and yet I feel nothing.

It is late in the afternoon and I am lost in thoughts and memories in front of the fire and I know that I am not alone anymore, there is someone behind me, staring at me so I turn around.

"Cl...." the word dies in my mouth as soon as my eyes fall on his face.

"Richard" I exhaled, "Is it really you? You are alive like she said..."

I ran to him with arms open wide and I locked my lips on his cheeks..

"My dear...dear love." I said " You are so cold...please come closer to the fire; we have so much to say.."

I felt his fingers running through my hair sending cold shivers down my spine, he said nothing until we both heard the door opening and Clainia stepped inside the room.

She looked different, cold and pale almost dead. She looked at me and Richard who opened his embrace to let her in too.

"What is this? What's going on?" I took a step and looked at them both.
"Show her!" he commanded never leaving me out of his sight. "SHOW HER!" he shouted.

Clania took a small knife out of her small pocket of her dress and made a deep cut across her wrist.
Blood trickled onto the floor and I saw her slither towards me.
"Drink" she said "Drink fast, and discover the truth"
She took my head in her hands and I saw the blood running over her elbow, its smell filled me with pain and fear, I tried to pull away but she held me fast.
"You have done this before" she said with clenched teeth, "Drink and let the blood speak"

"FINISH THIS NOW!" he ordered impatiently.

Hatred, anger and despair took over me. I wanted this to end, I wanted to understand and so I sealed the open wrist with my tongue.

Her blood filled my head, it drowned me.

 I heard her voice coming from her blood and her words painted pictures in front of my eyes, she showed me the truth.    
  (click and scroll down for the English version)

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                  (painting by Caravaggio)

"And so it is done...at last....just like I wanted.."

Richard was lying on my large bed, hands behind his head, enjoying his view.

"Come my brides...join me"

Our heads turned towards him and holding hands we climbed the bed, Clainia on his left and I on his right.

"I was right, wasn't I?" he said looking at Clainia but this time he was the one doing all the talking.

Clainia placed her head on top of his and sealed his mouth with hers in a passionate kiss while I reached for one of the two old swords  decorating the wall above the bed.

Richard moaned with pleasure and pulled Clainia's dress down her shoulders.

"I am ready" I announced softly and Clainia pulled back.

Together we forced the blade on his neck. Four hands and a mighty will separated Richard from his head which was cast straight into the fire.
Clainia stabbed him at the heart and tore it out making sure that he will remain dead for all eternity.

And thus release came for the both of us at last.

Part IV: Initiation

                                         (painting by Auguste Renoir)


Standing side by side we watched our metamorphosis to our former selves. My red hair gradually turned to gold and my breasts threatened to tear the cheap shirt I was wearing. Clainia still looked gorgeous in the green dress she had on....she should keep it, as a remembrance of a magic month of princesshood...

"Ok, now we have to decide..." I said dropping the rags I was wearing onto the floor.
"There is nothing to decide; it is you he wants..." she said matter-of-factly.
"He doesn't like the way you dress and I think he is a little bit afraid of you" I added softly.

"Everyone seems to be afraid of me.." she said looking at me straight in the face.
"I am not afraid of you, I love you, I know what you are and what you can do..."
"Then come with me tonight..." she said. I could hear the challenge behind those five words.

"Where?"

"In the forest of course, where witches are made..." she sang.
"I thought witches are born not made."
"Some are born...but there is a kind that you can make.."
"Which one?"
"The kind that is willing to make a great sacrifice..." she said and her green eyes shimmered.
"And if that kind makes the sacrifice, then what, do they become a witch like you?"
"No, not like me, no herbs and potions for...that kind...something greater...darker." Her smile was lost, she was not looking at me anymore and then before I knew it she was back.
"Will you come then, you can always change your mind and just watch...it will be interesting.."

I started to brush my long hair which had lost its lustre due to brutal neglect on her part.
"Is that a leaf? Clainia, you should really take better care of yourself, you know!"

"Will you come?" she whispered.

"Yes." I said and went on counting the brush strokes "10, 11....."

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(art by Andreea Cernestean)

                             

                                             

"Hear the silence of my beating heart,

Hear me Goddess of the Moon,

I am here to give and not to ask,

Help me perform this sacred task.."

The trees shook and the dark clouds hid the full moon. Darkness covered us like a heavy cloak but Clainia went on and the women who had gathered around us continued to chant:

"Hear us..hear us..."

Clainia went on in a voice I could not recognise"

"Thy power brings me no fear
your voice whispers beside me
only ecstasy, simple-pure and clear
an unending, orgasmic high comes free
immortality my sacrifice YOUR TRUST
this song of darkness in full moonlight
your shadows hiding my lust."

The candles around her were suddenly lit, one after the other they closed the circle around her.
"Hurry!" she shouted inviting me in. As soon as I entered the circle the fire sealed it.

On the ground there was a chalice filled with red wine, a wide Celtic drum and a large wooden bowl filled with some emerald liquid that looked like paint.  She offered me the chalice and I drank; it was strong wine.
Clainia's eyes fell on the necklace around my neck.

"Where did you get that?" she asked looking confused.
"Richard gave it to me..its Lapis Lazuli in gold...I wanted to wear something nice for the occasion..."

"Drink" she said and taking my hand she placed my fingertips inside the green paint. Then she buried her nails in the ground and lifted the moist soil only to throw it on the ground again.

"Drink" she whispered and drew two large feathers from her cleavage and shook them on top of my head.
 The chalice was drained, the red wine was gone and I was euphoric.
"I am ready" I proclaimed standing up.
Clainia, still seated, picked up the drum and started to play. Louder and faster the tune went and I started to dance. I turned around and around to the sound of the drum until all of a sudden the music stopped and the candles went out.
I saw all the women around us approaching me and Clainia  withdrawing in the shadows.
My lapis lazuli necklace fell on the ground and before I could protest my dress fell on top of it.

The women left without a sound and as I stood there naked I felt the silver moonlight on my skin, there were dark clouds no more. Its light was stronger than the sun's and what it revealed to me left me breathless and cold.
Richard, my darling Richard, was tied to the tree right opposite me, unconscious he seemed, with his head hanging loosely from his neck.

"What is this?" I shouted
"This is the sacrifice you should make.." Clainia said standing right next to him.
"What do you mean?" I shouted
"His blood must be drunk... by you tonight." she said and revealed the madness inside of her.
"I SHALL NOT DO SUCH THING!" I shouted and picked up my dress.
"If you want the power, then you must."
"I want you to untie him and take him home where he belongs...with me!"

"I cannot do that Eleanor..." she said and smiled.

I remember her coming towards me, I could see her holding the bowl with the emerald paint, my fingers were soaked with it, they were itching me.
"Eleanor..." she beckoned

As much as I try to bring back the rest of the night, the images leave my mind like water in cupped hands.
Morning found me under that tree and Richard was nothing but a corpse hanging by the ropes..she had killed him, she had done it, there could be no other way, there's nothing more to remember...nothing....or is there?



( Two women, two parallel stories, read Clainia's side of the story at matiasmeni.blogspot.com in her own tongue (or in google translation) or just click on the title of this post to go directly there. Lady Eleanor's side of the story will continue here.)