Page 13 of Twisted Sins

She wanted to push away the women who held her as they dragged her by her arm down the narrow walkways between the tents towards the hill.

They kept saying some words as they looked at her in awe.

“Thakvar pada janavari.”

She wanted to scream, fight, and even run away, but she could not act on any of her thoughts like she was drugged.

She felt paralyzed physically and emotionally. She felt nothing. Not anger, sadness, or worse, the urge to fight for her life. Why?

After the demon announced something, a group of women invaded the tent. She was made to drink something.

She nearly spit out the strong, fermented, fruity liquid, but some of it went down her throat. Moments later, she had stopped moving and began to feel the dazedness.

They took her through an opening of the hill and stopped. The sun was nearly setting, and the shadowy orange rays glittered over a small pond between the rocks of the hill. They dragged her inside it. She wanted to fight, thinking they intended to drown her, but the pond was shallow, and water barely came to her knee height. Before she could process further, she felt many hands over her body that began pulling on her clothes. She looked down at herself as her now pink cropped top and cream linen pants were pulled away. Water splashed over her body, and she was scrubbed thoroughly using fragrant powders. Her hair was washed, and water was poured over her repeatedly.

It felt refreshingly cool, but she couldn’t draw any enjoyment as her brain felt foggy.

She was still in a daze while they dried her and wrapped her in long black fabric.

Once again, she was dragged back into the tent. This time, the tent was filled with more items. The thin, black cloth around her went missing, and scented oil was applied to her body while another put fragrant smoke on her hair. She was dressed similarly to the Kabali clan women in a short black blouse and a long skirt with a red border. The blouse was tied with two thin strings at the back, and the long skirt fell to her ankles. Heavy tarnished silver-colored jewelry was put around her neck, upper arms, wrists, and feet, and her hair was brushed several times until it shone and fell over her almost bare back. A thin black veil was placed on her hair. Small patterned dots decorated her face around her eyes and chin. Red-colored patterns were painted on her feet and the back of her hands.

By the end of it, she was exhausted.

Just as someone thankfully gave her water and more of the sweet, aromatic liquid, the sounds of drums filled the air outside.

The clothes and jewelry felt heavy as the woman held her by her arms and led her out of the tent.

They led her away from the tents to where she had been earlier that morning. She blinked as the entire encampment was completely transformed.

The place was lit up with several fire torches, and a lot of people gathered outside. She didn’t think those people would fit in the tents of the encampment. She wondered if she was imagining the crowd. And she wasn’t sure why they were all gathered while a strange anticipation filled the air.

The drums followed by the sounds of conch shells indicated it would be a celebration. But the hostile, unwelcoming looks of the people indicated she wasn’t the reason why they were happy.

People stared at her as they stood along the sides while she was led to someplace towards the hill. She passed by the tall pole she had seen that morning. The dead body of the security head wasn’t hanging anymore through the ropes.

Her legs faltered as a thought occurred to her.

Were they going to do the same to her for stabbing their savage leader?

Many of the people around her did look hostile enough to draw her blood as retaliation for her action. The thought shook her but she could not get herself to stop or do anything. A part of her mind knew it was futile to even attempt something when surrounded by so many aggravated people.

Maybe I should just apologize.

It wasn’t in her nature to apologize when she wasn’t at fault. But she had to do it if it meant saving herself from being killed.

But how can I apologize?

She didn’t know or understand their language, and they didn’t understand what she said either. Should she cry and beg loudly?

She tried opening her mouth, but her lips wouldn’t move.

Her thoughts were interrupted when the sounds of drum beats and conch shells grew louder. They were nearing the hill when the crowd in front of her parted, and she could see in front of her. Her heart nearly stopped.

My God. He is truly a demon.

Standing in front of a large stone Goddess statue was the savage leader.

He was facing his back towards her, but she knew it was him as he held the long spear with the three-pronged weapon. Something else was tied to the spear along with the weapon.

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