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[Thrax]

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The evening had grown late as Lilyth and her nephew Skurj departed Serpents Hold shortly after the Regency Meeting. The two retired to the Great Hall at Sea Reach where Skurj informed the Nun Queen of her brothers fate with his god. She sat calmly, surrounding herself in stoic virtue. It was all she had now. Her mind wandered as Skurj departed the Hall and disappeared into the night.

Lilyth wrapped herself in a brown woolen coat and slipped out the through the Kitchens, she needed to pray. Blinded by tears and memories she wished not to consider she quickly made her way across the countryside of Yew to the home of the Sisterhood and Reverend Mother Evangeline. Entering the small chapel Lilyth grabbed a stout whip from a table and walked towards the Ankh her head low in thoughts of all she had lost. Falling to her knees she reached to the collar of her habit and ripped the back open exposing her flesh to the chill air of the chapel. Candles flickered in the draft as her voice rose "great are the Virtues" a resounding slap of leather straps against bare skin resounded in the silence that followed her words. Her thoughts drifted to her husband, the guilt she could not be free of, again she recited "great are the Virtues" landing the whip upon her back a second time to dull her mind and regain her focus. Her thoughts remained, I could not save him. "Great are the Virtues" the sound of the whip resonating in the chapel. As her fervor increased Lilyth prayed for all those she had lost, had not been able to save, the intensity of her self mortification reaching a dangerous pitch.

The light dimmed in her eyes, blood oozing from the self inflicted wounds of Virtue as she collapsed on the stone floor before the Ankh.

He stood there, hands folded in front of him at his waist, wearing what she might have seen him wear before: a long sleeved fancy black shirt, a bright red silk vest, black cotton breeches, polished thigh boots and a long black cloak. Around his neck dangled a thin gold necklace, its solitaire emerald lying against the hollow of his throat. His appearance surprised her but she could not speak nor move.

"Greetings sister. I have but a short time to talk with you, and therefore no time to tell you all you would like to know."

He paused a moment. "No doubt my son, your nephew, has told you what has happened to me. If he has not, he shall soon. He will tell you what I am. It will be hard to accept, but you must. It is the truth, a terrible truth that I have kept hidden since my youth."

He waited for that to sink in before continuing. "I come to ask you one question, one that will determine my fate and possibly yours. Do you love me enough... knowing what I am and all I have done to so many good people, and may yet do if freed... to take my place here in a place of fire, smoke, and torment, possibly forever? Would you be willing to be sacrificed upon an altar, unholy to you and all that you stand for, to die for me, that I may live again?"

Again a pause. "If you refuse, as I expect you will, I blame you not at all. It would be too much to ask except I have reason for asking so great a thing that does not only include myself. I can say nothing else. But if you do agree you must tell Skurj. He will know what to do. I cannot hear you from where I am, so your answer to me will go unheard. Tell my son your answer, if you will."

Thrax lowered his head. "I do not deserve any mercy or your kindness. Do not pity me and do not act upon pity for me! If you do this, it must be done for love... and nothing else. Make sure of that, or do nothing."

Seconds passed in silence. "Farewell my sister. You are my better, for you, at least, have not betrayed your principles like I have my god."

And then, just as he appeared, he was gone.

Lilyth woke to a violent shaking hearing the word Sacrifice being screamed over and over as she came to consciousness. The screams were from her own lips as she trembled weakly. The Reverend Mother shouted orders for cloth and warm water the stunned Sisters obediently followed the woman’s commands. "Take the Queen to my chambers", she demanded of two of the young maidens. Once alone Lilyth laid on her stomach her wounds being dressed carefully by Evangeline. "Why have you done this Sister Lilyth?" Lilyth laid her head to down upon her folded hands, "It is Sacrifice that is required" Lilyth spoke in an almost dazed fashion, "The Circle will be complete I began my days here as a Herald of Sacrifice to find my peace I must be Sacrifice." Lilyth closed her eyes not listening to the Reverend Mother, her mind was made up she would not lose another.

[OOC: This is a collaborative effort. Lilyth Noir is co-author with me]