Broken Sacrifice
Broken Sacrifice?
Left as a sacrifice
Bound in chains her only shield from the elements
A cloak lined in ermine and rabbit fur
Keeping her warm as the rains fall
All watched the ceremony
All watched and listened for the fears to rise
Grappling for the tears of anguish
Yet oddly unlike the rest
This one didn’t seem to fear or resist
As if she was eager to take her place
As the line of sacrifices had been long
None of them looked into her eyes
No one saw that she didn’t blend in with the rest of the villagers
Otherwise what they would have seen
Would have put fear into their blood
Their hands wouldn’t have been so cruel
The cat of nine would never have been touched
For how does one damage a creature born of fire?
They expected blood, tears and begging
Not silence with every resounding of the whip
Not dry eyes as it supposedly hit its mark
Not that her reflexes were exaggerated for their comfort
The fabric of her gown may have ripped and the reddened skin rose
As the glamour was supposed to
A fake ridge of red to rise as if to let the others have their pound of flesh
Yet she smiled as the whip licked her scales hidden beneath the veneer of human-like flesh
Always kept so smooth and supple
Now she uses every thought they let race through their minds
To appear as what they want
Their greatest desire
As the chains are pulled and she is stretched on the board once more
They see a tear glisten for a moment but as they turn away
They fail to see the smile that creeps across for a moment
As her skills have returned
They can break the body but never her spirit
For how does one break a spirit stronger than even the coldest flames of Helhiem?
Copyright © Aundrea Methvin | Year Posted 2025
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