Full Moon Rising Chapter 6

  Salina sat at the makeshift dressing table. The fluffy white towel she had previously wrapped around her slender body was now laying tosseled around her waist on the chair. Lowering her gaze, she could hardly stand to look at the ugly black bruises forming under her milky white skin. She winced slightly. The disease was stronger, but so was she. The noxious concoction Karayan had been giving her every few hours made things alot better.

  "Oh well," thought Salina, "After tonight it wont matter very much will it?"

  She drug the brush through her red hair. It looked far more vibrant compared to her pale skin. Her green eyes were encased in black shadows, the by-product of not being able to sleep through emense pain. She picked up the makeup laying on the table in front of her, and immediately set it down again. It seemed a bit silly to put on mascara when you were walking to your own funeral.

  Salina wasn't content with her decision. She couldn't help but feel there was something no one was telling her. For all she knew they would drain her of all her blood and leave her to die. This could all be some story told to calm her down, make her more cooperative. She really hoped it wasn't. Dying? She could deal with that. Having Karayan betray her? That she would never survive.

  After a brief knock on the door, Karayan entered into the room, a pale blue dress drapped over one arm. Seeing Salina sitting there looking so beautifully sad broke his heart into pieces. What was left of it anyway. Setting the dress on her bed, he moved swiftly behind her. Wrapping his arms around her frail waist he tried to swallow the tears as he felt her wince from his light touch.

  "Let me help you into the dress."

  Salina shrugged out of his grasp and stood up, shakily, "No thank you. I think I can handle it."

  "As you wish, my queen." He spoke with a sarcastic tone in his voice and a mischevious glint in his eye. The look she shot back at him was solid steel. He straightened up from his mock bow and softly held her face in his hands.

  "Salina. Whats wrong?" His eyes were searching hers for an answer. A tear formed at the corner of her eye and slid down her face.

  "I'm fine. Please leave. I'll be down in a few moments."

  "Absolutely not. You're far too weak to make it all the way into the courtyard on your own. I will escort you down, although if you'd like privacy while you dress I can wait outside your door."

  "No. If you're going to stay around you might as well make yourself useful and help me into this thing," she said gesturing at the dress.

  Karayan chuckled, "With pleasure."

  He stood her up and slowly pulled the gathered material down over her head. With one hand on her waist, he moved behind her and began fastening the many strings that held the fabric together. When he was done, Karayan tosseled the soft curls in her hair around her face, framing it like a halo. Just as he was about to kiss her she spun out of his grasp and weakly made her way towards the door.

  "Lets go."

  He simply nodded and followed close behind in case she needed support. Much to his suprise, Salina made it all the way down the spiral staircase without assistence. She reached for the handle on the door that would lead them to the courtyard.

  "Wait."

  "What?"

  "You should know..."

  "Know what?"

   "How it works. To just throw you into it would be unkind. The ceremony is... frightening enough without the element of suprise."

  Salina cocked an eyebrow and leaned against the wall, signaling for him to continue.

   "As soon as you reach the other side of the doors I have to walk first, briskly to the end of the path. You'll be stopped after a few feet. The guards, Dimitri among them, will demand to know your decision. Once you tell them a rope will be fastened around your neck and they'll lead you to the alter. You'll be forced to kneel. I'll bless a dagger with the last of the blood from your Great Great Grandmother. Then, I'll slit your throat."

  Salina's eyes went wide. He could see the terror in them. He wanted to tell her the rest, but he couldn't. He knew it would make her feel better, but he wasn't so sure she would be ok with it. Salina was a good person, she would die to save him, but would she live forever for him? He couldn't risk that. His people were depending on her. Hopefully she would forgive his lying by omission. Karayan brushed past her and threw the door open. Cheers went up as he all but ran into the abyss of people.

  She could see Dimitri and another guard standing 10 feet from her, waiting. She could bolt, save herself, never see any of them again. If only she could do that. Her love of Karayan would be the cause of her death. Taking a breath, Salina slowly walked to where they stood. Deciding to go out with a bang she spoke before they could.

  "I am here to die. Die saving all of you. Even those of you who don't deserve it in the least." She looked Dimitri in the eye as she spoke and they both knew her last statement was directed towards him. He looked...abashed? He nodded at her and looked at the ground as the rope was slid over her neck. Salina held her head high and walked along side the guards. When they reached the alter, she lifted the rope from her neck, held her hair along the right side of her face and knelt down, leaning so Karayan had a clean swipe at her neck.

   Bracing herself she felt the cold steel slide against her throat. The pain was unbearable, and the world went black to Salina as cheers rose from the crowd of Vampires.