Dakini

“Albert, dear, have you thought about what I mentioned a couple of days ago?” Beatrice whispered to her husband, her voice barely masking the tension beneath. “I heard they are offering much more money now to families willing to give up a daughter for the upcoming sacrifice.”

Albert’s gaze was fixed on the flickering embers in the fireplace, his thoughts miles away. Beatrice’s words hung in the air, unanswered.

“Why wouldn’t we do it at this point?” Beatrice pressed on, her voice sharper now. “We’re just wasting our money on her. She’ll never find a suitable husband who could properly take care of her, and she’ll sit here and be a burden to us for the rest of our lives.”

She paused, her eyes narrowing as she considered her next words. “Don’t you think we’ve been through enough? At least we’re getting paid a large sum. I’m so happy my Elizabeth found herself a wealthy man who shows interest in her. And with this amount of money and a better place in society, I’m sure he’ll marry her,” Beatrice added, her gaze drifting dreamily out of the window, envisioning the future she so desperately craved.

Albert finally stirred, the weight of his wife’s proposal dragging him back to reality. “Honey, this may be impossible to pull off. The person that sacrifices herself must follow a couple of steps. How will we ever convince Adaline to do those without her being suspicious?”

“I can pull this off. All I’m waiting for is you giving me permission to go on with this plan.”

Albert hesitated, the flicker of doubt briefly crossing his face. But the allure of wealth and status was too strong to resist. “Make it work, dear wife,” he said, the words sounding final.

The Barlowe family was neither poor nor rich, perpetually teetering on the edge of prosperity. The allure of societal advancement, coupled with the promise of a substantial sum, drove them to consider the unthinkable. They were prepared to do whatever it took to secure a better place in society, even if it meant sacrificing their daughter, Adaline.

On the other side of the house, Adaline lay peacefully in her bed, absorbed in the pages of a novel. She often found solace in books, an escape from the loneliness that shadowed her life. Unlike her sister, she didn’t make friends easily. She wasn’t as outspoken, wasn’t as pretty by society’s harsh standards, and found herself drifting further from the expectations placed upon her.

Her hair was a wild cascade of blonde, too unruly for the refined tastes of the men she met. Her eyes, a deep and enchanting blue, were often hidden behind downcast lashes, preventing others from seeing their beauty. Her lips, though seductive, rarely spoke words that captivated or charmed.

Her parents always made it seem like she wasn’t trying hard enough, like she gave up too easily. But in truth, Adaline couldn’t find herself attracted to any of the men who showed interest in her. They saw her as a future wife to manage their household and bear their children, a fate that filled her with such dread she’d rather die alone.

“Adaline, Mother is taking us to visit some friends. You need to get ready and wear something nice,” Elizabeth said, her tone brisk. Adaline found the request odd; she was rarely invited to such outings, often deemed too dull for company.

Without questioning, she rose from her bed and began to prepare. Her lady’s maid, Sara, started working on her hair, taming the wild locks that Adaline could never quite manage alone.

“I should try my best to make some friends today, right, Sara?” Adaline asked, her voice tinged with a hope she rarely expressed.

“Yes, madam. We all need friends; they help us feel less lonely,” Sara replied kindly, though there was a hint of pity in her eyes.

“And madam, please do not leave in the middle of the gathering to go outside and spend the entire evening in the garden. I know how much you enjoy the garden, but that’s not a way to make friends,” Sara added, her tone gentle but firm.

“I will do my best, Sara,” Adaline promised, though she wasn’t entirely sure she could keep it.

“Adaline, the carriage is ready. Could you please hurry?” a voice called from downstairs.

“It’s OK, Sara. This will do,” Adaline said, glancing at her reflection one last time before heading downstairs.

The whole family was waiting, and the air was thick with an unspoken tension. The ride was awkwardly silent, each of them lost in their own thoughts. Adaline, sensing the unease but unsure of its cause, opened a small book she had brought along and began reading. The journey was longer than expected, taking them far from the familiar confines of home. When they finally arrived, Adaline was struck by the beauty of the estate with its luscious gardens and grand architecture.

They were warmly welcomed by the family, and the conversation flowed more easily than Adaline had anticipated. Everyone was unusually kind to her, showering her with compliments that left her feeling both flattered and uneasy.

After some time, the girls invited Elizabeth and Adaline to go outside and explore the grounds. “Hey, guys, we are training for an upcoming play. Would you like to join?” one of the girls asked with a smile.

Elizabeth was quick to respond, “Yes, of course. That sounds wonderful, right, Adaline?”

Adaline nodded, not wanting to appear ungrateful or dull, though she felt a growing unease in the pit of her stomach. They made their way to a room that struck Adaline as oddly empty, save for a fireplace and a small seating area.

The paper handed to her was filled with strange, unfamiliar words. As the other girls whispered among themselves, Adaline’s discomfort deepened. The girl leading the rehearsal, Amy, explained that Adaline was to stand in the middle of the room, facing the fireplace, with her arms at her sides. When given the signal, she was to recite her lines loudly, and then the others would return to the room.

Adaline’s heart began to race, but she pushed the fear aside, telling herself it was just a play. She took her place in the center of the room, standing as instructed, waiting for the signal. The whispers outside grew more urgent, but she couldn’t make out the words. Then, the signal came.

“Adaline!” Amy’s voice rang out, startling her.

Taking a deep breath, Adaline steadied herself and spoke the words: “Tey mį massa, Tey mį! Mį ta dai mį sey.”

Suddenly, the room fell into an unnatural silence. Darkness swallowed her whole. She felt as though she had been pulled from the world, everything around her vanishing into nothingness.

In a distant, otherworldly realm, the Dakini stood at his castle’s window, his gaze fixed on the midnight sky. The day of sacrifice had finally arrived—the day his powers would multiply, the day he felt his strongest. Every century, he felt the same strange mix of anticipation and detachment, as if the rituals and the maidens who gave their lives were merely a means to an end.

The clock struck midnight, and he could feel the distant echoes of the maidens’ pleas: “I stand here because my people did you wrong. I stand here, and I am giving up on everything, for the sake of my family and this kingdom I call home. Please accept this apology and protect us, Massa.”

The Dakini closed his eyes, letting the power wash over him as the words of the sacrifices resonated in his soul. But then, something different, something unexpected, happened.

“Tey mį massa, Tey mį! Mį ta dai mį sey.”

Those words—ancient, forbidden—pierced through the Dakini like a bolt of lightning. Nobody had uttered those words in Saa for centuries. The power surged through him, stronger than he had ever felt before. He focused, searching for the source of the invocation, and when he found her, his heart quickened.

She was stunning, an ethereal beauty who seemed almost too perfect to be real. Her fair, flawless skin glowed softly in the dim light, giving her an angelic aura. Her deep blue eyes, framed by long, dark lashes, held a wisdom and depth that belied her youth. Her golden hair cascaded down her back in shimmering waves, thick and voluminous, framing her face like a halo. The soft curls seemed to move with a life of their own, catching the light and adding to her radiant presence.

Adaline slowly opened her eyes, her senses overwhelmed by the whispers surrounding her. “Where am I? Am I back home?” she thought, her head throbbing with pain. As her vision adjusted to the light, she realized she didn’t recognize her surroundings.

Looking around, she saw many other girls in the same space, their expressions equally confused and frightened. Before she could make sense of it all, a man entered the room, his voice commanding, “Get up, ladies. It’s time.”

Everyone quickly stood up, and Adaline, still disoriented, tapped the girl beside her. “What is happening? Where are we?”

“The kingdom of Saadi. We are the sacrifices,” the girl replied curtly before walking away.

Adaline’s heart sank as she tried to comprehend what the girl had just said. Sacrifices? For what? The last thing she remembered was standing in front of the fireplace, reciting those strange words. Now, she was in a place that felt completely alien.

As the girls filed out of the room in a line, Adaline hurried to join them, her mind racing with questions and fear.

When Adaline stepped outside, she was astonished to see an entirely different world. everything looks beautiful, the building bigger that the ones back home, lots of greenery. Everything seemed unfamiliar, feels unfamiliar...yet familiar. Warriors, both male and female, walked around, dressed in attire far less modest than what she was accustomed to. She quickly averted her gaze, not wanting to stare inappropriately.

Adaline’s thoughts swirled in chaos as she tried to grasp what was happening. The last thing she remembered was standing in front of the fireplace, reciting those strange words. Now, she found herself in a place that felt both foreign and deeply unsettling. Her mind raced with questions, each one more urgent than the last, as she struggled to understand her strange new surroundings.

The man who had been in the room earlier began organizing the girls into different groups. Adaline, standing at the back of the line, waited quietly for her turn, her heart pounding in her chest. Suddenly, everything fell silent. She looked up, trying to understand the cause of the sudden hush.

Before her stood a man of imposing stature, radiating an aura of menace and power. He was tall—taller than anyone she had ever seen in her world. His eyes were the lightest grey, nearly white, and they seemed to pierce through her very soul. His entire presence commanded attention, and his silence was more intimidating than any shout could have been. His body, heavily muscled and covered in intricate, glowing tattoos, hinted at a deep connection to dark, arcane forces.

He was cloaked in darkness, his face hidden beneath a hood, leaving only those piercing eyes visible. The lower part of his face was concealed by a sinister mask, adorned with sharp, angular designs that gave him an almost skeletal appearance. His armor, a blend of dark leather and metal, was etched with ancient symbols and runes that clung to his powerful frame, both protecting him and showcasing his formidable strength. Bands of leather and metal wrapped around his arms, adding to his fearsome appearance.

Adaline’s gaze locked with his, and her heart raced uncontrollably. Quickly, she averted her eyes, noticing him giving instructions to an officer, though she was too far away to hear what they were saying.

As the man walked away, a flood of questions overwhelmed her. Am I in trouble? Did I do something wrong? Panic surged through her. Oh my God, I messed up, she thought, trembling with fear. When it was finally her turn to join a group, the guide pulled her aside. Confusion and fear gripped her. Why am I not joining the group? What did I do wrong? she wondered. Summoning her courage, she asked, “Sir, why am I not joining the group?”

“I do not owe you any explanation, maid,” he replied curtly.

Maid? The word echoed in her mind, baffling her. “I am no maid,” she whispered to herself, but he heard her.

“And what exactly are you?” he challenged. “You sacrificed yourself, so we get to decide what you are.”

Sacrifice? The word chilled her to the core. “Are you dumb or slow?” he added, his tone dripping with disdain.

Shocked by his harsh words, Adaline decided to stay silent, swallowing her fear.

After a tense wait, a woman approached her with a kind smile. “Follow me, dear,” she said gently. Adaline followed her into another room, where a bathtub and fresh clothes awaited.

“Come, let me help you clean up. There is much to explain about your task,” the woman said, her tone warm and reassuring. “The general requested you as his personal maid. You must stay by his side and assist him with everything he needs. You do know the basics, right?”

“I don’t know much,” Adaline admitted softly. “Could you please explain it to me?”

The woman helped Adaline clean up, explaining her duties as she went along. Despite her confusion, Adaline tried her best to absorb the instructions. After wiping down her entire body with a wet cloth, she donned a clean, simple dress. The woman made sure Adaline ate something before sending her on her way.

As the carriage rolled forward, Adaline stared out the window, her thoughts a whirlwind of fear and confusion. Is this a nightmare? Am I dreaming? she wondered, her gaze fixed on the strange, sleek carriage that moved without horses. Everything about this world was different, and her mind struggled to comprehend her new role and the uncertain future that lay ahead.

As the landscape outside the carriage window shifted from the familiar to the fantastical, Adaline felt a tear slip down her cheek. “Please,” she whispered, her voice trembling, “please, let this be a dream.”

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THIS STORY IS UNEDITED