Beyond Duty.

Age doesn't matter once it is time to take up responsibility. Life doesn't wait for anyone, it simply unfolds indifferent to timing and readiness.

The small city of voria, nestled deep beyond the Amazon forest, a buzzing city with life at it's peak. People went about their business and life moved smoothly as it could. But only the natives knew the secret they treasured. Despite it's welcoming nature, the strict visitor limit was in place. It was unspoken but enforced.

Lora Evans, daughter of Voria's chief, a beloved and most respected figure in the city. Her life a direct contrast to the life she is expected to live. A complete opposite of the position she is to bear.

Like every girl her age she attends the city's university. A diligent student who prefers her solitude. Her beauty was unmatched but despite the many advances made towards her, none seemed to capture her interest. She preferred her solitude. She stood out as an admirable person but surprisingly the elders avoided her and never spoke to her directly unless they were on a visit to see the chief.

It was the second month in the year and whispers began to go around about the rise of a new priestess of Voria on the night of the blood moon. The elders seem eager and anticipated that day. The young ones could only wonder but they were calmed and instructed to patiently wait for the night of the blood moon.

The late priestess had already chosen her successor and the people awaited the night of her succession, it was a ceremony that happens once in a century. Most children do not get to witness it, this was a time for them to feel and witness it. They made sure the visitors and strangers remained unaware of what was happening as they discreetly prepared for the night. The chief's daughter, Lora prepared for the night as well but her focus on her studies remained unwavering, especially with the exams just around the corner.

It was mid-semester and a new student was set to join her department but despite the buzz about him no one caught a glimpse of him. The girls seemed more interested to see this new boy wondering if he was handsome or not but all the buzz did not faze Lora. She found it bothersome and a worthless bickering. No one saw him for the next three days and not too long it bagan to seem like a rumor.

Seven days into the month, so late at night. It was one of the nights for the preparation but Lora had ran out with a group of men hot on her heels. It was clear she didn't want to be caught but she could not outrun her fate forever. She will go back eventually.

Her clothes stood out even for someone running at night. Even if there were eyes she would not mind and just kept running. She clutched her big gown, running down the road on foot. Without faltering or turning to check if she was still being followed. Her eyes reflected her sadness as it welled up with tears that soon dropped without hesitation. A piece of white cloth covered her nose and lips and the moonlight illuminated her bright white gown,with sparkling stones that adorned it's design.

Her steps took her to the shores of the vast lake that isolated Voria from the world beyond. She heaved continually, her chest in rhythm to her ragged breath. A rustling sound came from the scrubland near the water. She spun towards it, her footsteps quiet as she crept closer to investigate. As she trailed closer, a boy burst out of the bushes catching her off guard, an action that made her heart raced even more.

“Who are you? I thought it was an animal.” She exclamated out of shock but he only smiled at this strange girl.

“I had to hide when I saw you approach but it became uncomfortable.” He smiled broadly at her still. As their eyes met she knew instantly that he was the new boy in her department. She questioned him about it but he quickly denied it smiling it off. An odd encounter in an awkward situation. Despite the initial awkwardness an unlikely friendship bloomed.

He denied he was a student but returned to class anyway. And the buzz continued, his presence an undeniable intimidating but Lora's identity remained a secret as she never shared her real name with him and her face. She would play dumb at school, pretending to be strangers with him but at night they would meet at the same lake.

As they spent moments and nights with each other, something wrong sparked between them. A wrong and forbidden attraction that could cost her the title of the priestess. But a cunning thought occured to her. What if she could avert it if he could lay with her? He wasn't having it.

Frustration boiled over one night and he lashed out at her impossible request when he had never seen her face. He questioned the bond he thought they had. She reassured him of her love for him soothing his doubts but still refused to reveal her face. That night, the heat between them boiled over and their time together came to a sudden end.

The next three nights kept him worried as she did not show up. He couldn't shake off the feeling that he had blown things out of proportion. He resolved to drastic move to go in search of her.

All the while she had been fleeing the shrine, the chief had kept relentless pursuit. Though the search had often lead to dead ends he persisted still.

It was three days until the blood moon, she decided to visit the lake hoping to see him and maybe change his mind. She reached the lakes edge to find him standing there, his gaze lost in the sky. Her steps were silent against the earth as she ran towards him, wrapping her arms around him from behind. He slowly pulled her hand from around his body and turned to face her. He had questions swirled on his lips but bit them back. He professed that he had missed her, his voice low and sincere. He pulled her tightly to himself, his arms felt like a fortress but their moment was shattered by an interruption.

Turning to face the intruders, his eyes widened in shock. The look of surprise lingered but curiousity took hold. He needed to know what was going on. She intrigued him to leave but he stood firm, rooted to the spot. The men seized him, dragging him along with her towards the shrine. They bound them, keeping them in a dark room. Her face remained veiled all the while. He tried to comprehend the situation but she refused to speak. The calm before the storm scared her and she did not want him to know.

Three days passed, silent with little food and water, and darkness. As night fell on the third day, the doors creaked open and they were dragged out. As she was dragged out, an arena stood ready for her initiation but her gaze snapped on something else, another circle awaited. Fear was evident on her face as she knew the horror that was about to take place. She questioned the chief but his indifference cut deep. She had fallen for a man, defying her priestess vows and now he will lay with his life.

The veil was taken from her face, her gaze met his but his reaction was mild as it had been clouded with the fact he is about to be killed on a strange land in a strange situation. He struggled in the hold of the men but all his efforts were futile, hopeless.

Lora's pleas fell on deaf ears, her voice drowned by the silence of those who didn't care. They dragged her to the initiation circle, binding her wrist and ankles with unyielding ropes ensuring she couldn't escape. The cloudy night hung heavily with anticipation as they waited for the night to surrender it's veil so her initiation and ritual could begin.

For the time being she had been forbidden to be seen with any man. A broken rule that now puts Larry's life in peril. Shock had him rooted to the spot and time ran out, she had to act and fast.

The beat of the drums echoed through the night air as the clouds parted, revealing the moon which by now is thick in blood red. She scanned the crowd, every face was turned towards the sky, lost in fervant anticipation and she could tell it was now or never.

She strained against the bindings, struggling silently against her restraints. She ignored the sacred rules, outweighed by her desire to save him she defiled it again.

Her heart sank as she looked up to see men, their bodies draped in woolen clothes as they approached Larry further. One held a sword, it's edge gleaming with a silent threat. When the ropes around her wrist finally snapped, she immediately dashed towards him. Their efforts to seize her were in vain.

She lunged forward, inserting herself between Larry and the sword suspending it mid air. Her expression remained stern. As hands grasp for her she revealed a dagger from her garments, it's tip positioned at her throat, a threat she wouldn't hesitate to carry out and they knew better not to try and touch her.

Fear held them frozen, giving her enough time to cut him free and flee the scene. Motionless, they watched and waited, once she and Larry were out from sight they gave chase.

Larry questioned her but she remained silent, indifferent to his questions. Their feet's pounded towards the lake they had met. She shoved him towards the lake urging him to escape but he wouldn't budge. She glanced behind her to see if they were still following but he stubbornly refused. He grabbed her hand but she remained resolute. Her eyes locked unto an approaching boat but before they could take any step, arrows came flying at them.

Her pursuers were trained for such situations and they attacked from all sides. She knew one of them may die but she wasn't going to give up. She drifted into the water still holding Larry, it was slow, subtle but definite. They charged at her forcing her into the water still clinging unto Larry. She pushed him towards the boat as she tried to hold them back.

She wielded the water like a shield, they didn't shand a chance but this was only temporary. She wasn't a priestess yet and that stood as her weakness. One of the pursuers cut his arms, letting the blood flow into the water. He immersed deep into the water allowing others the leverage to go after her. By this time, Larry was almost at the boat.

From a distance, she spotted an archer aiming at Larry. On impulse, she stopped it with her body. A move that froze every action against him. No one chased after him.

Getting on the boat, he didn't grasp what had gone down. She watched him leave, the crowd of men swallowed him from her sight. Her vision blurred, fuzzing out to black as she lost consciousness.

Her life took a sharp turn after that night, the memory of Larry was lost in a haze. She claimed her priestess position, her attitude, demeanor and charm changed drastically with her rise to the position. But, she will never recall the man she had tried to save with her life. Would she realize her feelings if their paths crossed again?