The Sacrifice- Prologue

Everything is in order. I've checked and double-checked with everyone. All the players know their place and what to do. I glance around the room, and every tribe on Atija is here. The royal family of the Juerfea just showed. The Illurian Chief and her tribe and the Empress of the Uskiu, Lumeria, and her people are hosting. This is perfect. All the plans are falling into place, and everyone will be present for this year's spectacle. It takes months of preparation for The Sol Festival. Every three years, we come together on the Deep of Portia to celebrate the convergence of our suns. The festival is always so lively and exuberant, and this year will be no different. We will make this sol festival one to remember.

I looked over the room, checking to ensure everyone was in place. My eyes land on a tall mocha skin man with bright red locs. Oniia stood off to the side. He was in his head; I could see it from where I stood. I could see his dark grey eyes dart over the room and then at the very high ceilings of the banquet hall. He has never performed his fire dance inside before. We have been practicing his fire dance for six months. Practicing in smaller spaces to ensure he knew the proper distance he needed between the people and himself. He stood tall in his frame with his back straight and headed up in preparation to hear his name called. He was fixing his black skirt so the intricate design of flames in beads would be seen.

"Oniia," I say as I walk up to him, "Are you ready?"

"Hey…," He takes a few steps back to look at me, "Are you ok?"

"Why are you asking me silly questions?"

"Why are you in so many layers? It is already hot, and you are in what has to be three layers of clothing."

"Focus on the task at hand, boy," I said quickly, "do you understand the assignment?"

"Yes, sir."

"Good, have you seen the target," I questioned. He says nothing, but I see his eyes drift toward the Uskian General. He looks back at me with a smile

"Yes. Sir."

"Ok, then that is your focus. Not what I am wearing." I say as I walk away. I pull my coat tighter. I don't care what he says. It's not that hot.

The lights went out as the announcement was said on the wind, "Oniia." A mist begins to fill the air with a soft ambrosia fragrance with a slightly pungent smell that peaks at the end. Ah, the lilies are doing their job. As the drumming starts, I see the people slowly begin to sway. The people smile and clap along to the beat. A single torch lights in the middle of the darkness, revealing a smiling man with bright red hair, coffee brown skin, and grey eyes, face bathed in the orange light. He begins the spin, and his skirt lifts as the man spins. Oniia lit the end of the skirt and illuminated the dark room in a warm orange-yellow glow as he twirled. Tiny sparks begin to fly off the edge of the flaming dress, lightly falling at the feet of the spectators. The crowd claps as the performer dances and spins instead of being cautious of the flames. Everyone is mesmerized.

I began to sway with everyone else for a few beats until I saw a woman with a vines tattoo on her arm smiling at me. I quickly stop dancing and wave the woman off. She bore her teeth, and I could see the shape of fangs lightly peeking through. Four others surrounded her—all with the same winding vine tattoo. A tall man by her side had a lily tattoo on his hand, but it was different. There was a poppy in the middle of the lily. He turns his hand toward me so that I can get a better look. As my eyes meet his eyes, he winks as they begin to make their way through the crowd laughing and joking with each other. It seems as though the person would swoon as they walked by people. The calming power and effect of the lilies were concerningly adequate.

I watch Oniia dance with the flaming skirt, spinning and jumping to the beat of the drums. The crowd coos at every movement. Oniia spins the skirt above his head and tosses it in the air as it erupts into beautiful sparks of greens, purples, and blues. The crowd erupts with cheers and clapping as they watch the beauty of the fire dance. When they focus back on Oniia, he is spinning flaming batons. He twirled the batons in front and behind him. He is occasionally running the flame slowly across his bear chest. He spits into the fire, and it rushes toward the crowd. Everyone takes a step back, but I stay still.

I can feel the warmth from where I stand, and it feels delicious. I become mesmerized by the flame. I watch it dance more at the end of the batons than the rest of the show. I slowly walk toward the front, pushing my way through the crowd wanting to feel the warmth of the flames, when I heard the deep hardy laughter of the Uskiu General. I look over to where I hear the noise and see the General laughing. Lun'din, General of the Uskiuan Knights, stands surrounded by people, laughing and joking the night away. His white locs hang past his shoulder, and he shakes as he laughs with his eyes close and throws his head back in pure joy. I watch everyone around him, and everyone is full of joy. People have their cups overfilled with libations sway next to him, hanging on his every word. The night was going just as planned.

WOOOSH!

Oniia's flame roars behind me again, and I can feel the heat. I turn to see the glorious cause of the warmth I long to feel coming toward the crowd quickly and just as quickly disappearing. It is mesmerizing. Everyone's eyes are glued to the show and the beautiful sway of Oniia's body as he moves to the drums and horns that play for him. He smiled as he commanded the room. He ran a little and did a cartwheel with no hand. The batons create a flaming circle in the air. He came down on one knee when he landed and forcefully blew into the flame. It erupted into the air, lighting the whole room and filling it with an intense warmth I felt to my bone. I sigh at the comfort the heat brings me. I close my eyes and revel in the feeling.

"Morsey," I hear a voice from behind me. I turn to see a tall White hair man with golden brown skin strolling towards me.

"Lunisto," I reach my hand out to him, "Are things running as they should"

"Of course, my daughter is with him now. I told her to ask him to guide her through the crowd to get a better look.

"Great, It shouldn't be long then." I smile at Lunisto, but it soon fades, "is there a problem?"

"Are you well, friend," Lunisto asks me. I watch him look me up and down with concern, "maybe we should see you to a healer."

"I don't need a healer," I straighten up and pull my coat tighter "It is just a bit cold here. There are better and more important things than my health to be concerned about right now. So please see your daughter is getting the General where he needs to be.

Lunisto looks at me with a question but asks none. He put his hand on my shoulder in reassurance.

"Everything will go as planned. We have worked for this day for months. Oniia is out there performing his heart out and is more than ready for what he is tasked with. Tonight we will so our hard work paid off."

I watch as he walks over to Lun'din with his arms open. His smile is big bright and welcoming, and Lun'din returns the smile with one just as bright. They shook hands as good friends would do. Lun'din embraces Lunisto just as his daughter lu'nisa walks up with a tray of food. The group cheers as everyone reaches out to grab whatever is on the platter. Everyone closed their eyes in reverence for the flavor they were partaking in. The crackling sound of another going into the air grabs everyone ones attention. All eyes were once again on Oniia. His slender frame was now in the middle of a burning circle. The fire surrounds him, and he weaves in and out of the flames. Lunisa point toward Oniia, and I watch as the plan falls into place. Lunisto puts his hand on the General's back and whispers into the general ear. I smile as I watch the General walk with Lunisa to the front of the crowd. Everything was going the way we had planned.

Once the General was in place in front of the crowd, Oniia started the show. With a low sweeping kick in the circle, Oniia put the flame out. Amid the smoke, he stands, takes a sip from his water pouch, and blows into the flame. The fire moves fast and wildly toward the people, and no one moves. Everyone stands there watching and smiling and enjoying themselves. Seeing people enjoying themselves and not knowing what is happening gives me joy. Whatever the lilies are spilling into the atmosphere is marvelous. Oniia once again blows into the flame and causes an eruption. The fire fills the entire room, and beautiful oranges and warmth I hadn't felted in days. Before I knew it, I was walking towards the front, trying to get closer. I follow Oniia. I am stalking him to get close to what he has. Another flame comes flying to the crowd. Lun'din claps and cheers, unknowingly enjoying the person who will be his demise. The Hika Ija said it needs a sacrifice through the fire, which is what it will get. The Uskian General was offered to the Hika Ija by the Luna Faith Keepers, because he was their only opposition In Lunisto's eyes.

Lun'din never flinches. He stands there, unaware he is enjoying his last moment on earth. To see the terror on his face as he is set on fire. The warmth he would feel like heaven until the pain of his flesh burning took over. How much better was he that he would get to be warm forever? The more I thought of the pleasure of feeling warm Lunisto get upset me. I could feel the anger and jealousy fill me with rage. How does he get the feel what I can not? I have served the Hika Ija faithfully because he says he will give us what we most desire. And I wish to feel warm again. I have earned it. I am a good follower and have done an excellent service to It today. I saw how Oniia made the flame large with each blow as he got closer to the General. As the fire grows, so does my desire to feel its warmth.

Oniia inches closer toward the General. I can see the glow of excitement in his eyes as his pupils dances in flames. A smile creeps across his face knowing that he is fulling his purpose. He moves slowly and I move with him, following his movements and getting close to the edge. The closer I get to the general I can hear his laughter. He didn't have a care in the world. No one around realizes the change that is about to happen in their life. So I stand next time him waiting for Oniia to come closer.

"This is an excellent show," He leans over to speak with me, "This is the best show of the festival every year."

"Wait. It is only going to get better." I laugh and pat him on the back. He looks at me for a second. His eye roams up and down my frame. He cocks his head a little as he pauses for a second but turns his attention to Oniia as he leaps in the air and lands gracefully in front of the General.

It was time; Oniia looked up from his kneeling position. He closes his eyes, takes a deep breath, and releases. The feel of the fire on my skin was glorious. I had never felt this warm. I look around the room, and everyone is staring at me—the general looks at me with confusion and amusement. I am engulfed in flames. I turn to see Oniia's eyes in shock. I smile back at him.

"I am warm again. This is wonderful."

He steps back from me. The music is still playing, and now I dance. I can smell charcoal as I burn. I have never felt such pain and been so comfortable. I can feel the heat with every breath I take. Then, as I fall to my knees, I hear a voice in my head as I take my last breath.

"You are not the sacrifice promised." The voice ruff spoke, "But it will do. The time has come for me to rise."