Birthright
Halloween Night
The young girl pulled up the long hem of the dress and ran up the hill towards the red glow. The bonfire was massive and she could smell the logs burning, the smoke both sweet and acrid in the chilly air. The young girl turned around, seeing the tops of some of the small homes in the village. The celebrations had ended, the children tucked into their beds, bellies full with roasted meat and sweets. The young girl’s parents were full of cider, snoring peaceful and rosy cheeked, a fire roaring, offerings left for ancestors on their graves.
The moon’s light bathed the land in a pale white glow. As she got closer, the young girl saw shapes around the fire.
Hands came out of the darkness and held the young girl’s arms. Two women, both very beautiful, whispered to her.
The young girl walked with the beautiful women to the circle around the fire.
They faced the young girl, smiling. A third woman with long black hair walked out and stood in front of the two.
Next to the fire was a large wooden altar. There were wreaths of dried wildflowers tied around the edges of the altar. Symbols had been carved into it. The young girl looked back up at the women.
Their eyes looked as glowing red as the fire. The one with the black hair pulled off her dress. She stood naked in the circle of women. The other two women did likewise and took off their clothes, and stood naked with her.
The three witches walked to the young girl and pulled off her dress. The young girl tried to cover herself, but they gently pushed away her hands. The witches rubbed the young girl’s breasts, and her nipples stood out, so hard they almost hurt. The young girl felt herself getting wet between her legs; they rubbed her down there, and held back the young girl’s hair, nuzzling and giggling.
They led the young girl to the altar. They stood above the young girl, chanting. The young girl saw the stars begin to swirl above , making shapes that looked like angels and demons. The young girl felt hands on her body. The witches kneeled and placed their hands on the young girl’s body. The witches began to chant loudly.
The night air turned static. A black shadow circled the air above. Wings fluttered above; soft and silky but electric.
Suddenly, the young girl felt intense pain between her legs. The young girl raised up and looked. The black-haired witch was holding up something in her hands. Blood stained the witch’s hands.
The young girl saw there was blood between her legs. She put a shaking hand between her legs. The young girl held up her hand in the moonlight; the blood looked black. The young girl screamed.
The witches gathered around their black-haired leader staring at what she was holding.
The beautiful witch began to eat the young girl’s insides. The delicate white hand held up stringy and bloody sacs of eggs, and the witch popped them in her mouth like pomegranates.
The young girl slid off the altar and staggered to her feet. The women were waiting to get their share. The shadow coalesced and stood now as a figure: massive and muscular, hulking and snorting steam into the air. His wings were as black as oil, and they spread wide, then contracted behind him.
The young village girl saw the small flash of metal laying on the ground. She grabbed it and walked over to the witches. The witches were on their knees, their heads tilted back, eyes closed in ecstatic trances, and she swiped the blade across their throats, one by one.
The thing from beyond watched the events indifferently. The last remaining witch kept eating the young girl’s eggs, eyes closed, blood dripping down her mouth and her neck.
The young girl walked over to the black haired witch. She was bleeding heavily, and she almost passed out. The young girl knelt down in front of the witch.
The witch opened her eyes, pausing with her hand raised. The young girl glanced at her insides steaming in the cold night air.
The young girl brought the knife up and it flashed in the red light of the fire. The young girl plunged the knife into the witch’s heart.
The witch looked down, eyes wide and surprised, looking down at her chest. The young girl twisted the knife, and the witch fell forward.
The young girl took the remainder of her womb in her hands. The young girl pulled the knife out of the witch. The young girl ate the remaining eggs. Then the young girl dragged the witch closer to the fire.
The girl began to carve up the witch, and then the girl dug out the witch’s womb. The girl ate all of it, and the fire seemed to burn brighter. The girl felt the presence standing over her now.
The girl laid down on the altar. He came into her.
Dawn
She stood naked, blood caked on her thighs and legs. She watched as creatures came out of the forest. They were misshapen and had skin like onion layers, talons as sharp as fresh blades.
They sniffed the dead witches, some lapped their blood, and one began to have sex with one of the dead witches, she couldn’t tell which one. The others barked and screeched with impatience. The creatures looked at her with suspicion and hunger, but they were subservient. They began to drag the dead witches into the forest.
She felt the life already quickening inside of her. The Empress followed them into the forest. She was going home.