A Macabre Lullaby
In Reika’s POV
“Sleep, Priestess, lie in peace..”
The Pacifiers had started their lullaby, coaxing the latest Tattooed Priestess into eternal slumber, hoping that she would take away the pain of the living and dead. Very soon, I would just be like them, tattooed, impaled, alone, and awaiting my journey to the Spirit World in the Chamber of Thorns. They had just finished inking the skin of the Priestess with the Ink of The Soul, comprising of ink, the blood of both the living, who have lost a loved one, and the dead, who have lost themselves to Death. The tattoos would be engraved by the Engravers, in intricate patterns. Oh, how I yearn to take away the feeling of loss.
“Sleep, Priestess, lie in peace..”
I can see it now. Patterns of Holly and Snake, etched delicately onto my skin, each representing grief, pain and loss. Once they were complete, the Engravers would rid themselves of their arms, now tainted with pain. I would be sung that very same song, to ease my pain.
“Go to the other side… go to the other side..”
They have just sent off the most recent sacrificial lamb to the Rift, where they would be alone and bearing all the pain. Of course, by sacrificial lamb, I mean the Tattooed Priestess.
“Cast the boat, take a ride. Cross the Rift to the Other Side..”
As any normal human being, I have doubts about being the next Priestess. I have never seen the outside world. All I could remember is my village, being on fire, and me, the only survivor. Such foolish thoughts I harbor, as I know this is my destiny. I don’t mind the pain. I just want to be relieved of MY pain.
“Here,” asked one of my Pacifiers, and best friends, Amane, after seeing my tears, “take this mirror, and etch your grief to it. You would feel much better.”
“Foolish girl,” I responded without a waver in my voice. I was happy that she was concerned for me. “I don’t have any grief. These are just tears of joy.”
I chuckled under my breath. Amane can be quite foolish at times. The only grief I had is the fact that I could not take away ALL of the pain in the world.
“It must sail bearing your tattoos and our offering of tears..”
As I heard the last line of the lullaby being serenely sung, I let out a sigh. Soon, very soon, I would be hearing that song.
With that, I continued humming the lullaby and proceeded to do my purifying in my Hanging Prison.
