17. Oblation

“Alike warrior’s heart, That feeds on savoury meat, Never rejoice peace in mind.”
Before the attack of Nora the night fury, the night in the palace of Ardna Chirig...
A ritual of Oblation would be conducted once every decade. The oblation would be performed by Black Witch Queen to enhance her power of Black Magic. This year the oblation was about to take place in the living area" explained Nuraz to his daughter Azile who was busy decorating the living area.
So the living area was getting for the rituals by the couples of Nuraz and Deniza. They have arranged the entire living area with white candles and in the middle of the living room involved with many undefined shaped objects for oblation.
Azile was never allowed in the last few decades to take part in decoration or rituals, as she was young. Azile who comes off her age was allowed to decorate the living area for oblation along with her parents.
Azile was asked to fetch 5 rare types of flowers, the first few drops of fresh rainwater from clouds, a stone that absorbs the moonbeams and blood limes. Azile gathered all the things listed out by her father in the morning and kept safe in her room, while Akshara was sleeping in the entire morning.
*****
The process of oblation is divided and performed into three stages of night: Dusk, Midnight, and Dawn.
The first stage of oblation took place at dusk, performed with collected flowers of rare types and fresh raindrops with hymns.
Then, the second stage at midnight is performed at the full emission of Bluemoon light; the oblation did with sacrifices of performer’s blood into the pyre. After this stage, the white candles decorated around the living area changed into red and it emits red light. The candle in the performer’s hand would change its initial colour into black.
The third and final stage involves the human sacrifice into the pyre. The final oblation involves the life of an innocent human who was hunted by werewolves for their Black Witch-Queen.
*****
Nuraz asked Azile to keep watch over Akshara to make sure that she should not wander at night time. Azile indicated to her father that Akshara wanted to watch the leaves radiation at the night and she first asked her company and later she was nudging Karen to accompany her.
Nuraz thought to himself, this little Axe is crazy. Why does she want to watch that? She doesn’t know fact in what type of world she lives in. She doesn't know what I am going through daily to protect her. She must not wake up in the middle of the night today until the oblation reaches the final stage.
Last decade, I made her doze the entire night to save her. So the oblation went well with no interruption. Alike last year, this year to Axe must be dozed to sleep. Otherwise, it might provoke the Queen’s anger and she will sacrifice Axe if no human is found.
Nuraz went to the kitchen and asked his wife to prepare the milk of sleep to make Akshara snooze off the entire night. Deniza did as her husband’s order and gave him the glass full of milk. Nuraz went upstairs to give the milk of sleep to Akshara.
Knock …Knock…Knock…
Akshara opened the door by saying, “Shall we go?” she suddenly stopped her words and was shocked to see Nuraz standing at the door with milk glass instead of Karen.
Nuraz asked Akshara as if he doesn’t know about her plans for the night, “Where my little princess planned to go?”
Akshara replied with stammering words, “Go-going No-nowhere…T- that is…I m-mean…I a-am g-going to s-sleep.”
Nuraz gave a sharp look and questioned her again, “Oh! Who did the word WE meant to be?”
Akshara facepalmed in fear and replied with hesitation, “We! Did I say we…We… Who are the WE…Oh ya, It’s Azile and me. It's Azile. I thought it was Azile who knocked. And so I asked her shall we go to sleep… She said she would sleep in my room today.”
Akshara waited for the response from Nuraz and he replied with disbelief, “Sleep is the best thing for you tonight…” handed over her the glass of milk, “…help yourself, Good night Axe.” Nuraz patted her shoulder and went away.
Akshara left out a sigh of relief that she managed to disclose the truth and she convinced herself that she was good at convincing others. Suddenly, Nuraz turned and came closer towards Akshara, “Sweetheart, I think I am equal in showing love towards Azile and you. I always wanted my daughters to be safe and not fall in any hands of danger.”
Akshara listened to him and reply, “I know it, Uncle. I know how Uncle Bruz and you showering me with your love. I sometimes feel elated in your paternal love. Have peace in your mind, I will take care of myself and I won’t give you any burden. I ensure my safety and well health and happiness of my family,” Akshara assured him by gesturing her hand.
Nuraz nodded his head and made his way to the living area, Akshara closed the door with a sigh of relief and placed the milk in the side of the table and waited for the word from Karen, "Just escaped in a needle gap"
Nuraz gave his thoughts about Akshara to Alabruz through mind-link (telepathy). Alabruz responded to Nuraz in the same way that he will take of that matter.
*****
Nuraz then went to the kitchen, the conversation of Nuraz and Deniza started,
“We must be aware to save our daughters” Nuraz uttered these words to his wife, Deniza.
Deniza replied, “Once in every decade, we must go through this tough situation. Unlike other blue moons, I can feel this one will bring some better hopes.”
Nuraz told Deny, “Make sure that she does not wander tonight. I trust her, but I don’t have trust in her craziness and curiosity”
Deniza replied with belief, “No she won’t. She is afraid of darkness. Unless she was accompanied by someone...”
*****
On the other side of the palace...
Alabruz called Karen and questioned about the motive of Akshara tonight. Karen explained the entire plan that he was going to accompany her into the woods of Andhar Mountain.
Alabruz posted his question, “Are you sure? You will accompany her into the Andhar Mountain?”
Karen replied with confidence, “Yes, I am. Dad, I won’t leave her in danger. I will keep your darling safe in my hands.”
Alabruz furrowed his brows and asked, “Don’t you aware of this Bluemoon night?”
Karen replied with much more confidence, “Of course I am.”
Alabruz was puzzled and asked his son again, “Then why do you want to risk your life? Do you not worry about your identity exposure?”
Karen replied with some pause,” I am a little worried about that, but I hardly manage to hide my identity.”
Alabruz tricked his son, “Karen, I can read your mind. Don’t hide from me”
Karen was surprised by the question from his dad, ” What is it, dad. What can you read?”
Alabruz replied with sharp eyes, “I am Alpha. Dare to lie to me? I know your true motive to confess than making her dreams comes true. Can’t you hold your feelings?”
Karen immediately answered him without thinking for a second, “No, Dad. Not to any further extent…I am not going to hide anymore. I am not going to hide my feelings from her. I am not going to hide my identity from her.
She is going to share her life with me; it's a shame for me to hide my true self just to make her love me. I am not that lustful person who craves her physical beauty. I love her from bottom of my heart. Love me or hate me… it’s her choice. Whatever, she is free to choose. I respect her decisions.”
Alabruz replied with fatherly concern, “It’s fine to hear about the word LOVE from you. But she is a human who thinks we (referring to them) are fantasy. If she witnessed your identity, then she would lose all hopes of trust in me too. How I will explain to her. How I will make her understand about my position to fulfil the promise which I made on that day with...”
Karen interrupted, “Dad, you may give the reasons for your decisions. It’s your choice to hide your identity. It’s my choice to reveal my identity. I can’t start my life with fake beliefs. Let her know the truth about me and let her choose me through the truth.”
Alabruz replied with a deep breath, “If you are sure, then I have no words against you. It’s fine to keep her safe, away from this palace tonight. Make sure that she should not step outside the woods until the emergence of Sunlight. I ensure my darling with you. Take Care of her. Stick to the plan”
Karen nodded and ascended to the stairs with many expectations to get Akshara away from the palace to chase her dream come true and to confess his love to her.
*****
At the same time…
Nicoria was getting ready in her room to perform oblation which she was waiting for a decade to perform. Once the ablation was completed, the power of her will enhance thrice to defeat any strong being.
Nicoria Blackfire was costumed by Yadivah fully in black in many layers with a long black cloak with a smoky red iris. The hair was outfitted in a peculiar style with the crown in it.
Yadivah showed the outlook of Nicoria in the mirror, “My Queen, have a look at your beauty”
Nicoria viewed her image in the mirror and replied with an evil smile, “I feel myself…after a long time…so long time from hiding…”
Yadivah answered with lowering her head towards the ground, “You look majestic, My Queen”
Nicoria turned and saw Yadivah was on her feet and Nicoria placed her toe under Yadivah’s chin and moved upwards, Yadivah’s face was lifted but still her eyes looked downwards.
Nicoria opened her black coated lips, “If your husband failed to hunt a human for this night, I have no choice left to sacrifice your husband. You know by yourself. A Werewolf sacrifice is more powerful than human sacrifice.”
Yadivah shocked to hear the alternate idea of human sacrifice and grabbed the legs of Nicoria to plead, “No…Queen. Don’t…Please spare my husband’s life. He will hunt for you”
Nicoria pushed Yadivah with her legs and warned her, “Do you think I’m null skull to believe your words. I heard your conversation with Alpha. You provoked him to go against my orders… how dare you to use your filthy brain against me?”
Yadivah returned to her position of kneeling and placed her head on the floor under the feet of Nicoria and asked, “I am so sorry. It won’t happen again. Please forgive me this time. Indeed, I provoked him but he refused my words for that human”
Nicoria laughed in an evil tone, “It’s happy to see Luna is begging for her Alpha. What a love story. I love to break the love. (Grinned her teeth) But, oh my dear Luna, what will you do when history repeats?”
Yadivah was confused and raised her head to ask, “My Queen, What will repeat?”
Nicoria smirked and rolled her eyes and grabbed Yadivah from the floor by her arms, “The love story of Beauty and the Beast”
Yadivah opened her eyes widely in shock and screamed in anger, “I won’t let that happen again…is that human, Axe?”
By the time, Eggy flew towards Nicoria, landed on her shoulders and screeched in her ears.
Nicoria replied with a smile, “The human I have, is the apple of my eyes. How will I let her go away from me? There’s more to gain through her. Don’t bother, let her wander wherever she wants.”
Nicoria descended from her room with a candle in her hands with an evil look and smirk on her lips. Her warrior pack was waiting in the living area to welcome their Queen. Nicoria reached the middle of the living area and placed the candles in order.
*****
The oblation starts with undefined rhymes, all the candles were lit automatically when rhymes were started to chant, and then Mrs Nicoria Blackfire throws flowers and fresh rainwater in the pyre. The pyre by engulfing rare flowers and fresh rainwater took the shape of a serpent with huge fangs with large sharp green eyes and it emerged from the pyre and roamed all the area of the palace and returned to the pyre.
When it was about to take the shape of a bird, the vast shadow covers the beam of Bluemoon from penetrating the living area. Nicoria got raged to her anger and went outside to see what covers the moonlight beam from entering the living area.
All followed Queen and encounters the Night Fury - a purple dragon was wandering around their palace.
Alabruz exclaimed, “Night Fury…No way”. Alabruz looked towards Nuraz to be ready to attack his command.
Yadivah ordered Deniza to turn off all the candles not to attract the Night Fury towards them. Deniza followed the orders of her Luna.
Nicoria trembled in anger and held her hand together apart and chanted rhymes. While chanting, the eyes of Nicoria become completely white and red iris fade. The light of electricity was started to emerge inside the hands of Nicoria.
As the chant goes on, the light inside her hand grows its shape to form a ball of fire. The massive fireball grows its size and wind around her changed to storm and by the hands of Nicoria rotated the fireball responded.
Nicoria pushed the massive fireball towards the direction of the Night Fury dragon in a furious way and Night Fury got hit by the Fireball.
And thus the battle starts…