"You understand why I do this?"
The younger woman's voice was soft, like an empty melody. "It is what tradition demands."
The elder sighed softly. "Silver begins to set in your hair, the silver of your 3 times great grandmother. You're eyes have turned ice blue more than once, and your skin holds the scars upon your hips, arms, breasts and thighs. The same as your three times great grandmother. As her ancestor before her, and as her, you are to correct the mistakes within the familial genes, and attempt to once again raise the honored name. Should you refuse, the task will fall unto your first born daughter, or to your first born niece, should you not bare children. You will be once again exiled from the family, and from the homeland."
The younger tightened her hands, the memories flowing in her mind. Her brother's insanity, his fall from 15 stories high, her mothers agony, her suffering at losing her three children, abandoned by her own mother... She thought of her eldest brother, the inexplicable rage which caused the life of a dear friend to end. His imprisonment. It had taken her 11 years to finally reach her mother, to ease the pain and prevent her death. She thought of her future daughter, if ever she would bare, a dark haired girl with long curls, her eyes, perhaps her father's smile or one of his many beauty marks. A tear slid down one cheek, then the other. She would have their love for music, her love for art, or perhaps his love of knowledge. She would know the love neither of them were shown by parents. Perhaps she'd have glasses like him, or maybe his irresistible charm.
More tears spilled as the image faded quickly. She would not bare that child, if ever she bore child they would be of light hair and light eyes, perhaps with that man's tastes or her own. She wouldnt know. "I understand what I am to do. I accept my fate."
The elder womans eyes were sad, but her lips pressed firm. "You will marry a man of our choosing. You will either begin your career in the eye of the public, or begin your studies and rise to the top of the financial world. Your friends, your lovers, your fathers family, are to be left behind, at the back of your mind."
"...There are people waiting, expecting art, expecting poetry and songs. To disappear suddenly would cause alarm." Her fingers trembled, her shoulders quivered.
The elder thought. "Your mother will submit occasional arts on your behalf, You are permitted three days of rest, so as not to break your mind and body." She was quiet awhile. "You will be dressed no longer in the color of innocence, but in the red of sacrifice, the emerald of wisdom, and the violet of royalty. Your life will be lived with honor, integrity, diligence, wisdom, faith, loyalty and power. Should you fail in any of these, your contract is forfeit." She placed emphasis on the words, "You must be very careful of your actions. You are now a woman betrothed, my child... you understand?"
She nodded, cheeks tear stained now but dry, completely still, cold and empty.
"Pillar of New Hope, Shrine of Second Rising, honor the sacrament and begin the empire of the forgotten secret society anew."
With the last words, the girl was stripped of the delicate silver and white, only the heavy chain about her neck left as she was clad in the black of grieving.
"...You will be given until the end of the year to mourn your beloved as if he were dead. When the time is up, he must be dead to you, and you to him."
