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As we got closer, I could finally see what the big deal was about. A gigantic statue-woman knelt by a basin that rested on the floor. Abigone. Ten grown men could fit inside it, and it seemed to be filled with water. One by one, the parent took their child closer, a man in a dark blue robe spoke with them, and then he escorted the child to the edge. There, the kid poked his hands in, people began to smile, and another person moved to escort them away.
To me, it seemed like a lot of fuss for washing our hands, but if this meant Papa and I could eat, then I would do it. Unfortunately, my belly had already started growling. The last time it had been loud enough to make the girl in front of me look back with big eyes. I smiled, but she whipped back around, clinging to her mother's hand.
Eventually, it was my turn. The man in blue lifted his hand, calling us closer. Papa's fingers tightened on my arm, and we walked forward, meeting the man halfway to the tub.
"What's your relationship to the child?" the man in blue robes asked.
"I'm her father," Papa told him. "The harvest flooded, and we can't..."
The robed man clasped my father's arm. "It's ok. You're doing the right thing." Then he looked down at me. "How old are you, child?"
Just like we'd practiced, I replied, "Ten."
"Just barely, from the looks of you, huh?"
I nodded, glancing up at my papa to make sure I hadn't messed this up. He palmed the back of my head. "She has two brothers with the Temple of Compassion." He swallowed. "I'd hoped..."
"Well, let us see what the gods have for her," the man said gently. "Child, would you like to come with me?"
He held out his hand, and I put mine in it, aware that he didn't have any dirt on him at all. The strange thing was that my papa let go. The kind man led me toward that large basin, stopping only when we got to the edge.
"The gods have a plan for you, child. Touch the pool and let us see what it is?"
I glanced back for Papa, hoping to make sure I was doing this right, but he'd already started walking away. "Papa!" I screamed, intending to run after him.
The man in blue caught me. I struggled, but he was stronger. Wrapping an arm around my waist, he lifted me from the ground, ignoring my kicking feet, so I simply screamed louder. The sound of it echoed off the stone walls.
That made Papa stop. He turned back to reveal tears streaming from his eyes. "Do as you're told, Nariana. Be a good girl like we talked about."
Then a man in black moved to his side, whispering something to my father. Papa nodded and simply clasped his hands before him, his feet locked in place. Hoping this meant he wasn't leaving, I decided to do as the man in blue had asked, but quickly. Before my papa could leave, I reached over and slapped both hands into the water, soaking my fingers and palms.
But when I looked back, Papa's eyes were wide. He stepped back, shaking his head, then spun to leave. Screaming for him not to go, I reached out, knowing very well that I was too far away to touch him.
My hands were black.
Not solid black, but laced with it, as if the water had stained me. That was enough of a shock to make me stop screaming. Carefully, the man in blue set me back down, but my eyes were locked on my palms. Swirls and bands decorated both of my hands. Each one was a little different, but I had to look hard to see it. Hard enough that I didn't notice the woman kneeling down before me.
"Hey," she said, catching my fingers with hands marked the same way. "It looks like you're going to be my sister. Are you hungry?"
I was, but I also knew that my papa was getting further and further away. "I need to find Papa," I told her.
But when I looked up into her face, I found the most beautiful woman I'd ever seen. Even prettier than the statue behind me. This woman's hair was the color of fall leaves, and her eyes were large, grey, and painted to make them stand out. Her lips were as red as the blood I'd left on the stairs.
"What's your name, sweetie?" she asked.
"Nariana," I whispered.
She smiled. "I'm Amerlee. Your father asked us to take good care of you. He said you can be my sister now. Would you like that?"
"You're too pretty to be my sister," I pouted.
She just lifted my hands. "But our fingers match, Nari. And I bet you're pretty too. Maybe we can get you something for your belly and then a bath? Perhaps some new clothes?"
"I'll just get 'em dirty."
"Not after the bath, silly. C'mon, let me show you?"
And she stood, tilting her head for me to walk with her. The strangest thing was that I did. For a few steps, I almost forgot all about why I'd been so upset, but then I looked back.
