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Ella couldn’t help but have a restless sleep the night before. Her mind was racing with questions. She knew very well that the 500 year mark was tomorrow; therefore today he would make his choice at any moment, when she didn’t know. She rolled over in her bed, staring at the window to see the rising sun. Why did they take a human? Why did she have to be the one to tell the town that there would be a human sacrifice. If only she had been born two years later her mother would still be priestess. The oldest daughter shall always take her mother’s place on the day she turns eighteen, thus making her time as priestess short. She had only been acting as priestess for a year and a few months, although that did not take into account of the many years before being trained ruthlessly by her mother iron fist. She sighed softly letting her hazel eyes fall close, the morning sun warming her body through the window. “Today’s going to suck.” She couldn’t help but mutter softly, just as her mother burst through the door. 

“Ella!”

“I know, I’m awake.”

“Get up and get dressed, we have to start setting up for the ceremony tomorrow and you have to hold two worships, two cleanses, one sacrifice and see the people today.” She said her body towering over Ella.

“I know mom, I’ll be out in a minute.”

“Good if you’re not, I’ll drag you out.” Her mother said sternly before leaving the room. Ella sat up still looking out the window down on the town. The priestess was not allowed to leave the temple, they only got a chance once a month unless requested by the dragon. Usually when the dragon made such a request, the two were connected visually so the dragon could see the town he was protecting.

It had been a crazy day for Ella she had to first do the cleanse ceremony, followed by a privet worship prayer, before running around in her priestess uniform setting up for the announcement tonight after the sacrifice followed by tomorrows festival and ceremony and that wasn’t an easy task. Her uniform was much like a Japanese kimono but to a whole new extreme. There were flowing fabrics all over, dancing around her thin from in a bold light purple with simple golden geometric pattern and a softer see-through silk vial around it. Red rope like ties started at her shoulders connected at her chest before flowing down to her feet. If working around all that fabric wasn’t an art there was the golden head piece to also deal with. It stretched pass each side of her head, two dangling pieces, matching on each side and design in the middle to add balance and high. When in training you’re given a metal one to wear, most of the time it was on the floor. Since becoming priestess she had dropped the head set three times, only once in the eyes of someone else.

 The town held this festival in the dragon’s honor each year as thanks for another year of protection. It was a big thing for the people not just of the town but the surrounded villages who were also under his protection. Even people from distance cities came to see the festival, for it was known far and wide. Little did the world know that this year a riot was most likely to break out in protest. The human sacrifice would be taken and chained to the alter and left there over night. Even the priestess would leave the temple that night and return the next morning with the human gone.

Late day had come far too quickly. Her mother was still busily working on set up, her sister the Dragon Nun was at the front gates greeting guests, as Ella sang one of the hymns, dancing as she did a public cleanse. The temple sat above the town, the town at the bottom of the mountain, the temple almost a twenty minute walk up the mountain. The temple was almost as big as the town, surrounded by white marble gates that stood twenty feet high. The only entrance was the gate at the front, which was gold work, images of vines and dragons. On top of each walls beside the gate were golden twin dragons breathing fire.

Lailaa was standing slightly off to the side, wearing black cap with a white hanging cloth reaching the middle of her back. The top of her grown was black, with a matching section that ran down the front of her, followed by a flowing white skirt and a pale yellow under skirt. She was on the shorter side, showing her age to be younger. She smiled at the locals as they made their way in, before noticing Emery. She smiled at him and made her way over to him. “Welcome to the Dragon temple, I’m sister Lailaa, I guess you are in town for the festival?” She asked before glancing back towards the large open court yard, were the people gather around Ella could be seen. The scent of herbs mixed in the air, as the smoke from them burning could be seen drifting upwards. Softly in the background could be heard Ella singing.

“Take my hands, lord our protector, take my gifts and take the beauty of the world we have created for you. In a distance past you saved us and here I cleanse your grounds so scared to all, so wondrous of all. I will forever be your caretaker, your servant, your voice. La la ah, Dragon of fire, god of might you are so wondrous we are not worthy of your life. So let this dance and prayer bring you joy in the world that is yours.” It was then that the flute started up along with bells of different pitches. Ella hummed and sang as she danced within the circle of people.

“The cleansing is almost over, but after that she is taking confessions and messages, in about an hour she’ll start the worship prayer.” She said still smiling before glancing back at Emery. “If you have any questions don’t be afraid to ask myself or Mother Margaret if you’re unable to have a chance to talk to Priestess Ella.”
[centre] [url=http://caution.files.wordpress.com/2008/06/priestess2.jpg]Ella[/url] [url=http://i62.tinypic.com/2cyfdcp.jpg]Lailaa/Margaret[/url] [/centre]