Hydrangea continued to eat the delicious chocolate happily. She knew that Bastian had used it as a distraction from the horrific truth of why they were there, but it tasted heavenly.
"Hydrangea."
She looked up from her snacking to see Bastian watching her with a pensive look. She'd heard the Tlatoani call to him, was it something that he had said?
"I just remembered that…" Her eyes narrowed at the way his eyes darted, "That too much chocolate can cause you to be ill."
"Oh." She replied, sad that she had to stop eating her rich, enjoyable distraction. "Alright then." She set it back down on the table behind them.
Snuggling closer to Bastian her eyes popped wider when she noticed how sensitive her skin was. Touching Bastian nearly sent shivers through her.
She took a few breaths, that was new. Why was she so sensitive all of a sudden? While trying to stop the strange tingling sensation down her back she began inhaling Bastian's scent. She closed her eyes, he smelled so good. Why did he smell so good?
"Hydrangea."
She opened her eyes and then widened them in horror. She'd been smelling him, she never… what was happening?
She reared back, "I-I'm sorry. I don't…" She trailed off, unsure of what to say. She felt warm, like how she felt when Bastian kissed her, or touched her. What was happening?
"It's alright, Hydrangea." He replied, his eyes soft, but edged with anxiety.
It clearly, was not alright.
She was about to say something when a booming drum began to sound. She felt her skin chill, this time from fear. Her eyes fell on the man she'd noticed before, the naked one with bound wrists. Her heart pounded in her ears.
Glancing around she could see that many of the Sun Followers we're still engaged in the same activities. Her brow furrowed and she looked away as the man was shoved onto the dais. The drums still beating in the background.
The rain poured down on the man and she looked out of the corner of her eye and saw a half naked woman with skin painted red reciting a chant.
She hid her face in Bastian's broad shoulder, but she could not block out the sounds. A horrible drawn-out, agonized scream echoed throughout the temple. And she did her best to not shake. A small part of her was tempted to look, but she knew she'd regret it.
She clung to Bastian, her nails accidentally digging into his skin slightly. But he made no complaint.
All of that warmth and sensitivity from before had vanished and she felt cold and afraid. Bastian was protecting her from the horrific scene in front of them.
She looked up when everything went silent. Her eyes first landed on Bastian, his face was pale and he had a terrified look behind his eyes, hidden by his calm facade. Without thinking she turned her head and saw the dais.
Her skin chilled and all blood rushed from her face. Her lips parted open and a whimper accidentally left her lips.
The man was lying on his back on the dais. His chest had been cut open and from it blood flowed onto the dais and into the moat around it. The rain watered it down and helped it to flow faster.
"Hydrangea, it's alright. Just look at me." Bastian's voice reached her ears but she couldn't catch his words. This was much worse than when Hadok had died. There was so much blood…
She suddenly felt Bastian's hands pulling her closer, pushing her head onto his chest. She sucked in breath. Her mind was still reeling from the shock of the sight now infused into her mind.
These Sun Followers were savages. Killing in such a barbaric way, simply for pleasure? She wanted to leave, to get out.
She wrapped her arms around Bastian, as much as she was able to. He was only holding her, his limbs rigid. She raised her head from the comforting warmth of his chest and his scent, "Can we leave?"
His brow creased and he looked around. She felt unbelievably safe in his arms, she wanted to stay in them forever.
"We can try." He muttered under his breath. He released her and she felt a surge of panic but forced herself to relax.
Bastian walked to where the Tlatoani was seated, surrounded by dozens of women. She grabbed a handful of chocolate and ate it. She didn't care if she would become ill, it was a good distraction from her rampant thoughts.
She forced her eyes not to look at the dais.
Bastian came back and sat next to her, she immediately clung to him. She didn't mind being this vulnerable with him, she trusted him.
"We will leave soon. First we must listen to the priestess' speech."
"Okay." She whispered back, hoping it wouldn't be a long speech.
A few minutes later, the woman painted red stepped in front of the dais, Hydrangea avoided looking at her altogether to avoid looking at the sacrifice.
The priestess began reciting something in Selvan, her native tongue sounding more like a lullaby.
"What's she saying?"
"I'm not sure." He answered. She frowned when she felt how tense he was. She looked up and worried about he was handling it. His previous experience hadn't seemed a kind one.
"And I hear we have guests from Cadarama."
Both of them turned their heads in the direction of the priestess who was now speaking their language.
"I will illustrate what took place here in your tongue, so that each here understands the dilemma of the ages."
They shared a glance.
"Our precious Sun is the bringer of light and life. She causes all things to be made. She controls the skies and everything from them. This… filth-" She kicked the dead man at her feet and Hydrangea grimaced. "Is a blasphemer. And all other followers of the Jungle are blasphemers. They reject and ignore our great Sun's power and insist that power dwells within the earth."
Hydrangea held Bastian's hand tighter. They killed that man, all because he did not believe what they did? The act was now even more barbaric.
"We honour our beloved Sun with this sacrifice. To give her strength that she may grant us strength. Brilhar sobre nos.(Shine upon us.)"