The older short woman seemed to be staring at Sophia with her black eyes, but the fear disappeared as Sophia walked away and the woman didn't change the direction of her eyes. For a moment, the elderly lady's white hair shined with the reflection of the fire making her look terrifying, but many knew she was kind soul with much craziness attached.
It was very ironic to the girl how someone who was blind could see the ways of the skies. Many made fun of the woman during the year because of her strange behavior, but around the time of the picking, some would try to be sweet hoping she would bless them for their kindness.
Sophia always gave the woman a smile even though it would go unnoticed, but the dark haired beauty didn't want anything to do with the people of this town and tried to keep to herself when in the marketplace. She was hoping to run away before the fateful night of the sacrifice even if she wasn't chosen, but she couldn't leave her frail mother all alone even though the woman was frustrating.
Even if her mother would not join her, Sophia wouldn't try to escape this place. She was aware of the corrupt leaders and didn't wish to become like them in the end. She knew there would be a point where she had to save herself, but now it would be best if she died. Guilt would break her in the end if her mother died alone in the tiny home they shared together.
A tall strong man approached the blind woman who was still humming some song no one could decipher. She had a white cape wrapped around her body moving her head side to side as the cane she held in her hand tapped against the dirt. While the others talked amongst the villagers, this man seemed particularly interested in talking privately with the woman who had the power to decide someone's fate.
The man who approached the seer had pitch black hair and a pleasant smile, but his dark green eyes were filled with mischief that was only focused on one girl in the crowd. His broad shoulders were side and he kept his head held high. Confidence and arrogance rolled off him easily making many shudder in his presence.
Girls who were past the picking age looked at him with white pearly teeth hoping the handsome man would take notice but none ever sufficed and he never gave them much opportunity to approach him rather annoyed that any of them thought they deserved his attention. Not only was he the leader, but the head councilman in the village. The most eligible man in the village with more power and means than anyone else.
"Anita would be acceptable for the picking Clarice. She has prepared for many years and considers it an honor to the people." He whispered to the older woman who seemed unaffected by his presence. "I heard she is falling sick due to some conditions. It would make the most sense."
The man's breath made the seer tilt her head hoping to not ignore him as much as she could.
"Are you suggesting I don't listen to the skies about the chosen one?" She questioned while continuing to look at nothing in particular. The older woman knew the leader man well and didn't fall for his simple flattering. His was as handsome as he was manipulative.
"Oh Clarice, you are a funny one. I would never defy the orders of the chosen, but I also thought I'd let you know which girl would be acceptable. I'm sure the gods would love to have someone so dedicated for them." His voice replied with some mysterious kindness attached.
His green eyes moved toward the direction of the dark haired beauty who was walking out of the view of the men trying not to draw any attention toward herself which made him smile. Sophia Red was by far the most beautiful woman he had ever seen and his eyes always searched for her.
He had been possessive over her since she become of age and often was pleased to see her hiding so others couldn't view what he considered his. He was becoming more obsessed by the day just by his thoughts of the dark hair beauty.
Her hair was coming out of the simple braid she made earlier causing some strands to fall upon her slender shoulders. She had a soft smile on her face during the dance which made him quite happy since she never allowed others to see any emotions upon her pretty face. But when Sophia caught him staring at her, she often avoided his eyes moving far away.
Many men in the village gave the girl lustful looks which she didn't pay any heed to making the man smile with pride. She wasn't one who enjoyed attention. Even now, she was able to ignore them as though none of them were of existence. She was after all the most enticing woman, but being under twenty made her untouchable.
This girl had been on his mind since she turned fifteen and first started to mature into a beautiful woman as her hair was growing longer each passing day. He also knew having feelings for anyone before they finished their picking was unacceptable which was why he never acted on his desires and tried to keep his distance whenever she was around making her not notice him in return. He had hoped to make anyone catch onto his hidden desire.
He often accompanied himself around other girls trying to forget Sophia, but the black hair woman was always the one he saw when he closed his eyes. And as other women approached him, he could only imagine Sophia in their place wanting to only see her blue eyes.
He just had to wait till her twentieth birthday in order to court the young woman. She had no idea that the head councilman had his eyes on her and her alone. She was the only person he could imagine his life with and was determined to make it happen.
But just her presence was a temptation and he knew he would have to try to persuade the old hag to never pick the woman he had chosen to be his wife one day. She was innocent and pure, but he knew she had a feisty spirit making her even more desirable.
"Oh Randel, you are in love with one of the girls this year, aren't you?" Clarice asked with a soft smile on her lips even though her tongue clicked with disappointment. Somewhere Randel hoped she was making a joke, but somewhere deep down, he knew the seer knew too much. "Or maybe you just think you are in love. I may be blind my dear boy, but I can see what you are trying to do. You have no authority in the picking."
"Clarice, you don't -"
Clarice stood holding her hand up to silence the man before he made a bigger fool of himself.
"The skies and the moon gods determine the chosen Randel Wilken. You need to remember your place. These girls are not for your eyes and the gods see how you display them for your own eyes." She said pointing toward the women in the thin white dresses which made Randel question is she was truly blind. The white dresses were his idea two years ago as he imagined the black hair girl wearing one when she was of age. "Perhaps if you actually tried to show more respect to the skies, they would protect the girl you desire. But I feel as though you may just lose her due to you're corruption. Your heart has become black with utter darkness Randel."
The woman started to walk slowly using her cane to guide her around. But the insult toward the head councilman did not settle well within him.
"I only care that we please the Wolfmen who just need a quick bite for the evening. The skies mean nothing to me." The man gritted through his teeth and it was only loud enough for Clarice to hear. "Perhaps if you listened to some of my suggestions, your living situation could be more comfortable, but maybe I should have you humbled a bit more?"
Clarice stopped walking before slightly turning her head so Randel could hear.
"And you mean nothing to them. I fear you may have just sealed your fate. And hers."
The woman moved her head in the direction toward Sophia who was unaware of this conversation almost sensing the closeness of the girl who seemed to be capturing the conversation.
The man looked in the same direction once again toward his temptation watching her intently. His eyes narrowed at the comment by the old hag. But he kept quiet knowing Clarice couldn't possibly know everything. Yet his fists clenched as he felt the desire to harm the seer.
Sophia stood by her mother putting the brown cape around her slender shoulders not wanting to be dressed like this so publicly. She was extremely uncomfortable wishing she could skim through the next three years hoping no would remember her.
But she knew that wasn't an option. All she could do was run. Hopefully, if the skies were real, they knew how this arrangement wasn't good for the humans. She closed her eyes and silently said a prayer in her head hoping they could change this unfortunate situation that happened every year.
She then opened her eyes looking past the gathering into the forest where she saw two small golden eyes looking at her hidden behind some bushes farther out toward the forest. They were dark like melted gold making her open her lips slightly feeling something inside her stir.
Her mouth opened in shocked before she rubbed her eyes thinking she had to be seeing something.
She blinked a couple times wondering if she saw a Wolfmen but when she looked again, the golden glow was gone leaving an empty feeling gathering in her. After a few moments of staring at nothing but the bushes, she shook her head looking away knowing the possibility of seeing one was nearly impossible. And most likely, if she had seen one, it would have killed her.
She knew the Wolfmen sometimes came to watch the picking and it made her even more uncomfortable than she was five minutes ago. It was the predator watching who the prey would be this year probably getting ready to prepare for his meal. But the Wolfmen would have been discreet not liking to have the humans to see them lurking.
It made a bigger frown form on the her face thinking about them. The monsters that lurked around waiting for their dinner that danced away like nothing was wrong.
"You look even more appealing when you smile my child." Her mother said next to her ear. "What are you looking at?"
Sophia's mother looked toward the forest with furrowed brows, but saw nothing but darkness.
"Nothing mother. I'm just hoping tonight can go by more quickly. I'm feeling rather relentless." She said with a shrug.
"Well try to smile!" Her mother said with some harshness. "People are looking and I don't want you to have the council questioning your attitude!" The woman huffed. "And the men of the village are here!"
Sophia's mother saw Sophia's eyes spark, but her daughter kept quiet pressing her lips together knowing being argumentative with the woman wouldn't help.
Although her mother wasn't a woman who cared about status or what others thought, she wanted Sophia to blend into the crowd as well. If her daughter kept up with all the arguing she often did at home, serious problems could arise.