Be-Ho-Mi crossed the Dark Mountains. She ensured that no one saw her leave, not even Anusee or De-Ne-Aa. The soils were vacant. No one was living in the Blood forest. Everyone settled beyond the Dark Mountains in the colourful and strong huts of the hemeus. Yet, she has to come back. She had some unfinished business to do. She didn't know how much time she had before someone realises that she was absent. Anusee must be looking for her. De-Ne-Aa needs her maid to serve her while she fornicates with her new mate. De-Ne-Aa made Be-Ho-Mi watch. She felt disgusting.

Be-Ho-Mi climbed on the log and rowed towards the other shore of the Ruinlake. She saw some serpents crawling and swimming under the dark waters of the lake. One of them tried to climb on the log. Be-Ho-Mi was afraid. It was unlike any serpents she had ever seen. She rowed faster. The serpent successfully climbed on the log and started crawling towards her. She moved back to the end of the log. The serpent kept on advancing towards her. She smashed hard at the snake. She missed the hit. It hissed at her wildly. It was agitated at the attack.

Be-Ho-Mi continually beat the snake. Some of them hit the snake and others missed. The serpent hissed and twirled with pain. It lost its hold on the log and fell into the water. Be-Ho-Mi tried to push it away from the log. It swam farther from the log. Be-Ho-Mi was relieved. She rowed as fast as she could. Be-Ho-Mi jumped onto the land even before the log reached. She left out a heavy sigh of reprieve.

Be-Ho-Mi walked by the banks of the lake and around Icsands and entered Scarelbled. She turned back to see if anyone was following her. She couldn't see anyone. De-Ne-Aa might be looking for her. She wants to boast about having a maid who will do anything to make her chenyya happy. She is too ambitious and still plotting her way to getting what she wanted. She has found an ambitious Zolopt as her mate. But, he is a coward. Be-Ho-Mi knows that. De-Ne-Aa was a fool to believe in him.

Be-Ho-Mi didn't care. She wanted to be with Anusee. But, she knows that De-Ne-Aa will never allow it. No one wants to be a maid to her. De-Ne-Aa would never let go of her. Be-Ho-Mi promised her that she would never leave De-Ne-Aa, no matter what. She hardly gets opportunities to meet Anusee. Even if they meet, that would be for a few shimyas (seconds). They could only exchange glances. Their gloomy faces said it all.

The Blood forest was silent. Even the bleeding trees stood still. She felt like the gods had also left the place. There is no one here. Be-Ho-Mi stood in the harrowing quietness of the settlements. She asked herself. Should she do it or not? She had other ways of achieving what she wanted, but she chose the toughest way. She felt what she was about to do was foolish. She stood there looking at the settlements.

From there she went to the settlement of the BoRoKo clan. She went inside her hut. She lay down on her bed and looked at the ceiling. The leaves were dry and withered out. She could see the sky. She will never be coming back again. Her final visit to her hut! She got up and walked out towards the chief's hut. It was bigger than hers. The interiors were better decorated with leaves. There were two partitions in the hut. The roof had withered down even more than her hut. One of the rooms didn't even have roofing. The leaves have dried up and fallen to the floor. She looked around the hut. She searched every corner and every room to find what she wanted. She searched under the leaves that were scattered on the floor. The walls have weakened. Some of the portion crashed into the soil when she touched it. This place is long forgotten. Be-Ho-Mi thought. No one cares about the Blood Forest anymore. The shrines of the gods must be vacant now. She didn't remember how long it had been since they left the Blood forest.

Finally, she found it. Happily, Be-Ho-Mi took them and went out.

Now is the hardest part. Be-Ho-Mi walked towards the Cursed Woods of the unwanted. She walked around and then went straight to Anusee's hut. It was completely in ruins. Be-Ho-Mi tried to smell the scent of Anusee but in vain. Anusee and her scent were long gone. She felt poignant at the state of her favorite place. She left the place and stood outside and breathed some fresh air.

She looked at the long blade in her hands. She hoped that it would be enough to defend her from any wild beasts that might attack her. She wasn't a warrior, but she had to try. Survival is the most important thing.

Be-Ho-Mi walked ahead towards Diephol. The pleasure huts of the unwanted! She moved past Diephol and stood in front of the thick bleeding trees. They made a barrier to a different place. A wretched place, where common folks never dared to enter, Ravenhhol! The retters trained here, their movriar (teacher) lived here. She could never believe that a folk would actually live in this place.

Be-Ho-Mi inspected carefully as she walked closer to the bleeding trees. She was trying to find the entrance to Ravenhhol. How long did she walk around? She didn't know. The light had already faded and it was getting dark. The unlight is coming. Finally, Be-Ho-Mi found a small slit between the bleeding trees at the other end from which she could see the shores of the Wretch Sea. The opening was so small that Be-Ho-Mi could hardly enter.

She decided to enter through the opening and stared at the absolute darkness stretched in front of her. She couldn't see anything. Now, she understood why Anusee said, entering Ravenhhol is easy, but you will never get out.  How did the movriar live in this darkness? She decided against going deep into the sinister woods at unlight. Be-Ho-Mi turned back and exited through the slit. She felt the light was too bright even though it was getting dusk.

Be-Ho-Mi marked on the soil with the blade she had. It would be easy for her to find the slit on the next light. She went towards the beach. The soil was black unlike the other areas she had seen. She hasn't come here ever. Folks were never allowed to come here. The Zolopts called Ravenhhol and this beach as cursed places. No shrines were built on these shores. They called it Deddsoil. There were huge rocks that separated Deddsoil from the other shores.

Be-Ho-Mi unwrapped the animal skin that was around her bust and removed the other skin that surrounded her waist and walked into the sea. She could smell a disgusting scent of blood and sap from the bleeding trees. The water was dark. She didn't take too long to come out of the water. She wore the skin over her waist and wrapped the other around her chest.

Be-Ho-Mi walked away from Deddsoil and went towards Nogomora. Some say this was the place where the Primefather first came from the sea, but others say it was Firstsoil. She didn't know whether exactly Primefather came. It doesn't matter now. Zolopts have left these shores and sands.

She saw a few fish swimming in the clear waters of Nogomora. She took the blade and threw the sharp end towards them. It missed the fish. The fish still swam around the blade. Be-Ho-Mi thought it was mocking her. Otherwise, it could have swum far from her and the blade. Be-Ho-Mi could feel the hunger rising inside her belly. The whole light, she hadn't eaten anything. She was tired of climbing and descending the Dark Mountains. She pulled the blade out of the water. Once again, Be-Ho-Mi throws the blade at the fish, hoping her aim won't miss this time. But, she missed again. Though, this time the blade went closer to the fish. A sense of confidence ushered in her. She removed the fur covering her body and stood in knee-high water. She threw the blade again. The fish mockingly swam around the blade and her legs. With rage, she removed the blade and started throwing it again and again.

After a few attempts, she finally got the fish. The blade pierced through the fish. She took out the blade. The fish was fluttering in pain. Be-Ho-Mi looked at it with a smile. "Mock me now. I got you. I will eat at unlight after burning you in fire. Did you really think that I might not be able to catch you?" Be-Ho-Mi walked towards the beach and threw the fish near to her fur garments.

She went into the water again. Be-Ho-Mi went a little deeper until she could see more fish swimming. She tried again and again until she was able to catch two more fish.

Be-Ho-Mi took the fish and walked towards the Cursed Woods. In front of Anusee's hut she built a fire. She cooked the fish on the fire and started eating. She thought of Anusee. What would she be doing? She will never know that Be-Ho-Mi has left and is now in her hut. Be-Ho-Mi took a deep breath. Will she be able to meet her again? How far will she be now? The warriors were covering significant distance every light. She wanted rousha to drink with fish.

Be-Ho-Mi stood up. She took a burning piece of wood to use as a torch and walked towards a bloodwood tree. She could not see any fruit on that one. She went on to check on another. It had some fruits, but they were high and out of reach of her. She saw another one, a shorter bleeding tree which had a few fruits. She plucked out a few and walked back towards the hut.

Be-Ho-Mi went inside the hut, took out a horn and fixed it to the ground. She squeezed the fruit until the juice came out and filled the horn.

If she were with De-Ne-Aa, she would have been pouring some red liquid, the hemeus call it wine, for De-Ne-Aa and her mate while they were mating. It was her duty to pour the drink until they finished their mating. De-Ne-Aa must be furious for not finding her. Be-Ho-Mi chuckled at the thought.

Be-Ho-Mi took the big leaves and set them near to the fire. Then she pulled out the leaf-bed from inside Anusee's hut and put it over the big leaves. Then Be-Ho-Mi looked around, hoping no one was lurking around. She lay on her back on the leaf bed.

The unlight was young. Fire was still burning high. The flames gave her the warmth she needed. She looked at the sky. The twin moons were still there with their uncountable off springs. Be-Ho-Mi never wanted to have an offspring. She never wished to mate. She was never attracted to zolopts. Ever since she became a maid to De-Ne-Aa, her whole world was De-Ne-Aa until she met Anusee.

One light, Be-Ho-Mi, was loitering closer to the long beach that stretches from the Cursed Woods to the Dark Mountains. She was exploring the shrines on that side of the Blood Forest. She had never been there before.

There were so many shrines of the gods and the goddesses but none of them had any visitors. They were made by the gods themselves or so the zolopts believed. But now, after seeing the huts and the places hemeus had, she thought that the hemeus might have built them.

Be-Ho-Mi looked into the shrines. Most of them were empty. Some of them had pebbles stacked to make some figure. Two or three shrines had some figurines even though the structures had been dilapidated, and the faces were unclear.

Be-Ho-Mi was looking at one of the structures in the biggest shrine she saw. There was no ceiling for the shrine. The walls were covered with vines and moss. The ambiance was eerie and silent like death inside the shrine. She couldn't move. Be-Ho-Mi felt a sinister pull that wouldn't let her go. She stood there rigid like a rock, unable to budge from her position. Wasn't she supposed to enter? She felt herself tiring, getting weaker, a feeling of nausea entering her nostrils. The light that entered the shrine had disappeared, and the darkness filled inside the stone walls. Has it become unlight? Why is the light not coming through the top of the shrine? An unnatural odor enveloped her, a spine-chilling breeze surrounded her and the darkness started to swallow her. The silence was unbearable.

She didn't know which god's this shrine was. If she knew, she would have prayed to that God to let her go. She would never enter the shrine again. She could now recognize the smell; it was of rotting flesh and blood. She felt something staring at her from the dark, but she never thought there would be anyone else. The feeling was getting stronger and more frightening. She was weaker to the core, her senses gradually losing their consciousness. Be-Ho-Mi felt like falling, yet she never reached the ground. She was falling into an endless pit, or was she hanging in the void? She closed her eyes, which never made any difference.

There was no smell, but now she heard a voice, as if it was too far, maybe from across the sea. Someone was calling her. Be-Ho-Mi opened her eyes. She saw the light brighter than she ever saw. She wasn't in the shrine! She was lying on the wet sands of the beach. An unwanted was with her kneeling besides, caressing her mane and gently patting on her cheeks. Did this unwanted folk save me from the unending darkness as she was falling into a bottomless pit?

It took Be-Ho-Mi a few moments to gain her strength back. She heard the unwanted ask, "How did you end up there? Why did you go inside the shrine?"

"What … happened?" Be-Ho-Mi asked. "How did you find me?" her voice was weak and fluttering.

"I saw you lying on the floor inside the shrine. You were shivering. I pulled you out of the shrine and dragged you closer to the shore." The unwanted was never expecting to fine her inside the shrine. She had seen many others before, but all were zolopts. It was the first time she had found a sheolft inside.

"You tell me what happened to you? How did you end up inside the shrine?"

"I felt something calling me and telling me to enter the shrine. I followed the voice and went in." Be-Ho-Mi said. She explained her feelings and what she experienced inside the walls.

"You are lucky that I found you alive. Most of the time, I find unalive and mutilated bodies inside the shrine." The unwanted told her the reality of the shrine.

"Whose shrine is it? Which gods reside here?" Be-Ho-Mi asked.

"This is the shrine of anathema. No gods ever dwell inside. Only their curses are bound inside these walls. These curses may call you again and again until they devour you. They will haunt you until the rest of your lights." Anusee responded in a whispering voice closer to her ears.

"What is your name?" Be-Ho-Mi asked, trying to get up.

"Anusee." The unwanted replied. She helped Be-Ho-Mi to sit up. But in the process she slipped, and their faces came closer than expected. Their lips crashed into each other as they both fell to the soil. Anusee was on top of her trying to turn her face away to unkiss Be-Ho-Mi. Her cheeks were still pasted on Be-Ho-Mi's lips.

Anusee was fast to regain her stature. She turned away and slid off from Be-Ho-Mi's body. "Apologies, orai neamo. I slipped while I …" she couldn't finish.

Be-Ho-Mi could still feel the wetness of Anusee's lips and the softness of her cheeks. She never felt the same with De-Ne-Aa. Her lips craved for Anusee. In a flash, Be-Ho-Mi climbed on top of Anusee and stared deeply into her eyes.

What is happening? Anusee wondered. She never expected Be-Ho-Mi to climb over her. The kiss was never intended, it was accidental. She apologized even though it wasn't her mistake, rather neither of theirs. The wet soil pressed down beneath her hand and made her slip. Be-Ho-Mi's stare gave away Anusee's futile attempt to oppress against any further action. Her deep, sensational stare was plunging intensely into Anusee's heart. She saw Be-Ho-Mi's lips trembling and Anusee wanted to feel the quiver. Be-Ho-Mi slowly lowered her body, pressing Anusee against the wet soil and her lips gently brushed Anusee's. A cold wave washed over them, making them press harder against each other.

Later that unlight, Be-Ho-Mi found herself lying with Anusee in the Cursed Woods.

Be-Ho-Mi wished she had Anusee with her. They could lie there, naked, in the darkness of the unlight hugging each other, staring at the twin moons. She has to find Anusee after leaving this place. They will live together somewhere in the lands of the hemeus nearby some sea shore away from the eyes of De-Ne-Aa and other zolopts. She will never be a maid to anyone, or she wants any maid. She only needs Anusee with her.

Then she heard a calling, a soft whisper entering into her ears like a breeze. She knew what it was. She has heard it so many times before. The calling of the shrine of anathema! Whenever the call summons her, Be-Ho-Mi used to run towards Anusee. She found solace in Anusee's arms. But now, there is no Anusee. She is alone in the Blood Forest. She realized she never got a summoning outside the Blood Forest beyond the Dark Mountains. Now the shrine knows she is here. The curses bound by the gods wanted to devour her. How can she escape?

Be-Ho-Mi tried to ignore the calls. Soft whispers turned to echoes banging deep inside her ears. Be-Ho-Mi tried to close her ears but to no avail. Anusee, save me, she pleaded. She shouldn't have come here. She cursed at returning to the Blood Forest.

Be-Ho-Mi found herself standing up from her bed. A wave of fear enclosed her. Her eyes were red with dread. Her body trembled. Stop calling me. I don't want to come.

A cold wind rattled the bleeding tress encircling her. The call was getting stronger.

No, no, leave me alone. Be-Ho-Mi tried to refuse the hearing. But now she can hear multiple voices. And the voices were resonating around her. She heard sinister laughs and uncanny moans along the pull of the call and the curses. They want her. They will mutilate her, drink her blood and ooze out the life inside her.

No, leave me; I haven't done anything against you. Be-Ho-Mi unknowingly took a step ahead. The wind pushed her from behind. The arms of the darkened curses pulled her towards them. She was walking, step by step, towards the direction of the shrine of anathema.

Don't take me; I will give anything in return. Spare me and my life. Tears rolled down her cheeks. She tried to stop walking but she could not. She was being taken. She has no control over her body. She was no longer walking. As in a sleep, she was floating.

Anusee, they are taking me. Be-Ho-Mi could feel Anusee's smile and her face fading away. She could no longer think of her. Anusee was erased out of her thoughts. Be-Ho-Mi moved out of the Cursed Woods and entered the coast of the long beach. Be-Ho-Mi became numb. She was not pleading for her life. She was just floating in the wind towards the damned shrine.

Be-Ho-Mi heard the waves crashing towards the shore. They were colliding wildly. The air was evil. The winds were baleful. The voices were malignant.

Be-Ho-Mi crossed the small shrines. No gods came to rescue her. There were no gods in those wrecked shrines. She could see the dreaded shrine in front of her eyes. It was drawing her. She felt a charm about the shrine as she reached the entrance. She saw the blinding darkness inside the shrine. She felt the chilling cold of the floor as her foot stepped inside the shrine.

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