Free The Path to Destiny: Tia's Folly by Elly Helcl Page B

boasted a sacrificial altar. Candles of
all shapes and sizes lining the altar had been lit and were dripping wax down
the sides onto the floor. In the center of the altar was a large, solid-gold
bowl that had been painstakingly engraved with the images of unborn beings. On
the opposite wall was another large altar that had also been decorated with the
image of unborn beings next to a table of frightening tools.
                Tia said nothing as she was stripped naked and washed
with warm water and soap. As they were bathing her, she absently wondered why
they needed to clean her before they covered her in the ewe’s blood. Gently
tugging her arm, the midwives gestured for her to climb onto the table using a
set of stairs set off to one side. Hesitantly, she complied with the request,
shivering as she sat down and her bare flesh met with the cold stone.
                “Where is the ewe?” Tia asked as she realized the animal
was nowhere to be seen.
                “Being prepared,” Helena assured her as she motioned for
her to lie down.
                As soon as she lay down, the midwives circled the table.
With a nod from Helena, four of the midwives took hold of her limbs and one
placed her hands on her shoulders. Closing her eyes, Tia had a sudden flash of
visions. They were of a small, blonde haired, green eyed little girl holding
her arms out to her. I am your destiny ,
the child whispered to Tia. Standing behind the little girl, she could see the
Gods standing in a semi-circle and suddenly she knew what the Centaurs were
about to do.
                “Stop!” Tia cried, her eyes
flying open. “The Gods want this child!”
                Immediately, all of the hands on her body tightened to
hold her down. Helena laughed at her obvious distress.
                “We have begged the Druids for assistance for five
hundred years and you have ignored us,” Helena sneered reaching for one of the
evil looking tools. “Now that you are here, do you really expect us to just allow you leave while you are carrying
the Warlord’s child?”
                “Please!” Tia felt tears running down her face. “I had a
vision from the Gods! This child is my destiny! Please, stop! You cannot do
this!”
                “ You cannot
stop us, Druid . According to your own
laws, we could murder you and no one could avenge your death. Be thankful we
only intend to kill the Warlord’s spawn!” The Centaur placed one hand on Tia’s
abdomen and cruelly inserted a hooked item into her vagina.
                Tia screamed in pain and tried to pull herself away from
the unforgiving tool. She felt as though her guts were being ripped from her
body; as though they were tearing her apart from the inside out. Still
screaming, Tia looked down between her legs that were being forcefully held
apart to see Helena pull her womb from her body still intact.
                “Put it back!” Tia begged incoherently, shock quickly settling
in. “ Put her back !”
                “Sew her up and put her insides to right,” Helena
offhandedly told a waiting midwife as she hurried over to the sacrificial
table.
                Tia screamed as the other midwife took Helena’s place and
shoved her hand inside of her body, but Tia’s eyes followed Helena. She watched
in horror as the Centaur placed her womb in the golden bowl and then used a
knife to slit it open, baring her unborn child to the elements.
                “I give this child back to the Gods and vow to kill any
offspring of the accursed Warlord,” Helena called to the Gods as she began
stabbing the unborn child over and over.
                Flames erupted from the bowl with such force and heat it
drove the Centaur back as Tia’s child was reclaimed by the flames. All of the
midwives burst into cheer even as Tia’s screams turned into