Immortal Beauty Read Free Page A

through her back and stomach. She needed more water now. Something was happening. Maybe the transformation was not complete and she needed to drink the water for days or even weeks. This thought was of great comfort to the new goddess but the emotion of anger was stronger. She had to meet her people and assure them that revenge was coming with the dawn. She was almost at the entrance where the light was truly too much to bear when she heard her father’s voice:
    “Seal the entrance! Hurry! Before she has a chance to escape.” His voice was strong and full of conviction. He was no longer her father but a leader of the tribe trying to protect all that he knew. This Priestess Selinia had broken every sacred rule and law today bringing further vengeance and destruction on the Parisiji. The Romans weren’t enough. Now they had to appease the gods and he hoped that the sacrifice of his own daughter within the cavern of the sacred waters would do it. Their sole function as clergy was to protect the waters and protect anyone who would dream of drinking the liquid for immortal life and unlimited power. He knew that such a thing would only bring madness. Man could not handle immortality.
    “We were born to die.” He whispered softly as his hand was pressed against the stone wall in a final farewell to Selinia. He could not hear her screams or feel her pound her bleeding fists against the seal but he could feel her anger. It was pouring out of the cavern like a cloud of death. He motioned for everyone to get out. Something was truly happening now as he felt the cavern floor begin to tremble. “Get out!” He pushed the young people forward. “Get out now!! Hurry! Rocks and dust began to fall from the ceiling. A large stone hit him on the shoulder and he cried out in pain. He stumbled for a moment and he heard Selinia’s voice as clear as anything above all the chaos and the screaming. It was in his head. He could feel her presence behind him like a wave of malice.
    “Father! How dare you betray your own daughter?” Her voice was smug. It was possible that she was now a powerful demi-god and he would be hopeless against any such force. He stayed on his knees in a state of surrender. It made sense that the gods would want him as well for a sacrifice. The father of the monster had to be forfeited too. He only hoped that it was enough.
    “Selinia! We are doomed together but our people will prevail! I did it for the clan! I know you understand that.” He shouted into the cave now gone black. He was alone with her separated by a stone seal that he prayed would hold against her. The stone was sacred and said to be thrown down from the heavens to guide the way to the pool of Locium to provide eternal refreshments for the gods. That was long before there were people. Long before when the trees still sang and the rocks still danced. He hoped that the stone had enough power to hold whatever it was his daughter was becoming.
    “I understand one thing father. You will die and I will not.” A burning heat raced through his head and suddenly he could see nothing at all and his hearing collapsed into one loud buzzing din that was louder than anything he had ever heard. The pain was excruciating and he reached up to his eyes to feel wet liquid pouring forth. His life was over and he was prepared. He died trying to save his people not from the invading army but from his only child, the High Priestess of Locium. He was no longer conscious when the ceiling collapsed upon his frail body. He was finally free.
    Inside the cavern Selinia felt her father die. It gave her great pleasure. It was delicious and satisfying to the person she was rapidly becoming. She sighed and turned her back on the seal. It was amazing. She could see everything so clearly in the dark! Each little crevice and nook and protrusion from the rock walls around her suddenly became apparent and she realized that she missed it all the first time. She could see them now. All