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“Youare a bad omen. Allfather willing, Rhyder will have so much he’ll kill you.”

So much what?I wanted to scream, the chains slack as I fought not to struggle against them.

I glanced behind me. The woods were dark here, the trees gnarled and grown together, only a few feet away from where we were all bound and chained.

Anything could be out there. The drink tasted thick in my mouth, making my tongue feel fuzzy and strange.

Eli chanted again.

Cleanse these whores

Make their filthy cunts safe

So we may take them into the most holy places of our land

Without fear

Then Eli himself disappeared into the woods and the smoke started, first with silvery gossamer tendrils, then rolling in great gray pillows, then finally blanketing the dark clearing.

It smelled strong, thick, sickly-sweet.

Incense.

Drums began to beat, at first low and staccato, then louder.

My heart began to pound with fear as Congregants entered the clearing one by one to the heavy, throbbing beat of the drums.

Men began to emerge through the smoke, incense-soaked, some still exhaling the pungent herbs through nose and throat.

I finally gave in and tugged desperately at my chains.

What did Eli mean that he hoped Rhyder would kill me?

Maybe they would loosen. Maybe I could escape.

But all it did was rub my bare wrists raw.

I didn’t see Rhyder anywhere.

The drink began to affect me as I saw dark, unearthly specters curling from the smoke, huge molten eyes seeming to leer at me. I felt tied to the earth itself, spiraling power from the dirt and trees running up my thighs, setting my cunt on fire.

One of the Congregants came to the woman beside me, jerking her head roughly up and fumbling in his pants for his cock.

When she squeaked in distress, he slapped her across the face and started to jerk off on her.

Another man came over and started doing the same thing, then he drew his knife and ran it down her back.

Purge the blood

Purge the blood

Purge the blood

The incense willow-‘o’-the-wisped between us, briefly hiding them from view, then clearing to show me another man over her as they covered her with cum,

“O Allfather, save us from the uncleanliness of this whore,” they chanted together, hands frantically jerking at their cocks.

A man I didn’t recognize stood in front of me.