A silent cry

"Well yes… they all are," Romulus said as he gestured to the people around them.

"No. This is different," she said quickly, she walked to a closed-door to the right of the room, it was locked. "In here." She whispered. As she passed through the wooden door. Inside the small room which appeared to be for storage she turned and pushed the door open for Romulus. 

"Did you just faze through a door and break the lock?" He asked in a quick whisper.  She answered with the wave of her elegant hand.

"You two! This area is off-limits to worshippers! You will need to leave this moment!" Came a deep Male voice from behind them. 

Astarea and Romulus turned quickly to look at the tall wide-shouldered man. "...and who are you?" She asked in a patronizing voice. Looking the man up and down she saw he was wearing ceremonial robes.

"I am the Cleric here in this temple. Now please leave before I have you removed," he said irritably, 

His eyes stayed steady on Astraea, she could feel he wanted her, this disgusted her. "Where is the Priestess? She asked as she stepped towards him, making him step back from the doorway. She was taller than him by a few inches. She could feel this intimidated him. She smiled and turned to Romulus "Search this room, she is here." Romulus nodded his head and began tearing the room apart.

"Hey! You can not do that! This is a temple of worship! You disgrace the Gods!" He yelled past Astraea, he grabbed her arm to force her out of the way. But the moment he touched her his hand caught fire, he screamed grabbing his hand and falling backward he desperately tried to put the aetherial fire out.

Astraea now filled with rage, glowed brightly her simple clothes changed back into the heavenly robes she had created, her blue crown of starlight appeared above her head. She rose from the ground, her robes and hair flowing around her in a breeze no one else felt. "YOU DARE LAY YOUR HAND ON MY BODY! HUMAN MALE!!!?" her voice boomed in the temple, "Who are you?! There are only Priestesses here in MY temple!" She demanded an answer, and Romulus had it.

Romulus burst out of the room with a woman cradled in his arms, she was filthy and beaten. "She's alive! But weak. We need a physician!" He yelled out hoping one would appear to help.

Astraea floated down to Romulus, he had set the woman down on a bench close to them, He was trying to untie her quickly. Worshipers now looked on in awe of what unfolded before them. The "cleric" lay on the floor whimpering in pain as the aetherial fire still burned on his flesh. 

"Romulus. Allow me." Astraea said gently placing a calming hand on his back, He looked to her before nodding his head and stepping back. She began chanting and as she did so the priestess began to float up from the bench, the ropes loosened around her and fell to the floor, SHe sighed with relief as she was no longer bound. "Open your eyes, my daughter," Astraea said gently. 

The priestess floated close to the Goddess before she opened her eyes, "m-my goddess! It is an honor! Thank you so much for saving me" tears began to fall down the Priestess's face as she looked upon her savior. 

Astraea reached out and wiped a tear from her cheek, "It is alright my Daughter, I heard your call." she placed both hands on the girl's face and kissed her forehead, a bright light exploded from the priestesses head before disappearing. "I have given you a gift, A gift you must give to any priestess who worships me, the gift of eternal life. So long as I am here you may remain as well, so long as you choose," She smiled at the girl as they both lowered to the ground. 

"Now, what is your name Priestess? And who is this man?" Astraea asked.

    The Priestess turned to the Goddess and curtsied "My Name is Nara Lovada, I have been in your service all my life." Nara straightened and then turned her head toward the man on the floor. "And this is Father Henri Jefferson. He is planning to convert all of your worshippers for his phony God. He knocked me out a few days ago and had been keeping me in that room ever since." A tear escaped her eyes as she looked over to the open door that had hidden her.

"Father Henri Jefferson. You have committed a great crime in MY Temple, and you be punished equally as great." Astraea boomed out, every worshipper in the temple could hear her. 

The ethereal flames that remained on his hand and spread up Henri's arm quickly covering his body, He began to scream in pain but he quickly turned to ashes that floated up and vanished in front of the Goddess.

Worshippers began to cheer the Goddess's name, "now my children, I have come in search of handmaidens to serve me in my new home." Astraea called out so all could hear.

"My Goddess," a small woman stood up from the crowd, her arm raised high. "I volunteer Myself and my two Daughters if they will agree. My name is Lily Crow, their names are Argo, age 15, and Nymph, age 18."  The two girls stood up next to their mother they bowed to the Goddess "We both agree to work in your service, Your Grace." one said.