40 2nd Lifetime: Prayers

Cornelia scornfully laughed, "Is that any way for a Vestigal Court priestess to act?" She casted a look to Andrea. "And you shouldn't have spoken out of turn, rat."

Andrea's face paled, and her shoulders scrunched together, almost as if she were trying to be a turtle.

"Do not bully the servants, Cornelia. Do not break the unspoken rules," Ophelia directed a glare at the blonde girl, disgust in her eyes.

"Ha, and you didn't break an unspoken rule, oh Great One?"

"Cornelia." Ophelia's single word was laced with a warning and her eyes blazed with danger.

"Enough," Cornelia pushed herself up while using the table and very obviously ignored Ophelia. Ophelia turned red in fury.

Glancing at Mai, she pushed her plate onto the floor. "Pick this up, servant!" She hissed and stood up, knocking her chair onto the ground.

Silence fell around the table as the other girls quietly ate.

Mai stood up from her seat and quietly cleaned up the messes of both girls. They were like children as they fought. She chuckled within her heart. It wasn't worth it to get worked up over children.

.........

It was night, and Mai fell into a fitful slumber, the covers falling away and landing on her bed. She dreamt of the man again.

He was in bed, the color drained from his face. His long, black hair was spread all around him like a halo, while his features were awe-inspiring. However, his breaths were shallow, and Mai felt a deep fear in her heart. What if he stopped breathing? Even the mere thought of that pained her.

Stepping forward, she leaned in closer to the man, trying to examine his breath. However, she could not feel a thing. Frightened, Mai moved her attention away from the man's breathing to his chest. Watching intently, she wish for it to rise.

He couldn't die.

She lo-

She woke up, her heart racing a mile a minute. She had sweated so much that her thin robes stuck to her body. She reached her hand underneath her pillow and comfortingly grabbed the hairpin. It was going to be alright. He was going to be alright.

Suddenly, Mai heard a creaking sound. She turned towards the door, her heart pensive. She listened.

No other sounds came, but Mai still wanted to make sure. She stood and walked to the door, placing her ears flat on its wooden surface. Nothing.

Mai hesitated. It was a rule for the priestesses to not open their doors after bedtime. If she broke it, she could face repercussions that she wouldn't be able to overcome.

However- she quickly looked around the room- a mirror should do the trick. Finding one in her vanity's drawer, she slowly stuck it underneath the door. Moving it around, she saw nothing in its reflection.

How odd.

She had clearly heard a creak.

...................................

The morning began with breakfast before dawn like always. The servants- Mai included- had to wake up even earlier, preparing the dining table and the food.

"Straighten up your back." Cornelia pinched Mai's side, her fingers digging into her skin. Mai jerked, surprised.

It was at this moment that the head priestess entered.

All of the young priestesses straightened up.