In the 18th century when gods of the underworld ruled the kindness of men, their was a small kingdom in the mountains called Zamonda known for family and hunting of mountain goats.
A man called Hilox a married a very beautiful lady called Zara and the gave birth to a daughter and right from when she took her first breath the gods noticed, because there was non to be compared to her beauty. They goddess of lust became jealous as men of the underworld couldn't take their eyes of her... She was named Aria.
Aria grew up with lots of admiration from men and women alike. By the time she turned 16 a Marchant from the Persian kingdom came with many gold and sweet smelling ornaments to try and lure her parents into giving her out marriage, king Oman of Zamonda asked her to be his 6th wife and he would give her half of the kingdom and grant her any other wish she may have.
One morning in their farm house as she was tending to their sheeps animals she noticed blood from her underwear and quickly ran to her mother, afraid and confused.
"My dear it is nothing to worry about, right now you are now a woman" she began. "You must keep your virginty, it is the noble price you will give for the man who will win our hearts and I can foresee a prince from one of the six kingdoms of Persia."
"But mother what if I don't want to marry?" She said with a slightly tearfully eyes. "I have no desire for a man"
"It is a necessity my child, so not worry about that for now, come... come and clean up and then eat and rest, I'll take care of the sheeps until your father returns"
She left to fetch water from their shallow well and instead of seeing her own reflection she saw a reflection of a woman with horn, she quickly ran to her mother but she didn't believe her. Together they went but there was nothing to suggest that she was telling the truth. Her mother laughed and told her she may be having a fever and need to go bath and rest like she commanded earlier.
Hilox, Arias father came home looking so happy and Zar asked "My Husband what is it that so gladdens your heart?" The gods favoured me today my wife" he said, "I sold off all the sheep I took to the market and on my way back I received a gift from the Royal family" I inquired to know why but the kings guard said he didn't know but the gift of precious stones and gold was from the king amd that it was obvious that the gods are with me for the king to remember such a man from.poor background, a commoner"
"I do not think the gift was for no reason my husband" Zara said folding her hand and backing her husband.
"But I have not done any particular favours for the Royal family or the King" he said looking a bit confused.
"I think the king or maybe even the prince might be interested in marrying our daughter " she said with a low tone of voice not wanting Aria to hear.
"She's only but a child when she's old enough she can make her choice, and the Royal family will not be bad."
"What are you talking about Hilox? You are okey with our daughter been the sixth wife?" He asked angrily.
"Sixth wife of the King or even the Prince, that will elevate our status in Zamonda think about that my wife".
"Now you are been selfish my husband " she muttered to herself.
"How" he asked
"Are you not worried about the happiness of our daughter?"
"You are not worried if she loves the King or even the so called Price"
"Sometimes love is not enough, we don't even know where our next meal is going to come from, this maybe answers to our prayers" he said with a slight smile.
"I am disappointed Hilox" she said storming into the room angrily.
"Okey... Okey I'm sorry" Hilox screaming with broad smile
The Strange Sickness
Hilox has gone to market as usual trying to sell some sheep and goats but the problem is lots of people also sell the same and it was mid-day without a single goat or sheep exchange for money. Hilox was starting to get worried and decided to take a shade from the scotching sun in the shades then he saw people rushing a five different young men into the physician's place.
Hilox asked "what is the matter?"
One of the observers said lots of people have been down with a heavy cough all of a sudden and in a matter of hours they start coughing out blood and then drop dead "
Another said "And the physician do not seem to have any cure for this."
In two days so many people were down with cough and heavy vomiting of blood, even the Prince of Zamonda, there was fear and the king quickly summoned the Royal healers but nothing improved his condition and any delay means only one thing... Death!
The magicians tried, the chief priest summoned the gods to save the land but the Prince and many others will not get healed. Rather the sickness spread like a curse carried by the wind.
The king was desperate almost on his knees, the Chief Priest said to the King "My great king, if we do not act fast this kingdom will be reduced to a mere graveyard."
As the the kind was seeking counsel from the elders, warlords and the Chief priest, A shadow started approaching from the mountain, that appreciate came with a whirlwind and the people were forced to close their eyes has dust and sands were finding their ways into people's eyes, as the shadow approached closer, the chief priest exhaled joyfully in relief
"The gods has shown us mercy my king, he that approaches is the voice of the vail"
Oracle Velo, the blind seer from the mountains, she arrived barefoot, her eyes white like the starts so much that no one could behold her face and her head had a crown like a burning fire. She spoke with a trembling voice that echoes through the whole kingdom.
"The gods are angry, you have forgotten the old ways of your fathers and forefathers, and only the blood of a Virgin, pure and untouchable can cleanse the land."
That evening the king summoned the soldiers to capture all the young women in the kingdom anyone they can lay hold on.
When Hilox heard the news he quickly ran home and told his wife and the and they wrapped Aria with hay and his her inside the sheep pen and heaped hay on her.
That night about a hundred ladies were present before the king and the Royal physicians were called to test for virginty and twelve virgins were spotted and brought before the Chief Priest. To select the one fit for the sacrifice.
The twelve Virgin were stripped of their clothes and take into the Temple of Six flames, each flame represents each of the six kingdoms of Persia.
The whole temple was quite except from the drums of the dead been beaten to awaken the gods of the land.
People gathered outside the temple praying and hoping the gods accepts the sacrifice and heal the land and parents of the virgins were hoping their daughters aren't chosen for the sacrifice.
The Virgins will have to pass through the sacred floor barefoot and the chosen one will not be harmed because she will the one the gods will choose, the purest of the pure.
One by one the virgins matched, the first had only taken two steps before her foot started burning with visible blisters.
The second.
Third.
Fourth all burned .
Till the 12th.
Everyone believed she was the one... She walked the sacred floor almost through unharmed the she fell and her body burned.
And all the cheers immediately turned to murmur and confusion.
"What do they gods want! What do the gods want"
"We are finished" the crowd outside shouting in agony.
The Chief Priest quickly ran to the mountain of the Oracle, he fell down on his belly and cried loudly "Oracle Velo, we have done as you commanded but the gods have rejected all the virgins presented to them, You are the voice of the Vail, the great seer of the six kingdoms of Persia help us Lord Velo!"
An owl flew from the mountain and perched on his staff and he heard whisper which came with a hot air to his ear that they burned like he fell into a fire. "Go now go!"
He rose and the owl flew slowly perching from tree to tree and he followed it.
It got to the house of Hilox they lowly sheep keeper and perched at the pen's roof.
The Chief Priest understands.
"Zara asked how can we help you the great Chief Priest?"
"You have hidden your daughter woman, bring her out before the gods strikes you down"
She panicked and told him I have not seen my daughter for two days now.
The Chief Priest walked in and out he came clutching Arias wrist.
Aria was screening begging her parents to come to her rescue.
Her father begged and her mother wailed and fell on her knees screaming. "Leave her alone please, take me instead."
The Chief Priest stripped her immediately and dressed her in white silk and took her away.