Wedding

[Bunny]

John stopped his charge mid-stride when Ruth's orders rang through the air. He had an unusual moment of foresight, and backed up out of Malachai's rang before he shouted of his shoulder at the fleeing child, "Don't just shout things like that! Look, you gotta not run away like a frightened little girl after saying something like that! What if I hadn't heard you? You might be the mouthpiece of Isaac, but you don't have his authority! Don't act like it, you piece of --- " he broke off from his curse, and instead turned his head back to Malachai. "I am showing so much restraint right now! Isaac told me not to kill you, and I respect him, so I'm not going to, but you are lucky I'm such a good follower of He Who Walks Behind the Rows! I'm being lagged away."

With that misuse of the word 'lagged' John turned all the way around and fled from Malachai, leaving the red-head and his lover alone.

[Malachai09gal<3]

Malachai watched as John left, once he was gone, he immediately came to Lucrisha's side; "why didn't they just kill me Malachai? I'm in so much pain" she sobbed as Malachai ran his fingers through her hair; "John is gone now, I'll take you to the healer, he'll give your strength back, another outlander walks among the rows, the blue woman-" Lucrisha tried sitting up whilst clutching her stomach; "take me to the blue woman then, I need REAL help!" Malachai was shocked by her outburst, they were in enough danger as it was and Lucrisha was putting them on more of a risk, part of Malachai told him to Lucrisha and put her out of her misery, if he were to do that, he'd be reaccepted (hopefully).
However he couldn't bare to hurt her, he was confused.

[Bunny]

He Who Walks Behind the Rows did come, just as he promised Isaac he would.

He did not move through the dirt, or appear physically before the lovers, of course. Instead he appeared, using what some would say, at his most deadly.

He spoke.

His voice rang from every stalk of corn. A sweet, kindly voice - almost too good to be true. Some would hear it and automatically be comforted by its sweetness, its kind, thoughtful tone. It had an undeniable sense of authority rushing through it as well, as though it belonged to a kindly Father.

It was one voice. One voice, yet it seemed to be made up of the voices of a thousand different forms, of different gender, race, and age.

It was He Who Walks Behind the Rows.

Malachai, he asked, Why have you turned away from me? You were the child I loved most, but you have become a fallen angel and have turned against me.

Lucifer, why did you carry my child Lucrisha with you? She was innocent, but you corrupted her. She was virtuous, but you tainted her. Then, she was to be offered up unto me, for that is the only way to purify corruption and taint. She was mine, but you took her.

The sky had been an azure blue. Time had passed since the noontime wedding, the sun was still high in the sky. But, even as the Corn-Deity spoke, it darkened. A trail of red, as though spilled blood, streamed across the sky, coating the cloudless heavens a crude crimson.


But it was you who ruined her, Lucifer.

I have not forgotten you. You have protected my children and watched over this holy land. I have not forgotten Lucrisha, either, who was once brought glory to me.

So I offer you this.

Lucrisha's blood must be spilled. Her body has been ruined, and I demand it.

I can save her soul, however.

Your soul has become rebellious, Lucifer. With the responsibilities my Voice has given to you, you have become prideful and arrogant, corrupt like an adult. Your soul can no longer taint my Children, but I will allow it to come to me.

Spill the Blood of Lucrisha, for her body is tainted.

Offer your soul to me.

And I shall give Lucrisha new life, through your veins.

[Malachai09gal<3]

Hearing the words spoken by HWWBTR himself frightened Malachai, but the words he spoke frightened him more, knowing he had to kill Lucrisha scared him, but it was in His will to spill her blood, but knowing he had take his own life was something he couldn't understand.

He took out his knife, he was kneeling on the ground with Lucrisha sound asleep on his knees, he stroked her hair, then pulled some off of her neck, he raised his blade and was about to slash her neck, however she'd woken up as he was doing this, he'd gotten a fright seeing her, he accidentally stabbed himself in the knee;

"Malachai...what's going on? You're hurt" her eyes were wide as she notices the wound he put on himself, he looked at her; "Lucrisha...I have to kill you, then I have to kill myself, I heard him, HWWBTR, he told me I must take both your life and my own" she looked at him, slightly afraid, but she understood what he was asking of her;

"if it's His will, then yes, you must take His orders and spill my blood....but why take your own life when you mean a great deal to both Issac and HWWBTR?" Malachai didn't understand how Lucrisha didn't care about her blood being spilt, but she cared so much about his life and his reputation as Issac's right hand man, perhaps she knew that she made him too soft or ruined him.

He looked at her then sighed; "I've betrayed both the Lord and Issac by letting you live, Lucrisha I don't want to hurt you, and I don't understand why I'm the one who has to do this-" Lucrisha's anger fired up, she was finally able to stand up, she looked at him; "you don't understand why you're the one doing the dirty work? You don't understand why you're the one who has to 'take care' of me? Malachai, I thought that by now you'd understood, you've ALWAYS been doing the dirty work! You're the one who carried out Issac's wishes and killed anyone who dares walk through the rows, I've seen you do it, so why not do it now? Take me! Kill me DO IT!!!"

Malachai was becoming frustrated by her anger, she was the first person who was able to stand up to him, and he didn't like it, he got out his hunting knife and slashed her throat, then stabbed her in the chest, she fell to the ground and died. Malachai was shocked by what he'd done, however that was only half of the command, he was covered in his beloves blood, he looked behind him, seeing Amos, Isaac and Rachel.

[Sly Cooper]

Damon walked back to the clearing. He wanted sleep so desperately, but so did everyone in the boys' communal home. Everyone's biggest complaint-- John never shut up. So why not come to the calmest, most peaceful place in Gatlin. Or not. So there was a lot going on, as always.

"Isaac, can I help you in anyway?" Once again, he always thought Isaac deserved a break more than anyone. He bowed his head to show a good gesture.

[Bunny]

Isaac turned to Damon, raising his eyebrows delicately at the younger boy. For all that he had on his mind, he had not forgotten the ceremony he had performed many hours before. "I am pleased with your devout nature, Damon," he complimented, "but your presence troubles me. Do you not have a daughter of He Who Walks Behind the Rows warming a bed for you? Why do you come to my aid instead of lying with Rebekah?" His tone was relaxed, and calm, carrying itself with the same grace that its owner did. For his concerns had already been washed away. The Outlander would be disposed of, and He Who Walks Behind the Rows would take the Jezebel and Malachai himself. The Lord did take care of his children, and Isaac was most pleased with the illustration of that fact.

[Sly Cooper]

Damon looked away shyly. "Isaac, I know I can ask you to take pity, but what of He Who Walks Behind the Rows. I'm afraid I've committed heresy, and I am willing to pay the price, but I don't feel done with this life, and I am scared." Hunched over, he rubbed the back of his head. He felt worse about the way he felt about things then what he had done. After all, Damon didn't feel that he should be scared, He Who Walks Behind the Rows, although not very forgiving, at least loved his children.

[Bunny]

Isaac couldn't help it. The moment Damon spoke the word 'heresy' one stray, rebellious neuron sent a message scrawled throughout his brain: Oh, Lord, what now?

He didn't voice this, of course. The very thought in itself bordered on blasphemy, as though he was displeased with how his God was treating him on this day. He would pray for guidance regarding that, later.

Now, however, he kept his face and tone controlled. Not a flicker of the discomfort or his growing irritation with the fold was to be seen. "And what is your Sin, my child?"

[Sly Cooper]

"Well-- you see." Damon wasn't sure how to go about it. "Rebekah and I were having trouble with the consummation. But we needed to have a child. So, Rebekah got this idea." His voice cracked, "We were going to Hemingford and stealing a baby, claiming it as our own. Well, I went along with this. But the Lord did not stop us, so it seemed okay. So when we got there we broke into an outlander's home, Rebekah killed an adult, and I took the child. I had to come back for Rebekah, because it would make me a VERY bad husband to leave her there. But then this creepy man, hurt Rebekah and then took me inside, drugged me and tried to interrogate me. So then after being kidnapped by the blue woman, I was dragged back, and then I went back to get my family." Damon paused and glanced up at Isaac. "Well, I got them back, we walked back to Gatlin, and Rebekah and I got into a slight argument. She thought my idea was stupid, but I couldn't take all the insults and head bashings so... I kind of freaked out, and that's when I came to you." He let out a heavy sigh. "So, I will do what I need, and I will except any punishment. I brought it on myself for not stopping Rebekah, when i knew she was wrong."

[Dot Dot Dot]

Ruth had collapsed underneath the shadow of the Blue-Man, her head swirling with exhaustion and muddled thoughts, her small legs weak from all the running Isaac had made her do. But even her sore legs were willing to hoist her up - she needed her entire body standing to sustain the shock she felt coursing through her body. Damon hadn't been speaking to her, and she knew Isaac would probably have her punished for speaking out of turn, but she could not hold her tongue. "You did what?!" she screeched, her eyes growing wide and terrified. "Y-you brought an Outlander among us?" The very idea made Ruth crumble once again, curling into a ball and hiding her eyes beneath her hands as though that would protect her.

[Sly Cooper]

Damon bowed his head at Ruth, knowing full well that she was correct. "I just hope that God may justify my death. I know full well I am to be punished, and I fully accept it." He looked to the small preacher boy. "I just hope you won't hold my poor judgment against my character. I won't fight. Malachai's done enough of that for everyone in Gatlin. So, even though I've given a hard time about the whole-- Hemingofrd thing-- I won't give you a hard time about my crucifixion." Damon looked up at the sky, and absorbed his surroundings. After all it would be the last time.

[Bunny]

For a long moment, Isaac was silent. He held his tongue as Damon listed his numerous sins, and did but blink at Ruth's interruption.

Isaac was silent, but his mind was not. It reeled, willing its master to collapse beneath the stress of the day. Esau, Malachai, Lucrisha, Damon, Rebekah. Were all of the Lord's Children damning themselves to hell? Or was it a test sent by He Who Walks Behind the Rows. Was he displeased with Isaac's herding of the fold? Had he been inadequate?

No, that could not be it. No one else had the virtue, the intellect, and the nature to humbly and carefully lead the Children on the path of righteousness. He Who Walks Behind the Rows was surely pleased with Isaac. Had he not just said so, himself? Had he not just vowed to remove Malachai himself because he was so pleased with his boy preacher? Isaac was perfect, he knew this.

It was the Children who were inadequate.

Malachai had sinned, it was true. He had taken Lucrisha from the cross and had dared to raise his dagger against the Giver of His Laws. But Damon and his wife Rebekah had endangered them all.

But Isaac, he had run out of the fiery rage that had fueled him before. All he had was arctic disgust, and he offered it forward by the bucketfull.

His voice was dreadfully calm. "Damon," he began, his voice nearly monotone, "you disappoint me, and you displease the Lord." It lowered a pitch, "I never knew one could be so foolish. Your sins are even more numerous than you dared to name. If the Lord did want for you to have a child, he would have filled Rebekah's womb. You have twisted his actions, and had viewed his forgiveness and trust of you to return from Hemingford as permission to sin freely, and to endanger us all."

OOC: Meh post. *hangs head in shame* I'm sorry. >_< Isaac is...he's so moody today. Part of it is me; I'm getting tired having him scream all the time. xD Now he's displeased. VERY DISPLEASED!

[Malachai09gal<3]

Malachai returned to the clearing where he saw a bunch of children surrounding him; "Lucrisha is dead! Her blood has been spilled among the rows, soon she'll belong to him" Malachai was practically shaking, still in disbelief on what he'd done.
OOC short reply but I couldn't think of anything

[Sly Cooper]

"I-I-" Damon tried to explain, but he just hung his head in shame, "I was trying to obey my wife, and it was foolish of me. What shall I do? What does He Who Walks Behind the Rows command? I just-- I wanted-- I'm sorry."

OOC: I'm not even sure how to get out of this one.... Imma gonna get killed off arent I XD

[Bunny]

OOC: Isaac's one dude. He can't keep track of EVERYONE! xD

Isaac's blue gaze raked over Damon's kneeled form. "Our God is not one of forgiveness," he reminded Damon. "Did you not know that your actions have been an insult unto the Him, and have placed this Happy Place in peril?"

The Blue-Woman that had been just killed hadn't been brought by Damon, no. The day before one of the smaller children had been found broken and beaten beside the road. It was doubtlessly her doing, and had been long before Damon and Rebekah had begun their unholy pilgrimage. But they had spilled the blood of the Outlanders, well past the Holy Borders, and had taken one of the cursed back to their very home. More would come. And more.

"But how much peril is something I cannot foresee..." Isaac murmured, more to himself than to the shivering boy before him. Remembering his place, he added, "I will commune with the Lord about this matter, as well as your punishment." Damon's blood would have to be spilled, surely.

But in all practicality, he was an able-bodied male, and clearly still had allegiance to He Who Walks Behind the Rows and to Isaac himself. He could prove useful in the troubled times ahead.

Isaac was still pondering this when Malachai shouldered his way through the corn. The boy preacher did not hear the words the red head spoke, for they mattered not. "Seize him!" he ordered.

OOC: See previous ooc note. xD