Iris stepped out of the car and took a long gaze at the majestic cathedral in front of her. In front of it, a gigantic stone arch cast a shadow which engulfed her under its shade. Because of its massive proportion, the cathedral had its tip pierced through the clouds and dwarfed the surrounding architectures into oblivion.
Feeling the soft breeze, Iris raised her head to the sky. Along the horizon, a great fleet of dark clouds fluttered and slowly devoured the bright sky, covering the world from the grace of sunlight. A storm was coming. She roped her flowy hair around her neck and swung them back. With her movement, a chilly gale blew, bracing her deep blue hair in the air.
Behind her, Herrifer hastily got out of the car and adjusted her clothes, her face pink. She glanced at the maids inside the car. They said nothing as if they didn't hear her soft, shivering cries. She looked down at her trembling hands, trying to control her breath. She shouldn't have drunk the wine and taken her sister's challenge. Was resisting temptation always that hard?
She turned to her sister and saw her hair dancing in the air, her loose blue dress fluttering. Enchanted, Herrifer felt the cold wind which caressed her body and clashed against the heat inside her chest. Her legs went weak. Her chest tensed. She failed to take control over her eyes, which fixated at Iris's mystical, floating hair, divine, alluring.
"Are you finished, Heria?" Iris slowly turned around, a smile on her face, glitters in her eyes. "I told you, it’d be unforgettable."
"Why did you do this? Aren't you ashamed of yourself?"
"Someone might hear us," Iris said, sauntered to Herrifer, and leant beside her ear. "You didn't resist, did you? You know I mean well. Don't worry. The first time is the hardest."
Feeling Iris's breath on her earlobe, Herrifer pushed Iris away and averted her gaze. She quickly straightened her priestess uniform, dust her shoulders, and speedily walked off, gasping, agitated. The cold wind continued to caress her sensitive bare arms, tingling her inside, though it was less numbing compared to what Iris did to her. Maybe it was for the better. Still, she couldn't take her mind off the matter. They were blood-related. She shouldn't have any strange idea.
Looking at Herrifer, Iris knew what her sister was thinking. She quickly caught up, walking slightly behind Herrifer, watching her blushing face and her trembling shoulders. Though Herrifer was donning a priestess uniform, she looked indecent, tempting. It reminded Iris of her past self, pure and corruptible.
Herrifer maintained silence and marched forward, focusing on the upcoming test. The path leading to the sky-high cathedral stretched outwards, with the expanding garden of flowers and plants on the side. Their fragrance infused the air with a tranquillity that dispelled anxiety and the delight that graced her body, filling her with intense zeal for the Lord, the creator of the world.
Reaching the tall metallic gate of the cathedral, Herrifer bowed to the two priestesses waiting for her and took out an exquisite silver cross. On it was a scripture of the Lord and her name engraved in golden colour. One of the priestesses stepped forward to check the authenticity. She softly rubbed the handle, which brightened under her power of faith.
"Lady Herrifer, we've been waiting for you. Please follow us into the Faith Examination Chamber. May the Lord bless you," the priestess said and glanced at Iris, who beamed at her, filling her air with a fineness that extended through her hair, which glittered vibrantly under the dim sunlight. "I'm sorry, Miss, but only Lady Herrifer can go through."
"She might look different, but she is my sister, Elizabeth," Herrifer frown and said. "She’s here to cheer on me. I believe there is nothing wrong with that, right?"
The priestesses looked at one another, shocked at Iris's new appearance. They weren't sure, but the Goodwills Family was one of the Church’s pillars and thus granted a special privilege.
"If Lady Herrifer said so," one of them said and bowed to Iris. "Please let us guide you into the Chamber, Lady Elizabeth."
Iris looked at the familiar engravement on the wall, detailing the fables of old and the testaments of the Lord. The metallic texture and the images carved in it reflected against the slowly darkening sunlight, glittering like the stars in the night sky. Iris had been here a few times. It was the place towards which the past her felt indifferent.
"No need," she said and walked up to Herrifer, standing beside her, smiling. "I'll guide Heria to the Chamber myself. Please let us have some alone time."
"But the order—"
Iris raised her hand and placed her fingertip on her lips. Her deep blue eyes pierced the priestess's confidence and forced her to eat her words. She looked down and retreated to her friend, unable to go against the authority of the voice. It was as if she was speaking to the prophet of the Lord. Iris commanded such presence and dignity that she felt compelled to give up her life to fulfil her wish.
"The Lord knows and listens. We'll be going now. Tell your superior that I request it be so."
Herrifer quivered as Iris placed her hand on her shoulder, softly squeezing. She tried to protest, but the blueness radiated from her sister dress and eyes and hair drowned her, catching her breath, holding it in her lungs. She merely stared at her sister until the priestesses were gone.
"What are you planning?" Herrifer said. "Father is the one who drags you here, not me. So don't try to take it out on me."
"Follow me. Don't get lost now."
Iris stepped into the cathedral. Made with reflective metal and stained glasses, the walls and the windows stood tall, towering over the two sisters as if the divine judges were looking down on them, scrutinising their every movement, their every thought, their every emotion. In contrast to the colourful, majestic design of the building, the floor was made of a simple reflective tile with a soft red carpet resting on it.
Unfamiliar with the environment, Herrifer stiffly walked, keeping herself close to Iris, who luxuriously strolled across the building, looking at various divine statues and scriptures on the side. She let the tail of her dress flow behind her and deliberately kept her pace slow, knowing Herrifer would try to approach her. Nervous yet cute.
"Alice, where are we going?"
"The Faith Examination Chamber." Iris stopped and turned to her sister. "Are you tired? Nervous? I can comfort you if you want."
"I'm fine. I'm just unsure where we are. I haven't seen anyone else since we came in." Herrifer twiddled her hair, her eyes contracting. "I'm a little nervous."
Iris smirked and walked to Herrifer, who timidly backstepped until she was against a pillar. The cold metallic surface chilled her clothed skin and the back of her thighs. She tensed. Iris moved her face until it was a breathing distance away from Herrifer's. She pushed her leg forward and placed it in between Herrifer's, caressing her inner legs.
"Are you hoping for this?" Iris whispered. She tilted her face and leant closer. Her lips hovered in front of Herrifer’s, trembling. "I'm waiting for an answer, Heria."
The moist breath diffused in front of Herrifer, who breathed it in and felt the heat rising in her chest. Though ashamed, her eyes couldn't move away from Iris's. The deep blue abysses dragged her into a whirlpool of profound emotions, peculiar yet charming. She tried to shrink from Iris's advance, but they were too close.
"Sis, we're in the church of the Lord," Herrifer murmured. "This is forbidden, not allowed. The Lord will punish us."
"Don't worry. I have permission." Iris grabbed Herrifer's wrist and locked it against the pillar above her head, the other hand sliding behind her back, grasping her waist. "So, your answer?"
Confused yet excited, Herrifer closed her eyes, anticipating a bitter, sweet, heavy, soft, obscene sensation. Her cheeks puffed. Her lips quivered. Tears faintly swelled in her eyes. Her sensitive skin pricked her heart as Iris lovingly grazed her flesh with the wisps of warm pants.
She waited, but Iris pulled away, completely and efficiently detaching from her. The steamy atmosphere instantly vanished into the thick air, which lingered around Herrifer, who gasped from breaths, trying to calm herself down, yet the fire in her heart kept spreading.
"Why?" she said, her voice quivering. "What did I do wrong?"
"You haven't done anything. That's the problem." Iris hid her lips with her hand. Her eyes curved up, teasing. "I'm just showing you what you can have if you pass the test."
"The test?" Herrifer suddenly remembered. Her face flushed, but the determination gradually emerged. "I'll show you, Sis. I will pass. The Lord will be pleased."
"I'm sure you won't disappoint me." Iris turned away and resumed walking as if nothing had happened. "I'll be watching you, so do your best, Dear."
Herrifer nodded and followed behind. The red carpet beneath her feet now felt like a pool of roses that would lead her into the comfortable bedroom, where she and her sister would be together alone, doing strange, wonderous things. What was she thinking? The exam first!
She lightly slapped herself and quickly caught up to Iris, walking side by side. She rubbed her lonely hands while glancing at Iris's. By telling herself that it was to calm down for the examination, she sneakily placed her hand beside Iris's and gradually closed it, trying her hardest to softly touch the fingers.
"If you want to, do it. As long as you like," Iris glanced at her adorable little sister and said.
Not saying anything, Herrifer held Iris's hand. Her sensitive skin itched, but a strange sense of security flooded her mind and body, filling her with refreshing emotions she never experienced. It was numbing yet tingling, exciting yet peaceful. Was it love? Impossible. She loved her own sister?
It wasn't long until Iris came to a halt before the Faith Examination Chamber. Iris couldn't enter with Herrifer, so she pulled her hand away. Noticing some reluctance to part in Herrifer's eyes, Iris smiled.
"Already losing your confidence?" Iris teased, giggling. "Even if you can't see me, know that I'm cheering you on."
"I know, Alice. I'll win. I'll prove to you my talent." Herrifer glanced at Iris's lips then immediately averted her eyes. "Don't forget your promise."
"Say that after you pass it," Iris said and looked at the gate. "Do it for me, at least."
In her past life, there was only disappointment and disillusionment in that room. She had never been able to connect with the Lord or felt the Lord's presence. She was considered a cursed child, abandoned by faith. Yet, in her unexpected death, the Lord came to her, gave her a new life. Why?
After Herrifer entered the Chamber, Iris retracted her smile and walked away, heading in another direction, where a priestess stood waiting. Unlike the two priestesses before, she donned in a black ceremonial cloak, a signature of the higher-ranked priestess.
"Lady Elizabeth, we've received your request. Please follow us to the Hall of Verdict," the priestess bowed and said, sounding indifferent, not shocked at Iris's new appearance at all.
Iris merely smiled and followed her. The purple necklace on her neck faintly glowed.
More fun awaits.
Fun~