Lorna lay in repose. Her belongings had been all but packed and her time in Arbor would find its zenith.
She was still weak, but her wounds had finally healed close, the poison of Sadira's blade all but siphoned from her body. She had taken full advantage of Dominic's strength, and he had packed both their things, while women ogled at the bare chested man, and she watched from the shadows.
She heard whispers, talk of a magical redhead here and felt the tiniest twinge of response. And lost herself to her past thoughts. Past memories of a time when life was quite different.
Pink Dust.
Pink Dust born to Sierra Blake, sister to Bianca, sister to Mavis, sister to Ayla, sister to Edith. The last born daughter to Sierra. Touched by fire, in more ways than one. Her destiny was said to be that of a life of both intrigue and turmoil.
Her childhood one of love and learning the healing arts with her sisters, and honored mother.
Her teen years proved different, something she always kept hidden now. For death would not be allowed to change her path. But it did.
Pink's life became one of collar and chains, stubbornly believing it was love.
The healer that was Pink Dust thought she was living happily, despite the maltreatment. Despite life amongst the black sands, of the Beachside Castle, where she learned not just to heal, but to cater to men and women of all kinds and trade.
Jormun was his name, The Scaly King.
And Pink thought it was love.
The harem of the Beachside Castle was renown. The secrets of Kings, Queens, princes, princesses, noblemen and women was their currency. The Castle thrived under the overbearing thumb of Jormun.
Until it did not, and unwarranted bruises were the norm for Pink.
Jormun had begun to thrive in hurting her. And when his malfience turned to the other in his harem, it was over.
And Pink Dust found herself the rightful owner of the Beachside Castle in Basildon.
The redhead could not forget that she was ruling with bloodstained hands, yet she would rule differently. All were given a choice. Some chose to follow the skin trade, some left with gold and wares to find their lives, and some even chose to learn the healing arts from Pink.
Her conscience plagued her, even as fewer visitors found their way to the weather beaten Beachside Castle.
It remained opulent, despite its outward appearance, none of it though could wash away the memory of what she had done. In the beginning she had convinced herself it was done for good reasons, that it was the only solution.
And only one solution came to mind.
Jormun had made many enemies amongst the trade, he stole, he killed for the best, and his harem had been amongst the elite. Pink traveled with him, as his personal medicine woman, and saw sands of many different colors, and remembered.
Steeling herself, she took the last of her harem with her across the sands and found her way amongst the sands of Sienna, to the Harem of Qadesh, and to Clara Rose.
And her decision would be a gamble. Her small battered harem traveled, leaving the black sands behind. She found herself instead on the blue sands of The Badlands of Azure Bay, and with Clara Rose.
Pink shared her truth with her, told her what she knew she already knew, and a barter was made. The Beachside Castle and the black sands for a chance at a new life. Where Pink Dust would be no more.
The Rings of Isis were those who were imbued with a magic like no other, an almost god-like power to create change, all for a sacrifice. The ritual was tedious, long, and as tears streamed down her eyes, Pink Dust began to fade away.
Features reformed, and kept hidden for a full moon, she would emerge. Still a firestarter, but a redhead no more.
"What shall be your new name?" She was asked.
She remembered her sisters, and her mother, lost to her. They were a lifetime ago she felt, but they were with her, "I have chosen to bear my family name. And my name shall be Lorna, Lorna Blake."
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