Phebe gasped and tears filled her eyes. “You remember…”

The two of us sat staring at one another as Phebe trailed off the scripture I held most sacred. Two young girls now grown. Lives lived, but not together. Scars borne, but not inflicted by the other. Two girls bonded, but no more than strangers. Intertwined pasts, but frayed and lonely futures.

Phebe’s head tipped to the side. “You are the most beautiful thing I have ever beheld. The rumors of your beauty are not exaggerated.”

A shiver ran down my spine. “I am a Cursed, Phebe. I am born of Satan.”

Phebe’s eyes dipped. “This I know.”

“My mother…” I hushed out.

Phebe nodded sadly. “They came for her, tried her as a heretic. At first, she denied their claims that she had lain with Satan and bore his cursed child. But after days of trials, she grew weak and confessed. She was executed quickly and given a proper burial for her repentance.”

I felt a physical pain slice through my heart for the woman that gave me life. I vaguely remembered her, but I did not know her well. My memories were fleeting glimpses of her brushing my hair and securing it in my headdress to hide its blond color and length. I remember her trimming my long, dark eyelashes with scissors so my eyes did not draw attention. A white cream would be rubbed onto my cheeks to ensure I looked pale, and a dark powder would be dabbed under my eyes so they looked sunken and tired.

My shaking fingers had lifted to my face and were circling the skin under my eyes. Phebe took my hand in hers and lowered them to my knees.

“I remember her doing strange things to me, almost hiding who I was.”

A single tear dropped from Phebe’s eye. “She tried to disguise your incredible beauty. She did not want you to pull the attention of the disciples… of Brother Luke.”

The reality and guttering dread of my mother’s actions hit home and the profuse shaking of my body could not be stopped.

Phebe noticed and placed her hand on my knee.

“Then it is true,” I said in a quivering voice.

“What?”

“That my mother joined with Satan… and together they made me.”

Phebe drew in a breath but reluctantly nodded. “Yes.”

“Then everything is true about me, sister? I truly am evil.”

Phebe dipped her eyes, then looked up at me through her lashes. “But you are here in New Zion and you will be saved now, Delilah.”

I nodded numbly, but inside I was broken. Phebe, seeing I had no desire to talk more, walked to a tray on a night table that she must have brought in. Walking toward me, she held a pair of scissors in her hands. “I am to free you from your bonds.”

Holding out my hands and feet, Phebe sliced through the rope, and my bones burned where the rope had rubbed at the flesh, the skin bright red and blistered.

But I did not feel the pain, stark resignation washing away all feeling. Ky and Mae had tried to convince me that I was wrong about being a temptress, that the prophet and elders had convinced me of this truth to control me, to keep me doing their bidding. But hearing my mother had actually joined with Satan, had been tried and sought repentance, told me all I needed to know.

I, Delilah, was a Cursed… and had been swayed by the outside world.

“Can you walk?” Phebe asked, and I automatically nodded my head.

“Then we shall take a walk. I am sure you are eager to see your new commune. Prophet Cain gathered all of the communes and brought them together.”

That got my attention. “All the communes?”

Phebe held out her hand for me to take and pulled me to my feet. I gritted my teeth at the soreness of my ankles, but the pain faded as my curiosity grew.

“Yes, all the communes. There were hundreds all over the world. After the outside attack and the death of Prophet David, Prophet Cain ascended and along with the council of elders, they brought us here.”

The confused look upon my face must have alerted Phebe to my shock. “Did you not know this, Delilah?”

I shook my head.

“Then where did you think you had lived before you were taken to the prophet as Cursed?”

My heart rate increased. “I… I always thought I was at another part of the same commune. But… I do not remember much of my childhood, so I never thought of it at all. My entire life we, the Cursed, were kept separate from everyone else. Interaction with the other chosen ones was forbidden. It was too dangerous for their souls to be exposed to us harlot women.”

Phebe nodded in understanding yet pulled me to the door. I wrenched my arm back. “Wait! I doubt Prophet Cain has changed the rules for me. I am forbidden from leaving these quarters.”

Phebe glanced to the door. “We will keep to the secluded path. We will not be seen. We have about an hour until Brother Micah will come for you. Morning worship is in service and only I was assigned to watch you.”

“Why you?” I asked.

Phebe smiled and a flush crept up her cheeks. “I am a decorated sister…” My eyebrows furrowed, and Phebe flicked back her hair. “I am also the consort to our prophet’s brother, Judah. I hold an elevated status amongst the women.”

Phebe looked so proud and so honored to be by Judah’s side, but the one and only time I had met the man, all I felt was coldness.

“Come. There is much to see,” Phebe said excitedly, pulling me through the door and into the morning sun.

*****

Prophet David’s familiar voice played through large speakers at the scared circle, and I could not believe my eyes.