For realmof_themuse Vitiate - to corrupt, debase or invalidate
Peninnah had been feeling ill and out of sorts all morning. She had never been sick but had cared for enough others to realize she needed to rest. She spent most of the day relaxing with a book and trying to ignore the odd feelings and pains she had in his midsection. She had defended several people on the streets lately but she did not think she was injured enough to be in pain. The feeling did not seem to subside.
Unable to sit still any longer Peninnah went into the small bathroom to adjust her head scarves. She had almost finished when she noticed a stain on her festive, pale peach robes. Peninnah took hold of the fabric and gazed down at the dark brown splotch. It was dried blood. Peninnah had seen the same in many battles and on many bandaged wounds. Worry filled her as she retraced her steps through the church in an attempt to find the source. Agatha had not been injured and Fyre had been out all day. Neither were the source for the mysterious blood.
She stopped in the foyer trying to feel for the location of the blood she had gotten on her robes. Slowly, her head turned down to look at her feet with ever widening eyes. Blood was staining a strip of tan fur to brown on the inside of her leg. She didn’t remember being cut. The whole situation made her nauseaus as she walked back to the bathroom to clean her foot and retrieve a bucket to clean up the blood she had tracked around in the foyer. She was still no closer to discovering the source.
Peninnah pulled off the stained robe which she hung on the towel rack. The blood was clearly on her legs. Its presence confused her as she hiked up her dress to investigate. The blood up higher was still damp. Touching it with her fingers she became afraid. The blood was leaking out of her body. Blood shouldn’t do that from any body unless it was injured.
Peninnah shrieked from fear and lack of understanding. She tried to brush it away frantically before fleeing to the shower. She didn’t even think to remove the dress when she stepped into the hot water. All she wanted was the blood to stop. She scrubbed it clean then stepped out to dry off. In moments she discovered more blood on the towel. Her breath shortened as she tried to understand what had happened. Was she being punished again?
Peninnah dropped the towel and went back into the shower. Once more she scrubbed but the bleeding continued. It went on until the water turned cold. The bleeding hadn’t stopped. She didn’t understand. Cold and afraid she curled in the shower with her wings wrapped tight around her body. Peninnah sobbed and prayed to the Lord to stop the bleeding. She begged to know what she had done to be hurt in such a way. No answer came and she cried harder until the sobs subsided. They soon came again but Peninnah was starting to fall asleep in the bath tub. The shower was still on but she ignored it as she cradled her stomach. She still hurt and every now and then she could see blood in the water. Peninnah had more experience dealing with the injuries of others. Never had she seen blood like this except when a woman gave birth but she was neither a woman or pregnant.
Peninnah sat there with her head against the wall shivering in her soaked dress. The stifled sobs had brought on the hiccups as she fought to stay awake. She was afraid to sleep, afraid to stand up and most fearful that someone would see her like she was. Everything kept her rooted in the shower.
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