An Apple for Julia

The WAAAGH cries of the foul greenskins came from all around. Her body was covered with sweat and Xenos blood as she panted, pulling her two-handed sword away from her latest kill. Her sense of satisfaction was soon replaced with excruciating pain as she felt a filthy Ork's Choppa dig into her left arm and wrench it free from her body. Her blood-curdling screams echoed through her mind. The pain was like nothing she had felt before. Yet, by the grace of a god, she had survived the green terrors and even killed more, wielding her Eviscerator with only one hand.

At death's door, she was ready to meet the Emperor. Then, finally, she would rest. Her duty would be fulfilled, but this end she was hoping for would not come to pass. She looked up to see Sister Luvia's scarred face, smiling weakly. Her high cheekbones caused the fleur de Lys tattooed on her left cheek to appear three-dimensional. The woman's golden hair was messy, her emerald eyes filled with concern and something else Julia didn't recognise. Then slowly, Julia's sight blurred until she was surrounded by darkness.

Later that day, her eyes fluttered open, adjusting to the artificial lumens of the infirmary. She blinked until she could make out Mistress Delphine standing next to her bed in long ice-blue robes and white furs. The woman informed Julia that Sisters Luvia and Mila had come to her rescue. But unfortunately, they had quenched the blood flow from her would-be fatal injury, effectively depriving her of the glory of dying for the Emperor. Furthermore, her saviours would be punished. Once the greenskins were purged, the sisters returned to their homeworld, where both received ten lashings and were deprived of nourishment for two days.

\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_

It had been two weeks since that fateful day. Julia lay on a cold slab of ferrocrete without blankets or a pillow for her head. As she listened to the soft, rhythmic snoring of Sister Belle, her mind wandered, and echoes of that day replayed through her thoughts. So many nights had come and gone since she had been granted another chance to serve the Emperor. She wondered if it would have been better to die. Conflicted, she waited to fall into the arms of Morpheus, but sleep did not come to her. Instead, Julia's body tingled with exhaustion and echoes of the nightmare that plagued her dreams.

Sunrise came swiftly as golden light slipped through the dormitory windows. Julia flexed her mechanical fingers. They responded better than she would have expected. She scratched the tiny itchy bumps on her head with her good right hand. Before anyone noticed, Julia would have to shave the unnaturally dark roots sprouting from her scalp. Even though she should have been angry, Julia was grateful to be still alive.

The room smelled of incense. But unfortunately, it wasn't enough to hide the musky smell of mould that tickled her nose. Suddenly, the aroma changed to something much more pleasing. Julia raised her head from her slab, confused by the faint scent of freshly baked apple pie. Today was a fasting day; the odour seemed out of place but strangely comforting. She sat on the edge of her slab, watching her sisters wake slowly with the sun.

Julia's stomach growled loudly. She tried to ignore it as old memories of sitting in a kitchen, watching a pie cool on a dinner table, brought a smile to the corners of her lips. She wished she could go back to that moment with her family and, this time, stay with them. But instead, an official-looking rich man in red and golden robes had entered her home and simply taken her away. She remembered her mother's face. She had a warm and comforting smile framed by golden locks just like her own. Her eyes were proud, but she also noted pain in those golden-brown eyes. A pang of resentment and longing rose in her, but Julia pushed it down. The Emperor needed her to do his work, not to be distracted by apples and pies.

With the confidence of a seasoned member of the Adepta Sororitas, Julia strode down the long stone corridor ignoring the kitchen on her left. Her stomach grumbled again, the aroma of apple pie refusing to let her be. Soon, she crossed the threshold of the stone worship room. At the front of the room stood a large statue of the Emperor, whose golden eyes bore into Julia's soul, demanding her service. The sisters lined up, and the Mistress of Repentia, Delphine Delongchamps, walked in front of the lines upon lines of disavowed sisters. She was a tall woman who wore a permanent scowl, her dark eyes filled with holy rage. Her small mouth did not prevent her from being heard. When she spoke, everyone listened, almost everyone.

'We serve the Emperor with our faith and devotion. But there must also come sacrifice with faith.' Delongchamps' voice boomed, echoing through the room.

'We live by the Emperor's grace and die in His name.' Julia's voice rose to join that of her Sisters. The litanies continued, but Julia's mind wandered.

'Julia.'

She smiled as a familiar voice whispered her name. It sounded like Luvia, but it was also slightly different.

Julia remembered walking into the chapel and seeing a small group of newly Repentant sisters. Her heart swelled with joy when she saw Belle, Luvia, Mila and Solange, heads down in shame, standing disgraced with torn robes and shaven heads. Julia had smiled but quickly recovered, handing the sisters their new clothes. She explained their quest to find absolution and started preaching solemnly. Luvia's emerald eyes met her golden-brown gaze.

'Julia,' the Voice whispered again. This time, it sounded androgynous, no longer belonging to Luvia. Chills ran up and down her spine as she felt the warmth of breath on her ear. She shuddered.

'Sansoucy!' Shouted Mistress Delphine, distracting Julia from her thoughts. Julia snapped back to reality and looked at the mistress.

'Yes, Mistress?'

'Your mind wanders during morning invocations?' Exclaimed Delongchamps. 'If I ever catch you smiling again during the litanies, I will lock you into a mortifier myself!'

'Yes, Mistress. I apologise.'

'You are to receive five lashes and a second day of fasting. You'll be joining us on our next campaign, starved and beaten,' exclaimed the disgruntled woman.

'Yes, Mistress,' replied Julia, compliant.

Sombre, Julia left her sisters and walked to the chapel, awaiting her punishment. Soon, the door opened, and Luvia entered the room holding a coiled, leather bullwhip. She gazed softly at Julia and took a deep breath. Julia nodded, and with a sigh, she turned and kneeled, reciting a prayer under the watchful eyes of the Emperor of Mankind. She shivered when she felt Luvia's fingers on her back, tracing the scars of previous lashings.

'I'm sorry,' whispered Luvia. Julia's words faltered as goosebumps appeared on her arm, her body shuddered involuntarily, but she continued reciting the prayer.

Julia heard the soft padding of Luvia's footfalls as she stepped back. She did not recoil when the first lash struck, but the sudden pain had her screwing her eyes tightly shut. Immediately, she heard the whispers again, but she couldn't make out the words. The sensation lasted only a moment as her mind returned to her greatest moment of shame.

The Emperor willed her to relive the moment she had sinned against him. Every time she felt pain, she would remember when she had hesitated and how it had led to the violation of her mind by the forces of Chaos. For a short moment, she wondered if it really was her most shameful act or perhaps it was something else. She dismissed the thought as the next lash came. Again, she flinched, but this time, she smiled. The drops of blood trickling down her back were warm, loving fingertips relieving her of the pain and misery of her existence.

Then she heard the door creak open behind her. It was the mistress, she thought, come to enjoy her pain. The third lash brought on Julia's fury, and her scream echoed through the chamber as angry tears cascaded down her cheeks.

\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_

Three days later, Sister Julia stood in the chapel aboard the Castitas with 13 other chosen sisters and the Mistress of Repentia. Delphine stood tall and rolled her eyes at the reply from whoever was talking to her over the vox.

'Is that all? Do you fear the darkness of the Warp?" she asked. 'Where is your faith, Astropath?' demanded Delongchamps, her voice betraying her annoyance and resentment. 'The absence of faith is the mark of the weak and leads to the path of damnation - remember that. Now pray, and the Emperor's light will protect and guide us through the darkness on our journey through the Warp,' she scolded the man. Then, turning back to the waiting sisters, Delongchamps sighed and explained the mission.

'You've been chosen to deliver the Emperor's judgement on Sonloran,' announced Delongchamps. 'Today, you will stand in His name and purge the heretic. Some of you will achieve the highest honour and rest, forgiven by the Emperor, but others will live to purge again. You have been called upon to be His judgement, and you will cleanse the impure, the traitor, and the heretic. You will show no mercy to the filthy traitors that try to take Sonloran from the light of the Emperor!' barked Delphine.

'Ave Imperator!' answered the sisters in unison.

Strobing red lumens activated in every section of the ship as the Castitas prepared to translate into the Warp. Eyes closed, the sisters prayed and focused on the warm light of the Emperor. He would protect them all from the darkness of the Immaterium and the malevolent creatures that would come to corrupt them. Finally, a loud klaxon blared, announcing the transit from real space into the Warp.

As the ship's engine lurched, Sister Julia Sansoucy expected the usual sensation of Chaotic forces assailing her mind. Knowing how sensitive she was to the powers of the Warp and cursing herself for her weakness, she prepared to hold on to the Emperor's light. Julia would use it as a shield but struggled to find it. Hopefully, she would barely take note of the terrible death screams paired with grasping hands trying to flay her flesh from her body as His light held them at bay. Of course, a terrible sense of dread and foreboding would accompany these assaults, but oddly, none of it came to pass. Instead, a familiar voice whispered in her ear, gently, seductively.

'Julia, stop searching. You cannot find what is not there. Your Emperor is dead. His light is gone. You have known this for some time now. Why do you fight? For whom do you fight? Is it not time to fight for yourself?' the Voice pleaded with her. She could feel the tickle of warm breath on her neck with every word whispered. She recognised the voice as belonging to Luvia.

Julia considered blocking out the whispers but instead, she listened. Her eyes remained closed lest her gaze cross that of Mistress Delphine's hard judging eyes. She felt the gentle touch of fingers on the exposed skin of her arms and her middle, causing her to tremble with pleasure.

'He does not protect, Luvia,' whispered Julia, trying to regain her composure. She realised that the Voice was right. The heretic on Noliath had shown her. He had shown all the sisters of her squad that the Emperor was not a god and that he did not care. She then realised the Voice had been with her since that day, always at the back of her mind. Soon, more whispers joined in when she gave them her attention.

'He is dead, rotting on a defective throne,' the familiar androgynous voice said.

'If you do this for The Dark Prince and yourself, you will be blessed.'

'Happiness is near. We offer love and pleasure, and we offer life,' more added.

'Rejoice for the repentant sisters have shown you the pleasures of pain, longing, need and l-' the Voice trailed off.

More fingers gently caressed her with every word, and Julia moaned softly. There were so many voices speaking at once. Their warm breath caressed every inch of exposed skin on her body, causing the hairs on her arm and the back of her neck to rise. She remembered Luvia's fingers tracing the scars on her back.
The fingers were not grasping at her as they usually did instants before the Gellar field engaged. Instead, they gently touched her demanding her attention, multiplying their loving touch; sensual. Julia shivered as a wave of pleasure cascaded through her body. She held on to the feeling as she blushed and wanted to cry out but remembered where she was. The sisters would know, and they would not understand.

She longed to feel something other than hate and guilt. She wanted to feel more pleasure, not the one that came from pain but a more sensual, primitive one; ecstasy. But, as quickly as the voices had risen, they receded as the protection mechanism fell into place. They were now travelling through the Warp. The warm, gentle breeze and the caressing fingers were gone, leaving Julia cold and dissatisfied.

Slowly, her eyelids fluttered open. One glance told her that she was alone in the armoury, but she had no recollection of leaving the previous room. She was suddenly filled with dread. What if the others were coming? She worried. Delphine would be angry that she had let herself be swayed, even if it was only momentarily. She would know what she had seen, heard, and felt, and Julia would never be granted absolution. Instead, she would be slain for her secret desires.

Julia shook herself from her old ways of thinking. Indoctrination, falsities, she could not continue believing their lies. She had been tricked into serving a rotting corpse on a golden throne. They had taken her for a fool, and soon they would pay! As Julia clenched her fists with rage, she realised she held two small unfamiliar blades. The hilt of the weapons was wrapped in russet leather and small silver spikes. Julia sheathed the weapons on her belt and smiled as she watched small droplets of blood form inside her hand. Suddenly, she heard boots clanging on the metal floor outside the armoury door and leaned against the nearest shelf, her expression unreadable.

She placed her hand on the hilt of an Eviscerator as the door slid open, letting in a group of four Repentias. The first two to cross the threshold were Sisters Mila and Belle. Belle's eyes widened upon seeing Julia, and she rushed to her, handing her a red hood from a nearby shelf while Mila purposefully bumped into the two other sisters.

'Your hair, hide it quickly!' whispered Belle urgently. Julia frowned, and her right hand immediately reached for her head. Then, surprised by the now three-inch-long hair, she quickly passed the fabric over her head. The two repentant sisters armed themselves and left the armoury in a rush; the door sliding closed behind them.

'Your hair is purple!' Belle paused and smirked, raising an eyebrow, 'You look very fetching,' she teased.

Julia blushed as her left cybernetic hand started moving toward the nearby Eviscerator. 'And what are you going to do about it?' she inquired.

'Mila and I? Pfft, nothing,' added Belle. 'It's very fashion-forward, really brings out the gold in your eyes,' she mocked.

Julia uneasily observed the two, her hand closing around the weapon's hilt. 'The Voices also came to you?' she asked carefully.

'Yes,' answered Mila, 'this was not the first instance. The most recent encounter with the voices was when they told me to go to you during the battle with the greenskins.'

Julia's grip relaxed. 'The Emperor is dead, rotting on his throne, you know that, right?' asked Julia. The two women nodded.

'I knew that his light was dimming within me. He no longer cared for me or protected me. I am glad that you have heard the voices and have heeded their words,' Julia smiled gently and pulled the hood off her head. "Now, we are finally free from our perceived duty and long-lasting misery. I intend to lead you to a better life. Will you follow me, ladies?' she asked the two women.

Mila rubbed her right hand absently, and then she reached out and touched Julia's hair. She searched her eyes and then smiled as she brushed her fingers across Julia's cheek, drawing blood with her sharp fingernails. 'I was hoping the whispers were right. You will lead us. You have our loyalty,' she added as Belle nodded.

'Good,' Julia smiled playfully, 'it would have pained me to have to kill you,' she answered with a chuckle. 'Are there more? Is Solange also with us?'

'I believe so,' answered Belle.

'Excellent,' she hesitated, dreading the answer to her next question. 'What of Luvia?' she asked slowly.

'Unknown,' replied Mila, slightly concerned.

Julia nodded, accepting that she might have to kill the woman she admired the most. She shook herself and ran her fingers through her hair, smiling.

'It's time to start our new life. The Dark Prince allows us to take our revenge. After that, we can do as we please. But it would please me deeply to purge Delphine Delongchamps,' added Julia pulling the hood back down over her head.

'Arm yourselves,' a muffled voice outside the armoury said. Julia was surprised that she hadn't heard the clanging of the mistress' armour, but she smiled, happy that she wouldn't have to wait very long to fulfil her heart's desire. 'We don't know what effect the Gellar field delays have caused. It's in place now, but echoes of the warp creatures may still stalk these halls. We may face heretical foes before we arrive at our destination. Cleanse the ship,' came the muffled voice of Mistress Delphine.

Mila's eyes suddenly brightened with excitement and desire. 'The prey is coming; the prey is coming, the hunt begins,' she said, shuddering and biting her lower lip.

Julia looked pointedly at both sisters in the armoury with her. They nodded their understanding and then turned back toward the shelf. Belle picked up a power sword, and Mila stared at her now claw-like nails and grinned. Clicking the sharp claws together rhythmically, she could barely remain still as she waited for her chance to pounce.

'The Astropath died,' continued the woman now walking through the armoury door,' we must pray to the Emperor for guidance,' said Mistress Delphine Delongchamps.

'Remember, our faith will guide us and keep the forces of the Ruinous Powers at bay.'

'Yes, Mistress,' replied the sisters as they turned to pick up their Eviscerators. Julia moved to block their exit, standing behind her prey.

'The Astropath did warn you,' said Julia smugly, still wearing the hood, 'but you wouldn't listen. Your righteousness placed you in this precarious position. As the dawn rose upon our arrival on our homeworld years ago, now the night falls like a heavy dark veil. The realisation that the Emperor is dead and does not care brings us joy and opportunities. We're thankful for your silly delusions, Delphine, your teachings, your torture.'

'Sansoucy, watch your next words, or I will slay you where you stand!' growled Delongchamps angrily.

'Ha! You threaten me? Of course, you do. That is the way of Chaos, the way of your dead rotting corpse-god sat upon his golden throne. Still, you do not see, you do not understand the truth, but we do!' cried Julia.

She spun the Mistress around and pulled the power sword out of its sheath as she wrapped her cybernetic left arm around the Mistress's neck, slowly increasing the pressure. Delongchamps reached for her sword, but Julia held it in her right hand. She tried for a moment to pry Julia's arm from her throat but realised its futility.

Instead, she reached back and pulled the hood off Julia's head. Her long purple hair cascaded down to her shoulders as Delphine's fingers grasped at Julia's face, drawing blood.

Julia laughed as the two Repentias' eyes grew momentarily wide, displaying their surprise, which soon turned into rage. They revved the engines of their Eviscerators and shouted, 'For the Emperor,' as they ran toward Julia and Delphine.

'Obviously, you haven't been listening properly, or you would have known that I am not alone in my endeavours,' added Julia, addressing the attacking sisters.

'They don't realise they're the mice, and we are the prey,' said Mila, giggling behind the repentant sisters. Before the two could swing their two-handed swords, Mila and Belle had already decapitated them. Belle, with a power blade and Mila, hacked at the neck of the other Sister with glee using her newly gifted claws. When the head fell off its neck, the arteries sputtered crimson streams of blood, staining Delphine's face. The bodies fell limp to the ground as their heads rolled to a stop at the Mistress's feet. Mila hopped in place and clapped her hands in excitement.

'Blood, for your blood god, Delphine?' asked Julia, laughing as the righteous woman struggled for breath and squirmed to free herself. Julia lifted her slowly without effort, causing her feet to dangle off the ground. The woman's face was bright red.

'But seriously, Mistress Delphine, I wanted to take a moment to thank you for showing me the cruelty of the Imperium. Thank you for allowing me to find the truth about the false god that was the Emperor of Mankind. If it weren't for you, I would still be blind to the meaning of life, a slave to a corpse, a god who does not protect nor does he care. He is dead. Do not believe that your soul will be reunited with your god for one moment. It will not. You have inflicted so much pain; you have brought needless death and destruction to the Imperium. All the blood on your hands, it has fed the blood god. Go and serve him now and leave us in peace.'

Julia plunged the Mistress's power sword upward through the woman's light power armour. As she felt the resistance of the woman's rib cage, she shuddered with satisfaction until finally, she pierced the woman's heart. Julia smiled and looked at Belle and Mila as she released the woman who fell to the ground sending the decapitated heads rolling back to their bodies.

'Skulls for the skull throne, was it?' chuckled Mila.
Julia smirked, finally feeling accomplished and tasting her first moments of freedom and vengeance. Mila bent down and picked up the heads one at a time, studying each intently as if committing them to memory. Once she was done, she unceremoniously discarded them over her shoulder. The heads bounced off the back metal wall with a loud thud. Weapons fell to the ground with a loud clatter.

Mila then walked over to the corpse of the dead Mistress, smiled and cocked her head as she considered the woman's body. Finally, she nonchalantly flipped the warm corpse over and sneered at the dead woman. Then she rose her right hand and swiftly brought her sharp claws across Delphine's neck. The head fell off the body, and Mila picked it up by its jet-black hair smiling with satisfaction.

'You and I are going to be friends now,' Mila spoke to the severed head as fresh blood dripped from the ravaged arteries. 'Come! There is more prey to kill!' she added. Mila skipped happily ahead of Julia and Belle. She hummed a happy tune as she swung the head. Arterial blood sprayed the corridor, effectively leaving a trail of crimson blood on the silver metal floor.

'We should get you a friend, head Mistress,' Mila chuckled to the severed head. Julia came up behind Mila and placed a hand on her bare shoulder.

'You can get all the heads you want, but before you start having too much fun and forget about our primary objective, we must find Solange and Luvia. Hopefully, we'll have more allies on this ship, so don't go off playing with everyone you find,' ordered Julia.

'Fine! You suck the fun out of everything!' whined Mila.
The three continued down the corridor, searching for remaining like-minded sisters. With any luck, the Ruinous Powers would have had an opportunity to whisper the truth to more Sororitas, thereby recruiting to their cause. But, if all others aboard the ship refused to listen to reason or pledge their allegiance to Slaanesh, this ship would become their hunting grounds. The new Slaaneshi Warband would have quite the exciting day purging every last disillusioned soul, save Luvia and Solange.

The thought of the hunt sent shivers down Julia's spine. She began daydreaming of torturing Sororitas until they begged for mercy. The idea brought a smile to her lips. She shook herself from those thoughts; focusing on finding Solange and Luvia was of utmost importance. There would be plenty of time to play after securing her sisters.

Julia longed to be with Luvia, to feel her fingertips gently gliding over the scars on her back once again. She wanted to stare into those magnificent emerald eyes and finally be free to love.

Julia sighed solemnly; she would make Luvia see reason; she had to. She needed her more than words could say. Thinking of Luvia seemed to bring back memories of her mother and freshly baked apple pie. She wished she could have had just one bite, but it was forbidden. Not anymore, she thought. As they passed before the mess hall, Julia's stomach grumbled, pulling her back to reality.

'That's right,' she suddenly stopped. 'I haven't eaten in a couple of days.' The door slid open to show a lone servitor preparing some porridge in the back of the kitchen. The two women crossed the threshold and followed Julia inside the mess hall. They turned to watch the corridor through a small windowpane and listened for the approaching enemy. Finally, Julia made her way to the man and leaned against the counter, smiling at him seductively, 'got anything good to eat?' she asked.

The servitor did not stop stirring the contents of the pot but looked up and cocked his head.

'Huh, you're boring. Do you speak?' she asked the cook, who remained silent and lowered his head. Then, with a bored sigh, she relaxed against the counter.

'Fine, have it your way. I guess it would be useful having servitors on the ship. Make me apple pie, will you?' she asked. The servitor put down his mixing spoon and went to a fruit bowl. He picked six red apples and brought them back to the counter. Julia grinned and reached for an apple while the servitor returned with a cutting board and a knife. He then reached out to take the apple from her.

'Mine!' she shouted, smacking his hand away, 'my apple!' she growled.

'For the pie,' the servitor mumbled as he reached out once more.

'Stop it!' she ordered, 'Why can't I ever have a bite of this Emperor be damned fruit? My apple, and there is nothing you can do about it! Now be a good brain dead whatever you are and make me a pie!' She sank her teeth into the fruit with a satisfying crunch, closed her eyes, and smiled.

'Mmm, so good,' she mumbled.

'Quit messing around!' shouted Belle, 'Loyalists incoming!'

Julia pushed herself away from the counter and winked at the servitor.

'See you later, hot stuff,' she laughed.

Julia hurried to the door. Seconds after the door slid open, she threw the glorious apple at the head of a repentant sister.

Mila burst into laughter as Julia grinned.'Seriously?' said Belle, 'there goes our advantage.'

'I wouldn't be so sure,' said Julia as the four Sisters turned to see Julia, Mila and Belle step out of the mess hall. One of the Sororitas was rubbing the back of her head. She grinned when she saw who had thrown the apple and bent down. She picked it up and also sank her teeth into it.

Belle and Mila laughed as they recognised the sister as being Solange. The tan-skinned, dark-haired woman raised her Eviscerator and swung it in a low arc, slicing the nearest loyalist in half.

Julia, Mila and Belle, now in a frenzy, approached the other two Sororitas that had turned their Holy Rage upon Solange. The Slaaneshi worshippers hacked at the loyalists until piles of limbs were strewn across the hall.

Belle stood back and studied the spatter of crimson across the wall; as the blood dripped in certain areas and others were only speckled, she reached for the denser areas and started drawing patterns and lines. When she was done, she stepped back and looked at her magnificent work of art.

'Death can be beautiful, you know,' she said, still studying her work. 'Look here, by the grace of the Dark Prince, I have created the image of perfection,' she spoke in awe.

'Oh, I see it too,' said Mila, ' The Dark Prince will be pleased with this tribute,' she added as she gazed upon the Mark of Slaanesh that Belle had drawn with the blood of her former sisters.

Mila lifted the head Mistress so she could see the work of art. Suddenly she frowned, and then with her claws, she sliced off Delphine's eyelids, revealing staring black eyes. 'There, that's better; now you can always see,' she spoke to the head.

'Time to find Luvia,' interrupted Julia. The three women nodded.

'Belle, you're with me. Solange, Mila, you two, purge the loyalists,' she ordered. 'There should only be seven Sororitas left without counting Luvia and whoever else is on this ship. Leave the servitors; we'll need them. We'll meet up with you once we have secured Luvia,' said Julia.

'Yes, ma'am,' replied the women as they set off with their new orders. Mila shouted to Solange, 'Go long!' and Solange ran off ahead of Mila. Once Solange turned back, Mila threw the Mistress's head at Solange, who caught it. Then, laughing, she ran off with the head tucked under her arm.

'Hey! That's mine. Get your own friend!' Mila ran after her, her claws ready.

'This does not bode well,' sighed Belle. She followed Julia, who had started walking back from whence they came.

'Relax, they're enjoying their newfound freedom. They'll do their part and purge the loyalists when the time comes,' said Julia dismissively.

'I hope you're right,' answered Belle.

\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_

After searching three empty quarters, Belle and Julia finally slipped into the small chapel. Before the golden icon of the God-Emperor knelt a woman murmuring a quiet prayer. Julia sneered at the statue and dropped her gaze to the woman.

'Luvia?' she whispered, but the woman did not respond but continued her mumbled prayer. Luvia rocked on her knees and whimpered. Belle and Julia glanced at each other, concerned. Julia laid her power sword down on the metal floor and quietly stepped closer to the distraught woman.

'Listen to the voices, sweetie. They're right. They have always been there, whispering the truth. I can show you the way,' whispered Julia lovingly. Belle slowly approached from the left, still holding on to a blood-stained power sword.

'I am far from absolution, lost to any exculpation. I offer myself to repentance once again. Before the Emperor, I have sinned. I am beyond forgiveness, forbearance, and beyond mercy,' Luvia spoke frantically. She sucked in a breath and brought both hands to her head, pulling at her short blond hair as she cried.

'Luvia, please, don't do this. It's okay,' said Julia trying to comfort the woman. She bent down behind her and placed her hands gently on her shoulders. Feelings of dread, longing and desire assailed her. They were all fighting for dominance. Luvia shrugged Julia's hands off her shoulder.

'There will be no mercy, no absolution for the heretic. You have blasphemed against the Emperor, and now you must die! So must I, but I must kill you first,' asserted Luvia sadly.

'No, Luvia, listen to the voices; listen to my voice. I've always led you down the path of righteousness. This is no different. The Emperor doesn't care, he is dead, but I care. I care for you; I-I love you. Come with me, please. I can help you. You don't need to do this. Please,' pleaded Julia.

Suddenly, Luvia stopped rocking and brought her hands down from her head. She squared her shoulders and stood. Julia rose to her feet, taking a reluctant step back. Luvia's gaze turned to Julia's hair and moved down the entire length of her body. Belle approached silently, ready to slay the woman if she tried to hurt the leader of the new sisterhood.

Luvia's emerald eyes glistened with tears, her delicate jaw set. Julia tried to keep her expression calm and loving. She did not have the heart to kill Luvia.

'You love me?' asked Luvia carefully.

'Yes,' answered Julia, 'I've loved you from the moment I met you. I just didn't remember what love was,' answered Julia, as her heart filled with hope. Luvia's eyes softened, and she wrapped her arms around Julia.

Melting into the embrace, Julia closed her eyes and remembered how it felt to be loved, be a part of a family and have someone care for her. Luvia's fingers moved across the scars on Julia's back, causing the woman's body to tremble with desire. Then, slowly, Luvia's hands moved to Julia's sides, sending ripples of pleasure and anticipation through her body.

Luvia whispered into Julia's ear, 'I love- The Emperor!' She snarled the last two words and broke the embrace, pulling the smaller blades from Julia's belt. Luvia sucked in a breath as the spikes bit into her closed palms. With an upward motion, she sliced through the skin of Julia's exposed stomach. Then, bringing one knife up to Julia's throat, she held the other to the back of her neck. Julia's eyes widened in surprise. Instead of burning pain, as the weapons sliced her bare skin, she felt burning desire and exhilaration. Belle ran up to the two, her power sword raised and ready to strike, snapping Julia back to the predicament of the moment.

'No!' shouted Julia in a panic. Her knee hit Luvia in the stomach, causing her to drop the blades, which clanged loudly on the metal ground. Without thinking, Julia stepped back and quickly raised her mechanical arm. She brought down her fist onto Luvia's head, rendering her unconscious.

Bending down next to the woman, Julia pressed her index and middle finger against her neck, feeling for a pulse. She sighed in relief when she found one.

'Oh Luvia, why?' she asked sadly, not expecting an answer. 'I will help you see reason. I was hoping to have you onboard already, but I will fix this,' Julia promised the unconscious woman.

'I thought we were going purge all the loyalist filth,' said Belle carefully.

'Not Luvia!' shouted Julia, angry that Belle would even think of killing her. Julia took a deep breath and continued. 'Her mind can be swayed, Belle. I may have been rash. Purge those you believe cannot be swayed; the other more susceptible loyalists can be brought to the holding cells. We will make them see reason, or they will die. I will handle Luvia myself. Tell the others and get me control of this ship.'

'Yes, mistress,' answered Belle as Julia carefully picked Luvia up from the ground, kissing her forehead and leaving the chapel.

\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_

Julia lay Luvia down in the middle of a cell and lovingly brushed her fingers over her cheek. Then, kissing her forehead once more, she stood and made her way to the open door. Turning back, Julia noted that the woman was stirring. Then, closing and locking the door behind her, she walked over to the vox and dialled in the kitchen.

'Bring an apple to the holding cells,' she ordered. On the other end, the servitor began to protest but thought better of it. 'Yes, Sister, right away.'

Luvia's eyes fluttered open as Julia made her way back to the cell. The captive stood up with difficulty. She squeezed her eyes shut, causing her to sway slightly.

'I'm sorry to say; you may have a concussion. This is for your own good,' Julia waved in the general direction of the cage. The confusion visible in Luvia's emerald eyes was now replaced with rage. She ran to the bars of the cell, reaching for Julia.

'I will show no mercy, no hesitation, in His name, I will purge the heretic, even if that heretic is you!' screamed Luvia scratching at Julia's arm, drawing blood. Julia smiled as the warm beads of crimson liquid started to slide down her arms.

'Settle down,' said Julia, turning to the holding room door as it slid open. Julia reached for the apple, taking it from the servitor. 'Get back to work on that pie and call me when it's ready,' she said to the servitor.

'Yes, Sister,' he replied, backing out of the room to resume his duty.

Julia returned to the cell and held the ruby red apple to Luvia.