The people writhed and tangled with each other well into the night, hours and hours spent worshipping each other and celebrating their newly-minted Oracle.  By the time the last celebrants faded away from whence they came, the room was painted red and smelled of copper.  Charlotte’s bearers carried her from the room shortly after Kell’s rousing speech inflamed the people into a religious frenzy.  The exhausted girl was tucked into bed by Irma, her skin still covered in Jarek’s dried blood, his last present to the bright toy he discovered so long ago and mended so she could lead the people into the future.<br/><br/>The next day arrived. Charlotte was bathed and fed and dressed in yet another white dress,  heavenly raiment for the golden angel.  She could not remember what transpired the previous day from the time she was doused in blood until she was tucked into bed. Her body ached with a delicious pain. The marks that marred her porcelain skin were caused by fingers, bruising and scratching fingers; she was able to figure that much out.  What she could not immediately puzzle out was why she was so sore between her thighs and into her womanly parts.  Sweet Irma finally whispered in her ear that she had been blessed by their prince and was prophesied to bear a son for the group.<br/><br/>It is your destiny. Step into the light.  This is what the father prepared you for.  This is what you were made for.<i>He</i>is who you were created for.<br/><br/>Raker soothed away the sense of panic that was beginning to claw its way from her belly into her throat. It<i>was</i>what she was meant to do. This was the path to salvation.<br/><br/>She was not permitted to leave her bed for the rest of that day or the next.  On her back was the best position for the seed to take root and begin to grow.  Irma tended to her needs, bringing her delicious morsels on which to snack and books to keep her mind occupied.  Her questions as to John’s whereabouts were brushed aside; it was not important where he was.  He was second-rate when compared to Kell.<br/><br/>The people made sure to record her words and her prophecies on paper and, using her proclamations, began to venture forth into the world at large to share the wisdom of Kell-through-the Oracle.  Her words brought many more sheep into the fold, people from all walks of life.  As the days trickled by and became weeks, the number of people in the flock began to swell.  Many came to dwell in the safe community yet there were many more who did not choose to live with them.  Instead, they remained in their safe and comfortable homes and lived their safe and comfortable lives in the outside world.  Yet once their outside lives were finished for the day, they always ventured to the settlement to worship with the people.  Some evenings only Kell preached, other evenings Charlotte attended as the pretty figurehead for the group. And some nights frenzied blood orgies erupted like the night the Ovrem father willingly gave his life to lead them to salvation.  On those nights, Kell took his Lotte over and over again, capturing her mind and her body once more, pushing her closer and closer to the edge of sanity until her mind broke and the words came pouring out.  John was always grateful for whatever scraps of her insane love she deigned to share even though she never shared her sharp silver love with him again.<br/><br/>They watched their golden-haloed angel closely over the weeks, always watching for signs of the foretold son. When would her breasts begin to grow? When would her belly begin to swell? Every movement she made, every morsel she put between her lips was carefully analyzed by one and all.  Irma took great care to watch for anything that would indicate that her womb had been blessed and was fruitful.<br/><br/>Until one day, her new friend, Tess, came to fetch her for her daily morning walk around the commune. It had been ordered that the girl walk to keep her strong and healthy in hopes that new life would soon stir inside her. Tess was taller than little Lotte, dark-haired where Lotte was fair, dark-eyed rather than wide green doll eyes, and much surer of herself than the constantly rebroken doll.  The woman was one of their newest arrivals, showing up one day with her brother, Carlton.  Charlotte took to her immediately, desperate for a companion closer to her own age than Irma.<br/><br/>The pair was on the far side of the fields, enjoying a leisurely stroll on one of the last warm days of the season.  Eyes from the field watched them, jealous that the newcomer got to spend so much time with their Oracle.  Why was she so special?  What did she have that they didn’t?  Despite the ritual celebrations where all partook and all bled in some way for each other, they were jealous that one person above all received the girl’s favor.  This new one, they whispered harshly, she and her brother have stolen Lotte’s affection away from our prince. Her words are empty now. And so, with hate in their hearts, they began to disobey. More than anything, they began to doubt.<br/><br/>The sweet angel was unaware of the dark undercurrent swirling through the people as she indulged in time with her new companion. Today was an important day; she had something she wanted to share with Tess. Charlotte stopped walking and took her friend by the hand, pulling her to face her. “I...I think I am with child. Irma told me what signs to look for and I have seen them.”<br/><br/>“Oh, Charlotte!” Tess smiled brightly and gave Charlotte’s hands a reassuring squeeze. “That’s wonderful! This is why you were brought here - to bring us all to salvation and provide us with this wonderful blessing. Does Kell know?”<br/><br/>Kell did, indeed, know. Irma was a snitch and had noticed Charlotte’s missing request for certain monthly supplies. As ordered, she had immediately reported her suspicions to the son. After that, she was even more doting to her charge, providing extra treats that she knew the blonde would like and never leaving her alone for too long lest something happen to her.<br/><br/>Tess was a different sort of snitch. She reported to a different authority, not one of god but one of man. For the group’s doings had not gone unnoticed, not when powerful government official and politicians began to join the celebrations.<br/><br/>One delicate hand drifted from her side to rest on the nonexistent swell of her still flat belly.  “I’m not sure...I think so?”  This was not the Oracle; this was a young girl, a nervous and scared girl.  A deep breath settled her nerves enough that she offered her new friend a sweet smile.  “He’ll be happy, won’t he?  I think so.  I think he will be very happy that one of the prophecies is coming to pass.”  She looked up at the taller woman, eyes wide and searching for approval.<br/><br/>Tess returned the smile and pulled the newly expectant woman into a hug, holding the blonde head to her chest.  “Don’t be silly!  Of course he’ll be happy.  This is what we’ve been waiting for.  Everyone will be so delighted to hear the news.  Come on, we should go back so the people can hear that the promised child is growing inside you.”  Still holding Charlotte’s hand, she began to lead the Oracle back to the magnificent mansion.<br/><br/>Up the grand front steps and into the foyer they went only to be met by an irate Irma.  The stern woman snatched Charlotte’s hand away from Tess then pushed her towards the stairs.  “Upstairs with you.  You know you’re supposed to be resting.  It’s very important that you rest to keep yourself strong for us.”<br/><br/>“I’ll come to see you later, Charlotte.”  Tess could not, in good faith, leave the poor thing alone with only Irma for a friend.<br/><br/>Without saying a word, the pregnant woman smiled at her friend and headed upstairs as Irma commanded.  Years spent with the doctor and his son had taught her to be an obedient toy.