Xochipilli's four servants – Meya, Nenetzi, Xilonen and Izel – had the day off from their temple duties. Tlacotzin's birthday was coming up soon. They had come up with an idea for what to give him. Even they could hardly believe they had come up with it. But here they were – in a place where sin and redemption were closest to each other. On the grounds of Tlazolteotl's temple, the deity of sexual sins and purification.
Izel was the calmest of them all, but even she…
As they passed by one of the priestesses, she swallowed. The woman was dressed in a thin cotton dress that fit closely to her body. She had a mask covering the top half of her face. The way she walked…
Although Izel was a girl just like her, she felt something strange while she was looking at her. Just the sight made her feel warmth surge between her legs. Before she realised what she was doing, she was looking at her legs and buttocks, which seemed to be only symbolically hidden under the fabric.
As she looked toward the temple buildings, something caught her attention. She saw a movement. She couldn't tell exactly what she saw, because the place was dimly lit. It seemed as if the night still hadn't left, even though it was the middle of the day. The girl's imagination filled in what she could see.
Izel swallowed.
She had heard stories about Tlazolteotl, her servants, and her temple. But seeing it was on a whole different level. She used to think that Xilonen was the queen of flirting. She changed her mind. She looked the other way. Flowers and their smell made her feel relaxed and aroused.
She shivered again. Here, everything seemed to push them towards sin. Her thoughts drifted back to the conversation they had the previous evening.
***
In the evening, the girls gathered around a table in a quieter part of the priest's residence. Everyone was looking at their cup of tea.
"I never thought we'd be summoned by the king."
Meya was shaking. She, a peasant girl, was summoned by the king and warned. Nervous, she took a sip of her tea.
Izel sighed.
"I still think Texoc deserved what we did. But we shouldn't do that. Justice should be responsible and thoughtful, not impulsive."
Xilonen took a sip of tea.
"It's as if we were still at calmecac. But you're right. I shouldn't lose my cool. I'm sorry."
Izel clapped her hands several times.
"Okay. We admit our guilt and promise to improve. But we have something more to discuss. Tlacotzin got his amulet back, so our idea of making him a new one doesn't work anymore. We have to come up with something new."
Xilonen looked at Nenetzi.
"Can you make something that would match the amulet?"
At these words Nenetzi screamed:
"You're kidding, right?!"
She grabbed Xilonen's breasts and began to shake them.
"It's obvious that I can't make something as beautiful as Tlacotzin's mother's amulet. Even if I had the best jade, I lack the skills. I would need many years of practice. I just can't do it. You've seen the carvings and the perfect polishing. A master made this amulet; I might be good, but not as good."
She imagined Tlacotzin's father giving the amulet to his beloved. An extremely valuable amulet, filled with his love for his wife. How could she create something that could be worn next to such a powerful symbol of love and mastery?
She finally calmed down, but didn't stop shaking her breasts.
"Could you stop?"
After a moment, Nenetzi realized what she was doing. She quickly withdrew her hands.
"I'm sorry."
At this moment, all three looked at Xilonen. At her big breasts, her long legs, her chubby buttocks. They were reminded of how she talked about flirting with Tlacotzin. Of how she boasted of her attributes. Izel remembered a few stories told by her friends from calmecac.
"Every man would love to have a girl like that."
"She said it was up to us to make Tlazcotlin stay with us."
"Besides, she has already shaken her breasts before his eyes."
Xilonen looked at her friends.
"Girls, what are you talking about?"
Xilonen curled up. Suddenly, she felt like a little rabbit surrounded by coyotes. Izel looked into her eyes.
"I have an idea for a gift that no man can resist."
***
This was the reason why they visited Tlazolteotl's temple. They wanted to ask the goddess for her blessing. They felt they needed it. They liked Tlacotzin, but just the thought made them blush. Seeing Xilonen ashamed was unusual, but she was the key part of the plan.
The girls brought a basket full of flowers for the sacrifice. Marigolds for cleansing and connecting with spirits. Orchid for beauty and sensuality. Dahlias for elegance and sensuality. And above all, red hibiscuses filled with love and passion.
The girls went to the altar intended for daily sacrifices from the believers. Next to it stood two priests. One, younger, was similar to the one they passed. But the other one was completely different. She was much older, and you could see the wisdom in her eyes. However, no one would dare compare her eyes to her body. Time seemed to have no effect on it. Though ripe, it seemed soft and firm, like a fully grown flower. Her breasts were even larger than Xilonen's, hips wide, waist narrow, legs long, and thighs thick. She wore a thin skirt that only seemengly covered her body. Her upper body was almost naked, a necklace barely covered her breasts. She had red hibiscus in her hair. Every her movement was filled with seductivity. The girls' legs softened when thay felt the floral scent coming from her. They didn't know when and why, but images in which this woman possesses them appeared in their heads. It was as if something was telling them that they should surrender to their sinful desires.
"Welcome, girls. What is that you need?"
Her voice... sweet and gentle seemed to caress their ears. It was as if she was gently and seductively luring them. Izel stepped forward.
"Good day to you, servant of Tlazolteotl who brings lust to mortals and purifies them of it. My name is Izel. These are Meya, Nenetzi and Xilonen. We are the servants of Xochipilli who hears every melody and brings joy to the mortal realm. We have come to ask Tlazolteotl for her blessing."
The girls bowed, and Xilonen who was carrying the basket full of flowers stepped forward.
The priestess began to laugh gently and sensually. As if she was reminded of some warm and pleasant event from the past, which warmed not only her body, but also her heart.
"Girls, who is this young man you plan to seduce?"
All four acolytes blushed at once and opened their mouths wide. They couldn't believe the woman saw through them. They began to shifted uneasily, blushing, as if some unknown force had taken possession of their bodies. They felt hot and it was hard for them to breathe.
"Let's talk in our residence."
***
The residence of the Tlazolteotl's servants, preparation chamber. The smell of incense and flower oils was in the air. The candlelight subtly lightened the room.
Meya, Nenetzi and Izel knelt naked and watched what was happening in front of them. Meya was looking sadly at Xilonen. Nenetzi covered her mouth. Izel trembled, remembering how they had joked with Xilonen that she was a red hibiscus, and that Tlazolteotl would wish that red hibiscus for a sacrifice.
"Xilonen…"
They all looked at their friend.
"Girls, calm down, the high priestess is not sacrificing me. Right?"
Her voice, usually lively and confident, was now as thin and weak as a thread on a verge of breaking. She had a reason to act like that.
She lay naked and spread out on a stone column made of bright stone, decorated with symbols of couples in love ecstasy. Techcatl - a stone on which are laid those whose hearts are offered to the gods. All her limbs were held by priests. Above her stood the high priestess with a ritual dagger in her hands. Xilonen's heart was filled with fear. Her breathing was constantly accelerating. Her chest rose and fell rapidly.
"Do not worry, I'm not sacrificing you. If I were to do that, we'd have to discuss it with the high priest of Cuathli first. Besides, the techcatl you're lying on isn't consecrated. It's used for practice and meditation, not sacrifice."
Her voice was soft and reassuring. The high priestess took a handful of petals with one hand and sprinkled them on Xilonen.
"You are young and you don't understand many things. Desire is a powerful force. When uncontrolled, it is extremely destructive. However, if you follow desire in a responsible way, you can create something beautiful. The most important thing is to look deep into your heart and not act against it."
The high priestess cut her hand slightly and dripped Xilonen with her blood.
"Xilonen, you are now lying on the techcatl in the chamber where the chosen ones are preparing. You are now as close to Tlazolteotl as you can be outside her pyramid. You are completely exposed to her divine gaze. Tell me what you're hiding in your heart. How do you feel about the boy you're attracted to?"
Xilonen looked deep into her heart. The fear that had accompanied her moments ago suddenly disappeared. She was calm. The words began to flow naturally:
"I've always liked boys. I liked playing with them. It pissed my father off. That was one of the reasons why I was sent to the temple. But I still liked boys. But I didn't feel anything special to any of them. Tlacotzin is different. I don't want to play with him. I want to be with him. I want to dance to his music. I want him to be by my side. In both happy and sad moments. The priest of the Smoking Mirror warned us that it would bring us pain, but I don't care. I don't know what awaits us in the future, but I don't want to give up Tlacotzin. Even if it will make me suffer and cry."
Xilonen felt something amazing when she finished speaking. It was as if she were being washed under warm rain. She felt recovered and stronger. There was a smile on her face.
Then, the other girls started talking:
"When I saw Tlacotzin for the first time, I thought he was an ordinary boy, like many others. But when I heard his music, something changed in my heart. I wanted to be close to him."
"I've made ornaments since forever. I wasn't interested in love. I had always thought my parents would choose a nice husband for me. But when I heard his music, that changed. I felt something in my heart that I've never felt before. I realised that I wanted to be with him."
"For as long as I can remember, I've been guided by logic and reason. My only desire was to learn. At calmecac, I always studied hard and was the best student. I thought knowledge was a good foundation, as everything comes from it. However, Tlacotzin completely changed my perception of the world. His music opened my heart to emotions and feelings."
Maya, Nenetzi and Izel expressed their feelings hidden in their hearts. But this was not the end of their confession. They all started saying the same words.
"The priest of the Smoking Mirror warned us that attachment to Tlacotzin will bring us pain. But I don't care. I want to be with him. In sorrow and joy."
All three breathed with relief. Saying that aloud made them feel great. It was as if a weight had been lifted from them and then their bodies were anointed with oils.
The priestesses who held Xilonen helped her walk down from techcatl. The girl was still breathing heavily. Fear still lingered at the edge of her heart. But what she experienced after her confession was completely different. There were different feelings in her heart. Like fruit juice mixing with pulque. She felt weak, as if she had just made an intense effort.
The priestess touched her chest and said with a soft, calm voice:
"Xilonen, you are already a fully developed flower, ready to be picked."
Her smile was warm and radiant. Then, she turned to the other three girls.
"You need some more time to fully bloom. Don't worry, it will come naturally. When you are ready, you will feel this moment."
She smiled at them like a teacher praising her students.
"Now, tell me your plan."
The girls blushed slightly and told the priestess the details of the plan they had come up with. The priestess looked at them with admiration.
"You're right, girls. Every man at least once in his life wished to receive such a gift. I will teach you some tricks that will help you in the future."
The girls opened their mouths wide and blushed even more. It seemed that the deity of carnal sins had blessed them.