A/n pov:
Suta was discovered at age three. While crying between two corpses beneath a cedar tree, Suta's tiny hands were stained with blood that belonged to no one but the victims of the two bodies found there a corpse already dead, and the other dying, breathing heavily with an audible rattle in her lungs like dried leaves blowing through the trees. When the first villagers reacted to the event, Suta's father held loosely to Suta's wrist. His voice breaking, he pleaded with the villagers, "Please keep this innocent girl safe." There was no response from any of the villagers. By the following day, her father would be dead, and by nightfall, Suta would no longer have anyone. Though no villager had spoken to it, all the villagers knew of the feud between brothers, the greed and the deceit, but all the blame would go to the last remnant left the girl.
The child was raised without love, food, or excitement. She was raised with silence and the blank expressions of those who passed her by. She discovered that if she talked too much, she would have to endure the anger of others. If she cried, no one would come to comfort her. If she smiled at someone, they would usually leave her alone (even though she didn't always understand what made her smile).
Everyone in the village hated Suta. However, Suta never believed that the villagers would take their hatred of her to this level.
She had to marry the monster in the abandoned temple in the forest so that he would not continue killing villagers. Why should Suta be forced to give up her life for those who demonstrate no love or support for her? Unfortunately, Suta had no choice in the matter.
No one asked her.
The outskirts of Kusamori Village, long-forgotten, are filled with superstition and gossip about the curses that fly around this area. These superstitions foster fear in the people of this territory. The people living here fear the wrath of the ancient god of destruction: Sukuna (The King of Curses). Every 10 years, the village must offer up a sacrifice to keep from being consumed by his anger. The sacrifice is cruel; the fear keeps them obedient to the old gods.
The villagers openly expressed contempt for Suta, yet she never envisioned that they would breed such a wicked creature.
The answer was simple: Suta married the devil that resides in the eerie temple near the woods to put an end to his terror on the villagers by taking one of them at a time. The most difficult part for Suta was that she didn't know why she was being sacrificed to save the other residents of the village when none of them cared about her. However, Suta felt that she had no other alternative.
Suta did not have a voice.
On the morning of her departure, the old women arrived to prepare her for her journey. They bathed and clothed her, and combed her hair using motions that moved too fast for comfort. The kimono was bright red and brand new. It was a heavy garment with a thick belt around her waist, and a woman using the belt told her to be careful to do the right thing by pleasing the man who would receive her.
Another woman added, "Make yourself a good wife, obey, and do not ask questions; that way, you can be sure to please your husband."
Suta agreed without saying anything.
To be pleasing to men, you must be smiling when you are speaking to them, said the first woman.
Suta practiced smiling silently while the women dressed her.
The colour red, the colour of weddings and the colour of blood, decorated Suta's kimono. Flowers were pinned in her hair and good luck charms had been sewn into the sleeves of her kimono.
She did not notice how quickly the old women's hands moved or that no woman would meet her eyes for any length of time as they carried her to
the palanquin. As the old woman placed Suta inside the palanquin for her journey.
When Suta heard the men were walking beside her palanquin she got nervous. She thought, "Finally!" when 1 guy said that they won't be losing anymore people.
The 2nd guy said, "She should thank us for dying for the village. That's the most honourable thing she can do for them." (laughing) "He'll rip her to pieces!"
Suta pressed her forehead against the wooden wall of the palanquin while she was feeling very nervous and excited about what was happening. She said to herself;
Husband.....Temple.....Forest.
As Suta was putting all those things together, it was starting to sound like a story.
When the drums began.
Boom.
Boom.
Boom.
It was like a sign that they were entering the woods and when I entered the woods, each time I took a step, my feet felt heavier than the last. The coldness of the air was suffocating, and the putrid smell of rotting flesh and ancient tombs being burned was everywhere. The silence was deafening.
They arrived at a clearing. The priest opened the palanquin and said, "Come here, Suta, and stand in the middle. You are to be the vessel." She followed his instructions. Fire raged on all around her. As the priest continued, a loud chant filled the air, while the villagers yelled their own fears and warnings. The priest called upon Suta once again, yet he would not meet her eyes, "Suta, you must submit to offer yourself willingly." Suta turned her head in disbelief, "Will I be offering myself to my husband?" The chant waned. "Yes," the priest replied hoarsely, "to him." Suddenly, the fire danced violently. Then, one by one, the villagers retreated. Suta turned in confusion, asking the villagers, "Where do you all go?"
No one responded.
They fled.
The flames extinguished.
She was alone.
The trees were observers.
The sound of laughter broke the quiet; it was low, amused and distinctly came from some living thing. "So they brought me a sacrifice," sounded the voice from the dark. The air was weighed down by a tremendous force. A presence as old as time and as heavy as an anchor, pushed down on her.
Suta had no movement; all he could do was stay rooted in place.
Emerging from the void of the dark was Sukuna, he who towered over Suta with his four arms and inscribed upon them were those marks of ancient curses that glowed.
Sukuna was power unencumbered.
With curiosity instead of desire or rage, his gaze raked across her. He concluded that she would prove to be a diversion.
Screams, flight and fainting were typically the responses of humans upon seeing him; but not this one.
The way she raised her head at a slow pace demonstrated that she could look him in the eye.
"Greetings," her voice was soft yet courteous.
He hesitated, until she raised both of her eyes and stared at him unflinching.
"Are you an angel?"
The comments made by the girl caused a moment's pause before the entire forest recoiled.
Sukuna's laughter was piercing, booming and irate all together.
"Angel?" He leaned closer still and bared his teeth at her.
"You are out of your mind."She looked at him. She looked at him again.
Her face was blank.
Her eyes weren't wide; she wasn't shaking.
There were no tears falling.
He was irritated, "Cry" he ordered;
Nothing.
"Beg!" He was much more forceful this time. "Beg for your life!"
She hesitated and looked back and forth at his face as if trying to determine what to do next. Finally, she attempted to beg.
After that, she attempted it.
Her lips quivered as she took a deep breath, and then exhaled loudly with an audible gasp followed by an inconsolable wail.
But there was something wrong.
There was nothing there.
It was as though she was going through the motions... nothing more.
"You were right to do that," he said, staring at the woman with a cold expression.
"You did ask me to," she responded, puzzled.
He clenched his jaw tightly, and shook his head in disapproval.
"You did not obey me," he said softly, "You gave me none of the signs of fear."
His fury built up and got stronger; as he continued to speak, every bit of sarcasm was so well-played out it could have been a rehearsal.
"Very well," said he, "if you cannot be made to feel pain correctly..." He stepped a little closer and created a shadow over her. "I shall teach you how to suffer."
She did not move while he placed one arm around her wrist, holding on to it with a firm and possessive grip. "From this moment forth," he said with derision, "you are mine."
She raised her gaze in response. "I shall be obedient."
He let out a loud laugh. "You do not have a husband." Turning, he led her further away from the forest. "You are my property."
Before them, the ruin of a temple stood, ancient yet alive.
"I will determine when you have fulfilled your offering to the god(s)."
Note:
Hey my stars this is the first Chapter I hope you all like it and vote for it and please do share your thoughts in the comment section.....🩷