Luxuria by James Fuller

has to offer you. Explore and find the treasures you desire and wish to take.” She smiled at their nervous looks. “We have no use for gold and jewels - all that you can carry, you may take when you decide to leave here.”
    “I’m going to hold you to that,” Josh beamed, his eyes gleaming.
    “Please follow.” Kassandra said walking down the terrace Callisto in graceful tow.
     
    They stood atop the highest tower, at the western end of the ancient city. A breathtaking view of the ruins, spread out around them showing them the city was larger than it appeared to be. They faced west, towards an imposing cliff face that was no more than a mile from the city walls.
    “Within that cliff is the first temple of our sisterhood.” Callisto started.
    Mark shaded his eyes against the brightness of the sun and looked at the sinister looking cliffs. “Why would the first temple be so far from the city?”
    “The first sisters of Senhor Escuro were not accepted by the people and were cast out from the city.” She explained.
    “Why would they have been cast out?” Josh asked confused.
    Kassandra smiled softly, as if in memory. “Centuries ago, the people of this city did not worship the god we do now. Instead they still begged the sky gods to accept them as their children from the shadows of the jungle. It was the first of our sisters who realized the sky gods would never accept us and that we needed to embrace the god that would.”
    Mark licked his lips nervously. “Aren’t the ‘dark’ gods the evil ones?”
    Callisto laughed. “Are not all gods evil - depending on which side you stand upon”
    Josh shared in her laugh. “True enough, so what happened?”
    “Senhor Escuro granted us powers beyond comprehension for our growing loyalty so they we could serve him and show others what he offered, if they embraced him. Most feared us because of those powers, but soon some came to see the faults in their false prayers. They flocked to us when a scourge spread through the city; we took them in and healed them with Senhor’s blessing. The King of the city had them all put to death for denying the sky gods and bringing the plague to the city for their blasphemy.” Kassandra explained. “Until he himself fell ill. By cover of darkness he came crawling to the temple, begging for his life, forsaking the sky gods and their shunning of the people. A deal was made for his life and a new temple constructed within the heart of the city.”
    “What kind of deal?” Mark wondered out loud.
    “We shall talk more of our histories, when you have returned.” Callisto stated turning the conversation back to the task at hand. “Now within the bowels of the temple rests an altar room. Embedded within the altar table will be the purest of white diamonds - one will stand out from the others it must be retrieved and brought here to us.”
    “That’s it?” Josh asked bewildered. “That sounds easy enough.”
    “That is it,” Kassandra confirmed, “but only one of the diamonds must be removed, the others must remain untouched.”
    “Alright, let’s get this done then buddy.” Josh said clasping Mark on the shoulder.
    “This task is not yours but Mark’s - he must go it alone to fulfill his promise made.” Callisto informed them.
    “Why don’t you just go and retrieve the diamond on your own?” Josh asked in curious wonder.
    “We are forbidden to leave the walls of the city.” Kassandra replied. “To do so would be to breech part of the pact that was made so long ago, to protect our order and anger our god.”
    He raised a brow. “But why would he care now? The city is in ruins and all the people long gone.”
    “It is not for us to question the will of a god.”
    “I just have to go in there and retrieve the diamond from some stone altar and bring it back here to you?” Mark asked suspicion in his tone.
    “There are dangers you may face, once within the temple.” Callisto told him taking his arm in hers. “I will