Foolish Mother

“Psycho Superioress,” called Marie. “Mother Fool would like to have a discussion with me about the report of my latest mission and the unfortunate loss of our… assets.”

The stern woman Sister Marie was addressing had been standing in a far corner of the inner sanctum of one of the bigger monasteries, admiring a chilling portrait on the wall depicting a group of savage women violently tearing out their eyes and offering them to an upside-down figure bound tightly inside of a human-shaped cage. She turned to look at Marie, eyes hidden behind a cross-shaped blinder.

“Yes,” she replied. “Mother was not too happy about that. She found another use for the body you were able to recover. As for your missing third member who was presumed lost, it appears a very interesting revelation came about this morning. One that seemed to concern her most grievously.”

“What? You mean Zulie—Sister Zulema? Has she been found?”

"That's something you'll have to discuss with Mother. Come."

The Psycho Superioress led the fiery-haired priestess down a narrow hall. Various statues of prominent Scarlet Sisters stood in recessed alcoves along the wall, displayed proudly in a line all the way down. Marie admired them as she marched along, noting the accomplishments of each one. One such statue depicted a young Sister Maribel adorned in her regal Scarlet armor, holding high her sacred mace in one hand and her large decorated kite shield in the other. Another displayed Sister Mercedes, in her hauntingly beautiful armor, carrying a terrifyingly strange weapon. Said Sister was eventually nominated to join the princess's elite security detail, as one of the more grimly dangerous members of the Sacred Seven. Marie had hoped to see a statue of herself here one day, admired by and inspiring the younger priestesses.

At the end of the hall, a large stone door adorned in scarlet ornamentation greeted the two holy women. Atop the entrance, an ancient yet pristine message was scrawled in alien runes that read “The One Who Sees None, Sees All.” As both women read the message aloud, an unknown mechanism caused the heavy door to open.

Marie had only been past this sacred boundary a handful of times since her tenure as a Cuckoo ranked Sister, and thus still felt a hint of intimidation whenever she entered—only to be made worse as curious rumors from the other Cuckoo Sisters abound. Whispers of a divine chamber hidden deep within these very walls where Macha herself holds a throne.

“I had thought you would be ready for this kind of mission when I recommended you for a promotion.” The Psycho Superioress spoke, her back turned to Marie as they walked down a complex and suffocating hall. Each side was marked by rows of intricate stone pillars that stood the test of time. “To think, you lost not only one, but both of your subordinate sisters. I cannot imagine Mother Fool being very lenient with you after such a major loss.”

“Y-Yes, Psycho Superioress. I understand. Forgive my carelessness.” Marie felt the burning flush of shame on her face. “Both Sisters were under my watch. I had thought they could handle the situation better. I did not think they would go out to search for the E-class on their own. Especially under the pretense of mere rumor.”

The elder priestess stopped and shook her head disappointingly. “Do not apologize to me, Marie. Apologize to your fellow Sisters and the fate that now awaits them.”

“I-I don’t understand. They died in service of Macha. Surely, she would…?”

“Mother awaits you up ahead. Do not tarry.”

Marie held her head down solemnly as she passed by the Psycho Superioress, finally reaching the entrance to the Mother’s chamber. Twin doors, each beset with a protruding ominous figure. Humanoid torsos, covering their eyes with their hands and appearing as if wailing in agony.

“M-Mother F—” Marie mumbled.

Without warning, the twin bodies released a deafening screech, causing the priestess standing before them to flinch. Dual howls that reverberated throughout the entire room. Despite the pain, Sister Marie knew she was not allowed to cover her ears to block out the sound. She simply stood still, waiting patiently with both arms meekly in front of her for the maddening din to subside.

After what seemed a small eternity, the wailing died down and the doors finally opened. Just beyond the threshold stood an elderly woman draped in a brimming black, pleated robe that touched past the floor, melting messily around her. Several crossing belts wrapped around her bust and waist, enclosing the dress and constricting it to her body while a number of smaller belts were plentifully bestrewn over the top half of her face, keeping her eyes concealed behind them. Hugging her head was a flowing, silk wimple as dark as the night sky, bejeweled with shining gems and golden filigree. Her silver hair peeked curiously from beneath it, drooping down over her shoulders, splitting down the middle and stopping just short of her feet. As she reached out in open arms to greet Marie, the sleeves of her dress cascaded downward, inviting the trembling priestess in.

“Come, child,” she beckoned in a motherly tone. Her elderly fingers wagged inward. “Mother has been expecting you.”

“G-Glory be, Mother,” replied Marie, stepping slowly into the hallowed chamber.

“Come, little Marie. I won’t bite.” The Scarlet Mother waited as Marie inched ever closer before finally embracing her in a tender hug, a gnarled hand grasping the back of her fiery red hair. “I’ve been told there were a few bumps in your last mission. Mortal losses incurred.”

Marie buried her face into Mother Fool’s soft shoulder, a sob escaping from her lips. “I’m sorry, Mother. Please, Macha forgive me. My tenderhearted Sisters led themselves astray in an attempt to save their fellow man. I tried to dispel the rumors of the rampaging Eleutheromaniac—keep them distracted as I searched for the supernal mechanism. But our own weak soldiers… they cried out to them for help! What were they to do?”

“I understand, young one.” Mother spoke softly as she stroked Marie’s hair. “Loss of life is very tragic. Our soldiers are fighting the good fight every day. Your Sisters were only doing what they thought were right. What they were raised to believe. You couldn’t have stopped it, just as I know you couldn’t have known the mechanism had already been plundered by the enemy. It was all something that could only come to pass one way, fated by Lady Macha. However, that was not why I called you here today.”

“It’s not?” Marie stopped sniffling.

“Our Matron of the Maddened has informed me of a blasphemy on her name. Your Sister Zulema is not only very much alive, but appears to have forsaken Macha and her gifts in favor of another’s. You know as well as I do that heresy does not stand in the Scarlet Church.”

“N-No!” Marie jerked up and looked at Mother Fool with a horrified expression. “That cannot be true! Zulie would never do such a thing!”

Mother’s mouth sank into a heartbroken expression. “It has happened, my child. Sister Zulema was your responsibility and it is now your duty to take care of her in her time of need.”

“Yes. I understand. I will go and retrieve her. This must all be some huge misunderstanding.” Marie felt a strange sensation slithering up her spine. “I-I will bring her back to our side. Re-educate her for her error in judgment. We’ll both laugh about it later.”

“I’m afraid that isn’t possible. Your former subordinate has been designated a Dromomaniac and must be taken care of.” Her expression returned to that of an eerie smile.

“A Class D? But that’s a mortal designation! Apostates that are immediately sentenced to death. You want me to kill her?! No… I can’t!”

“Macha has willed it, Sister Marie.” Mother Fool’s thin smile quickly snapped into a scowl. Two elongated, black tentacles manifested from behind the elderly priestess and wrapped themselves around Marie. “There was never a choice in the matter."

The alien appendage coiled around her neck, squeezing it tightly. Marie grabbed at it, helplessly struggling to keep it from choking the life from her. The other tentacle stared right into her face, as if waiting to strike. Marie cried through bloodshot eyes as the second invading limb attached itself to her head, miniature feelers digging their way into her brain. Her breathless screams were joined by the slamming of the wailing doors as they echoed throughout the chamber.