It is not often when darkness and daylight collide into an eclipse. It was so rare that when it happened people knew exactly what to do. It was the same thing they did every time it happened. Eclipses could be dangerous to the livelihood of many things, flowers, trees, and even people. There were always rituals that could be performed, mostly by those that were superstitious of the eclipse.<p>

Moira's people were very superstitious. As faeries, they believed that their powers came from the sunlight directly and an eclipse would always signal doom. They would do their rites and rituals and make others suffer to ensure that the sun returned. Maybe it was their lack of knowledge that forced them into this state? It was easier for them to think they would be forever doomed to the darkness. Only, they did not care who they had to hurt to finish their rites and rituals.

Being sixteen during an eclipse was a death sentence. Especially if you were female. This current year there were thirty-two sixteen-year-old girls in this particular Fae clan. Of the thirty-two, twelve were safe from the selection because they were of royal blood. No one wanted to sacrifice the princesses. That left twenty young women for the seers to choose from for the sacrifice. Every girl and their parents wanted nothing more than to not be selected. After all, who wanted to lose their child?

No one explained the selection process. Only the seer and the elder for the clan knew what it entailed. They were also the only ones allowed at the final moments of the ritual. It was done at midnight, with most of the sacrifices dragged from their beds. This year was Moira's turn.

There was no pounding on the door to their home. There was simply the door being kicked in, four armed royal guards entering and snatching her from her bed. Thankfully, Moira was in comfortable pyjamas or things might have been even more embarrassing. She could hear her mother screaming as her father held her back. Her brother being shot for trying to stop them. If she fought, it would only be worse for her family. She knew this. They knew this. Yet they were trying to get themselves killed.

Moira was lost as to what to do. You could be told but it was hard to plan. Her mind did not allow her to focus again until she was standing at the top of their mountain village. It was the most sacred and ancient place in their lands. This was the end for her. If this failed their land would be cast forever into darkness. She could not fail them.

Standing tall at the altar, Moira waited for the precise moment. She knew what she must do. Letting her voice carry over the shouts of the ritual chanting, Moira sang the Song of Redemption. As she vocalized each line, she could feel the energy pulse out of her. If Moira were successful her life would be forfeit and it would prevent them from ever having an eclipse again. If she failed, she would end up blind, cast out of her home and forced to be the next seer. The cycle would repeat. It was expected of each of them.

As the song ended, Moira collapsed. She was done. Both the song and her life were over and they were saved. She would never learn how long or if it was even worth it. Sacrifice always came at a greater cost than just one life. The light Fae would once again be able to rule with the light as their guide. Never fearing the darkness.