Chapter 1 Freedom Is It

Loria's POV

The first thing I noticed when I opened my eyes that morning was the warmth of sunlight spilling through the small window beside my bed. For a few seconds, I stayed beneath my blanket, watching the golden light stretch across the ceiling until the reason for my excitement came rushing back. Today was my nineteenth birthday.

A grin spread across my face as I sat up, my heart already racing with happiness. Finally, nineteen. In my community, that meant I was officially an adult. I could make more of my own decisions, chase the things I wanted, and perhaps finally step beyond the small world I had always known. As far as I was concerned, today marked the beginning of the life I had been waiting for.

I rushed into the bathroom, brushed my teeth, and jumped into the shower. I couldn't stop humming as I bathed, and before long, I was swaying to the music playing in my head, using my shampoo bottle as a microphone. When I caught my reflection in the mirror, I shook my head at myself, laughing under my breath. I didn't care how ridiculous I looked. Today belonged to me, and nothing was going to ruin it.

After bathing, I slipped into the two-piece outfit I had saved for months to buy. I turned from side to side in front of the mirror, admiring how well it fit my naturally curvy figure. For once, everything looked exactly the way I'd imagined it. I grabbed my bag and headed toward the sitting room, eager to show Grandma.

She was sitting with a cup of tea when I walked in.

The moment she looked up, something flickered across her face.

It was there for only a heartbeat-guilt, perhaps, mixed with a sadness I couldn't quite place. Then it vanished behind a smile.

"Don't you look stunning?" she teased.

I glanced down at myself before looking back at her. "Really, Grandma? I look that good?"

"You certainly think so."

I laughed, and she smiled wider.

For some reason, though, I couldn't shake the feeling that there was something behind that smile.

Before I could ask, a familiar voice called my name from outside.

"Loria!"

The front door swung open, and Vivian rushed inside before I could even reach it. She wrapped her arms around me so tightly that I stumbled backward.

"Happy birthday, birthday girl!"

"Vivian!" I laughed, trying to escape her grip. "You're going to suffocate me."

"Good. At least you'll die knowing you were loved."

Grandma burst out laughing, and Vivian finally released me. She stepped back and examined me from head to toe, placing both hands on her hips.

"Look at you. So this is what nineteen looks like?"

I rolled my eyes. "What is that supposed to mean?"

"It means you're no longer a little girl."

She leaned closer, lowering her voice dramatically.

"You're a woman now. You can meet any man you want, fall in love, get married, and live happily ever after."

I snorted. "Please. Marriage is the last thing on my mind."

"Of course it is."

"I'm thinking about enjoying my freedom."

Grandma's smile disappeared.

Only for a second.

But this time, I noticed.

The light in her eyes changed, and something heavy settled over her expression before she quickly looked away. My amusement faded.

"Grandma?"

She looked at me.

"What?"

"Nothing." I studied her face for another moment before Vivian grabbed my hand.

"Come on. Your birthday isn't going to celebrate itself."

I glanced at Grandma again.

She forced another smile.

"Go and enjoy yourself, sweetheart."

I hesitated, but Vivian was already pulling me outside.

Whatever was bothering Grandma, I would ask her when I returned.

For now, I had a birthday to enjoy.

Vivian and I spent the day making terrible financial decisions.

We moved from one stall to another, trying on clothes we had no intention of buying and taking pictures in outfits that made us question our own judgment. At one point, Vivian stepped out of a changing room wearing a dress several sizes too big. The sleeves nearly swallowed her hands.

I covered my mouth, but it was too late.

She pointed at me. "Don't you dare laugh."

That only made it worse.

"You look like someone's grandmother."

"Wait until you see yourself."

"I already know I look beautiful."

"Your confidence is becoming dangerous."

"It took me nineteen years to build it. Leave me alone."

She shook her head, fighting a smile as we continued through the market.

By afternoon, we had eaten more than we could handle, taken countless pictures, and spent nearly all the money we had planned to save. Vivian insisted that birthdays were supposed to be irresponsible, and honestly, I wasn't going to argue.

Later, we sat beneath a large tree with cold drinks in our hands, watching people move through the busy street.

Vivian rested her head against my shoulder.

"Can you believe we're adults now?"

"I can."

"I can't. Adulthood sounds exhausting."

I laughed softly. "You're the one who spent the entire morning reminding me I'm a woman."

"That was different. I was teasing you."

She nudged my shoulder.

"So, what do you want now that you're nineteen?"

I didn't need to think about it.

"Freedom."

The word came easily.

I wanted to make my own decisions. I wanted to see places beyond the small world I'd grown up in and choose what kind of life I would have instead of simply accepting whatever life was handed to me.

More than anything, I wanted to make Grandma proud. She had raised me after my mother was gone, and although she rarely spoke about the past, I knew she had sacrificed more for me than I could ever repay.

Vivian lifted her drink.

"Then here's to freedom."

I smiled and tapped mine against hers.

"To freedom."

Neither of us knew how differently those words would sound before the day was over.

By the time I returned home, the sun had begun sinking below the horizon. I walked through the door still carrying the excitement of the day with me, already preparing to tell Grandma about everything Vivian and I had done.

Then I noticed the silence.

The house was unusually still.

"Grandma?"

No answer.

My smile faded.

I walked farther inside and found her sitting beside the fireplace, her hands resting loosely in her lap. The flames cast shifting shadows across her face, but they couldn't hide her red eyes.

She looked nothing like the woman who had laughed with me that morning.

"Grandma?"

Her head lifted slowly.

The moment our eyes met, something inside me tightened.

I rushed toward her and knelt beside her chair.

"What happened? What's wrong?"

She tried to smile.

It broke my heart more than if she had cried.

"You've been acting strangely all day," I said. "Please tell me what's going on."

Her lips trembled.

Then tears slipped down her cheeks.

"Grandma..."

She reached for my hand and held it tightly. For several seconds, she said nothing.

Then she whispered, "It is time."

I stared at her.

"Time for what?"

Her fingers tightened around mine.

"You're nineteen now, Loria."

"I know."

She looked toward the fire.

"There is something I should have told you a long time ago."

A knot formed in my stomach.

"What?"

She took a shaky breath.

"Your family has an ancestral obligation."

I frowned.

"What kind of obligation?"

Grandma finally looked at me.

"Every woman in our bloodline has served the four gods of Baklava."

For a moment, I simply stared at her.

"What?"

"Your mother served them. I served them. Your great-grandmother served them before me."

She swallowed.

"And now it is your turn."

A strange laugh escaped me.

There was nothing funny about what she'd said. I just couldn't believe it.

"Grandma, stop."

"I'm not joking."

My smile disappeared.

"You want me to go where?"

"Baklava Castle."

The name alone sent a shiver through me.

"To serve the four gods?"

She nodded.

I pulled my hand from hers and stood.

"No."

"Loria-"

"No."

I backed away, shaking my head.

"I don't believe this. You can't be serious."

"I wish I wasn't."

"I just turned nineteen!"

My voice cracked as disbelief gave way to anger.

"This is supposed to be my life. My choice. You can't suddenly tell me I'm supposed to leave everything behind and become a maid for four terrifying gods I've never even met."

Grandma stood, tears streaming freely now.

"It is our family's duty."

"I don't care!"

The words came out sharper than I intended.

"I don't care about some ancient duty. I don't want it."

The excitement I'd carried all day seemed to drain out of me. Just that morning, I'd been celebrating the life I thought was finally beginning.

Now I was being told that someone else had already decided what my future would be.

"No, Grandma." My voice dropped. "I'm not going."

She stared at me through her tears.

"You have no choice."

Those four words struck harder than anything else.

And suddenly, the strange look I'd seen in her eyes that morning made sense.