Page 96 of Whispers of Fire

“Well, let’s start,” the Shepherd says, clapping his hand once, then moving his palms down to ask people to sit. And they do, like the good obedient lambs they are.

The Shepherd is the one who officiates all our gatherings, even today on his own wedding day. I’m not surprised he hasn’t asked an Elder to do it. The man loves his spotlight. Little does he know that today is actually my time to shine. I know I’ll bring chaos after my escape but it’s for the best. I hope it will eventually plant a seed of doubt in all the girls in the room, and perhaps one day that seed will bloom into a full rebellion, unable to be contained.

“When a man chooses his women, it is necessary to unite them by blood,” he states, and I know what’s coming next from the way his left hand fidgets in the pocket of his gown.

“Because, as you know, the husband cannot fulfill his destiny if his property isn’t fully attached to him. And we must all work on reaching the Ascendium to bring the light on this corrupt and dangerous world.” Murmurs of approval echo in the room.

I used to listen carefully to those monologues, drinking each word with attention, but not anymore. This is becoming more unbearable as each second passes.

“Which is why we will now perform the blood ritual,” he says with a large grin, pulling out his knife, making me tense all of the sudden.

I don’t like blood.

Never did.

But I can’t say I’m not used to it. Even at home, I had my fair share of punishment where I learned quickly that pain was mostly a construct of the mind. Learning to dissociate myself from those moments became my only way to survive them. So I did. Each time I had to face a punishment, I wandered in the fantasies of my mind, dreaming about a life I would never get, letting my open flesh spill without moving, without fighting.

Would I still be strong enough to handle it, knowing it had no purpose?

This question will soon find an answer. I grit my teeth hoping I won’t flinch until it’s my time to escape.

“Child, give me your hand,” he orders sighing loudly like he’s been expecting this moment with excitement.

I could look away, find my friend's reassuring gaze and bite my lips to make it more bearable. But I don’t. This isn’t who I am anymore. I want to watch him cut my flesh open and remind myself each day that this scar will be the living proof of my strength. The tattoo I’ll always keep on me, reminding me how hope can bloom from the most broken soil.

I won’t look at it and think of the Shepherd, of the lies, the disbeliefs or the charade my life had been. It will be a testament of the fire I had in me that day. A fire roaring with such a force nobody could ever stop it. So I stare at my hand while he cuts my skin, letting the blood spill on the floor. I’m surprised there’s not more of it.

Why did he hold back?

Moving closer to me, his body towering over mine, he whispers, “Not too deep, little lamb. I want you pure and untouched when I’ll claim you.”

I swallow hard.

Pure and untouched.

God, no.

Vox would never say something like that to me. He would worship me even if I were covered in blood and bruises. He would tend to my wounds and kiss each scar, letting me know how much I mean to him.

Instinct kicks in and I put a forced smile on my face. If he finds out about my plans, I won’t have the element of surprise to escape anymore.

“ And with his blood, she becomes him, his wife, his eternal shadow, ” he says, quoting from the Ascendium, reminding me of the last time I saw Savannah. Cutting his own palm, barely enough to spill blood, like the coward he is, he grabs my hand eagerly, raising our palms up as if we had won something.

The crowd applauds, smiles wide on their faces.

Step one.

Done.

Vox

“Dario, Dario… you knew it was bad enough to steal our guns, why did you have to try and burn our warehouse too?” I say, shaking my head.

Carter walks to his right, the man covered in blood, on his knees, a part of his face shredded with the electric peeler we got for the tough ones. Dario is from the Steelhawks of Seattle. He’s not the most valuable man but still, he had some responsibilities, so we’re pretty lucky to have him here. Carter took his time with him, getting all the information we needed. We'll finish him and then I'll take off.

Cause despite acting like I fuckin’ enjoy cuttin’ guys in the basement, my mind has been rolling nonstop toward someone else for weeks.

I just needed Carter to buy it and not suspect a thing. Even if I’m his vice-president, I’m not above Ares’ orders, and he fuckin’ knows it. Carter stands behind Dario, his hand resting on both sides of his face.

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