Page 74 of Mistress A-0002

A pause, but not because of the caller. The Collective High Council’s calls were always delayed.

“Quite the trial. Pity we lost Sebastian Rivers. I have to admit, I didn’t expect that.”

The voice was familiar, even with the distortion masking their true tone, but I had no idea who it was. I’d had plenty of meetings with the Council, but the robes and hoods they wore hid their identity, and for good cause. They could be any of our fathers, our bosses, or our biggest enemies. To know was to die. To try to find out was a death sentence one didn’t want to face.

“Sebastian Rivers might not have agreed with some of our ways, but he was a good man. He was trustworthy of our secrets.”

“He was. What of his brother? Can he step up and fill Sebastian’s shoes?”

I kept my pace slow, knowing better than to lie. This Council member was wanting me to vouch for him, and if Hale couldn’t deliver, it wouldn’t look good coming from the Main Master.

“I believe so. He takes direction very well. He listens to me.”

“But he hasn’t always. You got to him, just as Melissa taught you to do.”

I nodded despite he couldn’t see me. Or maybe he could. “I did. I didn’t have a choice. You see what’s happening. My training detected this long before I realized what Melissa was doing. I knew, even if I didn’t consciously recognize the dangers. My training is superb.” I narrowed my eyes, knowing what they must be thinking. “Me being Main Master isn’t a mistake. Melissa’s crossed the line. I never will.”

“The Council doesn’t make mistakes, but some are certainly questioning our decisions.

“I understand that. You all feel betrayed.I feel betrayed. What Mistress Two did as a teacher and as a doctor was unethical. As a friend and a fellow circle member, the manipulation is unforgiveable. She broke every law there is. That doesn’t mean I will.”

“It doesn’t mean you won’t.”

“I won’t. I’ve given my word. I died for this position. I’ve…killedto be who I am today.” My chest cramped, and I slowed, pushing the button for the private elevator. “Was it you who sent the email?”

“We all sacrifice something in our journey to our appointed positions, Main Master, whether we want to or not.”

My brow creased. “Is that what I did? Did I sacrifice her for this? Did I…Did I know what I was doing?”

Silence. I stepped onto the elevator, hitting my floor.

“I only know what’s in your record, but you don’t want that answer. Only one person knows the truth, and can you really trust anything she says?”

Closing my eyes, I took a deep breath.

“No.” He made a sound as if he agreed. “A question,” I paused. “I was made aware the video mentions the name Corbin Frasier. Mistress Two told me he was a filmmaker. College-age, back in those days. She hinted at killing him after he blackmailed her over filming me…killing Vivia. Is she telling the truth?”

The elevator dinged, and I surged past the doors, heading for my apartment.

“Yes and no. Corbin was the film maker, but he was not college-age. He was Council-potential, attending your rights of passage. He died shortly after that night, but only because he failed his initiation. He was there, just as other Council members.”

“Were you there?”

A pause. “No. I’m new. But I am aware of your history, and I have seen the video.”

“And this footage is of my rights of passage, correct?”

“It is.”

“So…I sacrificed her to become who I am?”

“The Council was there, Main Master, but your sacrifice was your own. If you gave Vivia for this position, or Melissa offered her up without your knowledge, we don’t know.”

I could barely catch my breath. Why were my eyes burning? The emotions. There were too many. Ones I shouldn’t have been feeling. “So, Master One was correct.” I cleared my throat. “I can’t remember Vivia’s death. I can’t remember anything but coming to. Was the memory-wipe part of my passage? Was it to make me into who I needed to become? Is that normal? I have a right to know.”

“That is not normal practice for a passage or a Main Master. You give and you get.Freely.From what I saw, the Council attended long enough to see the deed done. You’ll get no answers watching that video. I would suggest not doing it. There’s nothing to gain by what you’ll see.”

“Then why let me watch it?”

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