Page 105 of The Devil's Chaos

I nodded.

She shook her head firmly. “Haven, if there’s one thing I know for certain, it’s that Kai’s love for you is unshakable. He would move heaven and earth for you. This Ceremony, as twisted as it may be, is a means to an end. A way for you two to be together openly in the eyes of The Brotherhood. Could you imagine your life without him?”

“Never.”

“Good, because if you don’t do this, Kai will sacrifice himself for you, even if that leads to his death and the death of Archer and Theo.”

“His death?”

“Kai didn’t tell you?”

“Tell me what?”

“Archer told me before our ceremony that if I refused, he and the boys would support me, but they would be punished. And that meant their deaths for being traitors. If I didn’t do it, I would be passed around by the senior members of The Brotherhood until I was nothing but a used-up husk, broken and bleeding.”

“And here I thought The Brotherhood held some righteousness over The Collectors.”

“In most ways, they do. However, when it comes to their archaic rituals, not much is different. They are governed by this outdated set of rules where women are objects. It’s a tale as old as time, women being oppressed and shit.”

“Jesus.”

“Yeah. But I want you to know that I would have made the decision to participate in the Ceremony to ensure I was able to stay in Archer’s life. To include Kai and Theo a hundred times over, regardless of the sacrifice I had to make in order to be in his life. I vowed to burn down the patriarchy, and I meant it. Times are changing in The Brotherhood, and I, for one, am more than happy I chose the side I did.”

A knock sounded at the door. It was time.

Archer waited outside. He was wearing a black robe with a hood and held a gold devil mask, just like Kai's, in his hand.

“Where’s Theo?” Mila asked him.

“I sent him off to handle something important for The Brotherhood,” Archer answered.

Mila looked at him confused and then settled her gaze on me. “Wait, what does that mean?”

“It means he is taking care of something urgent and cannot participate in The Ceremony tonight.”

“What are you up to, Archer?” Mila questioned with a smile on her face.

He turned to Mila. “I couldn’t protect you from The Brotherhood as much as I wanted to. But since Haven has arrived, there have been multiple new developments pertaining to her brother and The Collectors. Theo’s services are required elsewhere for the night. The elders have already been notified and agree that his services are better used elsewhere.”

“You sly fox,” Mila playfully smacked his chest.

Archer pulled Mila into his side and kissed her. I felt out of place watching, so I looked down at my feet until they were done. Archer turned to me, his expression turning serious.

“Are you ready?”

“As ready as I’ll ever be.”

“Stay focused on Kai, and then when you’re done, we will celebrate,” Mila reminded me as she pulled the veil over my face.

As Archer led me through the garden maze toward the mausoleum, my stomach churned with unspoken nerves. The path seemed to wind endlessly, the hedges looming tall on either side as if shielding the dark secrets that lie ahead. With each step, the mausoleum drew closer, its ominous silhouette rising against the night sky. Archer held my arm in his, a small measure of comfort in a time of uncertainty. I had found solacein knowing that he and Mila had faced this trial before me. Their love had emerged unscathed, so I hoped Kai and I would make it out the same.

“Once you enter, there’s no turning back.” Archer stopped me before I could walk inside.

“I’m okay, Archer. Let’s not keep everyone waiting.”

Torches were lit outside the mausoleum's heavy stone door, which was open. As I stepped across the threshold, the air seemed to thicken with an almost palpable tension. And the air was cold—like bone-chillingly cold. I walked down the stone stairs and ended up in a bigger room. It resembled an old church, complete with wooden church pews and spiderwebs. Flickering candlelight casted an eerie glow across the room, illuminating the masked figures seated in the pews. Their robes were a deep, foreboding black, contrasting sharply with the white masks on their faces and the pale stone walls. Their presence was both imposing and unsettling. At the front of the room stood an altar draped in crimson velvet, its surface adorned with candles. At the center of the room stood Kai, dressed in black ceremonial robes like Archer and the mysterious masked watchers. I wondered which mask Kai’s father was behind, no doubt unhappy with what was about to happen but obligated to be there for the consummation.

Archer guided me to stand beside Kai, then took his place among the others. Kai’s hand found mine, his fingers laced with my own in a silent show of reassurance.

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