Page 19 of Spark of Madness

Wemake sure of it.

So, that’s it, then. The Trials of Dissension are a certified death sentence.

“Let’s put it to a vote. All in favor of Mercy’s participation in the trials…” Killian says.

Hands rise in favor from Killian, Wesley, and Ryker. Theo seems reluctant, but then slowly lifts his arm.

Breathing you in is sweet sin,

transgression worthy of fire and brimstone.

Words suddenly spring free in my mind, words that need to be chased and explored.

Mercy needs to be chased and explored.

With the thought, I immediately raise my hand in agreement. She draws too much interest and is clouding my every thought. She needs to go, or else I may lose myself in the overwhelming intrigue of her strange personality.

Park and Owen raise their hands as well—a unanimous agreement, of course.

“It’s settled then,” Killian declares. “Mercy Madness will participate in the Trials of Dissension.”

“You’ll need to elect a warden,” Lawrence says. “Someone who will be responsible for looking after the trial participants. They’ll be moved to reside in the Homestead manor during the time between trials.”

“Why?”

“For several reasons,” Clyde says. “First, to ensure they are immediately separated from the other servants. The last thing we need is a sinner sullying the minds of our most precious commodity. They’ll also need to be protected from the villagers. There’s record from one of the earliest runs of the trials where the villagers took it upon themselves to round up the participants, tie them to stakes in the center of the village square, and burn them alive.”

Ryker chuckles. “Well, that certainly seems more expedient.”

“It offers no absolution for the soul,” Theo explains. “Isn’t that the ultimate goal at the end of the trials?”

“Yes,” Lawrence confirms. “And allowing them to seek that absolution absolves us of any responsibility in judgment. The trials decide their fate.”

Absolves us of responsibility?

My mind must truly be muddled, as that sounds like hypocrisy to me. How can we say that the trials decide their fate if the trials are fixed? If we’re meant to ensure their fate by the third trial, then how dowefind absolution?

I shake my head and run my leather-gloved hand across my short beard. I didn’t purge last night. I must be out of my mind.

“How do we select a warden, then?” Owen asks.

My hand lifts and I speak beyond conscious thought. “I’ll do it. I’ll volunteer to be the warden.”

What the hell am I doing?

I need to stay away from this girl, this sinner who makes a mess of my thoughts.

“That was easy enough. Anyone opposed to Arlo serving as warden?” Ryker asks the group.

To my detriment, no one disagrees. I’ve just volunteered to keep myself close to Mercy Madness as we bide time until her death. Though that worries me for my clarity of thought, it excites me for the anticipatory denial that being in her presence will bring. I won’t be able to have her, and that will only heighten my anticipation for the next full moon when I can purge my impulses with another servant.

Yes. This will be goodpractice in self-control.

“Congratulations, Warden Rainn. You get to babysit the sinner,” Killian says, drawing a low chuckle from the Control.

“It will be my pleasure,” I say…and I think it actually will be.

I CLIMB THEmarble steps to the second floor and turn right at the landing. My steps are quick as I pad over the runner covering the hardwood floors in the hallway—a traditional rug design of crimson and gold. My room is at the far end of the hall, and when I reach the door on my left, I use the band around my wrist to unlock it.

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