Page 41 of Deck of Scarlets
We eventually followed the small group, and we ended up in front of a wide, open room with intricate designs of stained glass covering one whole wall. Swirls of blues and greens sparkled under the fluorescent lights, the colors dancing on every surface. Its design had been replicated to match the cathedral’s main floor, minus the high ceiling. Shorter pews sat along the aisle, one side dedicated to those dressed in scarlet, the other were the males in all black.
I immediately recognized Chloe and Anna from past encounters. The two men dressed like Josh and Kal sat to the right, and then there was the group sporting long, white capes behind the dais. From what I could see, six sat directly behind a man dressed in a black robe with scarlet swirls of gems starting from the arms until it spread like twisted vines on the front. It was the priest from earlier, Father Benedict.
“Glad you finally decided to join us, Remi,” he said.
“Forgive us, Father,” murmured Josh, bowing to the man before taking his seat with the rest of them.
Father Benedict gave a nod of acknowledgment. “It is now time for the induction. Collin, please let the others in.”
Collin, who wore an identical robe to him, appeared with a group of six girls, leading them to the center of the room. One of them was Heather, but nothing surprised me more than her friends, Colleen and Meghan. They lined up next to Father Benedict, looking out into the crowd as if they were all proud to be there.
That flipped my stomach several times.
“Come here, Remi,” adjured Father Benedict.
Heather locked eyes with me, waiting to see if I would join them. I had never seen her so stone cold. She had become someone I barely recognized.
“I’ll pass,” I managed to say.
Josh stifled a laugh, while others simultaneously turned to gawk.
“Forgive me for having you here; I assumed you accepted our invitation,” Father said.
“She is here and will participate,” said one of the white capes. Her long silver hair peeked through the hood.
I crossed my arms in protest. “Excuse me?”
“The Lord has let you enter; you shall participate. It is the will of his doing.”
Another situation I wasn’t prepared for, and with Josh nearby, who could easily carry my ass up the steps to the altar, I had no choice but to continue with their little charade.
I forced a smile as I awkwardly made my way to the line of the other females. Everyone stood proudly, facing the rest of the room.
Father Benedict smiled like he had just won the lottery, walking gracefully as he spoke. “Tonight, only the purest will be chosen to follow our lead in the Lord’s path of redemption. Tonight, we will witness the Lord’s work once again.”
Everyone bowed their heads, including the inductees, minus myself, as I glanced around the room, trying to discover hidden exits or possible weapons to use in self-defense in case things got ugly.
“But first, we must purify our souls to fulfill our duty.”
The men in the front disappeared, only to return with buckets, placing them at our feet, filled to the brim with water. Next, they positioned chairs behind each of us, instructing us to sit down.
“We walk this earth leaving a carbon print. To begin the purification, one must place their feet in the blessed water. If the water turns black, the Lord has decided to release you from your duty,” explained Father Benedict.
Right on cue, the others removed their shoes and socks, placing their feet in the water as it splashed over the floor. I sat there, unsure if they had filled it with poison.
“It would be in your best interest, Ms. Watson, to follow the steps for the purification,” said one female in a white cape.
I gritted my teeth and followed the others, surprised to find the water warm. Everyone continued to observe as we soaked our feet, waiting to see what might happen.
Father Benedict leaned over one of the girls, eyeing the bucket where her feet were submerged. “Your water has turned black, Amelia. I am afraid the Lord has chosen to relieve you.”
Sadness swept across her face as one of the men removed the bucket, her feet dripping with black water. She gathered her belongings and exited the room.
My stomach twisted in the tightest knot. What the fuck is going on here?
Father Benedict continued down the line, peeking over each shoulder to examine the water, stopping once again at the pretty brunette two seats away from me. “Unfortunately for you, Colleen, the Lord has chosen the same fate.”
Like the girl before, a look of disappointment twisted her delicate features, and she exited the room with her belongings.