Page 44 of Deck of Scarlets
So, it’s a relationship now. “She’s my best friend,” I stated. Irritation trickled in. If what I’d become a part of was dangerous, there was no way in hell Nickie would be involved, regardless of us not speaking. I still cared for her safety.
“I’m well aware of the status you share, but unfortunately, that does not extend to us.” He took another sip of wine, glaring at me over the glass.
“I don’t want my best friend involved.”
“She won’t be.”
“I don’t trust you.”
Baron whistled. “Jeesh, you could cut the tension with a knife over here.”
Heather went back and forth, waiting for one of us to speak. “I would be careful of Remi. She looks like she’s ready to cut Josh instead.”
“My money is on Josh. He’s not afraid to get his hands dirty,” commented Baron.
Heather shook her head, laughing. “Remi has claws. I would be extra careful.”
The tapping of glass caught our attention, a relieved look on Josh’s face at the interruption. But if he thought I would forget this little conversation, he was sadly mistaken.
“It is time for Heather and Remi to be inducted. The Blessing awaits,” announced Father Benedict.
Confused, I looked over at Heather. “I thought the purification ceremony was it?”
She shook her head. “No, there’s one more step. Didn’t your family prepare you for this?”
Before I could respond, Chloe came to where we sat. “Follow me so you can change.”
“Into what?” She ignored my question and started to walk in the opposite direction. All right.
Heather shrugged and rose from her chair. The others watched as I remained seated, unsure if this part of the induction was safe. I’d made it this far without bumps or bruises, and although the purification ceremony still didn’t make sense to me, what did I really have to lose? Besides a more open social schedule.
“Let’s go, you two. We don’t have all night,” called Chloe.
Not waiting for our response, she motioned for us to follow to a side bathroom off the dining room. Stainless steel stalls and white porcelain sinks occupied the space, with gray paint on the walls—zilch décor but a few mirrors to force you to look at your crappy reflection. I saw two girls with soaked hair about to be inducted into a society nobody knew about, and one of them looked terrified.
Chapter Eighteen
To the right of the sinks were folded white gowns, along with white flats. I handed Heather a pair and chose the last stall, stripping off my half-soaked shirt and pants and kicking them to the side of the bathroom stall. The white pants and shirt hugged my body nicely; kudos to them for guessing my size right.
“Heather? You’re first.”
I poked my head out of the stall and saw Heather do the same. It had been Chloe calling out to her.
“Really?” she asked, looking over at me in confusion.
“Yes. Remi, you will wait back in the dining hall,” she instructed with an attitude.
“We’re not going together? Why?” I questioned.
“Would you like to go first?” she snapped, clearly annoyed with my constant questions.
I stepped forward, a plan already forming in my head. “Yeah, I just need a few minutes.”
Chloe’s eyes squinted in suspicion. “For what?”
I shrugged. “Oh, I don’t know, to breathe? Maybe take a piss?”
She rolled her eyes then. “You get two, that’s it. Otherwise, I’m dragging you both out by your hair,” she warned before shutting the bathroom door.