Page 45 of Deck of Scarlets
I rushed over and locked it. I didn’t know how long we had until she realized what I’d done, but it would have to be enough. “Heather, what the fuck is going on?”
She adjusted her long sleeves, confusion on her face as she said, “What do you mean? This is exactly how it’s supposed to go.”
I shook my head in disbelief. “Okay, did you not witness the same shit I did during the purification ceremony? The water turning black? That’s not normal.”
She balanced on one foot while slipping on one of the white flats. “Yeah, and thank God ours didn’t.”
“Do you hear yourself?” Was I the only one thinking rationally here?
“You’re acting like you had no idea this was coming. Remi, it’s clear we were placed together in the dorms for a reason. Our families’ lineage is the reason we are here right now.”
I backpedaled. “Wait, what does my family have to do with any of this?”
Heather turned to fix her hair in the mirror. “The lineage of the Scarlets. It belongs to certain bloodlines.” She finished taming the frizz in her hair before circling back to me. “Are you sure your family didn’t tell you?”
I leaned against the counter, trying to recall anything of my family history. Besides Grams’ side originating from Scotland and my dad’s side from Canada, nothing came up about Scarlets. Hell, Grams barely acknowledged her family history, stated that they all became nomads and hid in the mountains. My mother refused to even have the subject brought up because of her own shitty relationship with Grams. For as long as I’d been alive, they never saw eye to eye on anything, especially my upbringing.
“Heather, I swear, I have no idea—”
The doorknob jiggled, and then it shook. “Open the door, now!” Chloe commanded from the other side.
Shit. I unlocked the door, and a pissed-off Chloe appeared, tapping her foot impatiently. “You’re holding everyone up.”
I elbowed past her piss-poor attitude. “Sorry if I just need some time for myself.”
Chloe sidestepped me until we were nose to nose. “You should be grateful the Lord has chosen you to proceed. If you continue to act like a spoiled brat, I won’t hesitate to throw you on your ass. Got it? Now, let’s go.”
About to swing at her face, Heather held me back by the arm. “The Blessing is the final step. After this, there is no going back.”
Looking over my shoulder, I shook out of her hold. “What are you saying?”
“I’m saying, you won’t be the same once you begin. Everything will change after this.” Her eyes almost looked sad, as if she were telling me a silent goodbye.
Chloe huffed in frustration. “Well, are we going or not?”
I gave her a light squeeze on her shoulder, not totally prepared for the unknown. “I’ll see you on the other side.”
“See you,” she said, returning the gesture.
I followed Chloe past the dining hall, back into the vacant hallway and up the winding staircase again. Then I realized I was returning to the same room I had awoken from.
Only, they added a stainless steel table in the dead center of a half-empty room, where a spotlight hung from the ceiling, swaying softly. My heart began to pound heavily when I noticed the steel handcuffs, two at the top, two at the bottom.
All around, they stood, masked by their white capes, circling the table, watching and waiting for something to happen. I stood on the outskirts, Kal a few steps to my right, watching the table as well. Chloe walked to her spot within the circle, right next to Josh. His jaw flexed, but he never looked my way.
Father Benedict stepped forward, away from the crowd, and caressed the steel table, mumbling a prayer before turning to me, beckoning me to come to him. My feet remained glued to the floor, my fight or flight ready to kick in.
Something didn’t feel right.
Back and forth, from Father Benedict to the empty table, I knew this was a terrible idea, and I needed a way out, fast.
“Come, Remi. Your blessing awaits,” announced Father Benedict.
“I’m good, thank you,” I said. The sweat from my pores dripped down my back with each passing second where I stood by the door. If I could just create the right distraction—
One of the white capes stepped forward. “The Lord has chosen you to proceed with the Blessing, Remi. Consider this a gift.”
I scuffled back, only to be barricaded by the others, and one pushed me forward, where I stumbled back to where I originally stood. “I thought it was finished. I passed all the purifications. What is this?”