It was the eighth row back, one seat in. Before, I had never had to worry about anyone sitting beside me, but this morning, I had my doubts people would refrain if they had the chance to sit beside the Blessed One.
In the front row with Thomas, she was mostly protected by the rules that state only those in the highest standing with the church could sit up there, but back here, anyone could. Including the pussy-hungry Pillars who hadn’t gotten a taste of her in years.
The only way to prevent this was to have her sit a foot in from the end, so as not to allow anyone room to sit on her right side.
I took my seat on her left and leaned my cane between she and the end of the pew to prevent any desperate men from squeezing their way in.
I’m sure there were people trying to greet me, but I paid them no mind. Before she was sitting next to me, only a handful of people only ever said ‘good morning’ and that’s how I liked it. Anyone else was just a nuisance.
Out of the corner of my eye, I caught movement, pulling my gaze over to Scarlett’s carefully folded hands.
Her finger was lifted slightly, pointing at something.
Tracking the motion, I found that she was gesturing to one of the Hymnals.
I pulled it out and opened it to a random page. “This is what they sing from,” I answered quietly. “You should have already known that.”
She tapped her finger, and I studied it, my eyes narrowing in thought for only a moment before realization dawned. “You’venever seen them. “Yes, they’re quite old. They smell of must. Luckily for me, I don’t require holding them. I know all the songs they sing.”
A slight muscle twitch. Something that could be interpreted as either her comparing me to them even further or something as innocent as the knowledge that I even sang.
I chose the latter to respond to.
I shut the book and returned it. “Yes, I do sing. It would look strange if I didn’t.”
Her spine straightened a hair, her hands flexing ever so slightly.
“You can sing all you want, little sinner,” I hummed.
We sat through a miserable service. I mean, they were all miserable, but this one was particularly bad. Garrett was allowing his stress to leak into his words, people kept glancing back and whispering about Scarlett, making comments about her new seating arrangement and what it could mean. When Garrett finally made the announcement, congratulating my new engagement, something I assumed he had already told the Leaders, there was a quiet uproar of those who worked within the church, while the civilians clapped, congratulating us quietly.
When the Pastor was done with final prayer, he asked Thomas and I to join him on stage.
I noticed how smug Thomas was from where I sat in the pew, and I felt that anger fester under my skin. Whatever they had talked privately about was about to be announced to me, and I had my suspicion that I wouldn’t be able to stop it.
“Be warned, little sinner,” I said under my breath, “every story shifts, sometimes in ways I do not expect. Remember what I told you,” I added just before we reached the stage.
We stepped up onto the stage, Thomas looking over her in disgust. “Whores in church,” he muttered under his breath.
I shifted my gaze to Garrett. “Will your boy ever become a man?”
Garrett was looking at Thomas, displeased. “I have my doubts, and if he speaks like that again, it will be him who is punished.” He turned to me. “Today is the last day Scarlett will be given to the Leaders,” he reminded me. “So, in respect to the man who has trained her and taken care of her all these years, Thomas will be the one walking her back and changing her to get her ready for them. You may go into the changing room after she’s been delivered and wait for her to return.”
My smile grew. “Well, I wouldn’t dare disrespect the boy whotrainedher.” I stepped back, Scarlett matching my steps despite hearing what they had said. Contrary to Garrett and Thomas’ looks, it was exactly what I wanted.
I turned to her, lowering my voice, knowing exactly what they were saying; a betrothed treating their Favorite with decency. Blasphemous in their eyes. “You are coming back to me,” I told her. “Remember that when he takes you away.” It was less than ideal, but sacrifices had to be made. After this, she would be all mine. I would continue to give her the voice she never had, and she would tell me everything I needed to know about this church to take it down completely.
There would be no resurrection this time.“Tick tock goes the clock, the church will not rise. Tick tock goes the clock, it’s only a matter of time.”
~ ~ ~
I snapped my watch closed and turned back to the door, waiting for her to return.
“Tick tock tick tock tick—”
My grip around my cane tightened as I lifted my chin and held it behind my back, crossways, wondering how long it would takeme to get across that hall and slice their necks straight to their spines.
“Let it fester,”that voice told me.“Let it grow and sharpen you for what’s to come.”
