Although I’m a bit freaked out, I am also intrigued. “It’s like the catacombs in Paris and Rome.” I remember seeing a program on the History Channel, and I definitely have those on my bucket list.
“Yes, it’s exactly like that.” She rubs a hand over her chest and looks at her watch. “It’s almost midnight. They will be here any moment, and we need to get you into position.”
“I don’t want to do this.”
“I know, honey, but you must.” Mom grips my arms. “Count yourself lucky you didn’t have to do this at age ten like I did. Like all the Luminary children did. You can’t show any weakness, honey. They will crucify you if they think you aren’t strong.”
“This is lunacy. It can’t be real. Please tell me some wacky TV presenter is going to pop out of the shadows and tell me I’ve been punked.”
“Unfortunately, thisisyour new reality. You don’t have the luxury of falling apart. I know I raised a strong, independent daughter. I know you can do this. The next twelve hours will be hard, but you will get through it.”
Get a grip, Ashley, and just get the bullshit over and done with.
“If you need extra motivation, think of Jase. You saw his face earlier. This is devastating for him. If he sees you struggling, it will kill him, and I fear what he’ll do.”
“Jase will be here?”
“Not tonight. But tomorrow at the ceremony. The four luminaries, their heirs, and their immediate families always attend the initiations. Your dad and I will be here too. We’re permitted as we’re your parents and we have to hand you over to the sanctity of The Luminaries.”
Super. That means Julia and my uncle will bear witness to it as well.
“What happens at the ceremony?” I ask, letting her steer me toward the table.
“You have to swear the oath, drink some blood, and you’ll be branded.” She curses under her breath when her cell pings. “Shit, they’re outside.” Dragging me over to the stone podium, she quickly unties the cloak from under my chin. “You need to get up there.” Jerking her head at the table, she fully removes my cloak, folding it up and placing it on the stone floor.
“I really have to be naked?” I mean, I guessed that’s what she meant by inspection, but this is still scary and creepy.
“Yes. Quick, climb up and be careful.”
I grind my teeth to the molars, wondering how I might get away with killing these fucking Luminary bastards because this is some crazy weird shit.
“Think of Jase,” she blurts, looking panicked when I haven’t moved a muscle.
“Emotional blackmail at its finest,” I hiss, stepping up and hauling ass onto the hard table.
“It doesn’t make it untrue.”
No, I guess it doesn’t. I won’t let any harm come to Jase or Bree. If this is what I need to do to play my part, I’ll do it, no matter how disgusting and distasteful I find it.
“Lie down with your legs and arms stretched,” she commands, coming up beside me.
I say nothing as she cuffs my wrists and ankles to the circular chains on each corner of the table, waiting until she is done to ask, “Are they going to touch me? Rape me?”
She vigorously shakes her head. “They will just look and ask questions. The purpose of the inspection ritual is to ensure you are pure of spirit and soul to undergo initiation.”
“What if I’m found lacking?” I ask, purposely not looking at all the creepy skulls surrounding me. It feels like thousands of ghostly eyeballs are watching me as I wait for the four pervs to arrive to inspect my naked body and deem me worthy of this bullshit.
“You won’t be, as long as you cooperate. You don’t speak unless spoken to, and you don’t look at them unless they make direct eye contact with you.”
“This is some next-level bullshit.”
“For the love of God, do not curse.” Mom is rattled, sounding more stressed than I can ever recall.
“How long will this take?”
“Not long.”
“And what then?”
