A tall man wearing a gold cloak says, “It is time.”
“I just need five more minutes,” Mom calmly replies.
Grabbing my arm, he shakes his head. “It is time,” he repeats in a robotic tone.
Mom’s dispassionate mask drops, showcasing her fear and her pain. “Just do as they say, Ashley. Don’t resist.”
“No more talking!” the man snaps.
Dad glares at Mom as they come to stand on either side of me. They clasp my hands and walk me out of the bathroom and into the main room.
About twenty people fill the space, most standing in a loose circle around the altar and the table. Four figures—The Luminaries I’m guessing—stand behind the altar. Behind them are five large tapestries hanging from the ceiling. Each one depicts a symbol from the coffins—the Luminary eye symbol and the four family symbols with various animals.
A plain cream and gold tablecloth covers the altar, and three stone tabernacles rest upon it. Two tall freestanding candles are perched at either end. In front of the altar is a wide rectangular table. A similar cloth covers this table. Little bunches of daisies, tied with string, line the perimeter of the table. Beside it, flames jumping brightly, is a small fire pit. On a table alongside it are some tools and equipment, which do nothing to calm my ever-racing mind.
Several candles are dotted around the room, casting flickers of subtle light off the stone walls. As there are no windows down here, I have no idea what time it is or if it’s even daytime or nighttime.
Everyone is wearing gold cloaks with their hands joined and raised in front of them and their heads bowed. I can’t tell who anyone is, and I silently panic.
I need to look into Jase’s eyes to remind me why I’m going through with this bullshit. His attention will help to steady me as I subject myself to shit that feels like it’s come straight out of a horror movie.
The circle parts to let us step inside. Tension comingles with excitement and anticipation in the air. I clutch my parents’ hands harder as I try to ignore the pounding of my heart and the screaming bouncing off the walls of my skull. I feel eyeballs glued to my back as we walk, and I wonder where Jase and Bree are. Remembering Mom’s words and the tormented expression on Jase’s face yesterday, I lift my head more confidently and promise I will be strong, so as not to make this more difficult for either of us.
I’m a fucking queen, and nothing these assholes will do to me can change that.
That resolve helps to slice the edge off my nerves.
Mom and Dad guide me around the table and up to the front of the altar where we come to a stop.
“Who presents this initiate today?” the four luminaries ask in tandem as they step closer to the altar.
“We do,” my parents say in unison.
“Bring the initiate forward.”
Adrenaline shoots through my veins, and I can scarcely hear over the thrumming of blood rushing to my head and in my ears. I focus on my breathing to keep myself calm, reminding myself I can do this.
“Remove your cloak and kneel.”
With trembling fingers, I take the cloak off. Mom gathers it up before stepping back. I kneel, barely feeling the cold ground underneath my exposed knees.
“Bow before your luminaries, and prepare to swear your oath of silence and loyalty,” my uncle says.
I gladly bow my head. This charade will be easier to survive if I don’t have to see them.
Eric Stewart reads out the oath in English. It’s a load of crap about respecting the traditions and laws and offering my lifelong servitude and loyalty. The second part focuses on the vow of silence and my commitment to maintain the utmost secrecy in relation to Luminary business, to not speak a word of our society or responsibility outside the inner circle and official assignments.
“Do you understand and agree?” James asks.
“I do,” I lie.
“Have you purged your sins and cleansed your soul?” Either Carter or Salinger poses the question.
“I have.” I lie again, hoping I won’t be struck down.
“Very well. Repeat this vow after us.”
They start spouting the oath, in that foreign language, and I’m grateful they go slow and do it one line at a time. I repeat it after them, sure I’m mispronouncing some words, but what do they expect when I don’t speak Luminary?
