My stomach flips at the thought that this is who I think it is. He flips the blanket over, and I immediately close my eyes tightly, fighting the urge to vomit.
I feel my eyes fill with tears, and my heart begins to race. I start to stand up, desperate to get as far away as possible, when cool hands land on my shoulders and push me back into the chair.
Milly closes the clasps over my wrists without locking them, momentarily appearing in front of me. I feel a poke on my nose and open them slightly, seeing her floating in front of me. Her face radiates confidence, her eyes full of love and fear.
She mouths, “Stay brave,” before promptly disappearing again.
“Jocelyn Brown, do you repent of your sins?” he says with a harsher tone, and my heart clenches at the thought of that man ever being a father. In that moment, I feel pity for the girl. I glance back over and see her trying to speak, but her body is too weak from the burns that are scattered across her body.
A tear falls from her eyes, and she mouths, ‘Please’. I look away, unable to see anymore. Should I have helped her get away, too? I fight the guilt, remembering her inability to recognize the wrong happening on this campus until it happened to her. How many innocent lives had she helped sacrifice in the name of a false God?
I watch Priest Brown stand up tall and turn to face the congregation of other masked members. “Her silence speaks louder than words.”
He walks away from his daughter without a second glance as she sobs softly. He doesn’t show any remorse or concern for her. In that moment, it was clear that any humanity he once possessed was gone. In its place is pure decomposing rot. It is Death. He deserves every horrible thing coming his way. I’ll be sure of it, even if that means losing my own life in the process.
Chapter 34
Mildred
October 6th
Iglide into the room, veiled in quiet invisibility as I observe the congregation settling into their pews. They move as though caught in a trance, and I feel it at once… a deeper and darker magic is stirring. I search the room until my eyes meet Archer’s, though he looks straight through me. He stands at Priest Brown’s side, not seated among the pews where I expected him.Something has changed.
Panic seizes me at once, flowing through my limbs as I search for the difference, and then I see it. A figure slumped in the chair with a bag drawn over their head. There is no need to glance. I feel it in my bones; it is Grace beneath the covering.
My blood turns to ice, panic utterly gripping me. I lack the strength to lift her through these walls once more. I cannot, oh God, I cannot save her.
I dart forward and lay my hand upon her, and immediately she relaxes, as though my touch has rid her of the fear.
She places so much faith in me, yet I have none to offer myself. Should she be taken, I shall follow her, by whatever means fate allows.
Chapter 35
Grace
October 6th
The priest stands in the middle of the room by the crucifix. His arms are out, raised above the gathering, an aura ofgreater than thoupermeating even through his mask. I feel my body tremble with suppressed rage and the simple instinct of survival as he speaks about the beauty that will come from our spilled blood.
My mouth fills with the taste of copper as I bite, trying to hold onto my tongue and not make my situation worse. It is takingeverythingin me not to stand up and scream at everyone in the room for blindly following this mock disciple. How can they sit in silence when the blatant disregard for humanity is evident right before their eyes?
I glance behind me to see that Jocelyn has passed out on the table. Her chest rises and falls with shallow breaths, her sobs nonexistent now. No one has spared her even a glance since the priest walked away.Horrific.
I stare back up at the priest and notice floating black paint. I look around to see if anyone notices, but everyone is still locked in their bizarre trance, staring at him as he delivers his sermon before the ritual. The paint trails down by the priest’s feet and moves in a circular motion.
“Milly?” I whisper softly and don’t feel her touch in response. I hold my breath hoping he won’t see her, but a tiny smirk crosses my mouth, knowing that she’s there by his feet, drawing the pentagram needed for the ritual… right under his stupid fucking nose.
Professor Blackthorne is to his left, holding the Bible with his jawclenched tightly. His body is so full of tension that I would think he was a statue if it weren’t for the occasional movement of his chest rising and falling.
“Bones,” Priest Brown addresses him, and he turns his head slowly to the side, listening. “The sacrificial items, if you please.”
Professor Blackthorne nods and turns his back to the congregation and to the priest as he walks toward the crucifix.
He bends over, picking up a small basket of items, and as he moves to return, he adjusts the mirror in line with the priest. He returns to the front, handing him the basket before clasping his hands at his waist and staring back into the crowd, avoiding eye contact with me.
The cool touch reappears on my back, and I settle into the sensation. Milly rubs a smooth circle before I notice the shoulder of my gown being lifted up with a droplet of black paint approaching me. The black paint draws a long line with two little lines out of the top, appearing to be a symbol of sorts on my skin. The black paint drips lightly as she drops the sleeve of my white gown.
“A protection rune,” she whispers into the air for just my ears. I shiver at the tingle of her voice and snap my eyes forward as two men approach me.
