by C C Sommerly
“For as I believe in you, I ask that you also believe in me and the love I bestow on you and your brothers and sisters. For I will never lie to you or lead you astray. I seek to help you walk the path of truth. For it is only on that path that you can see that which was hidden and experience the glory and goodness of The True One. Open up to my truth, assist your brothers and sisters to find me in the darkness for I am the light when they are lost and blind,” said Brad.
“That is one of my favorite passages and always leaves me in awe of The True One. He is the god above all others. Let’s discuss what he’s saying about trust and love. While he doesn’t use the word ‘trust’ that is what he refers to. This is a reminder of the love he has for us and the dream of sharing that with the world. We must trust in him to walk the path that he has shown us” said Josiah.
I found myself leaning forward and nodding at his question. There was logic in what he was saying and I found it pretty darn convincing. There was magic in these words that drew me in. I felt lighter and freer as those words were spoken by Brad. And, now listening to Josiah, it was like a light illuminating the darkness of ignorance with wisdom.
The session went on, we broke into small groups to share stories about trust. Because I was new, I didn’t have to share, which I was grateful for. I had no clue what I would have said. My backstory didn’t come with a philosophy and I certainly couldn’t share anything true because I have never fully trusted anyone or anything.
Each story that the disciples shared was so different from my own experiences. Tales were told about childhood difficulties, experiences with significant others or even friends. I felt a connection to these people. Many of them experienced hardships that made trusting nearly as hard as it was for me. It also made me realize, that my pain and hardship from my childhood weren’t exclusive to me. It was a pain shared by so many. And yet, each of these people could and did trust in each other and in The True One.
The study session ended and I was disappointed. I enjoyed learning about these people. I looked around for the two people I’d seen from Emma Lynn’s art session, but they’d already gone. Too late, again.
We left the study session and Isa led me to a large rec room with a similar set up to the dining area. In here, four long rectangular tables that sat twenty dominated the room.
Isa explained, this was one of four rooms identical rec rooms. Doing quick math, that meant 320 people fit in here. Just how many members did they have?
We played card games and I lost more times than I won. And, like the study session, this also ended too soon. Isa led me to my room and I settled in for the night. Tomorrow, I’d pursue the blood connection and the beneficiaries. One day wouldn’t make a difference.
28
I was up and ready before Isa arrived. Even Muffin was waiting at the door for her. Hopefully, I’d be able to come and go on my own soon. I didn’t like having a shadow even if she was such good company. And, having her and the others here made me miss my own home less. This place really wasn’t so bad. I enjoyed the incense hanging in the air and easy acceptance of everyone. There was nowhere quite like this place. Am I being too hard on them? Maybe they truly were more of a unique religious sect than a cult.
Muffin whined to alert me to Isa’s arrival. Before she had time to knock, I opened the door.
“Oh, you’re already ready? How did you know I was here?”
“Muffin.”
“What a good dog you are, buddy.”
The day repeated yesterday’s schedule: breakfast, meditation, and a sermon.
The sermon was a different topic and I waited for the disciples to come through with their incense and the blood goblets. I watched and didn’t see anything abnormal. They weren’t casting spells and were just chatting the phrase ‘may you find strength in The True One’ to each person they stopped at. They drew my blood and moved on.
Once the sermon ended, I lagged behind. I wanted to watch where they took the blood. At the door, I couldn’t find a reasonable excuse to delay any longer without Isa getting suspicious. Muffin took off suddenly, knocking people over. He ran through the same door the blood goblet toting disciples took.
“I’ll be back. Sorry,” I said to Isa.
I ran after Muffin and spotted him taking a connecting hallway. I turned down the same one and found him panting and sitting outside of a door. As I was about to scold him, I heard someone speaking on the other side of the door.
I froze and listened closely to whoever it was in that room. They were casting a spell. I didn’t practice blood magic, but that was without a doubt what was being done in that room.
I looked down at him. I’d give him extra treats. He’d led me to the blood room. Disappointment filled me. I really wanted to be wrong about this place and the people. Without realizing it, I’d started to actually believe in this group and trust them. It was another betrayal and it hit just as hard as the other one, maybe harder because they had given me hope. I should have known better.
“Is this the one that the seeker’s blood spilled into?” asked Jarl.
“Yes, your highness,” said a familiar voice. It was Francesca, one of the blood donors from Xavier’s coven.
“Wonderful. Let me see it,” he said.
The spell continued and I felt the familiar destructive edge to my magic. They were somehow using my magic. Since when did blood magic let you access the magic of that person? This was bad, really bad. My magic shouldn’t be in anyone else’s hand. I needed to wrap this case up asap. I couldn’t let them get any more of my blood.
“This is strong. We are lucky to have her. I don’t think I need to remind each of you how important it is that we keep her. She needs to commit to us.”
“We can do that. She was in my study session and was feeling the power of The True One’s words,” said Josiah.
“Keep her well-stocked with the incense. That alone will keep her tied to us,” said Jarl.
I’m such a fool. How addictive was that stuff? Could I even quit taking it? Would they know that I wasn’t using it? If I went through withdrawal, it would be obvious that I’d stopped taking it. But, it was everywhere here, so I couldn’t completely avoid it. Getting away from here was the only way to stay clear of the incense.
I eased away from the door and quickly went back down the hallway. I was nearly back to the temple when Isa found me.
“You had me scared. Is your dog okay? Why did he leave like that?”
“I apologize. He’s never done that before. I think he needs to use the bathroom. Can we go to the gardens?”
“Of course.”
Like a dutiful companion, Muffin peed at the first plant we got to. He could most definitely understand me. Just how far did that comprehension go?
He returned to me and I leaned down to hug him and ruffle his ears.
“You’re such a good boy, you did just what I’d want you to.”
“You sure get excited about him peeing. Is he newly house broken?”
I’ll use that excuse. Thank you for that, Isa.
“Yes, he is. He doesn’t have accidents anymore, but I need to do a better job at taking him out in the morning.”
We left the garden and the day continued to progress much like it had yesterday. After the evening games, I returned to my room and waited. Once things settled down for the night, I’d do some snooping. I needed to get out of here.
My head throbbed and my mouth was dry. I trembled, but so far, I’d resisted lighting any of the incense or eating it. It was strong stuff if I was already feeling withdrawal symptoms. What else is this stuff doing to me? And, just how involved with this cult were Xavier’s blood donors? Hearing Francesca conspire with Jarl about the blood made me wonder. As much as I didn’t want to admit it, Xavier had reason to worry. The incense was potent and was used for more than relaxation.
Once the majority of the Institute turned in for the night, I crept out with Muffin. I didn’t see anyone in the halls, but I also didn’t l
inger out in the open. Outside of Jarl’s office, I listened for signs he or someone else was in it. It sounded empty.
I leaned down and whispered in Muffin’s ear. “Keep an eye out, if you see someone, bark and run away, so they chase you. Can you do that?”
He nodded his head. God, this was weird. I was communicating with an animal.
The door was unlocked, which surprised me, but should have. Why lock it when everyone treated the man like a god himself. No one contradicted him or went against him in anything – at least from what I’d seen. No one should have that much power over another. Blind faith and trust was the equivalent of putting your life in another person’s hand. And if he was doing blood magic, it made having that much control over people extremely dangerous.
I slipped into the office. I went to the desk first. It had a built-in drawer and started there first. I found a file on the Robertsons and several other Uptown families. Skimming the file, the amount of money they’d given to the Institute blew my mind. Hundreds of millions of dollars was bestowed on this place. What did they need all of that money for?
And, the company they got the herbs from was paying them. I also couldn’t find any kind of invoice for the herbs that they bought from the Rare Herbs and Medicinals Company. Why pay someone to take your product?
The files in this drawer didn’t have anything on the members. I tackled the standing file cabinet next. This man kept records of everything. The papers were organized to an almost compulsive degree, which was beneficial for a fast search.
At the second from the bottom drawer, I found member files. I saw Isa’s name. If I had time, I would take her file as well. I’d like to see what it said about her. The files were in alphabetical order, so I quickly found the J’s and looked for Emma Lynn. I found a file on her, her mother, and her father.
Muffin barked and I jumped. Crap, out of time. I pushed the files down the front of my robe and adjusted it to hide them. The hidden spot wouldn’t fool anyone. If someone saw me, they’d know I had something under my shirt. I couldn’t get caught now that I might finally have some answers.
I shut the door and followed Muffin’s barking. He had cornered an unfamiliar man in robes. His clothing was unlike any of the robes I’d seen so far.
“Get this creature away from me before I have you flogged.”
So everyone wasn’t nice? His frown lines cut deep into his face.
“Sorry, he got away from me,” I said.
“Indeed. I should put it down for attacking me. If it happens again, he will be taken care of. No one, certainly not a mangy animal, treats me like that.”
I pulled hard on Muffin’s leash and the man and stalked away. That was close.
I led Muffin back to my room and locked the door. I opened Emma Lynn’s folder first. The first page was a summary sheet. It included her age, a physical description, magical ability and strength, date of indoctrination. There was also a box check for “screened by the company”. Could that be the Rare Herbs and Medicinals Company or something different?
I opened her parents’ file folders and saw the same summary sheet except theirs didn’t have “screened by the company” marked and there was no date of indoctrination.
I went back to Emma Lynn’s file. There were hand-written notes about her internship, community service activities, and her time at the Institute.
There was a stamp that said “inactive”. I searched her parents’ files and they had the same. I also found notes that they were located at the alternate location, but no other details were given beyond that. That meant the note saying Emma Lynn was found was either done by someone else or the Jamisons were forced to write it. There weren’t any clues in the files. They went through a very extensive investigation on all three.
I went to sleep with my mind racing over the possibilities. The picture was starting to come into focus, but the key piece was how the Jamisons played into it and what exactly the herbs did. And, why would a powerful and highly-profitable company like the Rare Herbs and Medicinals Company be involved in something that was either highly unethical or criminal?
29
I answered the knock at my door, looking forward to breakfast with Isa. It wasn’t her standing before me, but the man in the ornate robes. Muffin growled and the man tried to kick the devil dog.
“What is wrong with you? Don’t you know he’s a devil dog? Why would you attack him?”
“You and I have some talking to do, but he stays here.”
“Where is Isa and what makes you think that I’ll follow you anywhere?”
“I was warned that you were an untrusting sort. And while I usually don’t answer such impertinent questions, I’ll make the exception, but don’t think it’ll happen again.”
I really didn’t like this guy. And Muffin hadn’t stopped growling. If I wasn’t positive that they would kick me out, I’d let Muffin have a go at him. Who kicks animals? He probably hated kids too.
“My name is one you should be familiar with, but with such a closed heart, I wouldn’t expect you to recognize the truth when you see it.”
Like a glamor being dropped, he flared with the brightness of the sun. The light formed a nimbus around his head. His power was roared over me. It made me dizzy and I rocked back on my feet. He was quite possibly the strongest supernatural creature I’d ever been in the presence of.
“I am The True One.”
Oh this is bad, really bad. Gods were never something you wanted to mess with.
He smirked like he knew what I was thinking. For all I knew, he could read my thoughts.
“Can we leave now?” he asked.
“Yes.”
“The dog stays behind. I won’t have a repeat of last night. If you value his life, then make sure he stays put this time.”
I pushed Muffin back and quickly shut the door. He threw himself at the door, shaking it in the doorframe.
The True One turned glowing hands towards the door. He created a ward, making a glowing spider-web patter across the door. Muffin hit the door a final time before yelping and going silent.
I clenched my hands. I didn’t care that I had no access to my magic. I still had my knives on me. No one messed with my animal.
“What did you do to my dog?” I demanded.
“It was an electric charge. Nothing he won’t recover from. Devil dogs are, unfortunately, hard to keep down. Now, if you will follow me, we’ve delayed long enough already.”
What did he want with me? I was no one.
The walk was a silent one and the halls were empty – something that wasn’t typical for a meal time.
“Where is everyone?”
“They are attending a very special sermon with Jarl. You don’t need to be there. I wanted this time alone, so we won’t be interrupted.”
He’s going to kill me or at the least torture me. He suspects I’m not what I seem. Can I escape before he kills me?
He led me to a chamber that was guarded by two bone men. Their stares were fixed ahead, but I knew they were aware of me and any potential threat I represented. Somehow I doubted they were as friendly as Frank. Thinking of the bone man made me miss him. He was a good sort. He was quite odd and probably misunderstood by everyone. However, I didn’t take someone saving my life lightly. I’d be grateful to him until my dying days. He was a fierce warrior with an even fiercer heart.
We stepped into the doorway and I was teleported away from the Institute. Light was everywhere and I squinted my eyes until they adjusted to the brightness. Strange animals ran around a lush, grassy meadow. If I was barefoot, I bet the grass would feel as soft and thick as a carpet. Muffin would love running around here. He’d enjoy hunting the weird animals. I hope The True One wasn’t lying when he said that Muffin wasn’t really hurt. If he was lying, then I would rip him apart, or at least give it my best effort.
He started laughing and a shiver ran down my spine.
“My, you are a blood thirsty one, aren’t you? And the images of w
hat you’d do to me are rather entertaining. Perhaps there are more uses for you than I initially thought.”
I’m so screwed. I didn’t realize it was an actual god that they followed. Gods and goddesses was never a good thing. They were so far removed from humans and other supernatural creatures. It was like comparing a human to a dog, no, an ant. Gods and goddesses had no use for humans and saw us as play things.
“I have use of you.”
“I’d prefer you didn’t. Find someone else.”
Power slammed forcing me to my knees. Pain radiated out from my knees. My insides felt like they were melting and my skin burning off my body. I screamed and screamed, but it didn’t make the agony stop.
At some point, I passed out. I woke up to the god kicking me.
“Are you done with your little act of disobedience?”
I didn’t trust my voice at this time, my throat felt raw from the screaming. I just nodded – hoping that an answer wasn’t required. Man, Jarl certainly got things wrong when he wrote the devotional book for The True One. This god was as cold, uncaring, and unloving as a god could be. Those poor delusional fools.
The True One’s head was cocked to the side. He had a curious expression to his face as he studied me. I shivered. There was no emotion in that look. It was an impassioned examination of a thing he found interesting. I’m so screwed and not in a good way. Even with my magic, I doubt I’d be able to get out of this mess. I couldn’t even get back to Germanna from wherever I was.
“Even now after you’ve experienced the pain I can inflict upon you, you are still thinking about fighting me. The foolish bravery of humans is a curious thing. Do you want more pain? Did you enjoy what I did to you? Why would you consider escaping when you know I can kill you as easily as ‘what did you call it?’ Oh yes, as an ant.”
I couldn’t do more than kneel, but I pushed my shoulders back and met his eyes.
“As long as there is breath in my body, I’ll fight. Tyrants don’t deserve to win. And I’ve already survived a monster far beyond whatever you are.”