by D. S. Murphy
5
Morning came too soon. The light felt like daggers against my eyelids, aggravating a pounding headache. I groaned awake, then immediately ran to the bathroom and coughed up black phlegm mixed with blood. Thick dark veins ran beneath my pale skin. I felt dizzy and feverish. The ash was killing me. It made what I had to do today even harder, but I didn’t have any other options. Besides, rumor had it that the chosen received more elixir in the citadel, to keep up with their elite mates. I’d just have to last until then.
The plan was simple. In renewal today, instead of swallowing my drop of elixir, I’d spit it into a napkin, then rinse it with water into a cup and make my mom a cup of coffee. It was better than nothing, and maybe the extra dose would help her survive until I could think of another way to save her, or petition Damien for special privileges.
I could hear the sounds of Jamie and Loralie as they moved around the kitchen. From the banging of pots and pans, mom had probably let them cook again. I glanced at my alarm clock. How late had I slept? I splashed cold water on my face, tugged on some clothes, then went downstairs to join my family.
Mom was already dressed in her renewal best: a soft yellow dress that flowed around her every curve. Her hair was done up in a neat bun, the way she did it every Saturday, and she’d dusted a bit of color on her cheeks. In her hands was a wooden tray and a full plate of breakfast food.
She seemed like she was in perfect health, but I knew better.
“Well, good morning, princess. Nice of you to join us today.” She smiled, but there was a warning in her eyes. She didn’t want Jamie and Loralie to find out about our conversation from last night. I nodded slightly and sat down at the table. The blissful aroma of bacon, potatoes, and eggs wafted across the room. “We made you breakfast!” Loralie squealed, as mom put the steaming plate in front of me.
I stared greedily at the cup of coffee next to the plate of food. It was a luxury for our compound, and one of my favorite drinks. Twice in two days was nearly a miracle. Inhaling deeply, I smiled back at her.
“Special occasion?” I asked.
“You’re joking, right?”
“Obviously.”
My mother suppressed an eye roll.
“Today would be a special day even if you hadn’t been chosen. It’s your first day as a woman. Of course, I am happy that you were chosen. It’s a great honor.” She looked over me with pride, and brushed some hair behind my ear.
I bit my lip, furrowing my eyebrows together.
My mother cast a worried glance and my young siblings and immediately shifted to reprimand mode. Apparently she didn’t want my lack of enthusiasm to infect the whole family.
“I know it may feel unfair to you right now, Emily, but I want you to remember that the elite don’t have to marry our daughters or provide for us. They don’t have to keep the peace under the covenant. They don’t have to offer their blood in renewal to keep us strong and healthy. We’re lucky that they do it anyway. It could be so much worse.”
I frowned at this but held my tongue. I’d never really thought about it, and until yesterday I would have agreed with my mother. But for some reason I couldn’t get Trev’s voice out of my head. Maybe things had to be this way, but that didn’t mean I had to be grateful about it.
We left the house just before eleven, when the sound of chiming bells warned us not to be late. renewal was held in a small, white stucco building with heavy wooden doors and a tall steeple. It wasn’t the only renewal center in Algrave. There were several of them spread throughout the compound. Each was similar in design, but with unique architectural features. My father had explained to me once that the buildings were leftover from before the Culling—which made them the oldest buildings in the settlement. Each building was too small to fit the whole town, so we were divided into different buildings and different times. Attendance wasn’t mandatory, but I’d never heard of anyone skipping. Even with the purification engines, skipping renewal for a few weeks in a row was a bad idea.
There was a crowd gathering in front of our neighborhood renewal center when we arrived. I helped my mother carry our gift of baked goods to the offering table, leaving my siblings free to find our usual seats. Renewal had never meant much to me before. Something about it had always freaked me out a little. I’d hide in the back, sometimes reading a book I’d borrowed from the town library, and most people learned to ignore me. Today, however, was different.
Even amongst our friends and neighbors, there were whispers. A few girls stared at me in awe, like I’d suddenly become some foreign creature. Others pointed and whispered behind their hands, as if I couldn’t hear them if I couldn’t see their lips moving. Apparently I was the talk of the town. The luckiest girl alive, the luckiest girl anyone had ever heard of. Twice-chosen, I heard a few people say.
Three of us from the Algrave Compound had been chosen this year, but I was the surprise pick. Apparently, Damien had never chosen anyone before. Not ever. So, naturally, the entire compound was wondering what made me so special. They scrutinized me, looking for answers and frowning when they found none. I could tell some people thought the prince must have made a mistake, and I had no reason to argue otherwise.
After muttering the expected greetings to the council leaders that attended our renewal, I followed my mother into the ceremonial hall. The inside of the building was one large room with vaulted ceilings. Tall windows were embedded into the stone walls on either side, made from pieces of colored glass. The designs in the glass told the story of our compound. How the human race had suffered starvation and poisoning; how the scientists had created a cure; and how the two races had murdered each other for decades. Then King Richard created the compounds, and led the first settlers into safe havens. It showed the leaders of Algrave signing the covenant between our peoples, which had allowed for nearly a century of peace and prosperity for both races.
We sat in our usual row. Mom gestured for my brother and sister to move down, straightening their hair and clothing as they went. The rest of the parishioners filed in around us, filling the wooden benches that lined the room. The curates stepped into formation at the front of the pulpit. They were easy to recognize, with their flowing white robes and the unique haircut of their order: shaved head on the sides and back, with tight rows of braids on top. I leaned my head back against the pew and stared up at the beam that striped the domed ceiling of the building. I had sat through renewal once a week for my entire life. I’d long stopped paying attention to the sermon, but today each word seemed to drip with hidden meaning, as if it were spoken just for me.
“Greetings, brethren,” the head curate said. Our expected reply echoed off the walls, then he continued with the sermon.
“For thousands of years, world religions promised eternal life in new, reconstituted bodies. A time of bread and honey, without sickness, pain, or suffering. But it came at great cost. War, famine, pestilence, death. A period of trials and tribulation. We call that period the Culling. But we’ve been saved, restored to life through the covenant. As a gift to the human race, the weaker beings, our benevolent King Richard shared the restorative powers of his magical blood, as a means of protecting us from the perils of being mortal. With it, we can shield ourselves from virus and disease.”
The elder held up a golden chalice filled with thin, red liquid. “We give thanks to our protectors, who have saved us, and we celebrate our salvation with the renewal. One drop of blood, to purify our bodies. Two races, dependant on each other for survival, now thrive as one—as long as the peace is maintained.”
“Live together, or die apart.” The crowd responded, completing the liturgy.
The front row rose and lined up towards the center altar. This was it. I clutched the scrap of fabric between my fingers. I was going to tuck it under my tongue, so that I could use it to soak up as much elixir as possible, then sneak it back into my pocket when no one was looking.
Straightening my dress, I stood up and joined the line with the
rest of the congregation until it was my turn to take renewal. I was almost at the front of the line when there was a commotion behind me. I turned to see a figure emerge from the wings of the church, and approach the head curate. He was elite, but I didn’t recognize him at first.
My mom bowed her head and fell to her knees, following most of the congregation. I was the last one to kneel, though I wasn’t sure why. The footsteps stopped just in front of me and I heard a voice say, “Rise, daughter.”
I lifted my head and saw the elite holding a hand out to me. From close up, I finally recognized him. It was the king, in person. Here in Algrave. He hadn’t been seen in the compounds for decades. Nobody in my village had ever seen him, though many of us had paintings or pictures of him hanging in our houses. There was even a large portrait of him behind the altar.
“Dear people of Algrave. You have become accustomed to your weekly renewal, which keeps you healthy and free from pain. But I fear delivering it to you in a container, in a silver vessel, may desensitize you to the truth of its origin. So today, in honor of my son’s new chosen, whom I have come here to collect, I wanted to share with you a more personal, a more intimate experience.”
The preacher held up the small white wafer, and King Richard took it.
“This is my body, which is given for you and for many, to promote peace between our races.”
He broke the wafer. Then he bit his wrist, tearing into the flesh until a trickle of dark, warm blood filled the cup. It was red like ours, but with flecks of silver that sparkled in the light. I was so entranced, I forgot to put the piece of fabric in my mouth for my mother. And now everyone was looking at me. Shit.
“This is my blood, which I share freely with you, to keep you safe, to heal your wounds, and to soothe your pain.”
He turned his wrist up to stop the bleeding, and in seconds, it had healed over. From this close, I could actually see his skin stitching back together, like magic. An audible response from the audience told me that they’d seen it to. With renewal, we healed quickly as well – but never like that.
He dipped the small wafer halfway into the dark red liquid, and nodded towards me. I knelt before him at the wooden railing and opened my mouth, the way I’d been doing every Saturday since I was a little girl. When he put the wafer on my tongue, I felt its warmth, and its freshness. The elixir we usually received was probably days, even weeks old. I never really considered where it came from before. This time, however, the metallic taste of the blood was so strong it almost made me gag.
I kept my mouth open, hoping to spit out the sacrament when I returned to my pew, but the king’s penetrating gaze seemed like it was looking straight through me. I gulped down the wafer, and immediately felt the power of the elixir rushing through me. My pupils widened, and I saw the king smile and wink at me, before handing the cup back to the head curate. My cells practically buzzed with energy as I headed back to my seat. I lifted my hands, flexing my fingers in surprise. I felt amazing. The bruises and scrapes Nigel had given me faded completely, and my lungs felt strong and clear. The only thing that didn’t disappear were the jagged red marks running across my palms and fingers. Every renewal, for as long as I could remember, I’d hoped the scarlet thorns on my flesh would finally disappear, but they never did.
Even the colors and lights around me seemed brighter. I watched the rest of the village step up to the front of the chapel. Many of them seemed to be having similar experiences. I was frustrated my plan hadn’t worked, and felt guilty for swallowing the elixir I’d wanted to save for my mother, but hopefully today’s strong dose would be enough to heal her sickness—at least for a while.
The rest of the service went by quickly. The most exciting part were the engagement announcements. Every year after the choosing, there was a flurry of couples announcing their upcoming nuptuals, now that they were free to choose their own partners. The proclamations were followed by cheers and congratulations from the congregation, followed by the inevitable discussion of wedding plans. This year, six couples announced their engagement. If things had gone differently, I would have been among them. I tucked my hand into my pocket and slipped Trevor’s gold ring onto my finger. I peered around the congregation, suddenly realizing I hadn’t seen him today. Was he seriously skipping renewal, after a night of hard-drinking? That was bound to be a miserable decision. I hoped he’d still find me to say goodbye, but after last night I wasn’t counting on it.
At last, the head curate clapped his hands three times and the room fell silent once more.
“Yes, yes, congratulations to you all. And, as we all know, there is one among us who deserves our congratulations as well. Emily Sharrow, please stand.”
My cheeks flamed red as all eyes turned on me. Taking a deep breath, I climbed to my feet. I wiped my sweaty palms down the simple blue dress I wore to every renewal. In the presence of royalty, I realized for the first time how thin and faded it had become over the years.
“Miss Sharrow has honored our congregation and our community by being chosen. In a few moments, when we disperse, she will be taken to the citadel of light to begin her new life. We hope that she will do her very best to uphold her family name, and honor our community.”
He stared hard at me with knowing eyes, and I had the good grace to look ashamed. Apparently, my escapades beyond the wall hadn’t gone so unnoticed after all. Oops. Taking my bowed head as a sign of acceptance, he motioned for me to sit down, and I didn’t hesitate to obey. The curate placed his hands together, and we all followed suit. There would normally be a final prayer of continued protection, but King Richard cleared his throat and came to the center of the chapel again.
“Since I’m here, there is one more thing I wanted to address with you—a dangerous rumor that has been circulating other compounds. Rebels, saving up their elixir. Terrorists, whispering in the shadows, plotting the destruction of our kingdom. I know that could never happen here in Algrave,” he said, with a grim smile. “And I assure you, these individuals have already been caught and dealt with. Severely.”
The tone in his voice was chilling. At first I couldn’t understand why anyone would save up their elixir, but then I realized I’d almost done the exact same thing for my mother. A tremor ran down my spine when I realized King Richard’s announcement was actually a threat. One citizen, one drop. Those were the rules of renewal. Dissidents would be punished severely. But rebels and terrorists? Who would be stupid enough to go against the elite? My pulse raced, remembering the charred stairs of the stage after the explosion.
When the service ended, I followed my family towards the front doors. My mom came to a sudden halt right outside the entrance, and I nearly ran into her. The entire crowd had stopped moving, craning their necks to stare at something I couldn’t see. I pushed my way to the front, then froze as well. My jaw dropped at the long, black limousine parked by the curb. A man dressed in black from head to toe stepped from the driver’s side of the limo. He came over to the door in front of me, and my mother shoved a bag of belongings into my hands. She must have packed it this morning.
I stared at the black-tinted windows of the car and swallowed, my blood suddenly pumping through my veins. I didn’t know I’d be leaving right after the service. I thought I had more time. And wasn’t Damien supposed to come pick me up himself?
“I’ll take that, Miss,” the driver said. He plucked the bag from me before I had even registered his words. Speechless, I watched as he opened the trunk and tucked my things inside, then closed it again with a snap.
Turning, I stared at my mother. I was sure all the blood had drained from my face. She smiled back at me, and somehow, I knew she understood. Could this really be the last time I was going to see her? Her eyes filled with tears, and I threw my arms around her, pulling her close. I let the familiar scent of lavendar and sage wash over me, committing it to memory. When she released me, I wiped the tears from my eyes and bent to hug my brother and sister in turn.
“You’re the
man of the house now,” I said, locking eyes with Jamie. “All my hunting gear is yours. Stay safe. Take care of mother. Make sure she eats enough. Don’t whine or complain, ever.”
He nodded solemnly, and I pinched his cheek. I hugged Loralie as well, teasing her blond hair.
Then Amber found me and squeezed me into a tight hug.
“Friends forever, right?” I said, holding out my pinkie finger.
“Right,” she said, linking fingers with me.
At last, it was time to go. The driver opened the door to reveal a polished leather seat. Just the seat looked more expensive than anything I had ever owned. Glancing over my shoulder, I searched the crowd one last time for Trevor, but couldn’t see him. Then I lowered myself awkwardly into the vehicle and stared at my surroundings. Everything was so shiny and black. Even though I was in my nicest dress, I suddenly felt dirty and out of place. I put my hands under my thighs, and wondered how long it would take to get to the citadel.
That’s when I noticed I wasn’t alone in the car. King Richard sat across the car from me—a good six feet away—his face half hidden in shadow. His all-black suit made him almost invisible at first, but his thin fingers stood out like bones against the dark fabric.
“Alone at last,” he said. “I hope you don’t mind some company.” There was a twinkle of humor in his eyes, but something else was lurking just behind it. Something that made my skin crawl. Like all elite, he was handsome, though close up I could see fine lines around his mouth and eyes, and a streak of gray in his dark hair. Several heavy gold rings flashed in the darkness as he folded his hands on his lap. Something about the rippling of his fingers was mesmerizing, and I found myself drawn to the movement.