As Alexander led us down the hall to the ceremony room the smells and sounds of everyone being here finally started to hit me.
Which only reminded me that this was not the first time I have had to replace some of my members. . . I could only hope this was the last. The doors were pushed opened by Alexander the load creak of the old tarnished wood doors made everyone's voice hush. Jason stayed quite by my side as we stepped into the bright room that what almost felt like a dozen sparkling crystal lights. The talking stopped and every froze only for a moment before kneeling down. Most of them were pretty new faces, minus the few I saw the paperwork for, but to my surprise Zadicus also was amongst them and more so to my uneasiness he himself hesitantly got down on his knee.
I could feel Jason's mood shift as he must've also seen what he did, but he didn't speak a word.
Alexander cleared his throat.
"Everyone may rise."
And so they did.
The room was decorated quite simple for the occasion. There were white roses and forget me nots in each vase around the room. And the vases were a sparkling crystal. At the front of the room there were two glasses one with gold and red rubies encrusted around the rim and stem which sparkled with the bright lights and then another that was silver with diamonds in the same place as the other glass had, had them. The stoned small table that they were placed on was covered with white lace with patterns so delicate and with such fine strands it almost appeared as if a silk worm or maybe even a spider had made them.
As Jason and I walked to the front where the glasses were placed Zadicus had also started for his way up to the front.
I would be lying to myself if I had said that I wasn't nervous about such an occasion. Especially since Zadicus had never been apart of such a thing with me. . . I know he had done so before I arrived, but never since. . .
"As some of you know this is a very rare occurrence in our history. . .very rarely do we invite people into the counsel especially at such a mass, but unfortunately it was needed at such point. Although they may be gone they will not be forgotten."
I paused for a moment as I put my hands on the small cold stone table.
"Understand that when you take this vow it will be in death. If you fail to keep the secrets that we speak of here tonight you will die indefinitely. This is not a threat nor I, or anyone have control over."
I looked over at Jason for him to continue with the speech, he didn't make eye contact at all, but only spoke while looking at them.
"Those of you who know of a blood promise know how much of a serious matter this is. . . those of you who are younger will soon and very quickly learn. Some of you will not see each other tomorrow unfortunately. . . we understand secrets are hard to keep at times, but understand this now. If you break it you will die as previously stated."
And suddenly it was like a breeze had blown within the walls and you could smell everyone's mood shift once Jason had told them of their possible fate. Some of their eyes had seemed panicked, others unchanged and even some which seemed unsure.
Zadicus's voice suddenly filled the unsettled room.
"Understand that these choices are up to you, yourself to choose your fate."
"Delilah Moreau; you're first my dear."
Alexander spoke as he walked up to her and offered her a hand.
I had met Delilah briefly before when Jarred had brought her around, but she had looked different since then.
Her once black hair was now a chocolate brown hair, her makeup was much more softer than usual. She wore a plum silk mid length dress with a simple high low design with a v neck.
She was beyond nervous and scared, her eyes were almost filled with panic.
Alexander chuckled.
"It's not as bad as you think it is, young one."
I smiled at her in reassurance of Alexander's words.
"Delilah Moreau, you have been chosen to be placed into the Royal council."
Jason's words seemed almost hushed for a moment as he grabbed his glass and the small dagger and slicing into his hand and allow the cup to fill with his blood. I could smell the warmth and and sickening sweetness of it and it's intoxicating smell filled my nose as the thick dark liquid started to drip into the cup.
"Once you drink from this cup you will be connected with all of us here."
She seemed to swallow nervously as she took the glass and slowly brought the glass to her lips and started to drink. Her cheeks flushed a bright red once the liquid must've touched her soft pink lips.
She finished the liquid and slowly brought it from her mouth handing it back to Jason.
"Congratulations Miss Moreau, now who's next Alexander?"
"Jackson Flores,come stand beside Delilah"
At first I was confused, but then I had remembered that some of the new members were not couple's meaning the blood had to be shared another way.
Even if that way was unwanted. . .
Jackson quickly and with a firm walk, walked up beside Delilah.
"Delilah you will have to do the same as what was just done with you in order to complete Jackson's acceptance-though if you refuse understand there will be consequences."
Alexander spoke slowly to make sure she fully understood.
"Actually Alexander there won't be a need to make the poor girl suffer"
Zadicus said as he walked up to the pair their eyes filled with worry and somewhat confusion.
Alexander, Jason and even I also looked at him in confusion.
"I can take care of him."
"Lord Zadicus, you- you out of all of us know the consequences of that. . ."
Alexander watched his words carefully, but Zadicus only smirked.
"My bite won't kill him I assure you, and my blood won't give him discomfort either. Come forth child."
Jackson very hesitantly walked forward to him and cautiously looked up at Zadicus.
I was very unsure of how to react, and whether or not I should stop this because as far as I knew Jason and I-as well as Zadicus had a death bite and when the same sex would drink from each other is was typically bitter. Not toxic by any means though.
Zadicus cleared his throat and held his hand forward to Jason and motioned him to hand him the dagger, but Jason seemed just as frozen as me and had glanced towards me.
Should I?
His thoughts whispered to me.
I only nodded and he slowly handed the dagger over.
Zadicus started the ceremony speech again and I could smell the shift in everyone's feelings as Zadicus's blood started to drip into the cup and the scent also started to fill the room.
Everything became unsettled and uneasy and as Zadicus's words came to an end and Jackson took the glass it was as if everything dropped to a deathly silence as he brought the glass to his lips and started to drink.
As he started to drink it what almost seemed faster and more relaxed I could feel my shoulder relax a bit almost and everyone's face seemed also more relaxed rather than before.
"Like I said, I don't have the issues you do."
I could feel Jason however becoming very displeased and angered beside me, but his face stayed just as stoic.
"Thank you Jackson, now I'll take care of the rest if you wouldn't mind Jason."
Jason's jaw clenched and I could tell he was even gritting his teeth a little.
"Very well. . ."
You could tell Jason's pride was very hurt by this, but in this issue I could tell neither of us were sure what to do.
And so for every one Jason couldn't tend to, Zadicus did and before I knew it the ceremony was wrapping up and it was finally done and was now next to my other concern for the day.
"On the behalf of the three of us, we welcome you all and hope that you will find yourselves comfortable with your knew bright future and life within this family."
Jason's warm voice boomed through the ballroom and he brought his hands together and gave a big warm smile.
Everyone clapped and some even smiled before bowing their heads down as Alexander moved to lead us out.
However as I was walking out behind Jason a familiar hand was placed on my shoulder making me turn my head.
"I'm really hoping you're not upset with me. . .truly I did mean what I said about the girl. . ."
To my surprise Zadicus's grey eyes did look as soft as his words at that moment.
"I'm not that concerned about that right now. . .no one is dead and that's all that matters now if you excuse me I have other tasks that I need to tend to."
I said as I pulled myself away and kept walking.
I may have been lying just a bit because in fact I was very confused and shocked as to what just happened but I could figure that out later.
"You should be done for the day no? You should have a mandatory day off. . ."
I almost froze for, but then I shook it off as I quickened my pace.
"Not this year. . . Besides it's a personal matter about the house, I'll see you at the meeting this week, thank you."
And thankfully with that Lucas placed himself between us shuffling me along into a different hallway from which Zadicus was going.
Cut it close there you know. . .
Jason's words almost seemed as if he were trying not to laugh like a little kid pulling something sneaky from their parents.
Shut it, I'm aware.
I snapped back at Jason.
Lucas knocked on the door of our office and Michael had opened it and nodded at Lucas before passing us letting us in.
Rickey was sitting in one of the red leather chesterfield chairs as e was typing away on his phone as if he hadn't heard anything.
Alexander cleared his throat and Rickey's head quickly snapped up as he looked towards Alexander as he shut the door.
He glanced over at me for a moment but then quickly put his phone away.
"So how'd it go?Sierra and Delilah do well?" he finally spoke and made he contact with Jason, which honestly surprised me from how he reacted previously.
"You know they weren't the only ones who were brought in. . .but yes they did fine, they passed some other interesting events but nothing that is of your concern just being a normal rank anyway."
I scolded Jason for his remark and you could tell he saw it because his face suddenly looked slightly regretful.
"Right. . .so what did you want to discuss?"
Rickey's face furrowed as he tried to very obviously hold a comment in.
"You need to understand there is a protocol and rules you must abide to with accepting Luna's offer. . ."
Jason gently moved me aside and walked to the desk and pulled out some papers from one of the drawers and set them down on the desk with a pen.
Lucas and everyone else quietly left shutting the door behind them.
"You will understand that she is not to go out without a guard or two, does not matter who but it is required by law. Second, her duties as well as mine will come first before anything else. You are allowed to stay here if you wish to, but you will not be allowed to stay in our quarters, you will have your own room. . .those are some basics but there's more things you and I can discuss in private."
"Are we not in private now?"
I figured that Jason would want to discuss things with him alone but there was the slight chance he would allow me to stay and that slight chance became a no chance a lot quicker than I had thought.
"I'll leave you two be then. . .I'll meet you in the main living room after?" I looked over at Rickey.
He smiled almost like a child and nodded.
"Of course doll."
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