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
