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“No,” I shook my head. “I just want to find another way. There must be another way.”
“There is no other way,” my mother said, her voice hard. “This is our only chance. Do this, Evie. For us. The Marriage Temple offers help for the families of those who submit to this.”
I stared at them, my heart breaking. They were my parents, the people who loved me more than anything in the world. But they were also asking me to give up everything I held dear, to sacrifice my life for them.
I couldn’t do it. I couldn’t marry a monster. I couldn’t leave them. But I also couldn’t bear to see the pain and disappointment in their eyes.
I didn’t know what to do. I felt trapped, like a cornered animal.
Finally, I spoke, my voice barely a whisper. “I’ll do it. I’ll submit to the blood test.”
A wave of relief washed over my parents’ faces. They both reached across the table and squeezed my hands tightly.
“Thank you, Evie,” my mother said, her voice thick with emotion. “Thank you for saving us.”
I nodded, trying to smile. But inside, I was dying.
The next day, my parents and I made the long journey to the Marriage Temple near our community. The air was heavy with tension as we walked through the massive stone gates. A foreboding place, the temple with its dark corridors and echoing chambers filled with an oppressive sense of dread.
They led us to a small, sterile room where a nurse drew my blood. I watched as the crimson liquid filled the vial, feeling a strange sense of detachment from my body.
When it was over, someone ushered us out of the temple and instructed us to wait for a match. I didn’t know how long it would take, but I knew my life would never be the same.
My mind reeled from the events when I returned. I tried to focus on the minor comforts of home, the warmth of the fire, the smell of my mother’s cooking. But I couldn’t shake the feeling of doom that hung heavy in the air.
I submitted to the blood test. I gave up my freedom. And now, all I could do was wait for the inevitable.
The days after my blood test at the Marriage Temple were a blur. I moved through my daily routine like a ghost, my mind consumed by a sense of dread and uncertainty. I couldn’t focus on anything, couldn’t find joy in the simple things that used to bring me comfort. My parents tried to be supportive, but they were just as anxious and worried as I was.
Finally, the letter arrived. A thick, official envelope with the Marriage Temple’s seal. My heart pounded in my chest as I tore it open, my hands trembling. Inside, I found a single sheet of paper bearing the results of my DNA test. My DNA match was a gargoyle from the west, in the canyons of Alia Terra. I was to head to the Marriage Temple in Iunctura, a two-day train ride from my home. The letter included a strong warning, emphasizing that the treaty would view non-compliance as a violation and would bring serious consequences for my family and community.
I stared at the letter, my stomach churning. This was it. There was no going back. I was going to marry a monster.
For the next few days, I prepared for my departure. All of my belongings fit into a small bag. The one treasure I would keep forever hung around my neck, the old locket my parents gave to me years earlier when I was a child. Their faded picture smiled at me when I opened the little latch. I said goodbye to my friends, who were all terrified for me but tried to put on brave faces. And I spent long hours in my room, talking to my parents. We talked about everything and nothing, trying to make the most of the time we left together.
The day of my departure finally arrived. My parents walked me to the train station. We hugged tightly, tears streaming down our cheeks. “Be strong, Evie.” My mother's breath tickled my ear. “We love you.”
“I love you too,” I whispered back. “I’ll be okay.”
“Maybe your new husband will bring you around for a visit.” Dad kept a brave smile on his face, but his eyes were sad. I responded with a nod because if I spoke, my voice would crack and the dam of tears held back would flood my face.
With a heavy heart, I boarded the train. My parents’ faces grew smaller and smaller until they disappeared from view as the train slowly passed them. I was all alone now.
The landscape changed from lush forests to barren plains to towering mountains. I tried to read a book, but I couldn’t concentrate. My mind kept racing, going over and over all the things that could go wrong.
What if my gargoyle mate was cruel and abusive and didn’t want me? What if he was everything I feared and more?
The train finally arrived in Iunctura late in the evening. I stepped out onto the platform, feeling lost. The enormous city sprawled before me with a maze of neon lights and towering skyscrapers. I saw nothing like it.
I made my way to the Marriage Temple, following the directions they gave me in the letter. The temple loomed imposing with stone walls, huge and foreboding like a nightmare. The intricately carved walls held gargoyles perched on every ledge and parapet. I’d never met a gargoyle in person.
I took a deep breath and walked inside.
The interior sucked in the darkness, the flickering candles doing little to dispel the gloom. I could hear chanting coming from somewhere deeper inside. I followed the sound, my heart pounding in my chest.
I finally came to a large chamber, its walls lined with statues of monsters. In the center of the chamber was a raised platform on which stood a group of gargoyles. They were all tall and muscular, with sharp claws and fangs. Their eyes glowed red in the candlelight.
I froze in my tracks, my body trembling with fear. I saw nothing so terrifying in my life.
