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Raquel’s face darkened. “Uncle Luke’s never been the same since she was taken by the demons. He doesn’t like to talk about it.”
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Gabe turn toward the dining hall. He was going to spot me at any moment.
“I’m beat. I’m going to head up to our room,” I announced suddenly, standing up. The last thing I wanted now was a run-in with Gabe. “It was nice to meet you both.”
Bree and Dominic smiled at me, while Ashley sulked over her sirloin steak. I slipped out the back of the dining hall, avoiding the people that had begun to crowd into the hall for lunch. With one last glance over my shoulder, I spotted Gabe across the room. He was watching me from the buffet line, an empty plate in hand. A troubled frown sat on his perfect lips as we made eye contact.
Tearing my gaze away, I burst through the back doors with new determination. After the coming of age ceremony, I’d find someone to take me to Spearfish. Then, I would leave this place for good. No more stalling.
Chapter Seventeen
It was ceremony night before I knew it. No fancy dresses or suits allowed this time. Raquel surprised me with a tight fitting pair of black pants, a light blue halter, and shiny black boots she’d ordered online. She’d been avoiding the subject of me leaving all week and I had the feeling that this gesture, along with the way she’d been extra sweet lately, was her way of bribing me to stay.
“You look fierce and sexy,” Raquel said when I finished putting them on. “Just like a warrior.”
“But I’m not a warrior.” I ran my hands over the sheer overlay of the halter top. It wasn’t as grand as the red dress from the party, but it made me feel beautiful all the same.
“You don’t have to be a Nephilim to be a warrior,” Raquel said from behind her armoire door.
She’d donned a skintight pair of brown pants, a tan flowy top, and worked her hair into a stylish ponytail with a poof on top. I had to practically fight her off my own hair. She’d wanted to do something fancy with bobby pins and a flat iron, but I refused. Instead, I wore my long brown hair down and around my face in soft waves. It was the only way I liked it.
“Do I really have to go?” I asked Raquel once she’d finally approved of herself in the mirror. “Maybe it’d be better if I stayed here.”
“Nope, you promised to help me serve drinks after the ceremony.” She pressed her lips together and shook her head at me. “No way I’m doing that alone. It’s bad enough that my trainers are making me work the ceremony.”
“Well, next year it’ll be you.”
That drew a proud smile from her lips. Declaring us fit for the ceremony, Raquel escorted me down to the northern lawn. It was already late in the evening, and th
e sun had descended behind the trees, leaving a purple and orange sky in its wake. Pretty soon, the sky would be dark blue and dotted with a million brilliant stars.
Back home in Hanna, I loved sitting under the stars with Kate and pointing out the constellations. The last time we’d gotten the chance to do that was last summer, right before it turned cold. Kate had just confessed to me that she’d found a picture of her father among her mother’s things. She’d stolen the picture, something very unusual for her to do, and kept it hidden in her dresser drawer.
That night, she showed it to me. Her father was very young, probably not much older than seventeen, sitting proudly on a Honda motorcycle. A single word had been written on the back in smooth cursive writing: John. Kate didn’t really want to find him. She’d told me the fantasy would always be better than the real thing. But at least she knew his name. That was a luxury I’d never have.
The sight of a hundred Nephilim milling about on the northern lawn snapped me back to reality. Luke and Esther were near the middle of the group, shaking hands and greeting their friends. Short wooden benches had been added in sweeping circles around the pyre, enough to seat everyone there. Raquel pulled me close to the pyre and made sure we got front row seats for the rites.
Soon enough, the sky morphed into a deep sea blue and everyone took their places. Ashley, Bree, and Dominic, stood facing the fire pit with two other young Nephilim men that I assumed were also becoming warriors. One by one, they each took a dagger from their belts and sliced into the palm of their hand, dripping blood into the unlit pyre.
“We are the Nephilim,” they stated in unison. “We are the gatekeepers, the warriors. In the name of God, we shall defend this land and his flock. We are His.”
Luke stood up from his bench and approached the pyre, bending down to light a match. The logs Raquel and I had so carefully stacked lit up in a swirl of flames, throwing red and orange embers into the sky. Luke retrieved a silver cup from the ground and passed it to each of the new warriors. From my seat, I could see the deep red liquid inside that each warrior drank deeply. Finally, the cup was emptied, and Luke raised his arms to the crowd.
“Today, we welcome five more warriors to the flock. May they be fierce, loyal, and strong. May they always protect the innocent and destroy evil. May they live long lives and be of great value to our community.”
A roar of applause followed his speech. I clapped along with them, although it all felt hollow to me. Everyone here had a purpose. They had known that purpose since birth. I’d never known what my purpose was.
I used to think I would go to school and find a way to build a life for myself, but that dream had burnt up in that pyre instead of me. Now, I didn’t know what to do with my life. All I knew was that I had a demon that wanted my blood, and a town of people that hated me. That wasn’t exactly motivating.
The feeling of someone watching me drew my gaze to the crowd on my right. I met Gabe’s eyes before I could stop myself. He was sitting three rows back, next to Laramie. My heart fluttered as his stare softened and he gave me a small smile.
Maybe Gabe didn’t hate me after all. It was too much to hope. There he was, looking perfect in a distractingly tight long sleeved black shirt, his sword strapped over his back. His short brown hair fell naturally in place, and it looked like he’d even shaved for the ceremony. I couldn’t help but long to be near him again, his palm pressed to my back and his other hand cradling my hand.
“Now begins the partnership rite,” Luke announced, tearing my attention back to the roaring fire in the middle of the ring. “As you well know, this tradition began centuries ago. It is believed that while a Nephilim is strong, he or she is made stronger with the right partner. A partner of the heavens’ choosing. To be partnered is to be given a wonderful gift. Your partner is the person who will add to your gifts as a warrior. Together, you are complete.”
It almost sounded like Luke was officiating at a marriage ceremony. At his bidding, warriors from the crowd began to walk forward and form a line. I saw Gabe and Adam get up and join them. Finally, around twenty people had come forward and waited for Luke to begin.
“This is my favorite part,” Raquel whispered in my ear. She ran her eyes down the line of people. “Most people find their partner by the time they’re a hundred years old, but sometimes there are stragglers, like Gabe. You don’t have to go through the partnership rite, but I’m not sure why someone wouldn’t want to. It’d be awesome to have a partner for life.”
