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Olivia’s got on a dress similar to mine, but emerald in color. It complements her long, straight dark hair and chartreuse eyes quite nicely, and the matching green headscarf looks devastating against her features. Caleb’s dressed in a plain white oxford shirt and black pants, his black headpiece doing wonders to hide the disheveled sandy tufts atop his head, though the same can’t be said for the deep purple bags under his chocolate brown eyes. Normally he sits with his wife, but she is currently on bed rest, heavily pregnant with their first child. Clearly, it’s been taking a toll on them both.
Caleb leans over to gently knock my knee, trying to conceal the exhaustion in his voice. “So, big day. How do you feel?”
Caleb had already gone through his ceremony two years prior, so he understands how nerve-wracking the day can be. Granted, he’s been quite happy since. He and Maria, his wife, seem genuinely compatible.
I shrug and glance toward Imogen, not wanting to say anything to take away from her jubilance. “I feel fine. Normal day, sort of.”
Olivia rolls her eyes, her cupid’s bow lips formed into a smirk. Out of my friends, she is the most like me when it comes to the Society’s traditions, and she’s also my oldest friend as our fathers have worked together since before our births. There’s not much I haven’t confided in her. Olivia is 25, like Imogen, soshe doesn’t have to go through this process until next year. She is also living vicariously through me, but in the sense of what she begrudgingly needs to prepare herself for rather than in an excited sort of way.
“I’m sure you do. Now let’s face forward, don’t want to get a reprimand.” The continued smirk as she turns to the front reveals her sarcasm.
I’m about to quip back when a hand claps on my shoulder.
“Amelia! Big day, huh?” Behind me is Henry, Olivia’s father.
I quickly glance her way and the corner of my mouth raises briefly when I see her roll her eyes.
I turn toward him with a smile and a nod. “Of course, sir. Exciting day.”
I turn back to the front, hoping he will leave me alone. It’s one thing to play pretend with my friends, another entirely when the top officials are watching, even if it is my best friend’s father. Friendly or not, they are always on duty.
Before he can say another word, the Elders begin to file onto the stage. I let out a breath of relief as he hurries to his seat and place my focus on the Elders. They are dressed in long, white robes with large white veils over their heads. The Top Elder’s is distinct, with bright red crystals adorning both the headpiece and robe.
“Good morning, friends!” the Top Elder smiles out at the crowd with dead eyes.
He has a name, but no one knows it. In fact, we don’t know any of the Elders’ names. One thing about Elderhood is that when it is reached, names become a source of power, but also a source of weakness.
Their eyes always appear vacant, the supposed polar opposite of Dark Elders, an eerie look on their paper-thin faces. The Elders are hundreds of years old, perhaps thousands, and despite this they can choose what age to appear. Most of theElders have chosen to appear old enough to convey wisdom, but not so old as to appear frail. One might think that they should not need to convey something they claim to have.
The Top Elder’s thin lips contort into a spine-chilling grin. “Today is an important service, as our new sets of True Partners will be revealed this evening!”
The crowd claps vigorously, but all I feel is a pit in my stomach. It has long been tradition to not reveal your True Partner until the ceremonial dinner, only adding to the anxiety of the day. Or excitement, depending on who you ask.
I glance at Olivia and when I catch her eye, she fakes a gag. Olivia always knows when my anxiety around our traditions kicks in, and for that I’m grateful. I turn back to the front, feeling slightly better,onlyslightly, and plaster a fake smile on my face.
The Elders clap their hands once to quiet the crowd before the Top Elder continues, “For centuries, our society has depended on the True Partner process. This is how we continue to grow and thrive as a community, and how we sustain ourselves to hold the Dark Elders at bay. If these systems falter, we are no better than the Dark Elders. Now, let us read a passage from Prophecies 2:6. ‘Us, the chosen, must continue the legacy of light; so that the dark man with eyes like gold cannot fool us with his lies…’”
I tune out the rest of the verse. The Top Elder recites it on every True Partner Day. A story that has been embedded in us since the beginning: we continue to grow our community so that when the Dark Elders, and particularly one Dark Elder, comes to “lead us to darkness” we are strong and plentiful. Of course, as these things go, no one knowswhothis Dark Elder is, other than this particular one will have golden-colored eyes.
In terms of Dark Elders in general, we are all taught very young what to look out for. This is for safekeeping; in case one ever enters our community. Though the Dark Elders can comein all shapes and sizes, just like humans, they tend to have a specific aura around them, one that is meant to make humans feel more relaxed in order to draw them in. They also generally wear dark, tailored clothing. The eyes have also been warned to enchant humans due to their depth.
These servicesalwaysend up back to basics: our Elders versus the Dark Elders. Even though it has been centuries since anyone has seen a Dark Elder, but that does not stop the stories from continuing. The Dark Elders are just as old as the Elders, of course, but are often described as looking younger and always attractive, a way to “catch prey”. This is why we are not allowed outside of the borders of the Society, and the only people who end up out there are those who have broken major laws. Extradition occurs infrequently and is only for crimes such as murder and treason.
The Top Elder holds his arms out to the crowd, “I now invite our members who will be partnered today to stand, so that we may acknowledge this next phase in their lives.”
A pit grows in my stomach as I slowly stand, refusing to look around at the crowd. I’d rather not speculate who I will be partnered with. The claps are deafening, and I resist a flinch. I feel a hand grab mine and glance down to see Olivia. She doesn’t look at me, but I know she can tell that I’m beginning to falter, and appreciation fills me with the small gesture of kindness. I look ahead again, but startle when I catch the eye of the Top Elder.
He smiles, his blank stare sending a shiver down my spine. “Welcome to the rest of your lives.”
Chapter 2
Dinner comes sooner than I was hoping. After service, I hurried home with my family and spent the majority of my day in my bedroom, dreading what was to come. Normally, citizens who are to be partnered will spend their day preparing with family and friends, coming up with talking points and questions to ask their arranged lover. Imogen had tried to come back home with me for this very reason, but I feigned a headache, unable to stomach talk about the process anymore. I’m beginning to regret my decision, however, because now I have absolutely no idea how to interact with this man, whoever he ends up being. I rub my sweaty hands on the chiffon rouge dress I’m wearing, trying to focus my thoughts on thetap-tapof my strappy gold stilettos underneath the layers of cloth. I feel like I’m choking underneath the high neckline and the intricate lace scarf atop my head begins to itch, but I ignore the pull to fidget.
“I’m so excited for you, honey. I can’t wait to meet your partner.” My mother grips my hand and smiles as she leads me up the pathway to the Top Elder’s extravagant home.
I look behind me at my father, but he nods subtly for me to look ahead. I’m craving the aloof comfort he provides, but we are at the Top Elder’s home and therefore we all need to be on best behavior, especially my father. After all, he’s always on duty.
Every True Partner dinner takes place at the Top Elder’s residence. The dwelling is more akin to a palace than a home, I would say. The entire building is made up of white bricks, with the interior covered in marble. There is a massive fountain before the front doors, an abstract centerpiece spitting water from its middle. The double front doors are made of pure gold—for its protective properties— and the walkway is infused with clear quartz.
