Or what we give up weekly to keep our souls.
Even if a nun or another clergyman were to receive an invitation to bear witness, I’d doubt they’d be inclined to accept.
While the ritual is private and sacred, rumors aplenty circulate about its brutality.
More than one priest has fainted or returned sickened after learning the rites. A few have even run off, never to be seen again.
Not all have the stomach to carry out the duty.
Besides Father McCall, Father Dominic is the only other priest I’ve ever done the ritual with.
And just like their sermons, the way they perform the sacrament couldn’t be more different.
Father Dominic takes his sweet time with me, relishing in my suffering. Perversely enjoying my humiliation.
Each lash of the whip is delivered with careful, strategic thought to the placement. Each slice of the knife cuts a little deeper than needed.
By the time I find myself stumbling up the basement steps, I know more than another hour has passed.
It’s full dark now, and all the night’s evil creatures will be out to play, but a least I’m a little lighter.
My burden has been significantly lessened.
As soon as I open the door that leads to the area behind the altar, I see Sister Susan pacing back and forth with her brow pinched in worry.
“Chloe!” she cries out in shock once her eyes land on me.
Rushing over to me, she grabs me by both arms and stares at my face with a look of horror that slowly melts into anger.
“You…” she hisses over my shoulder.
Stepping around us, Father Dominic finishes wiping my blood off his hands then tucks the white cloth he used into his crimson sleeve.
Smiling at Sister Susan’s look of outrage, he says, “It’s time for our charge to be on her way, Sister Susan. Please see her out.”
Shaking her head in disbelief, Sister Susan releases me and turns, standing in front of me like she’s guarding me from him. “It’s well after dark.”
“Indeed,” Father Dominic says, his smile growing wider. “Even more reason for her to be on her way. It’s no longer safe for her to be here.”
Sweeping her arm out toward the front doors, Sister Susan exclaims, “It’s not safe for her out there!”
The smile slipping from his lips, Father Dominic’s expression becomes cold and hard. “You know the rules as well as I do. For her safety and ours, she cannot stay here."
“Rules?” Sister Susan repeats incredulously. “Now you care about the rules? You paid them no heed when you decided to show up so late…”
Red beginning to creep up his neck, Father Dominic says defensively, “That was not my fault. That was God’s will.”
Sister Susan scoffs, and my heart jumps up into my throat.
Afraid that she’s about to say something blasphemous, I reach out and touch her arm. “Sister Susan, I’d like to go now.”
The longer I linger here, listening to them argue, the more dangerous my journey home becomes.
If I leave now, I might be able to avoid detection.
Sister Susan jerks in surprise then glances back at me. “Are you sure? You don’t have to…”
We both know that’s not true, and even if it was, I’m not sure I’d want to stay here, regardless.
I’ll probably regret thinking this later, but at this point I’d rather take my chances with the vampires than suffer an entire night in Father Dominic’s presence.
“I’m sure,” I assure Sister Susan, and withdraw my hand, purposely avoiding looking at Father Dominic.
I can feel his gaze upon me though, burning into me with wicked amusement.
Sister Susan sighs at me then throws a menacingly glare Father Dominic’s way. “Very well. I’ll see you out.”
“May God be with you,” Father Dominic says, a smug grin tugging at his lips as we walk past him.
It’s been at least five years since I’ve been outside after sunset. I can’t even remember the last time I’ve seen the moon or the stars sparkling above me and not through a pane of glass.
The second I step through the iron front doors of the cathedral and into the night air though, my heart instantly squeezes in terror.
Freezing in place, I stare out at a world that’s no longer safe.
A world crawling with my worst nightmares.
It doesn’t matter that I’ve painstakingly prepared for this very situation every morning with the cinnamon oil, Charity’s clothes, and the things I carry in my bag.
Because burning inside me is the surety that tonight I’m going to die.
“Are you okay?” Sister Susan asks before her hand comes down on my shoulder to give a reassuring squeeze.
When her hand touches me, my body reacts. My very bones wanting to jump through my skin as I jerk away from her.
Sister Susan startles at my reaction, her eyes growing wide.
Regretting that I scared her, I quickly apologize and try to regain my composure. “Yes, sorry, I just need a moment.”