In the Arms of a Warlock- Chapter Ten

We reappeared in a gigantic room. The floors were that 50’s black and white tile patter, and the walls were covered in that movie theater material in beige. Then all the windows were covered with huge and thick red curtains. The ceilings were sky high and had paintings on them of the God and Goddess. And there were many beautiful diamond chandeliers hanging from the ceilings on long chains. Then the room was furnished with gold and red chaise lounges. And at the very end of the room were stone thrones. There sat the three girls that had appeared before us on the street. Luckily for me, Desantheo was cradling me in his arms as we sat on a red chaise lounge. It was really fancy, fancy enough to make me shudder. Desantheo automatically stopped talking and looked at me. He gently sat me next to him so that I was sitting up right.

“What happened?” I asked, super confused. Before he could answer me, the red headed one answered my question.

“You’re on trial.” She said with a voice more beautiful than I could’ve ever imagined.

“For what? I’ve done nothing wrong as far as I’m concerned.” I said, surprising the three women and myself. I don’t think it surprised Desantheo too much.

“You haven’t, and I was not speaking of that kind of trial, Embla.”

“My name is not Embla, it is Victoria.” I said, still surprising everyone but Desantheo, who was chuckling next to me. But the red haired woman took no notice of him.

“I know that. Embla is Scandinavian for human. In this courtroom, only your immortal shall call you by your true name. You are not worthy enough to be called by your true name by anyone else.” That time I kept my mouth shut and Desantheo had stopped chuckling. But I still kept my chin held up high and I looked the red head straight in the eye. I didn’t know the protocol of the court room, but I wanted to seem bold.

“Where am I?” I asked, looking her straight in her green eyes.

“You’re in the House of the Goddess. And we are the High Council of the Goddess. My name is High Priestess Kiahautu, and I’m the Leader.” The red haired woman said.

“I’m High Priestess Uchefuna, and I’m the Warrior.” Said the one with surprisingly silky hair for a black person. She even sounded African. Her voice was strong and rough, yet every bit as beautiful as Kiahautu’s

“And I am High Priestess Liouba, I am Love and Desire.” The blonde one said. She was the most beautiful of them all, if that was even possible. They were all so beautiful. And they all had green eyes. And it didn’t even look like a natural green. It was a glowing, literally, emerald green. And Kiahautu and Liouba were both like white hot chocolate, while Uchefuna was a dark mocha. The thought made me chuckle. But no one seemed to notice.

“You didn’t tell me what kind of trial I’m on.” I said, keeping my chin held high as I stood to my feet as the High Priestesses had done.

“To see if you are fit to be immortal.” Uchefuna said, said looking me straight in the eyes. It was hard, but I still kept eye contact with her.

“Why?” I asked. I had never given Desantheo an answer.

“Because, you’re in love with an immortal. And I can feel the total trust and love between you two. Also, there is obviously a bond between you both. Something soul deep, and always has been.” Liouba said, making me break my staring contest with Uchefuna to look her in the eyes. She was so beautiful and caring. Her eyes were like looking into the eyes of an angel.

“I know that, but how does any of this qualify me to go trial to become immortal?”

“Because, if a mortal falls in love with an immortal, and the immortal for the mortal, it must happen. And should you decide to break apart from each other, you will be tied to his humanity. This means, if he should decide to give up his humanity and give it to Evil, you shall die. Not only will your soul and humanity be given to Evil, so will your body. And you cannot imagine some of the horrible things they do to your body when it is theirs. And for eternity, you feel it. You’re not actually seeing it, for all you will see is darkness, but you can feel and hear everything they do and say.” Kiahautu said, making my gaze go from Anja’s to her own steely gaze. Out of them all, it was obvious that she was the most powerful. For she was their leader, and Desantheo’s as well. Looking into her eyes, you were automatically attracted to her. I shook my head, because I was as straight as a straight line. It must be one of her powers, I thought.

“So, pretty much my becoming an immortal because I love him has to last for all of eternity, or I’ll die and my body will go to Evil. Gotcha.” I said, rubbing the back of neck. Desantheo just put his arm around my waist and said something in a language I didn’t know. I looked at him, trying to communicate with him through my eyes.

“What she has yet to inform you, is that if you do choose to try to become an immortal, you will be put through a series of tests.” Uchefuna said, drawing my attention back to her. I now found it easy to look into those glowing emerald green eyes. Perhaps it was thought of losing Desantheo that had sobered me.

“How many will there be?” Desantheo asked, his wings fluttering as if he had water in them. It was one of his signs of discomfort. I gave him a little squeeze around his waist, trying to let him know that it was okay. They settled down a little bit, but they were still a little restless. I set my head on his shoulder, which had it at vertical angle because he was so tall.

“There will be five, one for the first five phases of the moon. The first will take place tomorrow night. For it will be new moon. Your test will be on hiding yourself in public should you need to. The test will start at midnight, sharp. Do not be late.” Kiahautu told us. Then with a great wind encircling Desantheo and I, we appeared were we had been before we’d been sent to trial.                  

                Instead of finishing our shopping, we went to my house to tell father of the things we’d just encountered. Desantheo started telling us what he’d experienced while I’d been conked out. (And the reason I’d been knocked out by the transportation was because I wasn’t allowed to know where the High Council held actually was until I was immortal. It was a safety thing, I was told.) He’d been questioned about Scarlet. And he told them all she had done to him. From his beginning with her to his last encounter with her. Apparently they’d quietly listened and nodded their heads. And when he finished, that’s about the time I woke up. I remember him talking, but I was too busy taking in the room to take notice of his words. Then I told father about Kiahautu, Liouba and Uchefuna. Then I told him about my part of the trial, and what I’d have to do. Father was quiet for a long while. Then he abruptly stood up and walked to the large bookcase behind his and mom’s desk. He pulled a black book out about half way and the entire door above us and the entire hallway was lit up. It wasn’t very long, and at the end of it was a wooden door. He took a key out of his pocket and used it to open the door. And once he’d opened it, I was shocked by the simplicity of it all. It was just a room with a pretty interior. Then I noticed something. It looked like the High Councils court room! Everything was the same, except the thrones. The walls had that weird movie theatre material in beige on them, the bottom half of it red. The 50’s style black and white tiles on the floor, tapestries on the walls and a high ceiling with a single diamond chandelier, it was all the same! Except the paintings of the God and Goddess weren’t on the ceilings, but the walls. And another strange detail about the room was that instead of four walls, there were five. At the end of the room was a triangular space that had a red, plush window seat. I went over to it and looked out the window. It over looked a small, private garden I’d never seen before. It was almost like the garden from The Secret Garden. It was completely surrounded by giant walls of flowered bushes. They were about the size of three grown men. No wonder I’d never seen this window or garden, I couldn’t get into it. While I’d been thinking on these things, dad had gone to another bookcase and pulled out a book and flipped through the pages. Then, when he’d found what he was looking for, he showed it to Desantheo and he went pale.

“What is it?” I said, getting up and taking the book from Desantheo’s hands. He was frozen there. I could see his wings wanting to spread, but he kept them neat and folded on his back. I looked at the page that the book was opened to. It was the five steps to becoming an immortal. The first test would be held on a new moon, and it was about hiding yourself in public should you need to. The second test was on a waxing moon, and it was over handling horses. And not just horses, they used huge drafting and war horses. They could use a Belgian, Shire, Clydesdale or Percheron horses. All of those horses could get up to twice Desantheo’s size! And he was way taller than me. But then again, I thought, Callie rocks with handling horses, she can help me prepare myself. Then I looked at the next one, first quarter. It was an entire lesson and written test on keeping your secret safe. Then there was the waxing gibbous, this one was about stealth. It was an obstacle course. Shouldn’t be too hard, I thought to myself. Then I checked out the last one. Full moon was about full frontal fighting. Meaning I had to take on and “kill” an immortal. And that immortal has always been Kiahautu.