His head is still bowed, eyes locked on the floor. It might be the lighting, but I swear I see his nostrils flare as he takes in deep breaths.
“These souls are about to embark on the journey of allowing their light to enter the Divine, and in turn, the Divine will bless them with their touch. Allowing them to have their souls connected until it’s their time to join the Divine in Heaven.”
A man walks onto the stage, holding what looks like a velvet pillow in both hands. He bows to Samuel and extends it to him.
“Please watch as they offer themselves completely and let the Divine enter their souls.” He reaches for the pillow and grabs whatever object is on top of it. Samuel’s back is to us as he observes the five new members.
“Are you ready for your sacrifices?”
“Yes, sir,” they all say in unison.
“Look at me as you supply your offerings.”
They all look upon Samuel as he brings the object to Kameron. The brightness of the light hits it, and the shiny metal glistens from the stage. I try to swallow, but my throat is dry at the realization of what he is holding.
A blade is brought closer to Kameron’s face, and all the air leaves my lungs.
31
Kameron
“Stephen Harris, are you ready and willing to offer the Divine your mind, body, and soul?”
“Yes, sir.”
My eyes lock with Samuel’s, and I have to stop myself from grinding my molars as I watch him bring the knife to my chin. He uses the blade to crane my neck as I look upon him.
“Hands, Mr. Harris. You have the honor of going first.” I raise my arms to him, palms still facing the ceiling.
The blade leaves my chin, only to meet my palms. A deep cut slices through both palms, one at a time. I refuse to flinch, to break eye contact withhim.
A small yelp comes from off the stage, causing Samuel to turn. Whatever he sees has his fist clenching the knife tighter.
He whips his head back around to me and says with bated breath, “The Divine will be pleased with your offering. Praise the Divine.” He reaches for each palm and makes me ball them into fists.
Blood streams down my hands and wrists. The pressure of my fists closing helps to steady the flow of the warm liquid.
“Praise the Divine,” I repeat.
With that, he repeats the same process with the other member in line next to me.
I keep my eyes forward, focusing on what Hunter and Marcus told me to do.
They weren’t happy to have me go through this all, but I know I have to if I am going to be trusted here.
“Now, form the circle to connect your souls to each other. See if the Divine has received your offerings with delight or displeasure.”
All of us on stage don’t dare stand. We watch on our knees as we surround Samuel. Keeping him in the middle for the last part of this fucked-up ritual.
“Connect your souls.” Samuel raises his voice.
Each of us reaches for each other’s hands. The sting of our wounds, the simple touch has some of us hiss with pain.
“Now, to see if you have offered enough?” Samuel says as he brings the blade back up and slices his own hand. Hecomes to me first with a sinister grin. “Mr. Harris, open for me and the Divine.”
I grit my teeth before obeying.
As much as I want to fucking murder this man right now, I can’t let him win. I will infiltrate this place, and I will make sure everyone knows what a monster this family is. What a fucked-up, self-centered, cocky motherfucking monster Samuel Donovan is.
