“How does Foster play into all of this?”
Sabbath reached into one of the pockets of his leather jacket and pulled out the Sapling Foster had made earlier in the day. “Well, he’s the heir to The Order. The next in line to lead us to salvation.”
“Salvation?” I reached for the tiny handmade figure, but Sabbath pulled it away. “From what? The end of the world?”
He shook his head. “Not exactly. The end of our world maybe, but not yours.” He slowly began to unravel the figure Foster had made while he spoke. “The Order wasn’t created until sometime in the seventeen hundreds. Back when disease was rampant and pandemics were breaking out all across Europe. Our ancestors fled to this country in hopes of outliving the outbreaks. Only, they had no idea that the very ships that carried them away brought the very thing they tried to outrun. Disease spread, and soon, entire towns were dying. That’s where the plague doctors come in. Our ancestors wore the masks of plague doctors purely in the hopes of surviving the outbreaks. Only, they didn’t work. One day, they’d heard a story from the locals that the cure to the outbreak lay deep in the redwoods and inside the old, ashen tree. But only one member per family could look for it. So, the families gathered one person from each remaining home and sent them out into the redwoods. Only, they didn’t realize that the cure they were looking for wasn’t a cure, buta curse. Nineteen entered the woods and only thirteen made it out.”
“A curse? What happened to the other six?” I asked. “And why did only thirteen survive?”
He grinned. “In a way, you already know why.” What? “You see, thirteen is considered a holy number to us. While most of the world sees it as unlucky, we find it sacred. As for the six who didn’t survive…” He dropped the unraveled pieces of the figure onto the ground. “They were the sacrifice, killed by The Redwood. The price paid to protect the sacred thirteen.”
My stomach felt sick. “How did The Redwood kill them? And what for? So a group of people could not die from a fucking disease?”
Sabbath laughed. “You still don’t get it do you? Those chosen few didn’t die over a disease. They died to protect entire families. Everyone who shared the blood of the sacred thirteen was safe from the disease, but they were also safe from sickness. Their lives were extended, and they were gifted abilities no other human can possess. Our scars may bind us through a blood oath, but I can do more than that. Much more, thanks to The Order. I can inflict pain, heal wounds faster than medicine, and many other things. But my favorite thing to do is wait for your guard to fall so I can crawl into your mind and read your thoughts.” He leaned close. “The same way I love to sneak into your dreams and see what it is you crave so bad.” I turned my head away. “You turn away now, but like it or not, you’ve been a part of this ever since that night.”
My eyes widened. “What?” My head turned, and I looked at him. “How?”
“Your blood. Or should I say,ourblood.” He grabbed my face and pulled me close. “My blood reaches far back to the original thirteen. The Sequoya family was not only part of the sacred thirteen, they were the ones who made the fateful deal with TheRedwood.” His mouth hovered over mine. “It’s only fitting you chose my last name when you arrived here.”
I struggled to breathe. “Why is that?” I asked.
Sabbath pressed his nail into my scar, and my body arched into his. He breathed my gasp and smiled at my pain. “Because my blood runs in your veins. You are a Sequoya, Rosie.” He lifted his finger, and I noticed black liquid dripping down his finger. The same as what dripped from Foster’s hand earlier. “And this is proof.” His eyes locked with mine as he licked the dark blood from his flesh.
I wanted to vomit at what he was saying. I didn’t like it. Any of it. But he still didn’t answer all my questions.
“I still don’t understand. What was The Order doing in the woods earlier? Why were they wearing those masks?”
Sabbath pulled away. “That’s a bit more complicated.”
“Sabbath—”
“Drop it, Rosie.” he snarled at me. “There are some things in this world you’re better off not knowing. Trust me.”
Should’ve thought about that before you ruined my life and dragged me into this mess! God, I wish I could just smack that smug look off your face!
Sabbath chuckled. “Try to keep those thoughts to yourself, spitfire.” My eyes widened.
Did he just read my mind?I blinked.Good. Maybe then he’ll realize I wasn’t going to let this go.
“Uh, you’re really not going to drop this, are you?” He looked over his shoulder at me, and I shook my head. “I swear.” He rubbed his face and groaned. “The masks signify the position each family holds within The Order. Plague doctors have the highest rank and represent higher positions. They’re typically worn by the descendants of the sacred thirteen, whereas mere followers of our beliefs wear the skulls of beasts to represent their devotion to nature and The Redwood itself. Sadly, therearen’t many plague doctors left. Over time, bloodlines died out and only a few of the original bloodlines remain.”
“Such as yours.”
He nodded. “The Sequoya bloodline, yes. Not Batista. My father’s unfortunately died with him.”
My brows furrowed in confusion. “But your blood is part his?”
He shook his head. “Not in our world. As for what they were doing, well, I’m afraid I can’t share that.”
I scoffed. “Why not?”
Sabbath licked his lips and smiled. “Because if I tell you, you’ll try to stop us.” Us? “And I’m afraid I can’t let you do that. It’s nothing personal, Rosie, it’s just the way things are.” He didn’t make any sense.
What the hell could those people be doing in that cavern? He mentioned sacrifices, but there wasn’t anything like that going on. What was it Foster had said earlier? It was so odd and out of place?
“Wait.” Sabbath eyed me closely. “Earlier today, when Solomon fell into the fire, Foster mentioned something. He said they were even. Solomon and The Redwood.”
Sabbath groaned. “He shouldn’t have used the Sapling. It’s too much for someone his age. It was too risky.” He rubbed his face. “Our mother was furious.”
