Debt
Ariel smiled cunningly.
“Scarlett, do you even know what you’re doing? A deal of that calibre, a blood debt, is one of the most powerful debts an angel can make,” Dyston told her, still struggling in Ariel’s grasp. She let him go, and he ran to Scarlett’s side.
“I read about it in a textbook,” Scarlett admitted.
“But that’s in the Fourth Year textbook.”
“I know.” She held his gaze.
“He’s right, and as much as I hate to break up your lover’s reunion, we have formalities to get through,” Ariel interrupted.
“Please, don’t do this,” Dyston pleaded.
“It’s my choice, Dyston, and I choose to free you,” she told him, before stepping away. “Let’s do this.”
“Very well.” Ariel led her back into the foyer and over to the elevator. Dyston followed close behind.
Once they stepped into the elevator, Scarlett asked the one question that had been eating at her.
“So what will happen after the ceremony? Can we leave?” The Ceremony of the Blood Debt rarely happened anymore, but it was essentially, a deal in blood that an Archangel made as a sacrifice or a swap for another angel. And since Scarlett was the only surviving one with Archangel blood, the deal would now be valid.
“Once you sign your blood over to me, you will be forever indebted to the realm and to me,” explained Ariel.
“But that doesn’t mean you have control over her, does it?” asked Dyston
“No, it just means that I can call on her at any time.” Scarlett looked over at Dyston who was silently leaning against the wall of the elevator watching her. She moved towards him.
“You don’t have to do this you know,” he told her, taking her hands.
“I want to,” said Scarlett, pulling them free. Dyston wanted to ask what was wrong, but the elevator doors opened, and Scarlett realised they were in one of the castle’s turrets. Its walls depicted the materials the Chambers were made of, a dark brown natural stone, and appeared to be slimy or wet—brimstone, Scarlett realised. It was ironic in a land full of angels.
“Wait here,” Ariel told them before stepping out. Scarlett was now alone with him and her guilt.
“Scar…” As soon as they were alone, Dyston eliminated the space between them in a heartbeat. He ran his fingers over her cheek, but Scarlett turned away and walked to the window. She didn’t want to look at him, let alone have him touch her. She felt she wasn’t worthy. Down below, she noticed the menacing grey waves crashing against the sharp rocks. She wanted to be in those waves right now, having them toss her about, and throwing her onto the rocks like a form of torture—anything to get away from what she had done. She felt his warm breath on her neck. She wanted very much to throw her arms around him and make herself one with him. But she couldn’t. And she probably never would.
“Scarlett,” he whispered in her head, “why won’t you look at me?”
“I can’t,” she finally said.
“Why not? Look, if it’s about the debt, yeah, I’m mad, but I can live with it.”
“It’s not that.”
“Then what is it?” he placed a finger on her chin and turned her face towards his. “Please look at me.”
“You’ll hate me when you know what I did just to get here,” she told him, not meeting his eyes, tears forming in hers.
“If it’s just barbeque bodyguards, honestly, I don’t care,” he laughed
“Dyston, please.”
“Sorry. Jokes aside, what did you do that was so bad that you can’t bear to look at me?” he asked. Scarlett turned her body away from him again.
“If this is about me being too protective, I’ll hold back, I promise.”
“You are too protective, but that’s not the point. Oh, man! I’m so stupid!” She walked to the centre of the room and grabbed onto a gold chair, hunching over it like she was about to be sick.
“Scarlett?” He stepped closer, but not as close as they had previously been standing. She sensed him near her again, and this time she spun around and met his eyes.
“I persuaded Lakyn to bring me here,” she said in a rush
“Persuaded? How? My brother is not easily persuaded,” he said. Scarlett stared at her shoes. She was so ashamed that she had fallen so low.
Dyston’s heart felt like a ship’s anchor plunging into the gloomy abyss of the ocean.
“Tell me you didn’t.”
“Don’t make me feel worse than I already do,” Scarlett expected him to explode and hate her, break up with her, do anything but this.
“No, it’s my fault,” he said. Scarlett looked at him again, this time there was no sign of a rainbow.
“What do you mean?”
“If I hadn’t interfered and fallen for you, then we wouldn’t be in this mess.”
“What are you talking about? I thought I was the one who screwed up?” Surely he must be in denial, she thought.
“No, I screwed up first. I fell for you and caused myself to be brought here for judgment, leaving you open to all kinds of evil influences.” Scarlett tried to speak, but Dyston continued. “I’ll deal with him later. Right now, I’m just glad to have you back,” he told her, hugging her close. A lie, it felt like a lie. Her face was probably sweating her betrayal. But she let him hold her anyway. After all, she did have legitimate feelings for him, she just felt as though she didn’t deserve him. That was the moment Ariel chose to walk back into the room, shadowed by Lakyn.
“We’re ready for you, Scarlett,” she said. The brothers’ eyes met, chocolate brown and ice blue, a storm brewing between them. Dyston kept a firm hold on Scarlett. He wasn’t going to let her out of his sight, especially near Lakyn.
“I’m coming with her,” Dyston announced.
“Don’t worry, little brother, she’ll be safe with me,” Lakyn told him, his face showing a snarky expression.
“I Am Coming,” Dyston repeated more firmly and slower this time. He stepped in front of Scarlett.
“Very, well, but we must hurry,” said Ariel.
They rode the elevator up one level. As soon as the doors opened Scarlett thought she was in The Realm of Fire. All the walls, the floor, and ceilings were made of painted white wood. It was a colossal space, almost bare, except for a raised platform in the centre with what looked like an altar on it. Scarlett was so busy admiring the bright vastness of the room, that she hadn’t observed Ariel placing a large white bowl on the altar. She glanced at Dyston, whose black leather jacket and green t-shirt were a striking contrast to the white backdrop. He was watching her. She knew that he wasn’t going to let her out of his sight this time. She stole a glance at Lakyn who was staring at her, as well, until Scarlett met his eyes, and he averted his gaze to Ariel.
“Can you please step forward, Scarlett,” said Ariel. Scarlett took a step away from Dyston towards the altar.
“Wait. What exactly does this blood ritual do to Scarlett?” asked Dyston. Scarlett paused.
“It makes her choose,” Ariel told him.
“Choose? You never said anything about a choice.”
“Silly, boy, every angel has to choose at some point, and for Scarlett, that point is now. Scarlett, please come forward.” Ariel produced an ancient looking scroll and placed it on the marble table.
“What do I have to do?” Scarlett asked when she was standing in front of the altar.
“It’s quite simple. All you have to do is give me a drop of your blood on the dotted line,” she pointed to the scroll, and then produced a silver dagger.
“I don’t remember an oath which involved the spilling of blood,” said Dyston, moving to stand behind Scarlett, who reached out and took the dagger.
“This is a blood debt, Dyston. Just a single drop will suffice,” said Ariel, watching intently like a cat watching a mouse. Scarlett ran her finger along the blade and it cut her instantly, a single crimson drop fell to the snowy marble. Time seemed to slow down as everyone stared at the blood
, whose shape was impeccably round. Scarlett closed her eyes and an image appeared in her mind, which she involuntarily began to draw. As she did, she heard multiple gasps.
“Scarlett, what are you doing?” asked Dyston
“No!” cried Lakyn, who seemed to recognise the image she was tracing in the blood. She opened her eyes and looked at what she had done. There, on the altar top, she saw an assemblage of circles, sharp angles and Latin symbols.
“Where on earth did you learn that?” Ariel asked. “Stop!”
“It was given to me,” explained Scarlett, placing her palm to it, causing everything to disappear.
Chapter Twelve