Midnight Rose - Emma Hamm Page 0,2

the Dread want? They certainly weren’t creatures with thoughts or desires of their own. They were animals, easily manipulated and used to harvest their powers.

Rhea watched the High Priestess with rapt attention. The powerful priestess always knew what to do. Worrying about anything with their mother watching over them was like fearing a flood when it hadn’t rained in years.

Their leader lifted her head with pride and strength, then silenced the crowd again. “We will provide options to those Dread who are accepting a priestess into their home. This is why I call more names. Alice. Alexandra. Hortencia. And Rhea.”

She watched the other three women walk up to the stage before she realized the High Priestess had said her name. Rhea.

“What?” hissed the priestess to her right. “She’s just an apprentice!”

Those were the exact thoughts running through her own mind. She wasn’t a priestess, yet. She didn’t know how to serve a Dread, let alone harvest their magic and use their powers. Rhea hadn’t finished her training.

But she also couldn’t stand here like a dolt. The High Priestess had called her name, and Rhea had to go.

Gulping, Rhea lifted one foot and then the other. All the way to the outcropping where the priestesses waited, glaring at her with hatred in their eyes. Even the leader of the alchemists looked at her like she was something disgusting he’d found on the bottom of his shoe.

She didn’t blame them for the looks. Apprentices didn’t wear a mask that hid their ugliness from the world. Her scarred and sunken face was bared for everyone to see. For everyone to know she wasn’t a priestess, that she wasn’t ready to have a Dread of her own.

She swallowed through the dryness in her mouth and tried to focus on anything other than the sea of angry priestesses staring back at her. She wasn’t just an apprentice now. She was one of the Chosen, and an ill prepared one at that.

Laurel stood next to her, spine rigid and eyes on the crowd who were equal parts cheering with excitement and pointing at Rhea.

“Is this what you wanted, little apprentice?” she snarled. “What deal did you make to stand beside the worthy?”

“I didn’t make any deals,” Rhea whispered. “I didn’t know this would happen.”

“I find that hard to believe.”

So did Rhea. It seemed anything she said would only sound like a lie.

The High Priestess marched down the line of priestesses, inspecting them all for any imperfection. She stopped at Rhea and tilted her head to the side. “Apprentice. Are you ready for what comes next?”

What else could she say? “Yes, High Priestess.”

“Good.”

Did... Did the High Priestess wink at her before she continued down the line?

Chapter 2

Chapter 2

Rhea watched everyone but the Chosen filter out of the hallowed chamber. They would all return to their normal lives while she would remain here with the others.

The Chosen. The priestesses who would bring magic back to the alchemists and priestesses.

Every single one of them would be revered as god-like beings for the rest of their short lives. This was the greatest honor any priestess could hope for.

And somehow, an apprentice was amongst their esteemed ranks.

She tried to keep herself silent as the High Priestess turned toward them. Rhea had never been very good at keeping herself still. Her knee bounced underneath her bland ceremonial gown.

“You have all been chosen for strengths unique to each one of you.” The High Priestess tucked her hands behind her back. “I understand this Choosing differs from the others. You may have concerns or worries, and they are all valid. I am just as unsettled as you.”

Not exactly what Rhea wanted to hear. The High Priestess seemed above such things. Like she was incapable of being upset. She was a paragon. A goddess.

If she was worried, then something was very, very wrong.

“Return to your chambers. Clean yourselves and then I will send the other priestesses to attend to you. Tonight, you must...” The High Priestess’s lip curled. “You must convince the Dread you are worthy of their attentions.”

Every priestess flinched at the words. Convince the Dread? They were monsters who should be happy to have a priestess attending them. They didn’t get to choose.

What was happening here? Why was this all changing without reason? Rhea couldn’t wrap her mind around it.

The leader of the alchemists remained impossible to read, but she wasn’t sure he could actually move that scarred, horrific face. The High Priestess just looked angry. And she always looked angry.

“You are excused.”