The Catalyst

Chapter 37

***

"Excited for the wedding?" Veronica asked as they stepped under a trellis arbor vined in clematis.

After both drinking a vial of sin, the Etreoni queen was giving Tessa a tour of her gardens whilst they waited for it to kick in. A stormy sky darkening overhead promised heavy rain to come.

"I am more excited for yours than for mine," Tessa answered.

Veronica laughed. "Now, now, it won't be so terrible." She clasped Tessa's hand as they advanced along a path lined with rose shrubs.

"I gather we won't be married before the northern gods?" Tessa inquired.

"You are correct. An Azurian priestess made the trip for this purpose."

"Priestess?"

"Women aren't allowed many roles in the empire," Veronica conceded, "but there are those who remain virgins their whole lives and speak for the gods and goddesses."

"I see."

"Shall I show you where the wedding will take place? Oh, I believe the Dragon is doing one of his dreadful ceremonies there. Well, surely he won't mind if we just take a peek."

Veronica brought her to an open space ringed in young birch trees still bearing yellow leaves. They stood quietly between two trees, gazing at the hooded figures standing in a circle. There were perhaps thirty dark mages, and Tessa knew this wasn't all of them. The chanting part must be over, because they simply stood waiting.

Tessa whispered, "Are their demons there?"

"I believe so, but we can't see them." Shivering, Veronica rubbed her lace sleeves for warmth.

Tessa craned her neck to glimpse what was happening in their midst.

"I'm starting to feel it," Veronica said. "Are you?"

"Yes." A dizzying sensation spread through her as sky, trees and people shifted in subtle ways, the world appearing to tilt and reshape itself into a slightly altered reality. Yet Tessa attempted to focus only on the five people laid down across the leaf-strewn ground. They seemed unconscious, and one of them had short dark hair with bangs. Bellissa. Blood seeped from her nose.

"I . . . I must stop this," Tessa breathed, her heart beating alarmingly fast.

"We can't!" Veronica hissed. "Are you mad? Trust me, you don't want to anger the Dragon."

Tessa saw him now, as he stood in the circle with his followers. His pale blue eyes staring at her through the slits in his mask.

I know who you are.

But then, even as she grappled to hold on to it, the thought disintegrated. She fell to her knees, leaning against the white bark with a hand, the other slammed on the ground for support, fingertips clawing in the dirt.

"This is . . . stronger than last time." She experienced the exhilarating warmth and unnatural pleasure, but dimmed by nausea and panic.

"I'm so sorry, Tessa." Guilt and regret filled Veronica's doll-like eyes as she crouched next to her. "The Dragon made me do it. I didn't have a choice! I'm really scared of him."

Veronica picked up her skirts and ran away.

Swallowing down the bitter taste in her mouth, Tessa looked back up at the Dragon. He slowly treaded around the circle, his stare never leaving her, except to gather up one of his followers. The young man left the circle and joined his leader as they came to grab her. Tessa struggled, but her efforts were too weak and their hold too strong.