Total pages in book: 30
Estimated words: 26760 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 134(@200wpm)___ 107(@250wpm)___ 89(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 26760 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 134(@200wpm)___ 107(@250wpm)___ 89(@300wpm)
“You look beautiful, Korinna,” he murmured once I was in front of him.
Then, the older man. “Begin.”
Before I could gather my thoughts enough to speak, his order was carried out.
“We gather here to solidify a bond of old.” He turned and lifted something off the altar.
When he faced us again, there was an open obsidian box in his weathered hand, revealing a ring that left me speechless.
The soft illumination emanating from the box gave the large crimson diamond a surreal glow, amplifying its splendor.
“Do you, Korinna, vow to honor a promise foretold, to bind yourself in union with our Kyrios?” the older man questioned.
His words indicated this was something that had been decided already, deepening the void of unknowns I was being sucked into. The full significance of the night began to sink in. This wasn’t a wedding as I had begun to fear, but it might as well have been something worse. This ceremony would bind me to Aidoneus in a way that could not be undone, altering the course of my life forever.
I didn’t know why he chose me.
I didn’t know anything.
Nor did I have the liberty of piecing together the chaotic mess of a puzzle my life was becoming. My family's dire situation was my main priority right then.
I couldn’t look at them.
I didn’t want to see their faces in this moment that none of us would ever forget.
“I vow,” I monotoned, knowing I could give no other answer.
Aidoneus was then asked, “Do you, Aidoneus, vow to protect and cherish this union, and uphold the sacred bond and honor the legacy of our Triad?”
“I vow,” he replied without hesitation.
He lifted the ring from its box and slid it onto my finger. Its metal embrace tightened subtly, an ominous omen of things to come.
Just as I believed the night’s surprises were over, the atmosphere shifted to such a degree I found myself glancing toward the gathered crowd. They looked…expectant. With a practiced motion, the Venerant holding this ceremony reached into the pocket of his ceremonial robe and withdrew a dagger. It gleamed menacingly. The carvings upon it told of stories long before my time.
He turned and grabbed a chalice that had been hidden from my view behind him. With it in one hand and the dagger in the other, he began to speak. His voice was deep and resonant, echoing through the room.
“Bear witness to this sacred union of blood and spirit. As the past flows into the future, let this vow be a testament to the unbreakable bond we honor today.” He handed the dagger to Aidoneus, who hadn’t taken his eyes off me for a single second.
He sliced a shallow cut across his palm, allowing blood that looked more obsidian than crimson to flow into the awaiting chalice of dark wine. His face never registered the pain; his gaze never wavered, not even as he passed me the dagger. I hesitated for a heartbeat, the cold metal pressing against my palm. A sharp sting followed as I replicated Aidoneus's gesture, my own blood mixing with his in the sacred vessel. The Venerant then passed him the chalice and took back the dagger, wiping the blade with a dragon-embossed cloth.
“Aidoneus Maelstrom, partake in this sacred union. Bind yourself soul and blood.”
He drank deeply, his eyes briefly changing, the pupils narrowing into dragon-like slits.
I blinked, and found the same red eyes flecked with gold staring back at me. The transformation was so quick that I thought maybe I’d imagined it.
“Korinna Hearst, drink and bind yourself soul and blood.”
My heart raced in a frantic tempo.
This wasn’t just about the ring now adorning my finger or the fact that I would become this man’s wife. Marriage was already daunting enough, but there was the slimmest possibility I could free myself from that kind of binding. This oath, however, was eternal. Blood oaths carried age-old traditions and powerful significance in our world. I had heard whispers and stories of these rituals, often told in hushed tones. They were unbreakable and not to be entered lightly. They signified a bond that surpassed all others, intertwining souls with blood and the weight of promises.
A torrent of emotions threatened to overwhelm me: fear of the unknown and the ramifications this would hold for my future; confusion as to why this was happening and what events had transpired to bring me to this moment.
As I took the chalice, Aidoneus made sure I kept my gaze locked with his, an unspoken command holding me in place. I lifted the heavy cup to my lips and sipped, the metallic tang of blood mingling with the rich, dark wine. The taste was sharp and overwhelming, a mix of iron and bitter sweetness. I swallowed it down, and a strange warmth spread through me. As I drank, the Venerant continued his speech.