The Fourth Ceremony: The Sacrifice Trilogy (2 page)

            
 “
You are used to getting everything you ever wish for, but the one thing you do
n’
t get to decide on is how other people handle their emotions. I know it sucks, Less, but your mother is her own person and has to handle her stuff her own way
.”
He said it gently as he pulled her back towards him.

            
 “
Sometimes the only things I want are the ones I ca
n’
t have
.”
She almost whispered.

            
 “
Less, you
always
want what you ca
n’
t have. But it is
n’
t your fault. The Empire has bred a monster
.”
Khi quipped.

              She punched him in the arm. He stuck his tongue out at her and laughed. Khi had a knack for simultaneously grounding her and making her laugh. It was one of her favorite things about him.

            
 “
I know this is going to be a hard year for you, hell i
t’
s going to be a hard year for everyone, but you are the strongest person I know. Do
n’
t lose yourself to the strain before the Fourth Ceremony even gets here, okay
?”
He looked at her seriously.

            
 “
I wo
n’
t. I know who I am. My inner brat just takes over from time to time
.”
She replied with a smile, regaining her composure.

            
 “I’
m going to get dressed for the Dinner. Take some time for yourself and let the staff know when yo
u’
re ready to be dressed
.”
He rose from the couch and squeezed her shoulder before he turned and left the room.

              She watched him go. She loved him deeply, but not in the way many assumed. Most people saw their confidence in each other, watched their casual touches, and assumed that they were romantically involved. After all, many of the previous Sacrifices had had a tryst or two with their guards. But Aless
a’
s relationship with Khilyn was special and simple. He was her best friend, her rock, and her protector. She could
n’
t love him more if he was her own brother, and could
n’
t love him any differently, either.

              She remembered back to when she had first met him. She was ten years old and he was an annoying boy who had come to wreck her life. She watched him train under Marston and hoped that he would fail. Marston was practically her uncle and she could
n’
t stand the thought of him retiring. Khilyn quickly excelled at his training and began to win her over with his steady head and quick wit. He slowly became her best friend and confidant. When he was promoted to her sole guard on her fourteenth birthday, she could
n’
t have been happier. And, since she always got her way, Marston took up residence just outside of the Manor in the Capitol Sector. She grew to trust Khi and adored his even keeled wisdom. He was the first she told that she was afraid of the Fourth Ceremony, that she was afraid of the Sacrifice. She was thirteen before it became truly real to her. Before she realized what it all meant. She did
n’
t know where to turn, whom to tell. Most, if not all, believed she was richly blessed and that questioning the Sacrifice would be the height of selfishness. After all, the Government spent a large portion of the Empir
e’
s taxes on making her every wish come true. How could she deny them the one thing they asked of her in return? But Khi had made her feel safe. Had told her that it was years away and that they would cross that bridge when they came to it.

Well
, she thought,
the bridge is right in front of me now
.

              She was The Sacrifice. She had been the first girl born on the most sacred day to the Empire. She was born on February 29
th
in the Leap Year. As such, she was moved with her family to a great mansion and showered with gifts. She was shown every accommodation the Government could afford to show her. In return, on the Fourth Ceremony, her sixteenth birthday, she would be sacrificed. She was to be drowned in the Sacred Ocean. Ironically, her great home overlooked the Ocean, a constant reminder. By sacrificing a girl every sixteen years, the Empire gained the God
s’
favor and was allowed to remain the most prosperous Empire in the world for, well, as far back as history went.  She had considered it an honor, she was the reason the Empire continued, she was the Defender of Mankind. She still thought it was an honor, but as she drew nearer to the Fourth Ceremony she began to grow afraid of the thought. Would she give up her life to save her country? Of course she would. But drowning was a horrific way to die and she was only going to be sixteen. She had
n’
t experienced everything she wanted to experience yet.

            
 “
Selfis
h”
she murmured to herself. 

She had been given everything she had ever asked. All the Government wanted in return was her Sacrifice. Her life. She had once thought it well worth it. A life in the lap of luxury, almost two decades in which she could fulfill every whim and achieve every desire. Sixteen perfect years in exchange for no more. But as the day drew closer, she could
n’
t help but think that it was
n’
t quite a fair exchange. She had everything she could ever want except for the one thing that seemed to matter more and more each day: more time. 

“
Dinner will be late
.”
She announced to the staff member at her door as she strutted by
,“
Please let everyone know that we may continue after I have gone for a swim
.
”

“
Yes M
a’
am, I will let them know. Thank you for your Sacrifice
.”
The woman replied.

Jayna, her name was Jayna, and she was one of Aless
a’
s favorites.

“
Jayna
,”
Alessa stopped the woman
,“
please, could yo
u
…
”
She stopped. She did
n’
t want everyone to know how uneasy the simple comment had started making her feel.

“
Yes M
a’
am
?”
Jayna waited expectantly.

“
Could you make sure they made macaroni and cheese? You know i
t’
s my favorite
.”
She winked at Jayna.

“
Of course, M
a’
a
m”
Jayna smiled back. She had a friendly smile, and she carried herself with a quiet confidence that Alessa had frequently mimicked.

Alessa tossed her towel over her shoulder as she walked down the hall. She hoped to herself that she would cross paths with her mother. Her conservative mother would be appalled at Aless
a’
s decision to wear only her swimsuit down to the pool, regardless of the fact that it was only a half of a hallway away from Aless
a’
s room. Frowning, Alessa entered the Pool Room unimpeded.

She stopped a moment in the doorway. She was always somewhat awed when she entered the Pool Room. This was, by far, her favorite birthday wish. On her eighth birthday, she had wished for an indoor pool that was the size of four regular pools. She wanted to be able to see the sky but not feel the weather. The Government had pulled through. Almost the entire ceiling was made of glass, with support bars cutting through it every so often. There was muted lighting in the walls surrounding the pool so that she could see to swim any time of day along with sporadic color-changing lights along the bottom of the pool. It was beautiful, and it was her sanctuary.

Alessa hung her towel on one of the bronze decorative hooks by the door and stepped onto the poo
l’
s stairs. She exhaled a breath that she did
n’
t realize she had been holding. She remembered making the staff change the water temperature daily for almost two weeks before deciding that it was just right. Everything about this room was designed to her specifications. Alterations had been made as she had grown older and her tastes had changed, and no one but Khilyn was allowed to interrupt her while she was swimming.

She submerged herself under the water and sat quietly for a moment. She felt comfortable in the water, more comfortable than anywhere else. Learning to swim had been Marsto
n’
s suggestion. It helped her stay fit and learn discipline, but it had been a passion she shared with her father.

She backed herself up to the wall and looked out across the vast water. She sucked in the warm air and ducked under the water. Then, she shot from the wall and began her swim. Although the pool was larger than any in the empire, she had made sure of that, she could still reach at least a third of the way before coming up for air. Staying under the surface had become a game for her at one point. She remembered having contests with her father on who could hold their breath the longest. She had always won, because he had always let her. Even when she accused him of such, he still let her win. It became amusingly infuriating.

Arm, arm, arm, breathe, an
d…
. Arm, arm, arm, breathe, an
d…
.

She kept her rhythm, clearing her mind of the celebration this afternoon.

Arm, arm, arm, breathe, an
d…
. Arm, arm, arm, breathe, an
d
…

She forgot about the argument with her mother. She made an effort to forget about her mother completely. She ignored the sting of her mothe
r’
s indifference and the power of her cool shoulder.

Arm, arm, arm, breathe, an
d…
. Arm, arm, arm, breathe, an
d
…

She erased the approach of the Fourth Ceremony and its implications. Willed herself to forget that the water, that was now her sanctuary, would soon be her grave. Reminded herself that she had an entire year, that so much can happen in a year. Who was she kidding? The sacrifice had been successfully completed forever, and the people believe it made them prosperous. They would
n’
t call it off. They could
n’
t call it off. No matter how scared she was. No matter how badly she did
n’
t want to be The Sacrifice anymore. She knew that she would give it all back, all of the presents, all of the adoration, for just a little more
time.

She came up gasping. Usually, she could empty her mind completely with a good hard swim, but today it had been too much. Today, she could
n’
t even use the water to quell the anxiety. How could she? The water was her enemy. It was exactly the thing that was going to kill her. She felt panic mixed with bile rise in her throat. She had to get out of here. She needed to get away from the water. She looked around at where she had stopped. Of course, she still had at least a quarter of the pool to get to the edge. She began to swim above water, unable to put her face in it even though she knew she could go faster if she did. She was breathing heavy and her heart was pounding in her head. It was as if she could feel the water swallowing her whole. Finally, as if by a miracle, her hand touched the wall of the pool. She leapt out as quickly as she could and began to shake. She sank to the floor, unable to walk around the pool to her awaiting towel by the door. She drew her knees up to her chest and rocked while the panic swept through her body.

After what seemed like an eternity, her body began to feel like her own again. She stood slowly, noticing the jelly-like feeling in her legs that had nothing to do with her swim, and began to walk carefully around the pool as close to the wall as she could walk. She reached her towel and wrapped it around herself allowing its warmth to chase away the coldness at her core. She would
n’
t think about it. Like Khi had said, she could not let the strain overwhelm her in this year. If she ever needed her inner strength, it was now. She finished drying herself off and covered herself in a plush robe hanging by the door. She threw a wary glance over her shoulder at the pool before she slammed the door behind her and proceeded to her room. Upon entering her room, she walked into a horde of stylists waiting for her.

Damn,
she thought,
I forgot about the stupid dinner.

She could barely stand on her own two feet, let alone spend a half hour being primped by stylists followed by a two to three hour dinner event in her honor. But in a move that would have made her mother proud she straightened her spine, anchored her feet, and erased the emotion from her face. She could put on a good face for a few more hours. She could set aside her own needs to serve a purpose for the Government. After all, she was The Sacrifice.