The Fourth Ceremony: The Sacrifice Trilogy (4 page)

After mentally processing through her day and getting her wits about her, Alessa rose from bed and padded across the plush white carpet to her bathroom. She washed her face and brushed her teeth. Upon glancing in the mirror, she decided that a full shower was in order. She had forgotten that she practically fell into bed the night before after barely changing out of her party dress. She finished her shower, pulled her hair into a wet bun, and quickly dressed. The only time she was on a schedule was when she was due for training. Evan said it was part of the discipline. Alessa just thought it was extremely inconvenient.

Alessa ran breathlessly into the training room. She had jogged the last part of the way in order to squeeze through the door just as the clock struck ten. 

“
Yo
u’
re late
.”
Eva
n’
s steady voice echoed in the mirrored room.

Alessa could
n’
t help but think that the room looked more like a dance studio than a training room. The walls were covered in mirrors so that she could be sure her positions were correct. If it was
n’
t for the equipment littered about the room, she would be sure that eight year olds in tutus would come bursting through the door at any moment.

“
I am most certainly not late! Look at the clock, ten on the nose
!”
Alessa protested, although she was sure it would do her no good. Alessa liked Evan, liked that there was someone who pushed her limits, but he was strict and stern and kept everything down to business.

“
On time might as well be late. You are not efficient unless you are early. You are not disciplined unless you are efficient. What time did you wake up
?”
Eva
n’
s cool tone indicated that he knew the answer before she spoke.

“
I do
n’
t really see why that matters, Evan
.
”

“
I know for a fact that you only recently woke up. I also know for a fact that you are starting today with an extra mile for your witty retorts. You might practice some self-control while you run
.”
Evan looked at her sternly, but she knew that he was helping her, making her better, and for that she could forgive his sternness.

Alessa followed Evan through the far door to the track outside of the training room. Together, they began a steady jog. One of the things she appreciated about Evan was that he always worked out with her. It helped her to know that he only made her do what he thought was important enough to do himself.

After the six miles were over, five for their normal routine and the extra one for her sassy attitude, Evan and Alessa returned to the training room and began her drills. Evan taught Alessa how to defend herself when facing an attacker, showed her the most vulnerable places on a person, and ran her through circuit workouts that made every muscle in her body burn with the thrill of getting stronger. Alessa could hardly remember a time when she did
n’
t do her training classes. Marston had practically insisted upon it and her father loved the idea that she could be equipped to handle herself. She remembered rebelling against it when she was a few years younger. She could
n’
t understand how it would ever be necessary when she was never left alone for more than a moment. Then her father pointed out the physical benefits of the training along with reminding her that anything can happen in life and she was sold. Of course, her father could often convince her that anything was a good idea.

When they were almost finished with their cool down, Alessa heard the main door to the training room open. In the mirrors, she saw Khi walk through the door with two men behind him.

“I’
m so sorry to interrupt, Evan
.”
Khi said politely.

“
No, no. No interruption. We are finished. Alessa, remember, next time be on time
.”
Evan reminded her with a frown.

“
Which, of course, means be early." She retorted.

“
Maybe you are
n’
t a completely hopeless cause
.”
He responded with a small smile.

Alessa watched as Evan sauntered out of the room, every bit as sweaty and worked as she was, but carried it with more grace than she felt that she could pull off in her exhausted state.

“
Alessa, as you know, in the year before the Fourth Ceremony, the government likes to beef up the Sacrific
e’
s security, simply as a precautionary measure
.”
Khilyn was using his official voice, which meant he did not trust one, or both, of the men standing beside him. It made Alessa uneasy.

“
So, I would like to introduce you to your new guards. This is Alec
.”
Khi gestured to the smaller of the two men. He was actually more of a boy. She guessed he was around fourteen, but he had a boyish demeanor that made him appear even younger. His face was childish, but alluded to a strong and attractive person that would emerge once he settled into himself. He was barely taller than her
5’6”
height and had bright red hair atop a freckle kissed face. She smiled politely at him.

“
And this is Camden
.”
Khi swept his arm back to include the last of their trio. Camden was the opposite of Alec in almost every way. He was tall and broad, at least
6’2”
and every bit as muscled as Khi. He had piercing green eyes and a purposeful mess of dark blonde hair. His skin was tanned and taut. Alessa could feel herself getting more and more distracted by his shocking attractiveness.

“
Hello
.”
He said with a secret smile playing across his face. He seemed to be sizing her up, and that made her immediately uncomfortable in her close fitting training clothes.

“
Camden, a pleasure
.”
She said stiffly. That seemed to amuse him.

“
Forgive us for interrupting your workout. W
e’
ll just play get-to-know-you later
.”
Camden purred with the same bemused expression playing across his full, soft-looking mouth. Alessa shook herself mentally.

“
Yes, I need to clean up. We can talk more at lunch
.”
She said politely. She had no idea what had gotten into her. She was not the type to notice sensual lips, even as sensual as his may have been. She breezed past them and, as best she could, mimicked Eva
n’
s cool saunter out of the room. Unfortunately, she was sure that she simply looked like a newborn colt on wobbly feet. She sighed to herself as she heard the training room door close behind her.

“
Oh Jayna,
I’
m so glad to see you
,”
Alessa reached out for the woma
n’
s arm as she left Aless
a’
s room
.“
Will you please let the kitchen staff know that I will have lunch in the courtyard with Khilyn and the two new guards
?
”

“
Of course I will, m
a’
am. Thank you for your
-“
Alessa interrupted Jayn
a’
s response before she could utter those gut wrenching words.

“
Jayna, yo
u’
ve worked with me for a long time, right
?”
Alessa asked carefully, worried that she was about to cross a line she could not return from.

“
Yes m
a’
am
.”
She replied simply.

Alessa drew a breath. Jayna was middle aged and had strong, kind eyes
.“
When we are alone, please do
n’
t worry about pretense. Call me Less, everyone else does. All of thi
s‘
Sacrific
e’
stuff is just unnecessary
.
”

Jayna studied Alessa for a moment, her eyes holding an expression that was just beyond Aless
a’
s ability to read. It was still and kind and it seemed to hold more knowledge than Alessa expected a simple staff person to have. Alessa had a stabbing thought that she could trust Jayna, that she was reliable. But that was silly she reminded herself. Jayna was practically a stranger. Alessa drew herself up and pasted the politically polite smile that she used with strangers on her face.

“
That is, if you want to you may
.”
Alessa began to back track
,“
Of course, if you would rather stick with propriety I have no objections
.”
Alessa was not used to feeling self-conscious and she did not like it one bit.

“I’
d like that, Less
,”
Jayna smiled warmly at Alessa
,“
and if yo
u’
d like to call me Jay, feel free
.”
Alessa was
n’
t sure, but she could have sworn she say Jayna wink at her.

“
I will let the staff know about your lunch plans, Less
.”
Jayna began to walk away.

“
Jayna, er, I mean, Jay
,”
Alessa stammered
,“
thanks. I mean,
I’
m glad we talked. It was silly how much time we spend around each other and us not being friendly. I mean, I think yo
u’
re a kind person. I mean
-“
Alessa was fumbling for words. If her time in the public eye had taught her nothing else she knew that when she began to fumble, it was best to just stop talking. She sighed and smiled brightly.

“
No worries, Less, I know what you mean
.”
Alessa was
n’
t sure if Jay winked again or if her eyes simply twinkled with light and understanding all the time. She never had the opportunity to ponder further as Jayna hurried down the hall.

Alessa watched her until she disappeared around the bend in the hall. Then, she turned and entered her bedroom. Alessa padded across her room to the bathroom where she gratefully stripped off her workout clothes and stepped into a warm, relaxing shower.

Alessa was pleasantly surprised by the warm afternoon. She had always loved the feeling of the sun warming her skin. It was particularly alluring when it was shining through sun-heated water while she swam. Alessa held down the skirt of her flowing, knee-length sundress as a brisk breeze threatened to pick it up. She pulled her sweater closer around her after the wind eased up. The bite was still present in the breeze, and she was glad that she thought to throw on the sweater. She often became so excited when the days started to warm up that she dressed for far warmer weather than actually existed.

Alessa made her way to the round table where Khi, Alec, and Camden sat waiting for her. The courtyard was brilliant in the sunshine, the grass a bright green, and the space open and airy. The table sat almost exactly in the middle of the courtyard with the manor just behind her and the Sacred Ocean out in the distance. Alessa had to moderate her face when she walked up to the table. The only open seat was across from Khi, right between Alec and Camden. She groaned inwardly.

“
Guys
,”
She said as they rose to greet her
,“
thank you for waiting on me, I hope you have
n’
t been here long
.”
She nodded at them as they all took their seats.

“
Ahh, I could have sat out here all day. It is gorgeous
.”
Camden answered with an easy smile on his face.

And his face was beautiful. It was the stuff Greek Gods were made of, and it made her terribly uneasy. Every feature seemed chiseled into stone, purposeful and perfect. However, that did not appear to distract from the simple ease that everything he did possessed. It was maddening. How could one person simultaneously be as hard as a sculpture and as easy half-molded clay?

Alessa smiled politely at Camden. Before she had to respond to him the staff arrived carrying their salads. Alessa had requested a simple mixed green salad with chicken for lunch and, as per the standard, the guards would enjoy the same.

“
So Alec
,”
Alessa started
,“
tell me about yourself
.
”

Alec shot a pleased smile at Alessa. He looked like an eager little boy. Alessa had a difficult time imagining that he would be able to protect her from much. Alessa chanced a glance at Camden and immediately regretted it. She and Khi were looking at Alec, but Camden was looking at her. He seemed to be studying her, as if he needed to memorize her every feature. It was extremely unsettling. The most unnerving part of the whole experience was that, even when she looked at him and arched her eyebrow in a silent question, he took a few extra seconds to look away.