Page 119 of He Who Sleeps

“Why all this in the first place?”

Kildare smirked at her. “Because if He wakes, the world would end.”

There was a moment of shocked silence and then Finn rubbed his eyes. "Okay," he said tiredly. "So in order of priority, we need to get the women's compounds back up and running. Then we need to roll out a complete education reform for every member, that's mandatory. After that, I'd like to convene a ruling body that's a collaboration between us, the women and the priests to be sure we never stray so far away from His word again. Does anyone else have any suggestions?"

"No, but I do have a question," Carter said respectfully. "Who will be in charge in the interim? We all have jobs and lives back home in the US." Finn shrugged and put the question to the table.

"I would stay on as a liaison, but I have Niobe at home," Easton said regretfully.

"Does the seat of power have to be here?" Leo asked, turning to the priests. "Or could we temporarily redirect all questions and matters of ritual to our place back in the States?"

Kildare considered them. “You, as the purest blood, with the devotional of purest blood, are and have always been in charge. The Council of Elders have never been in charge, not until the regime change.” At which he slapped Eustace upside the head again.

The man shook his head. It was clear by his own admission he was involved through neglect but it was also very clear it wasn’t only him. Still, he took the abuse from Kildare as if it was his due.

“You have always been in charge, and the seat of power has always been where you are,” he offered. “It was how he was able to find your devotional for you. She was there as well.” He smiled. “This compound was for us, the priests, the knowledge we hid and coveted, the magic we nurtured for Him.”

“Magic?” Jack said. “We have never heard of magic.”

“It resides in all of you, gifts of his bloodlines,” he sighed. “I forgot you do not even know the truth of it. Long ago, when the world was different, young and wild, He Who Sleeps was awake, causing much strife for those that dwelled on the surface. It wasn’t his fault, of course, he was wild by nature, chaos incarnate, and he needed tempered, gentled so his nature didn’t destroy the world.

“Then he met Gaia, a woman of purity, who understood him. She gentled his nature enough for Him to gain followers, the first thirteen. Their family followed, and created The Order. Gaia and He lived and loved, and eventually she, being mortal, passed. He, having mourned his love, and knowing she was finite, as gods only get one love, chose to sleep, dwelling deep, where dreams lived, where he could be with her.”

“Holy shit. We have never heard this,” Emerson said, eyes wide.

“The thirteen, they are your ancestors, and they had helped to keep him happy for a long time.”

“And the recent elders?” Rix asked.

“Only your father was of the original bloodlines. The others,” he spat. “Charlatans and wannabes who believed they deserved more. He doesn’t give like that, and when they realized that, they punished him. And in his sleep, he reached out and sent your devotion to you. As many had through the years, you are Gaia, and they are Him,” he said to her finally. “All groups should be like this, individually or as a group. He has been starving on the violence. He needs love. And he rewards love.”

"Wait, back it up a few moments..." Carter was shaking his head. "You just said that Petra was a pure blood, too. How do you know that?"

“I am the oldest living priest left, Carter, I have magic inme,” he offered and then gave them a sly smile. “Though I do not know which family she belongs to personally. Would you like to know?”

“How?” Jack asked.

“It’s a simple devotion, in the room of names,” he said. “Eustace, have the vault opened and readied. Come,” he said to them, “we will see, yes?”

Emerson stood. “You’re of the thirteen, aren’t you?”

“I’m pure blood, yes. And the only one left.” He sighed. “Your father was to be an adept, and to join me, to learn the deep magics, once his calling was over. Those assholes ruined a lot more than just your lives,” he muttered.

"What about us?" Easton asked curiously as they followed him into the temple. "Can we join the priesthood when we retire? Is there some rule that says we can't have a female partner?"

“Of course you can. Nothing about this religion says you have to be chaste. Do as thou need, for thy own pleasure, and the pleasure of those you love,” he said as they walked through a set of doors, then another, deeper into the temple. “I admit, I would enjoy the company.”

"Not sure I'd enjoy being smacked upside the head twenty times a day," Leo muttered from the back.

“I doubt you would have allowed an insurrection to happen, Leo,” Kildare said. “The priests, while they meant well trying to keep me shielded, did not do their duty to Him and there are repercussions.”

"Ears like a bat!" Leo mouthed to Carter, who snorted, and Finn gave them a sharp look.

Another door was ahead of them and it opened as they approached, the room beyond massive and...adorned.

“I realize you have never been here, few have, but this is the room of names. The trees of all thirteen families, the purest of bloodlines in our order.”

Around them were massive etched and stylized trees in the walls, thirteen of them. No names, only jewels inlaid in each trunk, one large diamond, obsidian, emerald, sapphire, ruby, opal, and more...a small podium in the center with what looked like a crystal bowl, small enough to fit in the palm of the hand, sitting there.

---