Page 121 of He Who Sleeps

“Yes, they are,” Rix said. “You’re standing on it.”

She looked down, and the three amethysts on the ground were lit, the roots around the floor glowing and pulsing.

“What...what does this mean?”

Kildare looked up to her. “You are Yarrow,” he said and bowed again. “Bloodline of the first, of Gaia, well, her sister Estra.” He chuckled. “Which makes sense...”

"Okay, that's going to need another history lesson," Finn said drily. "Assume we know none of this, Brother Kildare. What exactly does this mean?"

“When Gaia and He created their union, the thirteen came to them, to speak the gospel, and revel in worship. One was Estra, Gaia’s sister. She became High Priestess of the movement, and Gaia’s right hand. She was loved by both her sister and her mate, He Who Sleeps, and was doted on.

“Her bloodline was the one to consecrate this temple, this land, and keep it for him.” He looked to her, still standing there, though now Easton was wrapped around her, which she was grateful for, not trusting her own knees to hold her up. “It is the most holy, and explains why you were gifted her. The Antrithos bloodline was the most accepting, the most magical because of purpose. He sent her to you because we needed a rebirth.” He smiled.

“And my family?”

He shook his head. “There has never been a male Antrithos bloodline, because they have always mated outside of The Order.” He looked to them all. “A failsafe in a way, to keep Gaia’s bloodline in the world. Estra’s last living descendant we knew of was almost one hundred years ago. The matrons said she passed without an heir.” He smirked. “Even then they hid your line for Him.”

"Why do I feel like everything we've ever known is a lie?" Leo said sourly. "I've never even heard of the Antrithos bloodline."

"Does this mean that her orphanage wasn't Order? Or that it's been a secret for a hundred years?" Carter asked, looking as confused as the others.

Kildare shook his head. “I don’t know of any compounds in Ohio, so it is very possible they were an offshoot, and were hiding. Devotion, or rather, High Priestess, do you have any information of the women that raised you?”

She told him what she had told the guys, the matrons, the weird little things they did. Kildare nodded to all of it and when she finished he looked to Carter. “Definitely Order, but hidden. Considering the state of things since around your father’s time I can see them taking matters into their own hands, or there was divine intervention. I think you need to see for yourself, though.”

"We have plans to visit when we get back," Carter said with a nod. "I just hope they've kept good records. A lot can happen in a hundred years."

“Indeed. Are you okay, Priestess?”

“I...I’m not sure I like that name but...yes. Knowing you belong somewhere...” she trailed off and looked up to Easton.

"Well I guess we should get this over with," he said bravely, taking the knife and stabbing his finger, probably harder than he needed to. They all watched as the blood dripped into the bowl and the room lit up.

Bright, it bounced from tree to tree, and landed on a tree, the opal there pulsed and then burned strong.

“Cypress,” Kildare said, pride in his voice. “You are an Ambrose, and the last of your family line.” He looked at him, affection burning in his eyes. “My line.”

"So it's true then? All of what was written in Emerson's dad's journal? The Elders had my mother killed and I was just thrown out like trash?"

“Honestly, I don’t know. I know your grandfather was killed in their insurrection. Last I knew your mother, who would have been Glynnis, was pregnant but then she disappeared. We assumed she’d died in childbirth.” He shook his head. “As far as I knew, you had died with her. Once the other Elders took over, The Order hid me, hid the other two priests that were of the old guard. We ran things from the shadows for the priests, which is why things didn’t progress like they wanted. I didn’t know you existed. I honestly didn’t believe it was you after you were brought in. It wasn’t like I could check, they didn’t know I was here. If they did?” He shook his head. “Now I know.” He walked forward and produced a knife as he did. “I cannot offer you regrets, but I can offer you my life, in penance for your own.”

"Why should you pay for something you didn't know about?" Easton shook his head. "Your knowledge is more important to us right now than some silly honor killing. I've seen and dealt enough death in my life, Brother Kildare. Maybe you could help us make it be that no other child ever has to go through what I did. Consider that your penance."

He looked at Easton once more, then nodded. “We all have a second chance it seems, and you are a paragon to our blood, Easton.” He bowed to him.

Easton nodded uncomfortably, clearly not happy about the way the priest was acting but unable to say anything about it.

"Well then." Finn rubbed his hands together. "Now that's all settled, perhaps we should get a move on with the more practical stuff?" He headed for the door. "Come, Brother Kildare! We have an Order to revamp!"

"Sometimes he's a really imperious asshat," Leo said to Carter, who snorted.

"Just be glad you aren't the one in charge," he reminded Leo. "Heavy is the head and all that."

Kildare shook his head. “Much like his father when he was young,” he said softly. “Priestess, I think you should go back and see where we are with that thread of this tapestry.” He looked to her.

She nodded. “There is much to do here...”

“And much of it you cannot do,” he offered. “But you can dothis.”

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