Page 23 of The Sanguine Selection
My throat goes dry. Rouse the kings? From what? And why is our blood necessary?
A wave of fear permeates this room. As I dart my eyes from the face of one girl to the next, I realize just how terrified they are. For once, my ignorance might actually work in my benefit. I don’t know what to be afraid of.
Jasper pauses, gauging our reactions. Most women huddle in on themselves, hiding their faces, attempting to become as small as possible as I wonder who these kings might be. “I am the personal messenger of the kings. I alone carry their royal decree to speak for them in their absence. As I’m sure you’ve surmised, there is a world here in the fourth ring unlike the one you’ve been raised in. Even if you come from the second ring, where humans willfully serve vampires, many of you still do not understand the magnitude of why you’re here.”
He pauses to let his words sink in, and I mull over the fact that there are four rings, and his use of the word, ‘vampire’. Although I’ve never heard it before, I instinctively know he means the creatures from my dreams—the ones who drink blood.Ones like Elias. I finger the bite on my neck and my heart races as I realize I’ve been brought here to serve them—to be their fucking food.
Jasper clasps his white-gloved hands in front of himself. “Each of you will provide a sampling of your blood. If it is determined special enough for more testing, you’ll advance to the second round of The Selection and be taken to the next location. If not… well, we’ll address that when the time comes. For now, please follow Lena to be bathed and prepared for the sampling.”
With this, we’re dismissed. All the other women turn to the maid, but I balk at blindly following orders from a man who isn’t my father. He has no authority over me, nor do I have any allegiance to his kings.
It's foolish to fight, this I know. I'm outnumbered, and the guards have proven they have a supernatural strength. But at the same time, I cannot simply hand over my life. When everyone else follows Lena, I turn toward the man called Jasper. “Please, sir, what happens if our blood is not found to be what you are wanting?”
Although not the most pressing of my concerns, it is something I'd like to know—what could happen to me and the other women if we don't have what they’re looking for. The squat man approaches me, sniffing the air. “I don't think that will be a problem for you, my dear. For now, go get bathed. Enjoy the hot water. It will help soothe your nerves. You will be given clean clothing and some food. And I promise that nothing bad will happen to you here. The Selection is an honor. And every woman, regardless of whether she continues or not, is provided for.”
I blink in surprise at his words. Before when he spoke, it hadn't sounded like this was an honor. Instead, his announcement was foreboding with ominous undertones. I open my mouth to ask more questions to see if there's another way out, but Jasper steps forward to gently push me toward the group of women walking away. “Go, my child. Your destiny awaits you.”
In truth, I'm too tired to argue with him, and so I follow the others like the meek little lamb I’ve always been. The thought of a hot bath is a novelty, and food is something I desperately need if I have any prayer of regaining my strength.
Lena leads us back into the atrium and up three flights of stairs—three flights!— and I marvel at the vastness of this place. The group of women turn this way and that way, pointing and whispering amongst themselves as we pass paintings, fountains, and statues. Clearly, they are just as overwhelmed and in awe as I am.
“Come along!” Lena calls out briskly. “This way.” She ushers us through a door into a room lined with benches against a wall. “Here you can take off your things and set them down. Through the next door is the bathing pool. Once you are all clean, you will enter another room to get dressed. Only then will you be fed.”
We all nod in understanding. Immediately, the rest of the girls start to undress. I'm slower at the task and obviously much more self conscious, averting my eyes from the expanse of nude flesh now before me.
Not until everyone is out do I slowly slip off my dress. I finger my necklace, taking it off and placing it in the pocket of my mother’s fur dress. I’m worrying about what will happen to my clothes when Lena pops her head back in. “Hurry up, dearie.”
“Lena, will I get my dress back? It was my mother's and has sentimental value.”
The maid’s eyes widen at my request. “Of course, but most women are happy to take the new clothes and want nothing to do with the old.”
Although she doesn't say it in a scolding manner, I bite my lip, feeling ungrateful—which is ridiculous since I've been brought here not necessarily against my will, but I certainly didn't come running.
Lena’s stare lowers to my breasts and then further south, and I place a hand in front of me. Her gaze snaps back to mine, and I see something familiar swimming in their depths. Bandar and his Elias wore such expressions when they looked at me. I shrink back as a strange tingle overcomes me. Splashing echoes behind us, snapping Lena out of her daze. “It sounds like the other girls are already getting out. Come along. We don't want to keep Lords Vikkon and Nevar waiting.”
Cautiously, I slip out, relieved to see that she's right. I hope Lena’s too busy attending to the other women to come back and check on me when I'm swimming in the pool naked. I walk over to the edge of the large rectangle sunk into the floor filled with water. I’m awestruck. An entire room purely for bathing. You could fit six beds in here. Hell, the expanse of the room would take up half of my tiny house.
Steam rises from the water, telling me that it is indeed warm. I dip a toe in to test, finding the temperature most pleasant. Carefully, I creep down the steps, submerging myself. Although I cannot swim, I let myself sink below the surface, holding my breath and pretending none of this is happening. After a bit, I come back up for air.
As Jasper predicted, the water does soothe my nerves, and I wish I could stay in here forever. But I know Lena will be back soon, so I grab a towel to dry off before heading to the other room to get dressed.
The gown provided is made of the finest silk and is a luminous shade of white, as if highlighting the purity of our sacrifice. When I finally have it smoothed over my hips, I try and tug the bodice up, as my breasts threaten to spill out.
“It’s supposed to be low-cut.” I startle, turning to see Lena leaning against the door. “Ready to eat?”
In answer, my stomach rumbles, and I laugh ruefully. “Yes.”
She gestures towards a flight of stairs and I descend down them, following the mouthwatering scents of a hot meal. I spot the long tables lined with food stretch from one end of the room to the other, enough to feed Papa and me for a year. It’s a veritable feast, and I can’t tell whether the tears that sting my eyes are ones of resentment or gratitude for this boon.
Like a feral beast, I rush toward the tables and fall upon the platters, stuffing my mouth while trying to be mindful of Lena and my too-white gown. I wash everything down with a deep red liquid that makes my head dizzy. The maid rushes forward when I pour another glass.
“Whoa, slow down. It’s only meant to cleanse your palette, but too much will dilute your blood and Lords Vikkon and Nevar must taste you at your fullest.”
Taste me? Like Elias did? The food in my mouth turns to ash as she so casually talks about these men drinking my blood. Before I can say anything, Lena presses something into my hand. I glance down as my fingers curl around the top of my mother’s necklace. “Don’t lose this. It’s special, I can tell.”
The necklace warms in my hand. “Um, thank you.” She nods and turns away but I call her back. “Lena, do you know what happens to women whose blood is not worthy?”
Lena straightens her back, hands clasped before her. “You’re given the option to serve at court or return home.”
