Page 115 of The Cerulean Sister
99 nods. "I have spoken to the lord general about stationing commanders in that temple for extra protection against another attack, but it has not been permitted by them."
Selene's smile has no warmth as she looks up at 99 with a tilted, mocking head. "You think Viathans standing around would stop them? Tell me, 99th Commander, if you were in the same room, would you even understand what is going on? What is natural and what is coerced? That temple needs to be shut down completely. Or all the elder priestess midwifes replaced."
He does not answer, but we all know she is right. "What do you suggest then?" he asks.
"The Estate has always kept extensive records, even down to the flowers used for each occasion. Some are more on the forbidden side, as Ferren may know." She gestures to me for a moment. "That temple keeps a record as well. It always has—mothers who have made the pilgrimage, if the child was divine, name, dates, etc. If you can bring me those ledgers, maybe we could find some sort of detail of what has been happening."
"It needs to be recent," 99 cuts in.
My stomach drops when I remember just how recently a ritual occurred.
"I just witnessed a divinity ritual. The mother was not present."
The silence in the room makes my ears ring and dissolves any hunger pains I had moments ago.
"And the child?"
"She was found divine."
"They would keep a record of which method of the three types of divine births it was."
"Hereditary, spontaneous . . . ," August recites, trying to follow along with the details of the temple.
"Or blessed, the death of the mother from natural causes or, in this case, manipulation," Selene finishes.
"It would not say she was sacrificed by the temple." Calliape’s brows furrow.
"No, but it could show a pattern," Selene answers.
99 places his hands on his hips like he is following what Selene is saying and agrees. "If every woman who pilgrimages has the same type documented."
"Yes."
"And you think there is some kind of log or record of births in the Estate?" I ask.
Selene gives me a leveled look. "I know there is because Mary told me there was."
We all gawk at her, even Calliape who knows Selene more than we ever will, her past and the secrets of her reasons for leaving the priestess order. She knew Mary, had a bond with her. I even thought they knew each other from Selene's time in the Estate.
99 finally sits in the chair next to me, wrapping a protective arm around my backrest, or maybe it is there to calm an outburst he thinks is coming. I have had issues with Selene before, but we both cared for Mary, and it seems pointless to feel anything other than receptiveness to someone whose life is a parallel to mine. We both left the priestess order and find ourselves back on Cosima now and both want this temple to fall.
"I will have trouble accessing the forbidden section of the library without her there." I look into Selene's eyes, seeing how even the acknowledgment of Mary missing affects her too.
"You may also find a record in the School of Divine Children. They like to keep track of how strong the gifts are in children born in this fashion."
"Isn't the priestess who sent you the beacon message a teacher in that school?" Calliape asks.
"She is."
Selene looks intrigued. "Do you trust her? Could you ask to see the records there?"
"Maybe. She and the guard that sent me the message are close. I can reach out to both of them."
August shakes his head skeptically. "I don't know. Guards don't tend to forget when you attack other guards. I would be careful."
"Crixa has wiped any knowledge of my involvement in the grand hall incident. My only outburst was in the temple the day I was locked in my chambers, a hysterical priestess who lost her mind when she ascended." I gesture to my grey gown.
August looks horrified.
