Divinity: Transcendence: Book Two (The Divinity Saga) (21 page)

I hate
it when people do that.

“
I should probably just come back when it’s done. I want to stay but I really don’t like this part.” Lira said.

Now she was really psyching me out
.

Jamie crossed he
r arms over her chest, and then grinned at me. “I would have paid someone for me to be here and witness this.” She commented.

I
eyed her, and then looked at everyone else’s silver brandings with determination. Hell, if they had all gone through it, especially Jamie, then I would too—no matter what the process entailed.

I
briefly looked down at the double circle under my feet. It was a huge inscribed, symbol, etched deep into the floor. It looked like two wings folded inward, holding a blade in the middle. At the hilt were several stars, a branch with slender leaves, and three round things that resembled berries attached to it. The branch was coiled around the downward pointing blade. Around the outer part of the circle, were those same strange glyphs.

“Alright, let’s begin.
Starling, you’ll need to kneel down in the middle of the engraved symbol there, and answer the questions as I ask them, ok?” Diana said as she opened the book in her hands, and moved to stand in front of me.

             
              I nodded and slowly knelt down. Diana gently rested a hand on the top of my head.

“Starling Marie Roberts,
” She began.

Hearing my full name was weird at first, but
the familiarity of many things began to seep in after that. Like, I think…I had been in school. I was sure of my age now. I was nineteen, so it wasn’t high school. I had been in college! But where?

How had Diana
known my full name anyway? The more Diana began to speak, the more random images began to sputter behind my eyes.

My
breathing quickened slightly. I began to see — sand and water, and a two-story, three-sided brick house. An elderly woman that I instantly felt an intense love for, was smiling at me with her arms out for a hug. I wasn’t sure what this meant. Should I be seeing these images? I saw a gym, full of equipment that a gymnast would use, many ribbons, and shiny trophies. Then a school cafeteria zipped by. I saw myself younger, with shorter hair and wearing braces. Lots of water; so much it nearly covered the two-story house. People of all ages were drowning —dying.

I shivered involuntaril
y and pinched my eyes shut for a brief second. The sudden rush of the images left me slightly dizzy.

“As a warrior of light, you are
honor and soul bound to preserve mortal life from darkness without exception. Do you accept this given path of honor?” Diana’s voice cut through the images that I had been intent on piecing together. I was determined to remember something.

“
Yes, I do.” I replied.

             
              Immediately after my answer, a third section of the symbol beneath me lit up. It threw a pale, glittery, shimmering curtain of light rays upwards.

“The Divine is limited. S
hould you forsake, abuse, fail to protect, or become dishonored; you will be forfeit and shunned. Your soul will immediately become an open vessel. Do you understand and accept this?” Diana then asked.

That sounded harsh, but I understood both the honor and necessity. “Yes, I accept.” I answered.

Another section of the symbol lit up, adding to the forming shimmering curtain. What if had said no? That I wouldn’t or didn’t want to accept these things? I mean, it all seemed automatic to me, without question, but what would happen to me if I didn’t agree? I had already died, technically.

             
              The portion of the symbol that had just begun to shimmer, suddenly winked out. The entire air in the room stilled. Everyone paused, including Diana—and looked at me with suspicion. My heart pounded. Uh-oh.

What did that mean?

“You have doubts, Starling?” Diana asked curiously.

I shook my head,
“No, of course not.” I replied, searching everyone else’s eyes. Jamie gave me a snarky look, as if she knew something that I didn’t.

“Are you sure?” Diana asked me.

I swallowed and nodded eagerly.

W
as this symbol a truth gauge or something? It was apparently registering my true internal thoughts and emotions, regardless of what was coming out my mouth.

Of course I defied
and despised darkness, that was a given without hesitation. I was only curious.

Diana nodded
, and then repeated the previous question. This time, I answered with determined fervor.

There was a breathless pause
. Everyone’s eyes anxiously went to the symbol.

The section of the symbol that had winked out a moment
ago, instantly shimmered once again. Sighs of relief, nods, and smiles returned to everyone’s faces, except for Jamie.

The cluttered images
in my head, that were more than likely memories, had ceased. It made me wonder what had revealed them? Why did I even have them to begin with? Clearly, I shouldn’t have.

“And finally, do you Starling Marie
Roberts; accept the gift of, and the responsibility of the weapon that will become cleaved to your being, as a chosen divine warrior?”

“Yes.
” I said with determined enthusiasm.

             
              The circle of light, emanating from the symbol on the floor, was now complete. It began to rise up; creating a completed curtain of light that surrounded me. A warm, peaceful, yet powerful feeling began to envelop my body. The sensation began to seep deep into my soul and my brain, forever ingraining itself to become a part of me — permanently.

The energy and mind-set of being a
warrior began to fill my thoughts. Darkness and evil was the enemy. All things associated with it must be destroyed. I began to feel —warrior- worthy. All of my former thoughts of doubt had suddenly vanished, completely.

             
              Once the light was gone, everyone began to clap. I did feel different, in a way that I could only describe as powerful and renewed, like some sort of baptism or something.

“Congratulations Starling, you have been accepted and will now join the a
rmy of Divine Warriors. Welcome.” Diana smiled and clapped. She then offered me a hand.

I took it and rose back up
to my feet.

“Well, alright, let’s get the rest of this show on the road,” Durien commented.

“Congratulations Starling.” Lorelei smiled excitedly.

Everyone expressed genuine wel
coming, until I glanced at Jamie’s sour, suspicious gaze.

She was really getting on my nerves.

“Yes, let’s get to the weapon choosing and the branding,” Jamie then clapped excitedly.

I was beginning to think that the
reasoning behind her sudden enthusiasm about my being branded, had to involve some sort of either humiliation, or worse.

             
              Everyone began to back away from me, spreading out towards the outer most edges of the room. The look of near terror on Lira’s face made me fearful.

“I can’t…I’
ll— go wait out in the gardens.” She said, as she quickly scampered over to the doors and let herself out.

My heart began to pound. Why did she just run out of here
like that?

Diana waved the new guy over as s
he stepped away from me.

“Why did she feel the need to leave?” I pointed and asked everyone.

“Lira has always been extra sensitive, that’s all.” Crystal assured.

“No worries, you’ll be fine.” Durien said
, as he began suiting up into his apron and headgear, once again.

“Yeah,
she finds hearing people screaming in pain, very disturbing.” Jamie added, giving me a wicked smile.

I paused, staring at her
incredulously.

The new guy
then approached me, holding a, long, black scarf in his hand.

“What’s that for?” I pointed
at it.

“You have to be blindfolded. Don’t
worry; you’re in the company of friends and comrades.” Diana added.

“Relax,
” the new guy said. He gently placed the silk scarf over my eyes, and tied it securely at the back of my head.

“You’ll be fine.
My name is Spencer, by the way.” he leaned into my ear and whispered. The sound of his voice, and the warmth of his breath against my ear sent chills down my spine.

             
              He then gently placed his hands on my shoulders, turning me at a slight ninety-degree angle, which I estimated and assumed, had me facing the largest wall of mounted weapons.

I tensed, awaiti
ng some sort of group beat down, like a gang initiation, upon hearing him step away.

“Everyone, remain silent. Starling, relax and bre
athe in and out, slowly.” Diana coached.

Easier said than done.

I followed her instruction, focusing on breathing in deeply, and exhaling slowly.

             
              It was amazing. In my mind’s eye, the same way I had seen Durien walking up behind me in the corridor; shapes and images began to emerge in front of my field of vision. Even though I was physically blinded—I could see the outline of the fire pit, the shape of the lounge chair, the outlines of both Durien and Spencer, and the walls of mounted weapons all around them.

“What can you see
, not with your eyes, but your mind?” Diana asked.

I licked my lips.
“I can see everything in front of me.” I replied.

“Except for the wall of weapons.
” She more stated instead of asked.

That was strange. I
couldn’t see the wall of weapons right in front of me at all. However, I could see everything and everyone else. How weird.

“
Why can’t I see the wall of weapons?” I asked.

“You aren’t supposed to.” Diana simply answered.

I don’t know that I felt comfortable with that notion. I tried to remember the set of tapered blades, with the bling-bling U-shaped guards above the black hilts, that I had admired earlier. Maybe thinking about that weapon would get it to choose me, I thought.

             
              I saw the forms of both Durien and Spencer move to the furthest parts of the large room, in my periphery. I now remained standing alone —facing the wall of weapons.

I was really getting nervous now.

“It would have probably been easier if she knew what her essence was already.” I heard Crystal whisper.

“Shhh.”
Someone replied.

I did know what my essence
was and so did Diana.

Hearing her mention it made me think of the flames suddenly leaping to life and engulfing my hand. The flames were white and ghostli
ke, and it was mesmerizing. I felt powerful, basking fully within its flames —my flames.

Visions of something else briefly invaded my mind
just then too.

I was flying.
I could clearly see a grand span of supernaturally, glowing white wings. They were marred with black feathers and symbols, and were spread out on either side of me —but they weren’t my wings, obviously.

I don’t know what happened next. It was as if I had gone into some sort of
otherworldly trance. Clouds, sky, the moon, sparkling stars, the harsh brightness of the sun, and then…the sensation of stinging and burning pain across my chest and stomach.

S
omething clinked together. Something sparkled and

gleamed in my mental periphery.

An object, no…two objects were flying straight at me. They twirled end over end in a reflective blur, and I reacted without even thinking, let alone commanding my hands to reach out and catch each one expertly by their smooth hilts. Had the ones I wanted chosen me? I thought excitedly. I was even more impressed with how I had been able to sense them coming, and catching them perfectly—while blindfolded.

             
              I distinctly heard soft gasps all around me, but everyone essentially remained silent. The feel of the smooth handles against the palms of each of my hands and fingers, sent a fiery titillation coursing throughout my entire arms, and electrified my entire body.

Shortly thereafter, is when
the shockwaves of burning pain came.

I bit my lip to stop myself
from automatically screaming aloud. A burrowing, fiery flash of intense pain, nearly made my knees buckle. It felt like a thousand searing, razor sharp hooks, claws and thorns, being scraped across my flesh, and then trying to embed themselves deep into the veins of my hands and forearms.