Order of Serpents

Prolouge

The gateway to hell is lined in crimson red and metallic gold. Flowers in the purest shade of white cover every inch of the stuffy church neither I nor my mother had stepped foot into before today. Fake smiles and flashy jewelry accompany guests dressed to the nines. A hole in my heart opens wider with each passing second of a countdown to the descent to the fiery depths of my new life. 

Every little girl dreams of her wedding day. Meticulously planning out every step in detail, all the way down to the groom himself, at some point or another in their lives. The beautiful ball gown in pearl white adorned with sequins and lace that makes the heart of a little innocent girl feel like a queen. The fragrance of full bloom flowers in the sweetest of smells filtering through the air. Her daddy smiles as he walks her down the aisle to a man who loves her with every part of his heart, her prince charming. This wedding appears the same, but make no mistake the man at the end of the aisle isn’t prince charming. 

The Devil appears handsome in an anything but standard black suit, hiding the snake that hides within. Standing proud next to the priest ready to cement my place in a world of sinners. 

The band begins to play what might as well be a funeral march. I take my place in the precession, wishing for the end to come quickly. An arm links through mine as I stare forward, willing my mind to travel anywhere else. Cinnamon and cedar burn my nose as he leans in. 

“Smile, Lelia.” He whispers in my ear, his voice dripping in venom. I hate them both. The Devil and the Serpent. I feel dragged against my will as we move, arms locked, down the rose and lily lined aisle. Filled pews with faceless demons stand as we reach the sacrificial altar and take our places on either side. 

I watch silently with a fake smile on my lips as the woman I thought I knew best in life is revealed, a vision in white. An angel whose wings were clipped the second the devil met her. My mother’s eyes shine with tears of happiness I haven't felt in a year. Long waves of blonde hair perfectly woven into an intricate halo on top of her head. I wish I felt as happy as she looked. 

The priest’s words, the ceremony ending in a chaste kiss and cheers pass by in a murky haze. An angel married the devil throwing us into the deepest depths of hell. 

Losing my father at the age of ten burned a hole into any traditional wedding plans I ever had as a small child. There would be no white dress and flowers. No music playing and no dancing until my feet hurt with the man who would be my best friend for the rest of our collective lives. 

My mothers marriage to Phineas Claremont burned the entire fantasy of happiness with someone else to the ground. Never will there come a day that I walk to the open and waiting arms of another. “Here comes the bride.” will never sound for me. 

“Look here boys,” Cedar and cinnamon filter through the air with lemon and sage that mix with sea salt and sandalwood. Josiah Claremont. Silas Knight. Remington Wolfe. Three of the four kings of All Saints. Heirs to the biggest family fortunes. Only king missing in Pierson Porter, who is currently being fussed over by his mother on the other side of the room. 

“What do you want?” I grumble, pushing the fancy cake around my plate, attempting to be interested in anything else. When Phineas proposed, he’d followed it up with a demand that my mother and I would move with him and his son. Mother had agreed with no issue when my new stepfather-to-be insisted that I start at All Saints with Josiah. “I earned a stellar education from All Saints.” he’d mused at dinner one evening. The prospects of going to the same school as Josiah were less intriguing to me, but mother had agreed and I was packed up along with Josiah the next day to be sent away for the school year. 

“I hear they separate the incoming students into different houses like that book you love so much honey.” Mom had tried to talk to me on the ride to All Saints but was met with nothing but silence and the occasional nod of my head. Phineas had said he'd bring Josiah along shortly after us. Why they had stayed back had weighed on my mind heavily during the drive. “Everything will be okay, Lelia.” Mom muttered as the car pulled into a long half circle drive. Teachers and staff scattered the yard as kids from ages eleven all the way to eighteen haul their move in items out of fancy cars. 

“Good afternoon, Mrs. Rhosyn.” A shrewd looking woman says as we make our way inside. The woman reminds me of an owl, and has me wondering if her head spins a full 180 degrees. 

“Headmistress, it’s lovely to meet you.” My mother nods, ushering me further in the castle-like building. 

It was explained to me on the ride over that we’d get our assigned dorms and our assigned group would be announced at orientation. Parents were permitted to stay but Phineas had insisted that mother hurry back because they were going on a vacation. “A celebration for our engagement darling.” he’d boosted as he sprang it on her last night. 

A hush falls over the main lawn as a familiar black car pulls in moments before orientation is set to begin. I watch closely as every female our age collectively swoons for the artfully messy curls and promising smirk of a hateful boy. Torture my name is Josiah. 

“Welcome. Beginning this year with the standard. Everyone has been handed an envelope with their dorm details and assigned group for the time you are here at All Saints.” the head mistress scowls at a group of older kids standing just to the right of her. “Your charges will give you the finer details once you’ve settled into your assigned buildings.” With a wave of her hand we’re dismissed to the rooms we’ll call home for the next nine months. 

“Dorm 215. Cobra hall.” I mutter to myself as I follow the map in my hands. It was assured to us earlier that everyone's belongings would be brought up to the assigned rooms for each student. 

“Would you look at that, Silas?” I groan as a perfect blend of cinnamon and lemon invade my senses. “Little rose in Cobra hall.” Twin laughs claw my ears like nails on a chalkboard. All hopes that I’d get any reprieve from the Devil's son disappears. “You don’t belong here little rose, and I’m going to prove it.” Josiah states before retreating to his own room. 

True to his word my first year had been a true taste of hell. 

“I want you gone Step sister.” Josiah sneers, pulling my thoughts away from All Saints and the next six years that I’ll be subjected to hell beneath the thrones of the kings. 

“I don’t want to be here.” I whisper, tears beginning to pool in my eyes. 

“So leave.” Silas muses. Of all four of them, Silas seems to care the least about anything. Including his own well-being. “Take your gold digger of a mother and leave.” 

It’s as if a record scratches as the room falls to silence when I launch myself at the raven haired asshole. Tiny fists pound into flesh as I shriek for him to “Take it back.” Tears stream down my angry red face. Too quickly, I’m yanked off of him. 

“Lelia!” my mother screams, pushing through the captivated audience. 

“Take her home, Graves.” The devil states, every word coated in ice. “We’ll speak of this later.” The gavel of judgement falls and I’m escorted out of the reception to a home that feels like a prison. A prison where I’ll spend the next five years begging and pleading with a god that turned their back on me long ago for a blessed death