Raven of Water

Chapter 1: Dark Fate

I shuddered as I waited on the fringes of the circle, watching the flames atop the dark candles gutter and flicker with the movements of the magic users who were milling about. My fingers toyed with the silken dark material of my dress.

The dress was beautiful.

The candles were beautiful.

What they represented wasn't.

"Alexandra!"

I shuddered as my grandfather's words drew me to look up from the altar and regard the man's ever-scowling face.

"Yes, grandfather?"

"Why are you wearing black?" His words were spoken with a glare that had me shrinking into myself and wondering what I'd done.

"I..." I faltered, looking down at the jet black garment. "The ceremonial gown?"

As soon as the words had left my mouth, I realized I'd said the wrong thing. I had no time to prepare as he raised his hand before slapping me hard across the face. My flinch was imperceptible.

"You idiot. You're the offering. You wear white. Even though you're impure. Just... everything must go by the book. No fuck ups."

I bit my lip to distract myself from wanting to reach up and rub my cheek where my skin still stung from the slap.

"I'm sorry, grandfather. I'll go change."

"Don't bother. It's too late now," the man said, waving his hand at the members of our group of magic users who were hard at work preparing for the ceremony. "Just don't fuck it up tomorrow night. That's when it will really matter. It will work this time. My guides have assured me."

My right hand shook as I involuntarily ran my fingers across my left palm, brushing over the rough scar I bore from the last summoning ceremony. The one which had failed like the countless ones before it. The same ceremony that my grandfather was going lead tomorrow.

The ceremony that would probably fail then too.

"Of course, grandfather." I said, bowing my head in false contrition. Satisfied, he placed a firm hand on my shoulder.

"Don't disappoint me, Alexandra. Your mother always disappointed me. Even when she died, she was a disappointment. Don't make me regret allowing her to keep you."

"Of course not, sir. I will do what I can to serve you and our organization."

"As you should."

Despite his advanced age, my grandfather's powerful grip grew tighter and tighter on my shoulder until I thought I wouldn't be able to stand it anymore. Then, as quickly as it had come, the pressure was gone as Emilia, my grandfather's acolyte, drew his attention to deciding which offerings should be placed on the altar tomorrow.

As I waited for grandfather to finish barking orders, I distracted myself by thinking about tomorrow's lesson that I was going to do with the kids. Thinking about the lessons helped distract me from this life. It brought me joy when things seemed most hopeless. For the lesson about self-acceptance, we were going to read I Like Me, a story about learning to love oneself, flaws and all. Then, I was going to help the kids write their 'I like...' letters to themselves and—

"Alexandra! What are you still standing there for? Go to the greenhouse and do the only thing you're good at. Prepare the floral offerings for the ceremony!"

"Of course, grandfather." I hung my head once more as I hurried out of the crypt, shivering as my bare feet brushed against the cold stone of the ancient space. It was hot outside the crypt, but it wasn't stuffy like it had been in the ceremonial space. The smell of damp mustiness that lingered in the crypt was replaced by the moist aroma of earth, of soil and plants and life. The scents of life comforted my soul. They always had.