The Alliance

Chapter 6

I walked out to a bed of Scorpions that stood with hostile looks on their faces.

But paid them no notice as I made my way towards my father. I hoped he was proud that I'd won.

Unfortunately, beside him was Ebrahim and his daughter. I raised a brow, not having the energy to prevent the downturn of my lips at the smile that graced Imaan's face as she took long strides towards me.

"What do you want?" I asked, the smile became a full-blown grin.

"Is that any way to greet your future wife?" She questioned and I rolled my eyes at the title. "You clearly do that a lot."

"What?" My eyes narrowed.

"Roll your eyes."

"And that bothers you why?"

"It doesn't bother me. I don't think anything could possibly bother me after that show you just put on." She smirked.

"Oh, that? That was just a little preview for you sweetheart."

"If my memory serves me correctly some straddling was involved." She tapped her finger on her chin in thought. "So I can't say I'm against the idea." Her eyes met mine in non-verbal challenge.

We were within reach with our fathers before I could retort. "Ariah." Ebrahim Gani called, "I have to say that was quite something."

I chuckled lightly, "that was light work." I swatted my hand in dismissal jokingly. Imaan sent me a look that I didn't bother deciphering.

"You have quite the daughter here, Amir." He laughed, "Imaan couldn't have found anyone better."

Agree to disagree.

"I could say the same about Imaan here. Quite the character." I looked at my father. The way he ignored the compliment not lost on me. He threw an arm over Imaan and fake or not- I wished I was in her spot.

Sahar Gani invited himself over, standing beside his brother. "Sorry to interrupt," remorse was absent from both the words and his face, "but we need to make start making our way to the hall." Both Ebrahim and Imaan's faces fell at the reminder, curiosity grew in me.

"The hall?" My father questioned.

"To complete the initiation." Something about the devious smile on his face told me I wouldn't like it.

I didn't.

And I was mentally cursing my parents for even getting involved with the Scorpion house.

Anything else. I swear I would take anything else. My gaze from the gap the velvet curtains left couldn't be shaken from the branding iron that currently sat in a clay bowl of sizzling hot, red coals.

My breathing was uneven as I searched for my father's eyes. I hung my head when I didn't find them.

"Hey- Ariah, hey." Safa Gani. The blonde rushed to my side as her hand came up to my cheek to wipe a tear I didn't even know fell.

Of all people it had to be her that saw me like this. I let out a groan which earned a soft smile from her.

"It warms my heart to know that you're so happy to see me." She joked placing a hand over where her heart would be.

"I guess you just bring it out of me." I managed before my face inevitably fell. "I'm sorry." I barely chuckled out as arms wrapped around me, engulfing me in a pine scent.

"You have every right to be scared." She reassured.

"Well, I'm not scared. I just- I'm tired." I sighed. The heaviness of mental and physical exhaustion taking its toll on me.

"And that's okay, Ariah."

"No. No it's not. Not when there's a room full of people anticipating the moment you fuck up."

"Ar-" Her words were cut off by Sahar Gani's gruff, and unhappy voice.

"Safa. You're to be seated." I almost scoffed at how I was just moments ago crying in the arms of his daughter. You're not here to make friends. Just as she was about to object, I spoke up. "You should go."

She left walking towards the exit but not without taking a glance back at me. Her father called for my attention as he cleared his throat. "It's time." The two words ignited panic in the depths of my stomach, but nonetheless I followed him into the open. I forced my eyes to not look at the audience that filled up the hall. I could feel hundreds of pairs of eyes watching my every move and scrutinizing me.

I reluctantly got onto my legging clad knees after I'd ascended the single step.

I hung my head, closing my eyes in fear as I heard coals being moved around. I'd never been branded before.

I had a tattoo of the rising Phoenix on the length of my spine but that was different.

This was being burnt into my skin.

"Ariah Rmah." Sahar Gani's voice boomed throughout the otherwise silent room, "You have reached the final stage of your initiation. Only once you wear the Scorpion House's emblem can you truly be called one of us."

I watched as he lifted the hot rod the Scorpion- the deathstalker as Imaan had called it- came into view. I would soon have it on my skin.

For the rest of my life.

An identity I didn't want. I drowned out the rest of his words, only fixed on the iron he held in his hands. My eyes shut closed as it was finally time. The ponytail my hair was in was moved over my shoulder.

The feeling of the iron being pressed into the area of my neck felt cold before it revealed its truly unbearable heat.

I gritted my teeth. My breaths leaving as soon as they came.

The torment was terrible but the humiliation of it burnt hotter than the coal dipped iron ever could. This 'rite of passage' felt more like oppression. I was being enslaved to these people. And all I could do was kneel and submit to the logo that would stick to my flesh.

I knew it would leave third degree burns. My eyes began watering, black blotches dotting my vision before I shut my eyes. Bringing my hand up to my wet mouth and sinking my teeth into it hard. I couldn't pass out. I won't pass out.

If I did this would've all been for nothing. I'll never make the Scorpion House pay and Elijah won't be able to rest in peace.

It was excessive but it was necessary.

My neck seemed to numb slightly but the burn was still prominent. Pulsing.

My stomach turned, bile rising up my throat as I clamped my mouth shut.

The pain seemed to never end. And by the time it finally did, I was drenched in sweat, with a throbbing headache and an upset stomach.

I looked to my parents finally catching their eyes. My father sent a curt nod my way. Small and short, but it was enough.

And despite how terrible I felt physically, I felt like a Phoenix rising from the ashes- only with a Scorpion branded into my neck.