Sceleratis Cardinalis Aduentu

A Gateway to Secrecy

Adaira pulled the silken sheets taut over the last corner of the bed before going and pulling a heavy down comforter from a closet. She tossed the heaping fabric over the mattress, glancing at the grandfather clock on the other side of the room.

It was a quarter to five.

"Shit!" Adaira exclaimed, pushing back stray hairs from her face.

She ran back to the closet and grabbed an armful of pillows from the top shelf, returning back to the bed and throwing them down. She arranged them at the head of the bed as nicely as she could before standing back and surveying the room around her.

Everything seemed to be pristine and in its place: the old, dusty linens had been changed out, all surfaces polished, and she had scrubbed the wooden floors until her hands were nearly bleeding.

As she caught her breath, she decided that she was satisfied with her work and went to gather her supplies. She picked up all of the rags and brushes from around the room, throwing them into the metal bucket she had been using, and made for the door.

As she was heading back to the dormitories, Adaira stopped another sister heading toward the mausoleum and asked her to inform Nihil and Imperator that the cardinal's chambers were ready, and that she would be in her room if they had any complaints.

She continued on, briefly stopping again, this time to drop the bucket into a supply closet. Adaira shut the door and pulled off her veil, running her fingers through her silvery strands. She finally made it back to her quarters, sighing in relief that she was able to complete her work with time to spare to get ready.

Adaira shut the door behind her and began to remove her shoes. She kicked them into a corner before crossing the small room and throwing her veil into a hamper. She removed her dress and grabbed a cloth, wetting it in a small basin set up for light washing. As she wiped the day's sweat off her face, her mood began to lighten as she let the excitement of a new visitor settle upon her.

Could he be here for a woman?

Adaira's heart skipped at this thought as she reached her wardrobe, pulling out a modest black dress.

She tossed the dark velvet on the bed before going to the washroom to take a quick bath. When she was done, she quickly put on some mascara and red lipstick from a small bag on the edge of the sink. Adaira gave a small smirk to her reflection and headed back into the bedroom to put on her dress.

She sat on the edge of her bed and strapped on a matching pair of Mary Jane heels, letting herself wonder about this mysterious visitor. As someone who had not yet participated in a ritual, Adaira was still eligible to court Church superiors. This something her family had constantly pushed her to do, and was her primary reason for being sent to the Unholy Sanctum.

She frowned at this thought and stood from her bed, straightening the black velvet over her figure. Adaira sighed and tried to let herself feel some uncorrupted excitement for the night before heading out the door.

-x-x-x-

The dining hall was loud as usual, different groups of men and women sitting together, laughing loudly or whispering excitedly amongst themselves. Servants came around to the long wooden tables to refill glasses and plates.

Adaira looked over to the to the high table at the front of the room, where Papa Emeritus III sat with his brothers, Papa Nihil and Sister Imperator off to one side. She noticed that there was an empty seat between Papa III and Papa Nihil, who sat to the ruling anti-pope's left.

She chose a seat at a table that had a good view for as to who would be occupying the vacant chair. One of the servants came by and filled her glass with dark red wine after she had gotten settled. Adaira looked around the room excitedly, yet anxiously, for the events about to unfold.