Page 96 of Semper

I wasn’t just standing in the chapel. I was laid out on an altar, my body draped in dark, flowing fabric, vulnerable and exposed beneath the flickering light of candles that surrounded us. I could feel him watching me, his gaze searing into my skin like fire. He moved closer, the intensity in his eyes leaving no doubt about his intentions. He was going to claim me, here, in front of the entire Isle. There was no shame, no hesitation—just the overwhelming certainty that I was his, and he was mine. His touch was possessive, worshipful, like I was some dark offering laid at his feet.

The weeping woman had morphed into me, and I knew, without a doubt, that I would never escape him. Not that I wanted to. This was my place. This was where I belonged.

I woke with a start, my heart racing, the remnants of the dream still clinging to me like a dark cloud. There was an ache between my legs, a soreness so real it made me wince.

It was as though Alexander had been there, his presence lingering in the air, his scent still on my skin. I could almost feel the weight of him, his hands on me, his breath against my neck, but when I looked around, the room was empty. The absence was too much to bear. I felt the tears prickling at the corners of my eyes, threatening to spill over. I swallowed them back, refusing to break down. Not today.

Today, I had to be strong.

The sun was shining now, spilling through the curtains, and casting a golden glow across the room. The lake shimmered in the distance, its calm surface a stark contrast to the storm raging inside me. Somehow, it brought me peace, as if the Isle itselfwas blessing what was to come. I pulled myself from the silken sheets and rose from the bed. Morning light filtered through the curtains, casting a soft glow over the room, but there was an undeniable weight in the air.

After washing up and throwing on a simple robe, I wandered the halls, unsure of what else to do with myself. The house was quiet, eerily so, and my footsteps echoed through the empty corridors. The silence reminded me of those early days in this place, where everything felt like a trap, and I was waiting for the next turn.

I ended up on the rear deck again, staring out at the lake as the morning sun made it shimmer. I placed my hand over my flat belly, now even more convinced that Alexander had to know. He always knew everything. Still, I hadn’t told him. I hadn’t had the chance. My feelings about the baby were a tangled mess of fear, uncertainty, and something deeper that I couldn’t quite put into words.

The thought of becoming a mother, of carrying Alexander’s child, made me feel vulnerable in ways I hadn’t expected. This baby was the natural extension of everything between us, of the life I’d fallen into on the Isle, whether I’d chosen it or not but had come to accept. There was a warmth that I couldn’t deny. The idea of a tiny life growing inside me—half mine, half Alexander’s—brought a strange kind of joy. I found myself wondering what they would look like.

Admittedly I was scared too, more scared than I’d ever been but I also felt an overwhelming need to protect this baby, to keep them safe. I knew the Isle and its natives would help do the same. This child would belong to the them, just as much as they belonged to me and Alexander. There was no escaping that. As I stood on the deck, staring out at the calm lake, I realized something I hadn’t expected—despite all the fear anduncertainty, a part of me already loved this baby. It was quiet, but it was there, stirring something deep inside me.

I heard footsteps behind me, but I didn’t turn around right away. Then Esther’s voice called my name. I turned, seeing her along with Adelita, Beatrice, Keres, and Pandora.

Their servitors too. The sight took me aback. Each of them wore an expression of quiet determination.

“You need to start getting ready,” Esther said, leaving no room for debate.

“Now?” I blinked, glancing at the early morning sky. My Rite wasn’t for hours. The ceremonies here never happened during daylight. I hadn’t expected this—not so soon. Part of me had hoped for more time to collect myself, to prepare mentally for what was coming. It seemed I had little say in the matter.

Verity appeared behind them, carrying a tray of tea and small pastries, her silent presence always calming me. She gave me a small, encouraging nod, and I allowed myself to be guided back inside.

The air was charged with anticipation as we headed to the suite where preparations were already underway. The hours passed in a blur of motion. My hair was twisted and pinned into an intricate design that felt both elegant and otherworldly. Makeup was applied with the precision of an artist painting a masterpiece, and all the while, my thoughts drifted.

Time continued to slip by unnoticed as they helped me into my gown—a dress that was a masterpiece of black lace and crimson veils, flowing down like a river of blood. The fabric hugged my form, intricate and dark, as though it had been made for me alone. I soon found out it had been. Alexander’s mother had helped. I realized I hadn’t had a hand in any of the preparations for this union, but it didn’t matter.

The dress was perfect.

Keres placed the elaborate headpiece on my head, the black roses and spikes creating a dark halo above me. Lastly, Adelita approached with a necklace—a red jeweled pendant that seemed to pulse in the light.

“This belonged to me,” she said, fastening it around my neck. “Now, it’s yours.”

I touched the cool stone, feeling the weight of the moment. This wasn’t just about me and Alexander. Her expression was soft as she took my hand. “Thank you for choosing my son,” she said quietly. “I know it wasn’t an easy choice to make.”

I looked up at her, my eyes drawn to the scar she still tried to hide beneath her hair. It was a mark of what she had endured, a reminder of the sacrifices that came with living on this Isle.

Her words were so simple, yet they held so much weight. I looked at her, at the scar that still marred her forehead—the same mark that had been burned into my back. Whatever she had gone through it had been worse than what I experienced. I knew that instinctively, but there was a strength in her, a resilience that I admired.

“I didn’t really have a choice,” I murmured, but the words lacked the bitterness they might have once held.

It was true that my path had been set for me in many ways, but I had still chosen to follow it, hadn’t I? I hesitated before asking, “Are you happy, Aunt Adelita?”

There was a brief pause, a heavy silence that hung between us. The other women busied themselves with their own preparations, pretending not to listen. Aunt Beatrice sent me a warm, encouraging smile.

Hearing the title had Aunt Adelita’s eyes filling with immediate tears, but she didn’t shy away from my question. Instead, she gave me a knowing, bittersweet smile. “It was hard. Some days it still is, but I could never regret my babies. I think the Isle knew I needed them,” She paused, sharing a glancewith Esther, who offered a soft, supportive smile. “Or the man I am bound to. Draven is... both my nightmare and my perfect fairytale.”

Her words struck something deep within me. The parallel was undeniable.

Though, unlike her, I couldn’t say Alexander was my nightmare. He was more like a dark, inescapable dream—one I didn’t mind being trapped in. The darkness that surrounded him was familiar now, almost comforting in its own way.

“My sister would be happy to know you’re so full of life, beautiful, safe and you have a family that now,” Aunt Adelita added, her smile warmer now, as if the very thought brought her a sense of peace. She reached out, pulling me into a gentle hug. “We’ll have plenty of time to talk about that later. A lifetime almost to talk about everything.”