Benjamin dressed himself slowly and carefully. Black cotton pants covered his black briefs and then a white shirt, simple with a knobby weave to the fabric. It was pulled over his head, and tucked into the pants. Sliding his hands down his chest, he straightened the shirt and then tied the ties that held it closed at his throat. He spun in front of the mirror, he wanted to look the part of the devoted bridegroom, anxious to see that none of the blood from his wound had stained the virginal white shirt.
A sigh escaped his lips and he couldn't help but think again of what the Council had told him, of the danger that would follow him and Sabra until they finally were able to rid this world of such evil. He'd been warned that the battle wouldn't be easy and that he and Sabra could fail, dying horrible and slow deaths at the whims of a demon.
But he'd kill Sabra himself before he allowed her to be tortured and scarred, damaged beyond hope. He would use the blade on her himself to give her a humane death, then he would fight the evil that threatened them. He would either kill or be killed, but either way, his Sabra would be safe. She wouldn't become the plaything of a monster.
"I swear," he whispered as he stared into his own face in the mirror. "I will take her life before I allow her to be tortured and abused."
The world ahead seemed to be almost two big for his two sturdy shoulders to bear. But he turned, glancing at the triple crescent, his hand brushing at his hip where that triple crescent had been tattooed. Their Coven might be small, it might even seem as if they belonged to one of those strange cults, ran by enigmatic but charming men who secretly held their own agenda.
But their craft was one that had been handed down in this way for millennia. It had existed back in the time of Christianity's beginnings. A Council had sat, making decisions and showing young and old alike that their ways were good, their decisions just and kind. Now their Council not only made decisions affecting the people in their Temple, they were also Lawyers, Doctors, even Politicians. The Temple believed in education for any and all who wished it. The money they spent training these people was never wasted. What they learned was always rewarding to the craft.
Ben brushed down his hair one last time, slipping on the black canvas slippers he would wear upon his feet and then reached out, lifting the white and black satin stole that would sit upon his shoulders, then it would be wrapped around his and Sabra's shoulders, binding them together.
A hollow sounding bell rang through the Temple and he hurried his step. It bespoke of his bride and her readiness to become his. A smile broke over his face. Sabra would be his. The thought was thrilling, almost mind numbing and he wished he had time to sit and bask in the glow, to know he was being rewarded, both by the Council and by the Gods they believed in.
He slipped through a side door into the Temple proper, bowing at each lavish altar that led to the one in the center. Twelve altars circled the lush and well appointed room, culminating in a raised dais where the Twelve now stood in a semicircle. Men and women alike, each had been chosen for the gifts they possessed, shared their knowledge amongst their kind and willingly made the sacrifice to live in the Temple, to care for their people, to settle arguments and to serve their Gods.
It was to Deckor that Benjamin now looked, taking his place before the tall man and returning his smile as he bowed his head in observance to the man's position. Deckor reached out, laying his hand with affection on the young man's shoulder, proud for his parents and the woman that loved Benjamin that he was the man he was. Ben would go far in the Temple. He'd already showed interest in Law and he would enroll in Law School after finishing up his prelaw classes.
A door at the far end of the room was opened and Kimber and Caleb Kozilinski walked inside, each holding the hand of a young woman. She was shrouded in robes of pale lilac and white, the flowers he'd given her now being used to guide her path to where he waited. There was nothing of Sabra that could be seen except for her eyes. But they were excited, sparkling and dancing in her joy.
Ben smiled, his hand going out as he walked to meet her at the foot of the dais. Kissing his parents, he took Sabra from them, brushing one of the many layers of cloth she wore from her shoulders to let it lie upon the floor.
She stepped from it eagerly, taking his hand to place it upon the hook that held the covering to her face. He unhooked it easily. He'd been practicing, worried that he would stumble or falter and shame himself and Sabra. Her radiant face was below this layer and he pulled the material gently away, letting it drop to his mother's hands.
Sabra held a single white rose in her hand. The bloom was large and perfect, its sweet scent rising to tickle his senses. Letting him help her up the steps of the dais, they now faced the Council of Twelve together.
Deckor stepped forward, his hand settling gently upon Ben and Sabra's heads. He smiled upon them before raising his voice to be heard throughout the room. "Benjamin and Sabra have asked to be joined before the Spirits that bless our people. Benjamin, what do you bring to this woman that no other could give her?"
"I give to her the love of my heart, the wisdom of my brain, the succor of my body and the gentleness of my hand as well as the fruits of my labors. If she is with me, she will never want physically or mentally. I will care for her with my life."
Sabra smiled up at him, hearing the suspicious sniffling sound coming from the woman she'd always thought of as her mother. Now she would be once more.
"Sabra, do you accept what this man is willing to give to you?"
Sabra's pretty eyes were bright and they met his easily and happily. "I do."
Deckor stepped back. The Third of the Twelve, a woman with the name of Kyla stepped forward. "The role of a woman in our society is not an easy one, Sabra. She is charged with the keeping of the home, the raising of the children and to do the bidding of her husband. She is no drudge or mindless toy to be used at his whim. Her role is more demanding, and as important as that of the man she loves. Do you, Sabra, understand what your role is?"
Sabra nodded, her eyes on Benjamin. "I will be your wife; I will gladly take you into my body and into my heart. I will bear your children and be faithful and true to you, Benjamin. I will be a true and devoted partner to you. And I will never stop loving you."
Kyla nodded and smiled her acceptance to Sabra's words before she turned to Benjamin. "Do you accept what Sabra is willing to give to you?"
Benjamin stared into Sabra's eyes. "I do."
But he held up his hand when Deckor came to stand next to Kyla, to speak the blessing upon their heads. "I have one last gift that I would give to Sabra, if she will accept it.
Deckor and Kyla exchanged looks then Deckor nodded.
"I will protect you, Sabra, to the last drop of my blood, to the last breath in my body. I will fight this horror that has intruded upon our lives and I will not allow him to cast breath near you. You will be safe, no matter what I have to do to make you that way. You and our children will always be first." He lifted her hand, clasping it in his own. "You will always come first to me." Placing their clasped hands against his chest, he knew she could feel the beating of his heart. "With the beating of my heart, I vow this to you."
