Chapter Twenty Four
No Escape
The chanting had grown louder. Most everyone in the room spoke in unison with the priest and priestess, the foreign words pouring out into the air, filling the space of the ceremony chamber.
Dinah couldn't keep from shuddering. The chanting was deep, droning. She could feel it slithering over her half-naked body, under her skin, burrowing into her bones, into her gut. Becoming
part
of her.
The book that the Priestess Lilith had brought in was set upon the dais and opened. That was from where they were reciting their chants, Dinah could see. It was like a twisted biblical hymn, she realized. But on the page opposite, the blonde could see there were...
illustrations
. Artistic representations of men and women with their bodies
entangled
.
Dinah quickly averted her eyes, forcing herself to stare straight ahead. She didn't want to think about her
very near future
.
Flanked on one side by Reston and on the other by Helena, Dinah was well aware of her lack of escape options. Even aside from those two, Dinah was very much surrounded. On all sides, there were Kingston Brothers and their lady guests. She couldn't possibly fight her way through them all. Not without using her Canary Cry and risking killing some of them.
There were women garbed in white robes slowly passing through their numbers. Dinah watched the women in white anoint the female inductees and then bid the greenhorn Brothers to drink red wine from a glass goblet lined with gold.
Helena must have caught Dinah staring as well as her curious expression, because a second later her raven-haired friend was whispering low in her ear.
"That's a special mix to provide stamina. Those green boys have
a lot
to prove tonight." Helena explained, her voice a soft purr. Her excitement was clear, coloring her words. Like she was
very much
looking forward to experiencing that enhanced stamina in action. Dinah, on the other hand? Not so much.
Just then, Reston leaned over to whisper into Dinah's other ear. He had been listening. How could he not have been?
"It's just regular wine, Miss B." The younger man explained with a quiet chuckle. Even whispering, his voice was deep and rumbling, especially for a teenager. Dinah breathed in, ignoring how her belly quivered as his words slithered into her ear. She said nothing and Reston continued on. "One of the Elder Brothers told me the week after my induction. We don't take enhancements. That's just something we tell the new guys to put them in the right headspace. It's a placebo."
Beside her, Dinah heard Helena make a tiny, scandalized gasp. Opposite, Reston gave a small sound of affirmation.
I'm telling the truth
, was his unspoken reply.
"This ceremony for new Brothers has always been about unlocking their true potential as men... and as
lovers.
" Reston said. Dinah breathed in, her body going tense as she felt his hand ghost down to the small of her back. A gentle, almost-nothing touch. But somehow it felt as possessive and violating as if he had grabbed a handful of ass. Dinah still said nothing and kept her eyes locked forward. Reston's voice came again, now a low growl. "But you're already familiar with
mine
, aren't you?"
Another quiver coiling deep in Dinah's belly. The blonde let out a sigh - one that
almost
came out as a moan. But she wouldn't let him have the victory.
Before Dinah could bite back a reply, Helena's hand joined Reston's on Dinah's lower back. The blonde closed her eyes, despairing as she heard Helena stifle a giggle.
"You're so
bad
, Matt."
The chanting came to an end. An instant later, there were two, loud claps. Dinah felt Helena and Reston's hands quickly retreat from her body. The blonde opened her eyes to see the Priestess Lilith with her hands held together above her head. The woman had signaled the next phase of the ceremony.
Around her, Dinah could hear faint shuffling as the gathered crowd all turned to face the dais, to witness their priest and priestess conduct their ritual.
Up on the dais, Priestess Lilith began to speak. Her voice was soft, feminine, but projected loud and with a measure of authority.
"That you stand here tonight, witness to our sacred rites and prayers, means you have shown great promise."
Nothing sacred about what they do here,
Dinah thought bitingly.
The Priest in the red robe picked up where Lilith had left off. His voice was deep and strong, much like Reston's.
"For you young men, that means you have shown aptitude not just in academics, but in areas beyond. Social finesse, physical prowess, and most importantly, a talent for discretion. You have shown daring, discipline, drive... and
desire
. Desire far beyond that of your peers."
His words boomed within the chamber, sending another tremble through Dinah's body. Why did she feel so small, so vulnerable? Wasn't she supposed to be a superheroine?
But despite the unsettling weakness that slithered through her body, Dinah paid close attention to what the Priest was saying. She finally realized why all the Kingston Brothers seemed to be top specimens of the male sex. Because those were the types the organization recruited.
That's why I didn't see Curly wearing a ring during gym class. That's why only the jocks and the prep-types seemed to be wearing them.
In hindsight, it made plenty of sense. Dinah mentally kicked herself for not figuring it out sooner. A group focused on male dominance and superiority wouldn't be too keen to accept weaklings and wimps. It wouldn't do well for the image they were cultivating.
Up on the dais, Priestess Lilith spoke again. Her smooth, feminine voice came as a stark contrast to the Priest's.
"The kind of spirit that you have shown should be nurtured, strengthened. It should be
emboldened.
" Lilith called out with shocking conviction. Even for a woman under thrall, she was damn near
zealous
