Page 5 of Serpent In White

Gina nods at all of us and grabs Perry, the two of them ascending the steps to fetch everyone for dinner. The rest of us take up position in the kitchen. Once they’re all settled at the table with drinks, we’ll plate their food to ensure it stays warm, then serve. It’s a system, and it works.

But the surety of it doesn’t stop my heart from racing beneath my ribs.

Only three minutes later, I hear footsteps, and muscles tense all over my body. The wives always come down before Head Priest. Tonight, I see waves of golden hair and long eyelashes first.Kiara. She takes her seat and motions to Cam for a drink.The impatient one.

Next sneaks by a tiny little thing with a jet-black bob and giant blue eyes.Emithel. She sits as far away from Kiara as possible, nestling into her seat while tugging at the sleeves of her worn charcoal cardigan.

I’m distracted from the overall quietness of Emithel by the stark contrast of loudness brought on by the curvy brunette with lips painted blood red. Sashaying into the room, she falls gracefully into her usual seat at Kiara’s side, giving her a smile that may seem genuine to some, though the rest of us know better.

Alissa.She might as well be wearing a sign that saysWatch out for this one.

Making much less of a production of their entrances, in steps the tall, athletic one,Lauris, with the youngest,Gem, a freckled redhead who’s always smiling, at her side.

And now all the wives are seated around the table, looking every bit as different from one another as they are. I’m not sure if that’s what Head Priest was going for when he married them, being that he married them all around the same time. Within roughly a year of each other.

There’s as much mystery surrounding our Head Priest’s marriages as there is surrounding him in general. I think that’s a part of what’s so intriguing about him… We only know what he shows us, which isn’t all that much. We’re raised in The Principality with the understanding that Head Priest’s personal matters are none of our concern.

We don’t get to ask questions, and we certainly don’t get answers.

My pulse is thumping as Gina and Perry slink back toward us, nodding briefly to signal that he’s on his way. My hands are as clammy as ever, and I try jiggling them a bit to dry them off at my sides. I’ll be expected to carry glasses in a moment, and I can’t have them slipping out of my grip.

Heavy footsteps indicate his descension of the stairs, and all minute chatter from the wives is immediately silenced. Every eye in the room is on the staircase as our Head Priest finally makes his first appearance of the evening.

He moves with purpose, striding from the stairs toward the table, without so much as making eye contact. But it’s nothing new. For all the anticipation of his arrival, he barely recognizes that none of us are breathing.

His large form approaches, oozing more confidence in his pinky than I could even begin to formulate in my whole body, presence taking up the entire room. He strides toward the table, and Cam hustles up to pull out his chair for him. He takes his seat promptly, running long fingers through his silky chestnut hair as Cam helps him scoot in before scuttling back to the rest of us.

It’s so quiet you could hear a pin drop while we all stare, and Head Priest pays no mind whatsoever to the tension, lifting his gaze to Gina first.

“Red wine tonight, please,” his rough voice booms through the silence.

And with that, dinner has begun. Chatter resumes amongst the girls, and we all move to get the usual drinks ready for the rest of them. It’s as if the world goes on pause awaiting Darian King.

He moves time.

I can’t help but glance around the corner at him from the kitchen, checking to see what shade his eyes are tonight.

Head Priest’s eyes change color. It’s the most interesting thing I’ve ever seen, thus proving once more that he was put here by Mother to lead us in transformation.

His gaze is stuck on the glass in his hand as Lauris talks to the side of his face. He doesn’t appear to be paying much attention, and I can’t tell from here if his irises are bright blue, gray, or black. Given his apparent contemplative mood, I’d be willing to guess they’re on the darker side.

Darian is a stoic man. He’s generally quiet, but he speaks to us when he needs to. He delivers his weekly sermons with power and conviction; with true faith thundering in his voice and his words. He makes his rounds too, checking on his people and operations. He’s been known to laugh and smile, though it doesn’t happen often, so when it does, it’s coveted. And not only by me, though I’m beginning to think I might notice it more than most others.

Gina nudges me, reminding me to get it together and help with serving dinner. The next few minutes are spent bustling around. Getting drinks, and refills, plating food and serving it, then bowing our heads as Darian says grace.

Mother, we thank You endlessly for these gifts You’ve bestowed upon us. For this lovely meal, and the ingredients that have gone into it. To the animals who sacrificed their lives for our bounty, to the plants and minerals which nourish us…

We praise Your name for the soil, the seeds, the air and water needed to encompass us and our brethren of Your planet. Please continue to watch over us in transformation. Your will be done, always.

Amen.

And then they dig in. Talk continues amongst the wives, though Darian remains quiet, watching the red liquid swirl in his glass. I know what this means…

Only another day or two.

The thing is, I’ve been watching Head Priest for a while, and I’ve begun to notice more than just his infrequent smiles. The change in his eye color seems reflective of his actions; his behaviors. Specifically, hissolitude.

Head Priest is all-knowing, and I’m not just saying that because I’m a bit enamored with him. It is said that secrets travel to him in the air. He is perpetuallyawareof everything that goes on within his Regnum, and across the Expanse overall.