Season of Sacrifice (Blood of Azure Book 1) Jonathan Michael (red novels .txt) 📖

her way to collect you any moment, so let’s get this mess atop your head fixed and powder up your face.”

Ellia, in her own way, is a shape-shifter. She can easily transform from an assassin, to a whore, and back into the most eloquent lady all in a day’s time. And she has the same expectations for me.

Nayettѐ sits me down at the vanity and combs my short, unkempt hair. She strokes her fingers through it in between brush strokes to detangle it as best she can. The result is still messy but in a stylish, cute bun, as opposed to disheveled and dirty as usual. Facing her, she slaps some light powder onto my face then lines my lips with an amber-colored lip balm. She stands back, and a thin smile crosses her dark cheeks. I’m not sure how to respond. I’ve never taken part in this feminine tradition before. Am I to smile in return, without knowing whether I look like a jester or a whore? Before it gets awkward, she places her hands on my shoulders and spins my chair to face the vanity mirror. The vanity is well lit by an array of candles at the base and two thunder lanterns above. My face is well lit, but it’s not me who I see. She’s beautiful as always. My smile fades before it can form when I see my mother’s reflection. My mind drifts to my last memory of being with her…

The courtyard is ablaze with thunder lanterns and a gentle fire burns in the stone fire pit as I prep the outdoor table for a late-evening meal under the stars. The sun hasn’t entirely expelled us to the night, leaving a dim glow on the horizon with a few twinkles above. It’s a night free of Cerise’s unyielding red ambience. And warm, but cooling. Not one of those summer night’s that leaves you perspiring into the morning hours. It is a perfect mid-summer’s night.

“A perfect ending to another wonderful Summer Solstice. Don’t you think, sweet Jay.”

I glower at my mother. It was a perfect evening, but it could be better if the house staff didn’t have the evening off.

My mother smiles, shakes her head, and goes back to preparing a late snack for the family. My father is in his athenaeum, studying a project he’s been working on for the Taoiseach. Something about iron tracks, I think. And my brother and Elder are playing at the edge of the courtyard where the Great Oaks border it. Me…I get to set the table while everyone else is off enjoying themselves. It’s not fair. I fulfill my duties, nonetheless, by setting out dinnerware for the five of us.

“Mother, may I go play with the boys now?”

“What about the glassware, dear? We’re going to require a refreshment to complement the meal. Can you retrieve them as well please?”

“But why?”

Her head snaps in my direction, her brow curled inward. “Why? Because I asked you to, my dear.”

“No. I mean why do we have to be in here preparing a meal while all the boys are off entertaining themselves?”

“Well, sweet Jay, to tell you the truth, it’s because boys are helpless. If it weren’t for the ladies in their lives, they would all act like barbarians not knowing where their next meal is going to come from. It is up to us to take care of them.” She plucks a lilac from the bouquet she’s arranging and walks closer to me.

“Why? Why do we need to take care of them? Why do we even need boys? What good are they for?”

My mother laughs. It’s a delightful laugh. Her smile too. It’s contagious and forces me to laugh as well, even though I know not what I’m laughing at. She has the most beautiful and memorable smile I’ve ever seen.

“That’s a very good question, Jay, and one I don’t have the answer to. You’ll have to find the answer to that yourself, I suppose.”

She gives me a kiss on the head and slips the lilac into my hair. I inhale the beautiful aroma. Lilacs are only around for a short time just before the solstice. My mother loves them. And she loves spreading the fragrance wherever she can while it’s available, such as my hair.

“Glassware, please,” she requests.

I shrug my shoulders and do as I’m told without further complaint.

“Okay, can I go outside and play now?” I ask eagerly.

“It’s late, dear. I really don’t like you playing outside this late in the evening. The forests are filled with critters that can snatch you up. How about you run and fetch the boys for me. By the time you get back, our snack will be ready.”

“But, mother?”

“Please, dear, just go fetch them. It’s a special treat. You’ll enjoy it and won’t want to miss out. I promise.”

“Fine.”

“Stone!” I call when I get close. “Mother—” The boys come rushing past me before I can finish, leaving me in the dust. I sprint after them, trying my hardest to keep up. Trying not to be left alone by the dark woods. The three of us trample up to the stone patio and straight to the table where my father is already seated and my mother has a covered silver platter awaiting us.

“It was a wonderful Summer Solstice, if I must say,” my father announces.

“And what better way to cap it off than a seafood platter?”

My mother pulls the lid from the platter to reveal a variety of shelled, insect-looking—maybe still alive—animals I have never seen before. And they’re all whole, with legs, claws, eyeballs, and everything. We don’t eat whole cows or whole pigs, so why are we eating whole seafood? Whatever it is, it doesn’t look appetizing.

After being detained indoors while the boys were free to do as they pleased and being rewarded with