Chapter 449
"Blood In" 2
Ash was nervous. He didn't want to make any mistakes during this sacred ceremony.
"You'll be fine," Sasha whispered standing beside him.
Sonya stood within arm's reach of Ash, her body trembling with excitement. What exactly would be asked of her? She had no idea. She was determined to endure whatever trial tested her. She would be the first female Medjai. If she accomplished nothing else in life, she'd be able to hang her hat on this accomplishment.
Between Ash and Sonya, Roman stood holding a cylinder-shaped glass cup filled with golden liquid.
"Repeat after me," Sasha whispered in Ash's ear.
Ash nodded and began to recite every word Sasha murmured into his ear. "Do you have any doubts or reservations? No one will think any less of you because once you enter into the Order of the Medjai there is no getting out."
Sonya did not shake or nod her head. She stared at Ash, awaiting her first trial.
Ash cleared his throat and continued, "Your duty comes before everything else. Everything. Before your love, your children, mother, father. It is tied to your blood and your honor."
Sasha watched, waiting for Sonya to second-guess her choice. When Sonya did not move, Sasha continued whispering instructions to Ash.
"Huh?" Ash flinched. "You didn't say I would have to do that!" He gawked.
Sasha pleadingly looked at Ash, "Please, Ash."
Ash raised the knife, centered the tip of blade onto his index finger, jabbing it and drawing a small pool of blood from his finger. "You will be chained and tied to the roots of a pharaoh's blood," Ash repeated, hovering his bleeding finger above the cup of liquid, allowing droplets of his blood to drop into the cup.
With his free hand, Ash offered the knife to Sonya.
Sonya took the knife, confused, she looked to Sasha.
"The palm of both your hands," Sasha whispered. Sasha raised her hand and traced a diagonal line from the knuckle of the index finger to the top corner of the ulna of her wrist.
Sonya blinked her eyes in disbelief. She turned to Seth, "Did you do this?"
Seth, behind the bar, nodded.
For a moment, Sonya wasn't going to do it. It all seemed crazy. She didn't know self-harm was part of becoming a Medjai.
It was ancient tradition and apart of the ceremony, ancient blood magic.
Sonya bit her lower lip, and as Mandy cringed, she dragged the blade across her left hand. Tears poured out of her eyes as the bleed tore through the top-layer of her skin and crimson seeped through the wound. She'd cut slowly the first time. The second hand, she slashed quickly to complete the task before she could back out of it.
Sasha smiled and whispered to Ash.
"Rub your hands together," Ash commanded.
With each rub, Sonya felt a burn as her torn skin was pulled and the blood smeared across her palms and continued to pour out of her hand.
"Now repeat after me," Ash said.
"Blood of my blood…"
"Blood of my blood…" Sonya gritted her teeth as the pain intensified
"I bind my soul to you…"
"I bind my soul to you…" Sonya's hands suddenly felt like they were on fire
"May I condemn my soul to Anubis eternally…"
"May I condemn my soul to Anubis eternally…"
"If I betray my oath…"
"If I betray my oath…"
Ash raised the cup to his lips, sipping the blood-infused golden liquid.
Sasha whispered to him.
Ash then nodded and offered the cup to Sonya.
Sonya blinked her eyes. Was she really about to drink Ash's blood? Her hands burning with agony and covered in blood, she accepted to glass.
She began to raise the cup to her lips, but Sasha stopped her.
Sasha shook her head and muttered, "Put your blood in the cup first."
Sonya raised one hand, hovering it over the rim of the cup until her blood rained into the cup.
"Now drink." Sasha smiled.
Sonya exhaled and with one quick gulp, she swallowed the golden liquid. The liquid burned her throat. It felt as if a furnace had been turned on in her throat. She coughed, trying her best to not vomit. Her eyes searched the bar, looking for a glass of water or milk, anything to quell the burn.
"Take the pain." Seth muttered, "It'll be over soon."
Sonya clenched her teeth together, her hands coiled into bloody fists as she resisted the urge to grab a glass to douse the burn in her throat.
"Congratulations." Sasha smiled clapping her hands together.
As the burn in her throat faded, the blood seeped out her hands and the Swords all applauded Sonya's oath and newly acquired status as a Medjai.
On the other side of the bar, Carlito shook his head, turning away from the ceremony.
"Now, Ash." Sasha placed a hand on his shoulder, "Assign her to me."
"Oh," Ash smiled, "Right. Sonya," Ash called, "Your assigned to Sasha. Follow her and do whatever she asks you to, okay?"
Sonya smiled, rubbing her throat, "I'm glad that's over."
Sasha sinisterly smiled at Sonya, "So am I. You've been bled in. You're a Medjai."
"It's over?" Seth chuckled. "Your life and duties as a Medjai haven't even began yet."