Whatever her mother needed her for, it didn't happen for a few days. As they passed, the group chat with her friends had evolved into a full on search for the Striders. Rose lived closest to them, and hadn't seen either Dirk or Dave come and go. John, Jake, and Jade were all scared sick, Jane was starting to conduct an investigation, and Roxy was helping Sollux search every database available to them. Feferi couldn't stop thinking of Dave and Dirk, both dead. But she was positive they were alive; though whether or not this was optimism, she couldn't say.
Eridan had managed a few messages with her, but only a scarce hello. Cronus still wouldn't reply, but she kept watch to see them both safe and alive.
She had started training with her trident again. She would jump into the pool and start swinging it around, feeling focused and calm when submerged in clean, warm water. The resistance of the water helped build up muscles, although she wasn't exactly scrawny before. When she reached a decent speed with her trident while underwater, she became content.
After a week, her mother asked her to come for a ride with her. Feferi, only a little annoyed with her house arrest, agreed. She took her to city hall. Feferi was led to the basement, where her mother asked her to turn around. Feferi obeyed, and after what sounded like creaks and clicks, her mother turned her around. A door had opened in the wall, and only now did Feferi notice the seams in the wall.
"Go in, Feferi," her mother urged, and Feferi swallowed and stepped through the entrance. It was a large room, and the walls were decorated with traditional Alternian art. There were paintings of fabulous highbloods and sea trolls, and lowbloods were castrating themselves towards their 'superior' beings. The colors, mixtures of reds and yellows, were a sure sign of it being painted with the blood of trolls.
There was a round table with twelve seats at it. Each seat held someone. Dualscar. Mr. Makara. Mr. Zahhak, still in uniform and anxious looking. The rest were people she didn't recognize, but they all had tall, proud horns. There was the fuschia blood symbol on the table. "Welcome," Dualscar said, his voice low and grimy.
"I have brought my daughter here in hopes she will join our cause," her mother said, speaking to her eleven allies.
"Do you wish to eliminate the unworthy species that inhabit this planet so only the greatest race remains?" one of the highblood asked.
"Yes," Feferi said, trying to keep her fear and disgust buried deep within her. Dualscar was staring blankly at her, but the other highbloods were pleased.
"Good. You are smart for someone so young. Shall we start initiation?"
Feferi looked to her mother, who looked terrifyingly proud, and nodded. One of the other highbloods stood, and pulled a knife from the sheath on her leg. "Hold out your left arm." Feferi did so, and her mother pulled a knife from her own sheath. As the highblood cut Feferi's palm, her mother cut her own. "This is a sacred bond," she explained. "Your blood is your body," she said as she turned Feferi's hand so the fuschia blood dripped onto the table. "It is ours. Your mother's blood strengthens this bond. Your life, your soul, your family, is at our expense."
Feferi gulped, but kept her face blank as she said, "I would give anything."
Dualscar rose, holding a small book in his palm. "Repeat after me. Lowbloods are scum."
"Lowbloods are scum." No matter how much it would hurt her friends to hear this, the pain she felt was much more intense.
"I will do all in my power to put them in their place."
"I will do all in my power to put them in their place."
"I will provide everything for this movement."
"I will provide everything for this movement."
Then, in Alternian, Dualscar said, "The Empire shall rule once more."
With a shaky, mangled attempt to copy him, she said, "The Empire shall rule once more."
Everyone stood up and bowed. Feferi went to do the same, but her mother held her back. "We are royalty," she murmured. "We bow to no one."
Her hand was cleaned, and a gel was put on it to close the wound. Though medical methods were improving daily, Feferi assumed this method was an Alternian method.
"Your first assignment," Mr. Zahhak began, "is most likely the only assignment one of your status will have. It is to prove your loyalty to this cause." He handed her a picture of a lowblood. He was the same hemotype as Tavros, and had the same horns. The resemblance was unbelievably similar until she saw his name. Lecory Nitram.
She swallowed hard, keeping tears from prickling in her eyes. Known as The Summoner in the streets. Leader of a gang, the Wings of Freedom. A gang dedicated to protecting poor lowbloods from violence. Lately he had started using more legal methods.
"Will you accept this task?"
"Yes," Feferi said, feeling her heart shattering.