Outside of the cathedral, the royal members waited. They were lined up in order of importance. Lyssandra and Valerica were first. Then came Monica and Elana. Corvus was naturally last. He had to be there as the future sacrifice. A cruel way to witness his own fate.
It was normal for people to overestimate their ability to remain calm in a stressful situation. Kaelith was his friend. It was naive of him to think he could watch him die without breaking down. He was trembling.
The heavy oak doors of the cathedral creaked open, a sound like the groan of a dying giant. The priestesses emerged and Lyssandra was guided in first. Before that she glanced back at Corvus. Her eyes lingered for a moment as if she was trying to calm him in her own unique way but it didn't work. Corvus was staring at the ground.
A moment later Valerica was guided in then the rest aside from Corvus. It wasn't until after all the royals were seated that he was given permission to enter.
The cathedral had rows and rows of chairs yet most of them were empty. The front row had Lyssandra, the second Valerica and the third Monica. One of the priestesses guided Corvus to the tenth row.
Instead of a painting of a holy scripture in front of the altar, there was a painting of the world tree Lessaril and the fog that covered the ground.
Kaelith was still wrapped in webs, lying on top of the altar by strings. His face was the only part of his body that was visible.
The ceremony began. A priestess walked up to the altar, holding a golden chalice. She began to chant in a language that Corvus didn't understand.
He tried to piece it together but he caught Kaelith's gaze. A small smile was on his face as he stared at Corvus. He seemed to be at peace.
Corvus couldn't help but smile back. The sadness washed away for a moment as he remembered the good times.
Then the chanting stopped. The priestess held the chalice to Kaelith's lips and he drank from it. It was a poison made by the Matriarch herself. It was meant to sedate him and make the process less painful.
Kaelith's eyes closed and his body went limp.
Elana walked out wearing a black and white kimono with a spider on the back. It was a traditional garment for the occasion.
She stood before the altar and took her visage in her hands as if she was presenting a gift to a deity. The black widow's eye glowed and magic was casted. Threads of silk formed a mask to put on Kaelith's face.
Elana tried to put the mask on him but she froze. Suddenly she put her hand to her mouth and started gagging like she was about to throw up then she ran outside.
"Disgraceful," Lyssandra said with a sigh, "Priestess, take care of her."
One of the priestesses ran out after Elana. The other one put the mask on Kaelith and began to chant again.
The webs that were holding Kaelith started to tighten around his body, further squeezing the life out of him.
"Wait!" Monica said.
Everyone looked at her.
"We should wait until Elana returns before continuing," she paused, "The tradition says the devourer must be present for the whole ceremony."
Lyssandra stared at her sister. She held no love for her, it was how they were raised. If Lyssandra didn't live up to her mother's expectations she'd have been eaten and Monica would have replaced her.
"You want to prolong Kaelith life because of your feelings?" Lyssandra asked.
The priestess stopped chanting.
"No," Monica said, her voice was shaky, "I want to follow the traditions that dictate our lineage. The tradition you preach about."
Corvus looked at his mother. He had never seen her look so angry before. Her eyes were glowing with a pink hue.
"The tradition is being upheld. He will be devoured by Elana."
Monica stood in front of Kaelith. She was in between Lyssandra and him. An act of defiance.
Corvus was surprised to see it. He had never seen Monica stand up to Lyssandra before.
"Are you saying that you're willing to break tradition to save your son?" Lyssandra asked.
Monica's jaw tightened.
"I'm saying that we wait."
The priestess looked at Lyssandra for guidance. She absolutely wanted to avoid this whole situation.
"Continue the ceremony," the Matriarch said.
Chants echoed again. The ritualistic webs started to tighten around Kaelith's body.
"Stop."
A magical web wrapped around the priestess hand, forcing her to stop.
Monica's visage was on her shoulder. Its eyes were glowing.
Lyssandra's face turned into a scowl. She finally stood up. She was a good head taller than Monica and far stronger in magic.
"I would kill you in a heartbeat, Monica."
The Matriarch's voice was cold and devoid of any emotion.
"Step aside."
Monica didn't move. She was shaking like a leaf but she stood her ground.
"Let Elana return before we finish the ceremony," she said.
The air crackled with tension. The priestess looked like she wanted to be anywhere else but here.
Corvus was holding his breath, sweat started to form on his forehead.
Lyssandra's gaze swept over the cathedral, landing on Corvus, her son who would be next. Monica's feeling wasn't unfamiliar to her. She had to eat her own brother and her first love. But this defiance was a threat to her authority.
Valerica interrupted.
"As the future Matriarch, I've read the sacred texts. It states the devourer must be present for the whole ceremony. Step aside Monica and wait for Elana."
Her voice was clear and firm, a stark contrast to the emotional turmoil in the room. She was siding with her aunt but her reasoning was different. It wasn't about love, it was about tradition.
Only in the cathedral could Valerica speak with such authority to her mother. Lyssandra gave her a subtle nod of approval. A small gesture that didn't go unnoticed by Corvus.
Waiting for her daughter, the mother was caressing her son's cheek. A few minutes later Elana returned. Her eyes widened at the sight of her mother standing in front of Kaelith's altar.
"Elana," Lyssandra said, "Do not disgrace our lineage any further."
Elana's eyes were puffy and red. Chants returned as everyone took their appropriate seats. Kaelith's face was covered and his visage was wrapped in silk.
In the midst of chanting, Elana began to devour her brother. His visage was small so it only took one bite. Then she started on his human body. It was a gruesome sight but it was a sacred tradition.
Corvus had to look away. It was all he could do to prevent himself from puking.
The crunching sound was the only noise in the cathedral. It was a sound that would haunt him for the rest of his life. He was looking at the painting of the world tree.
The horrifying scene could only be ignored for so long. He looked back and saw Elana's mouth covered in blood. She had tears in her eyes. It was a mix of sorrow and guilt.
Anyone would feel empathy for the girl in front of him, for the mother having to witness this, for the cousins.
But not Corvus. For the first time since coming to this world, he saw past the facade. They were not beautiful. They were not his family.
They were… monsters.