Page 38 of Rite of Unity

I straightened my skirts as I looked up at the Covenant House our district was assigned to.

Dad stepped through the door, reaching for my hands.“Are you sure, Angel?Aaron said some of the other girls were organizing care packages for the men guarding the outer wall.”

Even infertile men are useful.I tamped down the thought before it showed and looped my arm through his instead, patting his arm.

“What did Aaron say?”A man stepped up to us, tugging at his collar.He was young for a steward, but his smile was easy and familiar with my father.

“Aaron.This is my daughter, Maryn.”

Aaron dipped his chin.“Nice to meet you, Maryn.Formally.”

“I need you over here, Twelve.”Paul bustled into the room tapping wildly on his tablet, and his drones swarmed in after.

I exhaled.“Nice to meet you, Aaron.”

I rushed to stand beside the massive wooden Y.

“Turn.”Paul twirled his finger.“Stop!”His hand froze.“That’s it.Right there.Vera!She’s a vision.We need blush.”

Vera rushed to me, brush outstretched and battered my face with swipes.

I coughed in the cloud of dust, waving the air.

“Gracefully,” Paul groaned.

I let my hands fall to my sides.

“No.Hand up.We need to see that ribbon.”

I held up my hand awkwardly, and Paul rolled his eyes, darting forward and wedging my palm against the Y at my back.

“You know what.No.Get her a Covenant Doctrine.”

Someone I didn’t recognize raced forward.Had my team grown?He handed me a leather book.The same one my dad read from at dinner on Mondays.I probably knew the passages by heart at this rate.

“Paul?”

He shushed me and his drones zipped around my head.

“Paul.”

“What?”

“When does the actual community service begin?”

His cackle devolved into a cough before he waved me off, wheezing.

Vera appeared by my side.“You’re performing for the Rite.This isn’t a merit test.This is about how you look on camera.”She glanced around.“You chose a good background, though.”

I slouched against the Y, lips turning down.

Several hours later, when Paul had enough stills of me to last a lifetime, we moved into the grand hall where services were held.They’d cleared out any regular patrons today to make space for my students.

Aaron appeared by my side.“I think your idea was great.”

I glanced at him, smiling as a group of girls filed in.

“Maybe it could become a regular thing.”