Becoming Calder (A Sign of Love Novel)(113)

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Over the next two weeks, I was rarely allowed to leave my room. Mother Miriam brought food to me, although there wasn't much. The fields weren't being tended, food was ripening and falling to the ground, uncollected. The animals were sick and hungry now, too. I could hear the goats bleating miserably outside whenever there was a pause in Hector's broadcast. I thought I would go insane. I had to shut my emotions down as best as I could, and live with the one thought that kept going through my head. We would get out of here . . . Somehow, some way. We would, at the very first opportunity.
I didn't know how Calder was and it filled me with stark terror. Were they feeding him? Was he okay? I vowed to be his strong morning glory. I vowed not to crumble.
On the afternoon of my eighteenth birthday, Hailey entered my room softly and laid a white dress at the end of my bed. Her eyes were filled with sorrow as she looked at me, sitting at my desk, staring out the window.
I ran to her and threw myself at her feet, hugging her legs and sobbing. Her hands stroked my hair. When I looked up at her, there were tears in her eyes.
"Please help us," I begged.
She shook her head. "There's nothing I can do. My boys.  I have four boys . . . he . . . he'll . . ." She cried softly for a minute.
I took a deep breath. "Calder. Do you know how he is?" I asked.
"He's alive," she said. "He's being fed and given water. I have no way of knowing more than that."
Tears coursed down my cheeks. "If I marry Hector today, we'll just leave tomorrow," I whispered.
Hailey shook her head. "He won't let you. He'll never let you leave before the foretelling comes to pass."
"The foretelling isn't coming to pass!" I yelled. Hailey startled and I took a deep breath. "I'm sorry, Hailey, but . . . you know that, right?"
She didn't answer me either way, just kept looking down at her hands.
"Hailey, if I marry Hector today . . . and the time comes when I can get Calder out, will you at the very least distract Hector?"
She stared at me for long moments, but then nodded her head. I breathed out a breath of relief. I'd come up with a plan. I'd get Calder out and we'd run, and this time, we wouldn't get caught.
Hailey stood up. "Get dressed. I'll be back to do your hair. Hector means to marry you in an hour."
Dread shot down my spine. "In an hour?" I asked. I began trembling all over. I felt as if I was going to be sick. An hour? How was I going to get through that?
"Yes, everyone is waiting at the Temple. Councilman Daniels has the legal authority to perform the ceremony." I looked away. I distrusted councilman Daniels almost as much as Clive Richter. I wondered if he was a policeman, too. Maybe they all were. I didn't understand any of it.
I let out a deep breath and straightened my spine. "I'll be ready."
Hailey nodded and turned to leave my room.
"Hailey?" She stopped and looked back at me. "Will you gather a few of the blue flowers that grow on a small bush on the west side of the field? I've always wanted to wear them in my hair on my wedding day."
Hailey looked confused, but nodded okay and closed the door behind her.
I fell down on my knees next to my bed. Oh dear God of Mercy, please help me, I prayed.
An hour later, I rode to the Temple in the carriage alongside Hector. He wore a suit of white, and I wore the long, flowing wedding gown someone had sewn for me. Morning glories adorned my hair. Pain gripped my heart.
We said our vows in the Temple in front of the Acadian people, Hector's eyes shining at me with some kind of fever. He looked like a madman. I tried not to make eye contact as I said the words I didn't mean. The gods know my heart, I thought. What did so-called vows mean if they weren't true?
I looked out to the audience and spotted Calder's parents. Their heads were bowed and they were praying reverently. They still believed.
When it was over, Hector turned to the people and raised his arms, his voice ringing out strong and sure, "My beloveds. This is a glorious day. Eden is now my lawful wife, in the eyes of the state and as witnessed by the gods. And we are all one step closer to fulfilling our true destiny." He beamed out at them, his eyes feverish, his smile wide. They all stared back at him, some looking happy, others looking stunned, troubled, and hungry. Several children were crying.
"A feast has been set up for you in the main dining hall. Please, eat. Rejoice. This is a day made for joy and celebration!"
Hector peered out at the crowd. "My beloveds, the flood draws near. The fruits of our sacrifice draw near. Cling to me, cling to your mother, Eden, cling to Acadia. Know we are holy now. Satan tempts you in all kinds of ways as our hardship grows, as the end draws near. But don't be tempted. Don't be forsaken. We are so close to paradise, my beloveds. Go now and celebrate."