Becoming Calder (A Sign of Love Novel)(61)

I waited for Hector to bring Calder's head up from the water, but when he didn't, my heart picked up in speed and I looked around. No one else seemed to be wondering what was going on. I looked back at Calder, a feeling of nervousness settling in my chest.
"Calder Raynes, do you vow to love the gods with all your heart, mind and soul?" He paused, again not bringing Calder's head up.
I stared at Calder's kneeling frame, my eyes wide, my hands clenching and un-clenching in my lap.
"Calder Raynes, will you live in such a way that will daily be pleasing to the gods, and always serve them before yourself? BEFORE YOURSELF?" he repeated loudly.
My nerves turned into flapping wings of fear in my chest as Hector still held Calder's head submerged in the water.
"Calder Raynes," he paused, looking around, still gripping Calder's hair, "do you promise to cast off the powers of darkness which often will seek to steer you from the truth and the wisdom of the gods?"
I scooted to the edge of my chair, a lump rising in my throat. How long could someone hold their breath under water? Panic settled inside me. If Calder struggled, would Hector let him up? Why wasn't he struggling? Had he quietly drowned?
"Let us pray!" Hector boomed.
He bowed his head, as did the rest of the congregation. If they noticed Calder had been underwater for far too long, no one said a word.
"Gods, banish all sin, selfishness, and evil from this boy. Take the darkness from his heart and deliver grace and righteousness into his soul. Let the water purify him today and forever, so this boy may become a man." He kept his head bowed, eyes closed. My body tensed to stand up and scream, every muscle primed to attack Hector before Calder drowned underwater right in front of us.
But just as I started to move, Hector raised his hand, bringing Calder's head out of the water, droplets raining out in every direction. I could just see the side of Calder's face as he drew in a huge breath, kneeling back up, a beautiful smile spreading across his face. I froze.
Hector walked to the side of Calder, looked at him and seemed to falter slightly, but regained his balance. His voice seemed just a note weaker than it had as he gazed down at Calder, a look that was a mix between anger and confusion.
"DO YOU FORSAKE SATAN?" he boomed.
"I do, Father," Calder said, his voice strong and clear.
"And all his evildoings? All his temptations?"
"I do, Father."
"Do you renounce the wicked lusts of the flesh and of the eyes?"
"I do renounce the wicked lusts of the flesh and of the eyes, Father."
"Do you promise to love the holy way of the gods?"
"I do, Father."
I watched as water dripped down Calder's hair and face, the droplets wetting his shirt and causing it to cling to his muscles. There was something fierce and happy on his face and I couldn't guess what he was thinking. It was as if water was his element and it had not only cleansed him, but also empowered him. I sat confused, still fearful, but proud.
"Then I pronounce you purified, made new. You are strong and clean. Depart in peace. Go forth in holiness."
Calder stood slowly, smiling at the congregation as they smiled back at him. He walked back to the place next to the last council member, where he knelt again.
As the two young worker boys came to collect the tub and take it away, I couldn't help but notice the one with black hair and light blue eyes looked at Calder as if he was a god himself.

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That night, I lay in my bed picturing Calder downstairs lying in that small room, sharing a bed with the house dogs. I tried to focus on my own anger at the injustice of the situation, but my mind kept going back to the picture of him, lying there, no shirt on, the moonlight shining in on his golden skin. He was so close.
I wanted to ask him about earlier that day. I wanted to ask him what had happened during his water purification, what he'd been thinking, if he'd been as scared as I had been. He was my best friend and I longed to talk to him.
I tossed and turned for a while longer. Hector's plan was to keep Calder close so he could monitor his every move. But would he expect me to be so bold as to seek him out in the night, especially after he had just been cleansed? I knew Hailey was in Hector's room tonight. Perhaps she was keeping him busy.
My feet swung out of the bed before my mind could even make a decision. Apparently, my body knew what it wanted, even if my brain wasn't sure it was such a wise idea.
I put the blanket at the end of my bed under my quilt and formed it into a semi-human shape and then tiptoed to my door and opened it very quietly. I looked down the hall and when I saw no one was there, I snuck out and closed the door behind me. I had to walk past Hector's door to get to the large stairway and when I got there, I paused and listened. I heard a masculine grunt and the very soft noise of what sounded like skin slapping against skin. I hurried past it to the top of the stairs.