Total pages in book: 140
Estimated words: 127933 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 640(@200wpm)___ 512(@250wpm)___ 426(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 127933 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 640(@200wpm)___ 512(@250wpm)___ 426(@300wpm)
There were ancient symbols and scripts that I couldn’t understand, but what I did make out chilled me. My attention was caught by the mention of something, or someone called a Progenitor. I read the section with a mixture of curiosity and revulsion, the concept feeling alien and unsettling.
The Progenitor—she who bears the sacred burden. A vessel, a mother, and the cradle of the future. Her role is to bring forth the next generation, bound to the will of the Impío Order. The Progenitor’s body is not her own but is dedicated to the continuance of the Isle bloodline.
I felt my stomach turn as the words sunk in, the implications becoming painfully clear. The Progenitor—it was a term for Breeder, for someone chosen not for power or prestige but for their ability to give birth, to perpetuate the twisted legacy of this Isle.
The chosen Progenitors are sacred, yet their fate is sealed. They will birth the next generation of the faithful, bound to the darkness and the blood. There can be no defiance. The Progenitor exists only for this purpose.
I glanced at Verity; I could feel her eyes now watching me closely from beneath the lace veil. I could barely keep the disgust from my voice as I spoke, seeking confirmation. "The Progenitor… it's just another name for Breeder?"
"Yes," she said quietly. "It’s... a position of honor."
Even she didn’t seem convinced by the hollow words she just spoke. “You will never know such a life. You are a true bride.”
She’d practically whispered that last part. I turned towards her, confused. "Sorry, what did you say?"
She hesitated, then repeated a bit louder, "You are the one and only true bride of Diabolus. There will be no others and there has never been a first.” Now her words were a mix of reverence and conviction.
My eyes shifted to the photo on the side table. “What do you mean the true bride?”
She stood and added quickly, "I apologize, I should not have spoken out of turn," and hurried out of the room, leaving me alone to decipher her Isle talk.
I hadn’t meant to scare her away. The room immediately felt larger and emptier in her absence. I’d been spending my time all alone until Alexander returned in the evenings. I wasn’t used to such solitude. It had been worse all the days leading up to this one—there’d been no staff—just guards I spotted patrolling the property. Thanks to that the library had become my sanctuary of sorts.
I sighed and repeated Verity’s words.
“The one and only true bride of Diabolus..”
The picture beside me proved otherwise. I stayed in the library, losing myself in the doctrine, its pages filled with passages that were both fascinating and unnerving.
The more I read, the better I began to understand the Isle’s intricate hierarchy. Impío faith was another topic entirely. There were many roles and duties assigned to its followers. The back of the book provided fewer formal transcriptions—some in another language.
Ambrose's voice eventually broke through my concentration, pulling me away from the words on the page and back into the present. He suggested a light lunch and I readily agreed, grateful for the break. After satisfying my hunger and taking care of my personal hygiene, I returned to the library, eager to continue my reading. There were other positions in this twisted society, those who pledged themselves entirely to serve the hierarchy. Their lives were governed by strict rituals, punishments, and devotion, constantly proving their worth to the men who held power.
The concept of obedience was a constant; it wasn’t just expected—it was law. Those who defied it were met with consequences I didn’t want to imagine based on their descriptions alone. When Ambrose returned for a second time, I realized the day had flown by without me even noticing.
"It's time to proceed to the evening service, Mistress," he informed me.
"Oh, right." I mentally marked my place in the book and reluctantly closed it.
"I can secure the doctrine for you if you wish," Ambrose offered.
"Thank you," I replied gratefully, passing off the responsibility to him. As I stood and straightened my dress, I quickly changed from a comfortable bookworm to a formal attendee, slipping back into the heels I’d kicked off to curl up on the sofa. "I'm already ready to go," I announced to Ambrose. He gave me a respectful nod, and we made our way out of the library.
The descent down the stairs fully immersed me back into the reality of the Isle. We made our way towards the entrance of the vast estate, and a sudden pang of realization hit me. "I forgot the picture," I murmured under my breath, more to myself than to Ambrose.
He paused, turning to look at me with a quizzical expression in his piercing blue eyes. "The photograph from the library," I clarified, my cheeks burning with embarrassment.