The Fourth Ceremony: The Sacrifice Trilogy Read Free

it an honor, she was the reason the Empire continued, she was the Defender of Mankind. She still thought it was an honor, but as she drew nearer to the Fourth Ceremony she began to grow afraid of the thought. Would she give up her life to save her country? Of course she would. But drowning was a horrific way to die and she was only going to be sixteen. She had n’ t experienced everything she wanted to experience yet.
                  “ Selfis h” she murmured to herself. 
    She had been given everything she had ever asked. All the Government wanted in return was her Sacrifice. Her life. She had once thought it well worth it. A life in the lap of luxury, almost two decades in which she could fulfill every whim and achieve every desire. Sixteen perfect years in exchange for no more. But as the day drew closer, she could n’ t help but think that it was n’ t quite a fair exchange. She had everything she could ever want except for the one thing that seemed to matter more and more each day: more time. 
     
    “ Dinner will be late .” She announced to the staff member at her door as she strutted by ,“ Please let everyone know that we may continue after I have gone for a swim . ”
    “ Yes M a’ am, I will let them know. Thank you for your Sacrifice .” The woman replied.
    Jayna, her name was Jayna, and she was one of Aless a’ s favorites.
    “ Jayna ,” Alessa stopped the woman ,“ please, could yo u … ” She stopped. She did n’ t want everyone to know how uneasy the simple comment had started making her feel.
    “ Yes M a’ am ?” Jayna waited expectantly.
    “ Could you make sure they made macaroni and cheese? You know i t’ s my favorite .” She winked at Jayna.
    “ Of course, M a’ a m” Jayna smiled back. She had a friendly smile, and she carried herself with a quiet confidence that Alessa had frequently mimicked.
    Alessa tossed her towel over her shoulder as she walked down the hall. She hoped to herself that she would cross paths with her mother. Her conservative mother would be appalled at Aless a’ s decision to wear only her swimsuit down to the pool, regardless of the fact that it was only a half of a hallway away from Aless a’ s room. Frowning, Alessa entered the Pool Room unimpeded.
    She stopped a moment in the doorway. She was always somewhat awed when she entered the Pool Room. This was, by far, her favorite birthday wish. On her eighth birthday, she had wished for an indoor pool that was the size of four regular pools. She wanted to be able to see the sky but not feel the weather. The Government had pulled through. Almost the entire ceiling was made of glass, with support bars cutting through it every so often. There was muted lighting in the walls surrounding the pool so that she could see to swim any time of day along with sporadic color-changing lights along the bottom of the pool. It was beautiful, and it was her sanctuary.
    Alessa hung her towel on one of the bronze decorative hooks by the door and stepped onto the poo l’ s stairs. She exhaled a breath that she did n’ t realize she had been holding. She remembered making the staff change the water temperature daily for almost two weeks before deciding that it was just right. Everything about this room was designed to her specifications. Alterations had been made as she had grown older and her tastes had changed, and no one but Khilyn was allowed to interrupt her while she was swimming.
    She submerged herself under the water and sat quietly for a moment. She felt comfortable in the water, more comfortable than anywhere else. Learning to swim had been Marsto n’ s suggestion. It helped her stay fit and learn discipline, but it had been a passion she shared with her father.
    She backed herself up to the wall and looked out across the vast water. She sucked in the warm air and ducked under the water. Then, she shot from the wall and began her swim. Although the pool was larger than any in the empire, she had made