Chapter 4

Benjamin dressed himself slowly and carefully. Black cotton pants covered his black briefs and then a white shirt, simple with a knobby weave to the fabric. It was pulled over his head, and tucked into the pants. Sliding his hands down his chest, he straightened the shirt and then tied the ties that held it closed at his throat. He spun in front of the mirror, he wanted to look the part of the devoted bridegroom, anxious to see that none of the blood from his wound had stained the virginal white shirt.

A sigh escaped his lips and he couldn't help but think again of what the Council had told him, of the danger that would follow him and Sabra until they finally were able to rid this world of such evil. He'd been warned that the battle wouldn't be easy and that he and Sabra could fail, dying horrible and slow deaths at the whims of a demon.

But he'd kill Sabra himself before he allowed her to be tortured and scarred, damaged beyond hope. He would use the blade on her himself to give her a humane death, then he would fight the evil that threatened them. He would either kill or be killed, but either way, his Sabra would be safe. She wouldn't become the plaything of a monster.

"I swear," he whispered as he stared into his own face in the mirror. "I will take her life before I allow her to be tortured and abused."

The world ahead seemed to be almost two big for his two sturdy shoulders to bear. But he turned, glancing at the triple crescent, his hand brushing at his hip where that triple crescent had been tattooed. Their Coven might be small, it might even seem as if they belonged to one of those strange cults, ran by enigmatic but charming men who secretly held their own agenda.

But their craft was one that had been handed down in this way for millennia. It had existed back in the time of Christianity's beginnings. A Council had sat, making decisions and showing young and old alike that their ways were good, their decisions just and kind. Now their Council not only made decisions affecting the people in their Temple, they were also Lawyers, Doctors, even Politicians. The Temple believed in education for any and all who wished it. The money they spent training these people was never wasted. What they learned was always rewarding to the craft.

Ben brushed down his hair one last time, slipping on the black canvas slippers he would wear upon his feet and then reached out, lifting the white and black satin stole that would sit upon his shoulders, then it would be wrapped around his and Sabra's shoulders, binding them together.

A hollow sounding bell rang through the Temple and he hurried his step. It bespoke of his bride and her readiness to become his. A smile broke over his face. Sabra would be his. The thought was thrilling, almost mind numbing and he wished he had time to sit and bask in the glow, to know he was being rewarded, both by the Council and by the Gods they believed in.

He slipped through a side door into the Temple proper, bowing at each lavish altar that led to the one in the center. Twelve altars circled the lush and well appointed room, culminating in a raised dais where the Twelve now stood in a semicircle. Men and women alike, each had been chosen for the gifts they possessed, shared their knowledge amongst their kind and willingly made the sacrifice to live in the Temple, to care for their people, to settle arguments and to serve their Gods.

It was to Deckor that Benjamin now looked, taking his place before the tall man and returning his smile as he bowed his head in observance to the man's position. Deckor reached out, laying his hand with affection on the young man's shoulder, proud for his parents and the woman that loved Benjamin that he was the man he was. Ben would go far in the Temple. He'd already showed interest in Law and he would enroll in Law School after finishing up his prelaw classes.

A door at the far end of the room was opened and Kimber and Caleb Kozilinski walked inside, each holding the hand of a young woman. She was shrouded in robes of pale lilac and white, the flowers he'd given her now being used to guide her path to where he waited. There was nothing of Sabra that could be seen except for her eyes. But they were excited, sparkling and dancing in her joy.

Ben smiled, his hand going out as he walked to meet her at the foot of the dais. Kissing his parents, he took Sabra from them, brushing one of the many layers of cloth she wore from her shoulders to let it lie upon the floor.

She stepped from it eagerly, taking his hand to place it upon the hook that held the covering to her face. He unhooked it easily. He'd been practicing, worried that he would stumble or falter and shame himself and Sabra. Her radiant face was below this layer and he pulled the material gently away, letting it drop to his mother's hands.

Sabra held a single white rose in her hand. The bloom was large and perfect, its sweet scent rising to tickle his senses. Letting him help her up the steps of the dais, they now faced the Council of Twelve together.

Deckor stepped forward, his hand settling gently upon Ben and Sabra's heads. He smiled upon them before raising his voice to be heard throughout the room. "Benjamin and Sabra have asked to be joined before the Spirits that bless our people. Benjamin, what do you bring to this woman that no other could give her?"

"I give to her the love of my heart, the wisdom of my brain, the succor of my body and the gentleness of my hand as well as the fruits of my labors. If she is with me, she will never want physically or mentally. I will care for her with my life."

Sabra smiled up at him, hearing the suspicious sniffling sound coming from the woman she'd always thought of as her mother. Now she would be once more.

"Sabra, do you accept what this man is willing to give to you?"

Sabra's pretty eyes were bright and they met his easily and happily. "I do."

Deckor stepped back. The Third of the Twelve, a woman with the name of Kyla stepped forward. "The role of a woman in our society is not an easy one, Sabra. She is charged with the keeping of the home, the raising of the children and to do the bidding of her husband. She is no drudge or mindless toy to be used at his whim. Her role is more demanding, and as important as that of the man she loves. Do you, Sabra, understand what your role is?"

Sabra nodded, her eyes on Benjamin. "I will be your wife; I will gladly take you into my body and into my heart. I will bear your children and be faithful and true to you, Benjamin. I will be a true and devoted partner to you. And I will never stop loving you."

Kyla nodded and smiled her acceptance to Sabra's words before she turned to Benjamin. "Do you accept what Sabra is willing to give to you?"

Benjamin stared into Sabra's eyes. "I do."

But he held up his hand when Deckor came to stand next to Kyla, to speak the blessing upon their heads. "I have one last gift that I would give to Sabra, if she will accept it.

Deckor and Kyla exchanged looks then Deckor nodded.

"I will protect you, Sabra, to the last drop of my blood, to the last breath in my body. I will fight this horror that has intruded upon our lives and I will not allow him to cast breath near you. You will be safe, no matter what I have to do to make you that way. You and our children will always be first." He lifted her hand, clasping it in his own. "You will always come first to me." Placing their clasped hands against his chest, he knew she could feel the beating of his heart. "With the beating of my heart, I vow this to you."

Sabra took a step closer to Ben and a tear formed in her eye, sliding down her cheek. He reached out, taking it upon his thumb. "You are my everything."

"You are mine," she said softly.

"Then with the power, the guidance and the approval of the three moons and the twelve spirits, I have the honor of accepting your vows and declaring you joined." He lifted a silken tie, draping it over their joined hands. "The silken tie is a symbol of the tie that joins you. It is strong, but soft, determined but forgiving. It resists even the most vigilant of efforts to be parted and, with care, will last a lifetime. Be as this silken tie. Remember always the love that has put you on this path, be determined to hold it strong and remember forgiveness. The road you step foot on is one that holds many pitfalls, but by keeping each to the other, you'll stay strong."

He bowed to each of them before stepping forward once more and kissing each on the forehead. "Step forth as a true couple of this temple and be acknowledged as husband and wife."

Kyla lifted the stole from Benjamin's shoulders, laying it gently across both his and Sabra's. "Never stray further than the width of this stole from the other, remain as faithful and pure as this silk. With care, the desire and need that you feel now will remain with you all the long years of your marriage. Remember, Sabra—Ben, it is not the wedding that it is important. It is the years after, years of hopefully joy and friendship, love and serenity. Do not forget that what you feel for the other is a special and lasting thing meant to grow and change. Do not be afraid of those changes. Face them together."

Caleb barely waited until Sabra and Benjamin turned before he reached up and swept her into his arms. "You've always been my daughter, now you are by fact as well as by what is in my heart. I am very happy for you." He whispered the words into her ear.

Then Kimber was there and she hugged Sabra while Benjamin and Caleb hugged. "I'm going to miss you," she whispered. "Just love him and you'll be fine, Sabra."

"I do," she said. "I couldn't help myself." She cast a half guilty look at Ben, remembering how terrible they had both felt even when experiencing the joy of their first kiss, of finding out how they felt about the other. It had been a heart breaking and euphoric experience that she would never forget, but knowing now that she was his wife ... that had joy singing in her veins.

She felt the tug of his part of the rope tugging on her wrist and she looked up, smiling as took her hand and pulled her closer to him. He tugged the rope from her arm, slipping it into the pocket of his pants. With his arms around her waist, he leaned down and kissed her gently. "My wife," he whispered. "Mine."

"And don't you forget it," she whispered back. She felt him lift her left hand and slip a small gold band next to the beautiful diamond he'd gotten for her.

"So you don't forget it," he teased.

Her smile was wide and beautiful and so full of love it took his breath away. "As if you'd let me."

He tugged on her dark hair, curling the silken tress around his finger. He only took his eyes off of her when his mother said his name, but he didn't let her go.

"We're going to say good-bye for now," Kimber let her hand rest against Ben's face, bending to touch her lips to Sabra's cheek. "I love you both." She glanced at her husband. "We both do."

"We love you, too, Mom," Sabra said, her hand going out to the woman who'd always been her mother. "I will always think of you as my mother."

"I always will be." She gave her a quick hug, letting Sabra go to watch her step into Caleb's arms. "We gave Ben the box that held your baby blanket and the note that was sent with you to the Temple that day so many years ago. It will tell you who your biological parents are and let you know who is trying to hurt you."

"But that is for tomorrow, tonight is for celebrating. We'll see you again soon," Caleb said. "You both stay safe." He gave Ben a pointed look then turned and pulled Kimber out of the room. When they were gone, Ben looked down up at his new wife.

"Shall we go?" His voice was a husky whisper and he felt the thrill that went through her. "You're not cold?"

Sabra reached up, cupping his beloved face in her hands. "No, I don't think I've been cold since you came up to save me earlier tonight."

"Save you?" He eyes narrowed as he stared down at her, his brows furrowing.

"When you came in to tell me you loved me and that we'd be married. You saved me from a long life of loneliness, of being bereft and alone. I'd never have been able to come home, ever, in case your wife saw the way I looked at you. I just know she'd have seen it in my eyes."

Ben laughed. "What would you say about retiring? I have this desperate need to hold you in my arms and make love to you."

Sabra lifted the rose she still held, twirling the open bud beneath his nose so that the fragrance filled his senses. "I'd say that would be a wonderful idea, my love." She yawned artistically, covering her mouth with a delicate hand. "I find that I'm suddenly exhausted.

He kissed her quickly, taking her hand and making her laugh by how quickly he pulled her past the Twelve and out of the door of the Temple proper. He bowed his thanks to them so quickly she couldn't help but compare him to a Japanese man in a comedy that she'd seen. Then they were in the hallway that led to Unit Housing and he was tugging her until she was trotting to keep up.

"Ben," she giggled. "Stop."

He did and she almost slammed into him as he turned around. "What's wrong?"

The caution and fear in his voice had her smiling wildly. "I just don't want you wearing yourself out before we even get there," she teased.

Ben stared down at her for a moment then he scooped her up in his arms, easily holding her high upon his chest. Turning, he continued his almost headlong flight toward his apartment. Her laughter trailed along behind and then down the stairs as he took them two at a time. By the time he stood outside his door, digging in one of his pockets for his key, she'd gotten very comfortably in his arms. "I could grow used to this."

"What, me carting you around to keep you moving?"