As the lights dimmed so did the chatter. The auditorium was filled with respectful onlookers. All of them were dressed in long Femme gowns, including Kaley. Mecca had made up her hair in thick twirls and waves and selected a dress of melting pastel colours much heavier in fabric for today’s event. There was a stiffness to its shape that forced Kaley’s arms out from her sides as she walked, otherwise her hands bumped into the flared, unyielding skirt. It was lovely, feminine and flattering and had more substance than the rest of her wardrobe but Kaley preferred the light, breezy colour-changing gowns. At least she still had fairy slippers to wear and she was getting used to the colourful makeup that emblazoned from below her eyes and over her cheeks.
The husky tones of a pan-flute began to play, silencing those who’d still dared to whisper beneath the low lighting. The music echoed around the auditorium and Kaley’s arms were riddled with goose bumps due to the eerie tune.
Two women walked out dressed in white gowns that looked spun from gossamer. They carried a wide spindle between them that unfurled delicate golden fabric which floated down to the floor. They slowly walked all the way across without stopping. Their ribbon lasted the entire way though it hadn’t looked like it would.
“Here she comes,” Ronika breathed beside her. She risked a glance at Ronika and found her friend entranced by the spectacle before her. As much as Ronika said she hated this world, she could obviously still be captivated by it.
Kaley faced the front in time to see the High Priestess make her entrance. There was a strange sound, like every person watching had collectively sighed or taken in their breath.
Even though she’d bought a scarf with the High Priestess Sorcha’s icon painted on it, nothing prepared her for the incredibly beautiful young woman that appeared. She wasn’t dressed in ceremonial garb as far as Kaley could tell, but in a silvered rainbow gown that made her look as though she was walking through a perpetual waterfall.
She walked upon the golden makeshift path until she arrived at the centre of the floor, then stopped and turned. She was graceful, elegant, every movement purposeful. Her white-blonde hair was immaculately braided into a thick, silken rope. She was a combination of futuristic fashion and traditional style. Kaley wondered if she wore fairy godmother slippers too and was stunned to see that Sorcha’s feet were bare.
Two more of the white gowned women entered from where Sorcha was looking. This time the spool between them carried a wide white ribbon and a robed woman walked on it immediately after them. She was barefoot also. The ribbon that the spool carriers held between them ran out close to Sorcha and both women knelt with the index and middle fingers of their right hand upon their lips. Kaley didn’t understand what this meant but was fascinated with the display before her.
The robed woman stood directly in front of Sorcha before opening the robe and letting it slide off her shoulders to puddle at her feet. Kaley tensed when the woman’s naked body was revealed. She was in her thirties, her body plump and her breasts and stomach a little saggy. Kaley felt vulnerable on this strange woman’s behalf.
The pan-flute’s song faded and Sorcha took this cue to speak. She did so in her own language, the lyrical nature of the words washing over Kaley like music that she couldn’t understand. The only part she understood was the woman’s name: Hannah Judith Gillespie. There was no hiding her name among Femme language. Vows were spoken because the naked woman repeated a few phrases after the High Priestess. Eventually the exchange ended and the spool carriers left quietly. Kaley was relieved when they quickly returned with a wispy white sheath of material that they wrapped around Hannah to cover her up before leading her away.
Different music began to play and Sorcha turned and continued in the direction from which she’d come. As soon as she disappeared from the circular stage the lighting rose. The spell woven by the presentation was broken by intense chatter. Voices drowned out the music—not because everyone was talking exceptionally loud but because everyone was talking. Teresa gushed her admiration of the High Priestess to the girls beside her so Kaley faced the other way to look at Ronika who was looking at her questioningly.
“I didn’t understand any of that,” Kaley admitted.
“No, it’s weird,” Ronika agreed. “But it’s beautiful. You miss out on a lot by not understanding the speech and the vows.”
“What gets said?”
Ronika opened her mouth but closed it again when there was a click and a rumble that vibrated through their seats. Kaley held on to the armrests and waited for the chairs to begin moving. Slowly their chairs moved backwards until Kaley was seated at the top of the auditorium before the chairs started moving sideways towards the exits like the most boring ride at a theme park. She glanced over to check how Teresa was doing but she seemed happy enough because she was taking selfies on her phone.
When they finally reached the foyer, they hopped off the still moving chairs with the assistance of some older men. The foyer was filled with chattering women and Kaley was feeling claustrophobic. A hand upon her wrist guided her outside and she grinned at Ronika beneath the burning twilight sky. The red moon was a low hanging crescent behind fantastical looking buildings.
“Still want to know what gets said?” Ronika prompted.
“Sure.” They found a bench to sit upon while they waited for Mecca and Awichin to come out from their own judgment viewing.
“So the naked lady was Hannah Gillespie—” Ronika began but Kaley interrupted.
“Why is she naked?”
Ronika smiled as she spoke. “When someone wants to be a citizen of Demkoi they have to enter the world purely and let themselves be born again.”
“Born again?” Kaley repeated, thinking of religion.
“Yes, it’s part of being sworn in as a citizen. The vows say you trust the world to accept you as you are, to accept the world as it is and to allow your sisters to give you the things you need.”
“And that’s why those women ran off and came back with clothing?” Kaley guessed. Ronika nodded.
“I’m not doing the vows justice. When you hear and understand the speech given by the High Priestess, it’s quite a beautiful moment in your life. It doesn’t matter that you’re naked in front of hundreds of women.”
Kaley’s hand went to her throat as she realised what Ronika was truly saying.
“Oh wow, you’ve done it. But weren’t you born here?”
“I’m a dual citizen so it’s optional.”
“You chose to do it?”
“Yes,” Ronika replied, looking thoughtfully at Kaley. “I felt it better solidified my citizenship to Femme.”
Kaley lapsed into silence as she considered Ronika’s hatred of the world, yet returned to it as often as possible. There was something Femme gave her that Earth didn’t.
“I didn’t take my vows with High Priestess Sorcha,” Ronika continued. “I quite like her spin on them. I faced High Priestess Nyla when I was fourteen.”
“You must’ve been scared,” Kaley guessed. At fourteen, Kaley would’ve run screaming if she knew she had to be naked in front of hundreds of strangers, even if they were all women.
“Not really,” Ronika said, shaking her head. “I was arrogant back then.”
Kaley smiled to herself because she’d initially considered Ronika arrogant, but that opinion had changed since getting to know her better.
“So you stared the High Priestess down?” Kaley prompted.
“Yes,” Ronika said, then laughed. It prompted a laugh from Kaley and this was when Mecca joined them.
“Hey you,” Kaley said warmly as he sat beside her. “Did you enjoy your presentation?”
Mecca hesitated. “Yes, mistress. It was interesting.”
“What happened?”
“A boy chose a purpose different to the strain of his education.”
“Does that happen often?” Ronika asked.
“No. It is the first time I have seen it.”
“Didn’t you ask for something different?” Kaley asked, thinking he would’ve wanted something more for himself than being a tourist slave. She was surprised when he shook his head.
“No. Boys are presented with all the positives of their selected life course. It is unusual to want something different.”
She wondered if that meant Mecca had chosen to be a tourist slave, to be with different women all the time.
“Did he get his choice?” Ronika asked after the brief silence that followed.
“No,” Mecca said. “He was assigned the position he was educated for.”
“What was that?” Ronika prompted.
“Builder.”
“And what did he want to be?”
“Diver.”
It was so vastly different—to ask to make a living underwater and being assigned to construction instead. It was horrible to think that this boy who had asked for the ocean wasn’t even allowed to even be near it.
“But why?” Kaley asked.
“Because he is built strong,” Mecca said and flexed his arms to demonstrate. Ronika made an appreciative sound and then laughed at the warning glare Kaley threw her way.
“So would you do it?” Ronika asked after her giggles subsided.
“Do what?” Kaley asked, looking up when Awichin joined them. They were in a small group of four, huddled together when Ronika answered.
“Go naked in front of hundreds of women.”
“Oh.” Kaley realised Ronika was asking about whether she would apply for citizenship. “Yes, I would.”
To see Mecca’s expression of gratitude and pride at her answer gave her an extra boost of courage. She didn’t think it would be so bad.