Thread: Mark of the Chosen [Mercury and Zprimal]

His touch sent sparks of electricity through her. From the brush of his fingers along her jaw, to the coil of his fingers laced with her own, Tama felt herself becoming comfortable with the assumption that tonight, but more importantly after tonight, that she would be his. She had decided early on in the evening that she would do whatever it took for him to recognize her as his best choice for his Chosen. Her smile grew as he requested to be called by his first name. It was a small thing, but it denoted a familiarity and intimacy with their time together that no other girl would receive. She nodded, her eyes holding his with their familiar darkness as she squeezed his hand. Of course, Julius. The closer they got to the checkpoints, the more fascinated with the activity outside Tama became. When their windows rolled down to expose the uniformed militant outside with his clipboard of names and ranks, she leaned back into Julius so that she was relaxed under the shelter of his arm. Her eyes danced over the soldiers face, watching him, and for one moment she thought that perhaps she wouldnt be permitted into the restricted area. She felt the flutter in her stomach, and stroked her thumb over the back of Julius hand as if to soothe herself with the strength in his touch before they were waved forward. Crossing through the barriers to the inner city drew Tama to sit up again. Her eyes soaked in the sights. She paid particular interest to the assessment center, turning her head to look at Julius as he asked when she had her Assessment. The day after tomorrow is when I will have my Final Assessment. When I first learned of the attack on the center I was angry. I thought that my assessment would be delayed, or that I would be sent to a center further away. I would much prefer to have my results immediately, and with my new family within the week. There is no use to delay the inevitable, in my opinion, she mused, having no real attachments to her human family. She remained rather quiet until they reached their table. Tamas hand remained curled around the crook of his elbow, following him as he lead and her eyes dancing over the luxurious decoration around them. It was breathtaking, and a level of status she could absolutely get used to. Taking her seat, she thanked him demurely and then opened her menu to peruse the options. Her eyebrow rose at the foreign delicacies, but her smile remained. As he assured her he would be covering their bill, she nodded and thanked him once again for his generosity before decided and closing the menu. Once their orders were taken, Tama leaned forward and slid her hand across the table to his own. Her eyes danced over the way his hand traced her own palm, her smile ever present as she folded her other arm on the table in front of her. Her eyes rolled up to his and she canted her head to the side. Here was her moment to tell him about her past, her make and how well she would acclimate to a new life with him. She knew that the process in which a demon chose his tribute was blind for the girls, they would have no idea who chose them until they were in their new homes, but if she played her cards correctly this evening there would be no question for Tama. She could expect to see Julius face when she was delivered. Where I come from, those who are Chosen are very lucky. When girls are first assessed at twelve, it is an embarrassment to the family if their daughter is found unfit. My parents were grooming me since I was five. My mother had been accepted into her own assessment center when she was twelve, but once she turned eighteen she was determined to be better suited in human society. Shes worked closely with several families as an assistant to their prelates since. Helping with the initial assessments in our town. Tama rolled her ankle under the table idly, feeling the way the dress pooled and shifted over her shin as her eyes dropped down to his fingertips in her palm. As much as my parents could prepare me, and as much as the academy has taught me, the final screening process remains a mystery. I cannot imagine that it is much different from the other assessments these last six years, but rumors are very colorful. She turned her hand over so that her fingers could dance in his own palm her fingernails dragging down over his wrist. One girl who was not Chosen last year wrote an email to another, saying that the process is very painful That the ritual to bind the Chosen to her new family can break the girl. There have been rumors, again, that there are some times when even though a girl is Chosen, she does not actually survive the ritual. Is that true? There was a hint of trepidation in her voice, but for the most part Tama spoke with pure curiosity. She had no reason to believe she would not be Chosen, nor that the ritual would be anything she could not handle.