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“Oh, you look absolutely gorgeous!” Cirrus put her hands on the sides of her masked cheeks before clapping her hands together in excitement, “Kelsey, the entire room will faint at the sight of you!”
The person of honor stood in front of a long mirror, looking at her reflection. A dimpled smile came up on her face at the Ghoulette’s words. She was dressed in a long blue dress, the same shade as the robes Copia, Papa IV, wore. The neckline and shoulders were adorned with a gold collar; accented swirls encased her. The sleeves opened at the elbows, long pieces of fabric being draped down, like a regal down in medieval times. A matching blue scarf with stars and astral signs was wrapped around her back and around her shoulders. Kelsey’s golden hair was curled at the ends. a gold floral headpiece sat atop her head. Cumulus helped with the hair. Cirrus did the makeup, just a tiny bit. A gold grucifix necklace was placed around her neck by Cumulus as Kelsey kept looking at herself. This was really happening.
“Really? You think so?” Kelsey replied at Cirrus’ comment.
“I know so,” the tall Ghoulette nodded as she circled around the girl, checking for any imperfections of the gown or things needed to be retouched, “…..I think she’s ready to go.”
“It’s your time to shine, sunshine!” Cumulus went to stand next to Cirrus, both looking at their daughter figure, “Oh, Cirrus, look at her! She’s perfect!”
A knock at the door came before a deep voice called from outside the room, “Is she ready yet?”
Kelsey knew that voice from anywhere. It was Papa Emeritus the Second, her brother in law, at least one of them.
“Just about!” Cirrus rushed to Kelsey, going to hold her hand while Cumulus went to the back of her dress to make sure the length that would be dragging wouldn’t get caught on anything when Kelsey would start walking.
The two Ghoulettes walked her to the door and opened it, revealing the three Emeritus brothers in the hallway. They of course were in ther papal regalia. Yes, they were technically dead, but The Church of Ghost seemed to be a place where the line between life and death joined, and nobody seemed frightened by the fact that the three dead brothers were walking and talking again. Kelsey remembered when she first was dating Copia, when the brothers first met their demise. Several months later however, the dead rose, and everything was fine.
Kelsey couldn’t help but grin at II, and in this rare instance, he smiled back, warmly. He extended a gloved hand to her, and she took it.
“Are you ready?” he asked her.
The two other brothers smiled with pride also.
“As ready as I’ll ever be,” she replied, “Although I’m anxious….nervous.”
“Everyone is anxious when they address a big crowd,” Papa I patted her shoulder gently, “But remember: that crowd in there? It is your family, your friends. You are among people you know. They are here for you and to support you. You may be rising up to co-leader, but everyone will be there to help.”
“And we’ll be here, kiddo,” III added, chuckling, “Me especially. I can give you a ton of advice-”
“Brother, let’s not get ahead of ourselves,” II interjected, “Let’s just focus on right now, getting her through her ceremony.”
“Yes. Right. Got it.”
“Now,” Papa I stood in front of her, “Two of us will link arms with you, one on each side, one behind you. We will bring you down the aisle and to the front. You will stay in the center while we go to our positions on either side. Nihil and Copia will perform the necessary wordage and tradition.”
He could start to see his sister grow pale, her eyes starting to avert his gaze and look at the double doors at the end of the hallway where the event was to take place.
“Kelsey, look at me.”
II waited until the young girl did as she was told.
“You will be fine,” he coaxed. Kelsey was sure nobody else got that comfort treatment from her most stern brother, so she took it.
She was quiet for a moment before nodding, taking a deep breath, “A-Alright….Let’s do this.”
“That’s the spirit!” III patted her shoulder before going to the left side of her, while II was on the right. Papa I was behind all of them, holding the end fabric of Kelsey’s dress. Then, Cirrus handed her a bouquet of blue hydrangeas before joining Cumulus, “We’ll see you inside, baby!”
Seeing the Ghoulettes walk down the hall and go into the large room, Kelsey gave the nod to her brothers to start walking.
Music started to play from inside. It was the same music that played when Copia was turned into Papa Iv, except that instead of pre-recorded there was an actual choir singing. It gave Kelsey goosebumps, for sure. Once they got to the door, she closed her eyes and took a deep breath, holding the bouquet of flowers tightly.
“I’m ready,” she said. And once the two ghouls who were guarding the door got word, they opened both doors at the same time. Kelsey could now see inside the large room, the audience standing up from sitting in the pews. Brothers, Sisters, Ghouls, family, and friends stood, smiling at her. Papa Nihil stood at the pulpit in the center, while Copia was situated on the left side of him. Copia stared at his wife, awe struck. Kelsey saw that, and giggled, a big smile replacing her anxious look. To the beat of the music, the three Emeritus brothers walked Kelsey down the aisle. It was hard not to just look straight ahead. All her family and friends whom she had come to know and cherish these past few years were here, proud of her. She thought she was going to cry because of that thought. They were here for her.
The stained glass windows of the church shone brightly from the sun. Usually this was rare, for it never got that bright in there. The choir sang their hearts out, the harmonies echoing off the walls.
Finally, when Kelsey and her brothers reached the front, the brothers departed, stepping with the music to their standing positions on either side of Nihil in the back. Nihil smiled down at his daughter in law; the old man was proud. He might’ve raised his sons poorly, but becoming a father figure to Kelsey seemed to be redeeming. Kelsey came up the stairs and onto the stage, in front, and Nihil then motioned her to stand to the left side of him, and to turn to face the audience. The choir stopped.
And then it began.
“Brothers, Sisters, Ghouls of this Church, family and friends, I welcome you to this tremendous occasion to witness the Ceremony of Induction. This ceremony will promote and give the person of honor the title of power. There are many factors and circumstances to out this into place, but it all is decided by our founding Ghouls and Clergy members to decide if the person is worthy of this title or not.”
Kelsey tried her hardest not to look at Copia, who was farther left beside her, so she kept straight, holding her bouquet with both hands, and looked at the familiar faces in the crowd. She couldn’t stop smiling, her cheeks would certainly hurt by the end.
“The Clergy has decided that because the honored is married in relation to Papa Emeritus the Fourth, and her many efforts regarding the state and community of this church since the fall of Two Thousand Eighteen, that she receive her title alongside her husband, and become co-leader of this church and the Ghost Project. To receive these honors is no easy feat, I assure you. Nothing in our past history has ever been done this way before. Typically a Papa or Mother Superior who marries is with someone who has been in the church before, but this time is different. This new era of this church is different also. We have our new Papa who was a Cardinal before. He had to prove himself to become who he is now. The same can be said for our honored…..I would like to personally say how much of a privileged it is to be a part of this young lady’s life. Even though she had never been religious, she came here and immediately created a family of her own. Mind you, she didn’t have to do this. She could have not accepted anyone else here, she could have not gotten involved into this community….but she did. She became a sister to my sons, a friend and family to persons in this church, and a loving wife to our newly appointed Papa. Her kindness, compassion, and open-minded nature will not be unrecognized here today….Now, ladies, gentlemen, other genders and persons, Papa Emeritus IV will be leading our ceremony. Papa, if you would come forward and start the ceremony.”
Copia walked slowly to where Papa Nihil was. Nihil took place besides his sons. Copia faced his wife, smiling widely under his face paint.
“Kelsey Marie Emeritus…” he started, his voice booming so everyone could hear him, although the softness never left his features, “I will perform the Ceremony of Induction. Please give me your hand.”
She did, looking into her husband’s eyes with all the love in the world.
“Do you swear to use the title you are about to recieve wisely and to respect its power for as long as you have it?”
“I do.”
“Do you swear that you will do everything in your power to protect the people of this church and to push the church itself forward, even in times of crises?”
“I do.”
“You will become a part of The Church of Ghost’s history, the souls of past Sisters will be with you, to guide you. As Papa Emeritus the Fourth you will be at my side and guide this church into a new dawn. Do you understand what I am saying to you?”
“Yes. I do.”
Copia squeezed Kelsey’s hand gently, his smile widening, and she could see tears enter his eyes, “Th-Then with the power invested in me, I pronounce you Sister…. Lady Superior Kelsey Marie Emeritus the First. Please turn and address your people!”
With that, Kelsey turned, and the burst of applause and whistles roared from the pews. Tears formed in her eyes, smiling at everyone. She stood there as the applause kept coming, and she lifted her arms up, palms towards the sky, closing her eyes.
Then, she felt two hands on her shoulders. She turned to see who it was, and it was her husband, crying. The tears thankfully didn’t smudge Copia’s paint, but he was very emotional. Nihil came back to the podium, “Both of you, stand in the center of the stage please.”
Kelsey and Copia walked hand and hand to the center.
“People of this Church, family and friends, I give you your new leaders together: Papa Copia Emeritus the Fourth and Lady Superior Kelsey Marie Emeritus the First!”
The crowd roared, and the pair looked at each other, both crying, both in their regal and papal attire. They choked on their own laughter. They did it. They succeeded. They’ve been through hell and back together. They have laughed and they have cried together. And now, they would make sure that they would run this church together.
They didn’t waste another minute as Copia and Kelsey wrapped their arms around each other in an embrace and kissed passionately. They held each other, rocking back and forth, spinning around.
Kelsey pressed foreheads with Copia, giggling while crying, “Copia, I love you!”
“I love you too, my Lady Superior, my Kelsey!”
May they reign.