House of Ravens (The Nightfall Chronicles Book 2) (3 page)

"Now," Nyx says, holding his sword high and hovering above the slain bodies of the guards, "it's our turn." The stage roars with thunder, and lightning rips through the darkness.

The audience cheers at the spectacle. We can feel the energy moving under us, shaking us.

I sit on the edge of my seat as I watch this version of history unfold. So real. So raw.

Nyx overthrows the Queen, but Varian escapes. Battles blaze above us as Nyx and his army of Nephilim win victory after victory.

The climax mounts as Nyx and Varian set to duel each other.

They battle, Nyx flying through the sky, Varian fending him off with two swords expertly wielded. The fight is long and brutal and I honestly can't say who I'm cheering for.

In the end, they are both wounded and can no longer fight.

It looks to be a draw. Neither can defeat the other.

But then the winds of the battle change. The Pope arrives with reinforcements. Varian never needed to best Nyx one on one. He just needed to distract the Nephilim long enough for backup to arrive. It was all a trap.

The play ends with Nyx executed by beheading and Varian bowing before the Pope as he is named King of the re-established kingdom of Sapientia, a kingdom spanning the south of England, once great but lost even in stories so long ago. Varian's father died in the war, making Varian heir to throne.

He receives his cloak and sigil, a golden raven on black, and as he leaves the ceremony, his three small children run up to him, hugging him. Two boys and a girl. He's finally reunited with his family after many years of bloody war.

The stage goes dark and the crowd rises to their feet in cheers and applause. My heart pounds in my chest, the whole experience so very visceral. I can't help but join in the enthusiastic applause.

Corinne stands next to me, clapping politely. "Not entirely historically accurate," she says. "But it
is
a great show."

The actors all take their bows to more applause, and a woman comes on stage holding genetically modified roses that glow in the dim theater.

"She's the director," Corinne says.

"Thank you for attending our show," the director says. "Next week, for our fifth anniversary, King Varian himself will be amongst the audience. We are honored and privileged to have him as our guest and hope you all will join us for another rousing night of theater. Have a good night."

As we begin to file out of the auditorium, a man ahead of us scoffs. His hair is long and blond, and a red cloak drapes his shoulders. "We all know he's coming for Nightfall, not this stupid show."

My heart skips a beat as I lean into Corinne. "You know anything about this?"

"About what?" she asks, not looking at the man, who has now disappeared in the crowd.

I tell her what I heard, and she shrugs and shakes her head.

I tap my eGlass. "Evie, is King Varian arriving in New York City?"

"Yes. He'll be arriving in a week from Sapientia. Rumors say he's been dispatched by the Pope to apprehend Nightfall."

Corinne keeps walking, but I stop, stunned, as people knock into me on their way out. Corinne turns and frowns. "Are you okay?"

"Yes." I force myself to walk forward and catch up with her.

"Good. I think we should go." She gestures at the nearly empty theatre, as Inquisition Guards begin searching the seats to make sure everyone has left.

Evie speaks into my ear, "There's more—"

"Later," I whisper. This will have to wait. I need to act normal and get out of here.

"I loved Tony de Rez," Corinne says as we leave the auditorium and make our way through the lobby.

"Who?" I ask, still distracted by thoughts of King Varian. The man who matched Nyx in combat and defeated him in strategy.

"Tony de Rez? He played Nyx," she explains. "I love the power in his voice."

"Yeah… me too." I need to find out as much as possible about King Varian. There should be a lot of information online. Maybe Zorin knows something as well.

As we leave the building, the night air assaults us with its cool freshness. Corinne touches her neck and frowns. "Oh, I forgot my scarf…" She turns to head back toward the door we just left. "I'll be just a minute."

I wait outside as a crowd forms for the next show. As they are allowed into the lobby, an Inquisition Officer grabs the arm of a tall dark-haired woman with a tag in her ear—a Zenith. "Excuse me, Miss, no Zeniths allowed in the theatre."

She scowls at him and holds up the small piece of paper in her hand. "But I have a ticket…"

He doesn't release her arm. "I'm sorry, but it's against our policy."

"Policy?" She gestures to the theater. "There are Zeniths in the play."

"Trained performers."

I can tell she's near her breaking point, and I don't blame her. She points to a man exiting the theatre, a man with a tag on his ear as well. "What about him? He's a Zenith."

"Special exemptions are sometimes made," the Officer says.

"Look, I may not come from the right family, or have the right amount of money, but I'm a citizen. I've paid for a ticket. Now let me in." She tries to pull her arm out of his hand, but he clings more tightly. Red marks form on her skin.

"Sorry, Miss."

"Fine. I'm going in anyway." When she yanks her arm a second time, he releases her and stumbles back. She pushes past him, trying to get through the crowds to enter the lobby.

The Officer looks stunned and confused, and I can't help but grin at her spunk.

"Stop her," says a familiar voice. It's the man with the long blond hair who sneered after the show. Now that I see him from the front, I realize his red cloak is the robe of an Inquisitor. He outranks all the guards here. I study his face, long and thin, like the rest of him. He'd be considered handsome by some, but he reminds me of a spider. A very pale spider. "Disobeying an Inquisition Officer is against the law," he tells the befuddled guard.

"Of course, sir," the Officer says, grabbing the woman and pulling her back.

She struggles against the restraint, but with the Inquisitor present, the Officer isn't about to release her again. "Let go of me," she screams. "I'm within my rights."

"Shut her up," says the Inquisitor.

"Miss, be quiet," the Officer says.

"I will not be—"

The Inquisitor growls. "Shut. Her. Up."

The Officer, who can't be much older than me, looks at the Inquisitor with widened eyes. I can see the struggle on his face, but in the end, he chooses his job over basic humanity. He backhands the woman.

She gapes at him, red lines forming across her face.

The others waiting in line ignore the whole scene, pretending nothing is happening.

"That's better," says the Inquisitor.

I can't believe what I'm seeing. No one comes to this woman's defense. Not even the people she came to the play with, who have all slunk back into the crowd.

I take a deep breath and step forward. "Let her go."

The Inquisitor smirks at me, a look of glee in his grey eyes. "Obstructing justice. So childish. Officer, these girls must be punished."

"I'll take them to the station, Sir," the Officer says.

"No," the Inquisitor says, shaking his finger, a sadistic grin on his face. "Punish them here."

"What?" The Officer looks dumbfounded.

The Inquisitor leans into the Officer's face and speaks quietly with a hiss. "Punish. Them. Here."

The Officer nods, his body shaking as he uses his free hand to grab the baton at his side.

The woman he still holds cries. "No, you can't do this. It's not lawful."

He raises the baton over her face, and I reach out, grabbing his hand, using just enough power to stop him. "I am Scarlett Night, an Initiate of Castle Vianney, and you will let her go."

The Inquisitor laughs. "An Initiate? I'll have you whipped for this."

I spin toward the man, rage in my voice. "Who do you think you are?"

He chuckles, unimpressed by me or anyone else.

The Officer answers my question. "He's Thane Blackthorn, a Knight of the Fifth, an Inquisitor, and a Cardinal."

Thane smiles with all the sadistic charm of a psychopath.

If Jax was here he could order Thane to stop. He outranks him. But unless I can touch him and use my powers…

I walk forward, ready to reach out and grab him, when Thane raises his hand, fire sparking from his hand and dancing around his fingers. "One more step, girl, and it is
I
who will punish you."

He's Zenith?

"You turn on other Zeniths, your own kind. Don't you understand what it's like for them?" I ask.

For a moment, he almost seems flustered, at a loss for words. But he recovers quickly. "They are not like me," he says. "They are weak. I am a Knight. I earned my authority."

"If that's true, then stop abusing it. Let her go," I hiss under my breath.

The Inquisitor holds my eyes and smiles as he speaks to the Officer. "Officer, deliver the punishment."

The Officer hits the women in the gut with his baton. She cries out and doubles over in pain. He holds the baton up again, ready to activate the electroshock, and I rush to grab him and stop him, regardless of the consequences, when another voice commands everyone's attention.

"Stop this!" Corinne emerges from the crowd and stands to face the Officer.

He shrugs. "I'm sorry, Miss, but I have orders—"

"And I, Princess Corinne of the House of Ravens, heir to the kingdom of Sapientia, order you to stop." She pulls of her sunglasses and glares at him with purple eyes.

"Princess?" His face lights up in recognition, and he drops to his knees.

I stand stunned, watching all this play out.

Thane sneers. "Are you sure you wish you to challenge me? I don't think I see your daddy."

Corinne turns to the Inquisitor. "I don't need him, Thane. And you know it."

Invoking her royalty gets the crowd’s attention as people use their eGlasses to capture pictures and videos of the scene unfolding. Suddenly people care.

The Inquisitor looks around and notices the same thing. "Very well." He gives a mock bow. "It shall be as you command. Farewell, my Princess."

He walks to his car, one of the new eCars on the market—very expensive—the crowd parting for him as they continue snapping pictures.

Corinne helps the beaten woman stand and stares at the Inquisition Officer. "Take this woman to Curatio Domus and tell them I sent you. Ask for Dr. Demarkus."

The Officer nods and takes charge of the woman.

"Treat her with care. I've scanned your name and rank. If any harm comes to her, I will hold you personally responsible."

Corinne leans in, whispering something to the woman, who sobs and hugs Corinne before the Officer leads her away.

The fact that Corinne made sure the woman receives medical care at the best hospital in the city impresses me.

The fact that she is royalty stuns me.

"You're a Princess?" I ask as she walks toward me.

Before she can reply, the crowds move in on us, howling for autographs and photos.

As we push through them and try to find a place in which to disappear, I'm distracted by two thoughts.

Corinne is a Princess.

And her father is coming to kill me.

We scurry through the crowds and escape the invasive fan attention, finding a coffee house that boasts 'the best gourmet coffee and tea in all the kingdoms.'

I order coffee and Corinne orders tea. Once we've both had a moment to breathe, I ask again. "You're a Princess?"

She sips her tea and shrugs, a default move I can tell is her way of trying to shake off the burden of her identity. "Yeah. I try not to make a big deal out of it. I just want to be normal, you know?"

I pour several packets of sugar into my coffee before drinking it. "I get it. But that's kind of a big deal. Your father is King Varian?"

"Yes, but I didn't know he was coming here until now. My brothers aren't going to be happy. At least, Kai won't be."

"Right. The two Princes. You have a twin, right? And an older brother?"

"Yes. They both start school with me this quarter, but Kai doesn't really get along with Father. Wytt does a little better, but only marginally. We'd hoped this would be a fresh start for us all, but I suppose not."

"That jerk back at the theater, the Inquisitor—you seemed to know each other?"

Corinne frowns. "He grew up with us after his parents were arrested for treason. He was a nice kid when he was young. It's sad what he's become."

Sad… or monstrous. I don't voice my opinion though. It must be hard to see someone you knew as a child turn into someone like him.

"He looks young for a Cardinal," I say.

She shakes her head. "Many Cardinals died during the war. Now, young and strong is the preference. Like the Pope."

I nod, making a note to further research our religious orders.

We drink in silence for a few moments when Corinne smiles. "Oh, I nearly forgot!"

She pulls two shirts out of her purse and hands one to me. "I got us souvenirs from the show."

I hold the shirt up and smile.
Nox Aeterna
is written in silver across the chest, and on the back are large silver wings. It's more appropriate than she realizes. "Thank you. This is great."

She grins. "I'm glad you like it."

We finish our drinks, enjoying the anonymity in the large city. Once we pay and leave, I tuck my hands into my pockets and look around. "What do you want to do next?"

"I promised Wytt we'd meet him back at Castle V for dinner. He's dying to meet you, but I didn't want to overwhelm you with all of us at once. I told him it was girls only. Plus he's a total flirt, so prepare yourself. It's harmless, though, I assure you."

***

Corinne and I arrive at the dining hall and load up our trays. There are dozens of cheeses and breads to choose from. There are thin cuts of meat and juicy steaks, fresh fruits and vegetables, as well as an assortment of delicacies and desserts. The aromas are overwhelming. None of it appeals to me.

I grab a Life Force and some salad, hoping the taste doesn't disgust me, and follow Corinne to our seats. A young man rests his feet on the pristine table, watching the giant screen at the end of the hall. Two armor-clad Knights battle on the eScreen, an announcer describing their every move. The young man cheers as one of the Knights strikes a hit, and his smile is wide as he sweeps the brown hair from his purple eyes.

"Scarlett, this is my brother, Wytt. Wytt, this—"

"Scarlett Night. What a pleasure." He stands and bows and takes my hand and gently kisses it.

This has never happened to me before.

Wytt lets go of my hand and studies me. It doesn't feel invasive, just curious. "Your eyes are truly beautiful," he says. "Has anyone told you that?"

"A few times."

He nods knowingly. "Ah, but have they written of their beauty? Have they sung of their brilliance?" He clears his throat and deepens his voice. "There once was a maiden born of the night, with silver-blue eyes like diamonds dancing."

Corinne makes a dismissive gesture with her hand. "Ignore my brother, he fancies himself a ladies' man."

Wytt winks and sits back down. "And the ladies fancy him."

Corrine and I take our seat across from Wytt, and I begin to nibble on my food. I sip Life Force with every bite, so it doesn't taste horrible. Corrine devours her steak, the grease dripping down her fingers. I chuckle.

"What?" asks Corinne, her mouth stuffed full of food.

Wytt grins. "Scarlett has never seen the Princess of Ravens hungry."

"It's okay," I say. "I guess I expected you to be more…"

"Refined?" offers Wytt. "We are when in front of cameras or important persons. We're very good at it. For most our life, we've been refined, but—"

"Now we're free," says Corinne, shoving another piece of meat in her mouth.

"Not free, exactly." Wytt pops a grape into his mouth. "But since we've become Initiates at Castle Vianney, we're fre
er
."

"I think it's great," I say. "You should live the life you want."

"Maybe one day we will." Wytt leans back in his chair, folding his arms. "Do you enjoy philosophy, Scarlett?"

"Sure." My parents loved philosophical debates, and they never thought I was too young to participate.

Wytt lowers his voice. "Then, philosophically, what is your opinion of Nightfall? Is she the hero, chosen to save her people, or the monster, destined to destroy them?"

Nightfall's been the talk of the city. I've tried to avoid the conversations, but I can't ignore Wytt. He's a possible ally at the Castle, and I need allies. "Neither. She wants to give Zeniths hope, so Zeniths may save themselves."

"Bombing a factory. Two hundred dead. Stealing an aircraft. Twenty-nine dead. That's what they've done with their hope."

I heard his examples on the news, but couldn't remember the exact numbers. The Red Eagles and The Sons of Eden, rebels not under my control, have grown bold since Nightfall's appearance. Their methods are crude, but perhaps they could lead to greater change. "Extreme measures, but how else can balance be restored? The pendulum must swing the other way before it can rest in the middle."

Wytt smirks. "One who is injured ought not to return the injury, for on no account can it be right to do an injustice."

I raise an eyebrow. "Socrates." Two can play that game. "The only thing evil requires is for good men to do nothing."

"Edmund Burke, but you're misquoting. The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing."

"You sure?"

He nods.

Corrine taps my arm. "Wytt has an eidetic memory. He likes to think it's his superpower."

"It is, dear sister."

"Right, because being able to recall the picture you drew in kindergarten is a superpower."

Wytt smiles. "The ladies love it."

Corinne snorts. "Sure. Keep telling yourself that, brother. Now, let's eat."

He nods. "First we eat, then we do everything else. M.F.K. Fisher. You know she—"

"And please stop quoting," Corinne says, holding a fork halfway to her mouth.

He sighs, but stays quiet as he finishes his grapes. We eat in silence as a message pops up on my eGlass.

When are you coming to train?

-Z

Tonight

I send my reply using my eBand, a thin bracelet around my wrist that connects to my eGlass and allows me to text and scan information without speaking. It's useful when you don’t want everyone around you hearing your conversations and messages.

I begin to think of excuses for leaving the Castle. I need to see how things are progressing at the Cathedral, and I need to ask Zorin about Varian.

People around me cheer. I realize something exciting happened on the eScreen. The announcer proclaims that the match is heating up, and the winner will qualify for the Grand Tournament. Wytt frowns as he points at the two Knights battling. "See how the Green Knight never attempts to strike? His defense will be the end of him. A proper offense is—oh, come on, what is this?"

The image of the two Knights is replaced by a woman behind a silver desk, her blond hair in perfect curls. "We apologize for interrupting your scheduled broadcast to report another terrorist attack. Earlier this hour, a terrorist group known as the Red Eagles attacked an Inquisition Department, stealing weapons. Two Officers have been confirmed dead, though their identities are yet to be released. This is Courtney Miller from SPQRN. Now back to your scheduled programming."

The eScreen returns to the tournament, showing the announcer congratulating the Green Knight for his victory. Wytt gasps. "What? How?" He flips his eGlass over his eye. "I need to re-watch this."

Corrine shakes her head. "I can't believe the Red Eagles think they're helping anyone. Killing people for weapons so they can kill more people? When does it end?"

"When someone wins." I slam my Life Force down on the table, harder than I intend.

"Scarlett, you okay?" asks Corinne.

"Just upset, like you."

Wytt flips back his eGlass and plays with his food. "If Nightfall cared about justice, she'd stop these attacks."

I squeeze the can of Life Force in my hand. "Maybe she can't."

"I wish she'd considered that sooner." He finishes his food. He doesn't smile again.

"It's not that late," says Corrine, wiping her hands with a napkin. "What should we do next?"

"Head into town," says Wytt.

"It's Thursday night, nothing in Vianney is going to be open this late. This isn't New York City."

"Then let's head to the city."

"Maybe another day."

Wytt shrugs. "We could grab some booze and hang out at the Arena."

Corinne groans. "That's boring."

"The Bard Knight's always open. We can get a song or two in."

"You just want to perform your new poem."

"Maybe." Wytt turns to me. "Maiden both fair and foul, please steal my heart, for it yearns—"

"Alright, I'm in," says Corinne, "if only to spare our new friend. Scarlett, you want to come? I can't promise Wytt won't drive you crazy, but there's alcohol, so that helps."

I laugh. "Thanks, but I think I just want some time alone tonight. I'm probably going to head back into the city and explore more of New York this weekend."

Corinne drops her head, but only for a moment. I hate to spoil the night, but I have more important matters.

"Where will you stay?" asks Corrine.

"I rented an apartment in the city. Makes it easier to hang out there, and I don't have a home to go to during holidays and breaks otherwise."

"Oh, right. Okay then. I guess I'll see you in a few days?"

"Definitely." I pat her shoulder, trying to cheer her up. "Thanks for today. I've enjoyed it. Maybe you guys can come see my place sometime. We can hang out."

Corinne nods, smiling. "That would be fun. Thanks."

Wytt pretends to tip a hat at me. "Until we meet again, my lady."

I say goodbye and make my way outside, then northeast of the island, where a forest of evergreens grows. I lose myself in them.

Then I unleash my wings and fly.

***

The Cathedral glistens in the setting sun.
I land in the nearby forest and overturn a loose rock, revealing a chest in the ground. I open it and don the black armor inside. I put on my mask that connects to my eGlass and alters my voice. I stick an EZ-Dye tab behind my ear and click it, turning my pale hair dark with a thick silver streak, as I walk to the cast iron gate
where a man checks for IDs. I need none, for I have my wings. He greets me with a nod, and I walk down the cobbled path, examining the work being done. A woman waves to me, then lifts a piece of obsidian and fills a hole in the wall. The wall runs around the town, and TR covered it with cameras to search for prying eyes.

I walk by one of the ruined buildings, and a man nailing a floorboard stops and stares at me. "Nightfall." He kneels and kisses the leviathan cross hanging around his neck. "Please, grant me your blessing, Darkness."

I stand still. "Why do you bow to me?"

"I'm a Nephilyte, Darkness."

He calls me Darkness. Like I'm a Queen. Like I'm a God. The thought sickens me. "What is your name?"

"Allen." He doesn't make eye contact. He runs a hand through his short black hair highlighted with a silver streak. Does he dye it to be like mine?

"Why do your people worship Nephilim, Allen?"

"You are the children of angels, Darkness. There is a reason you possess abilities greater than us, a reason you are here on earth."

I wish he would look at me. "What reason?"

"To lead us, Darkness."