by Marie Mistry
“Bonded protectors? You mean mates? Seven?!” I felt a little nauseous at the idea of having another six smothering, protective men like Aeron in my life.
“You don’t have to mate them straight away, but you must find them.” He ordered, tone unbending. “Each male is from a different caste. You will need to find all of them to survive.”
With those ominous words, I felt my consciousness being arrowed once again, and I shot back into my body with a huge breath.
Opening my eyes and feeling the familiar heaviness of being corporeal had never been so good. I spent several seconds just reassuring myself I was back. That was when I realised that I was on an altar, sitting bathed in the light from a stained-glass ceiling.
Surrounding me was a loose circle of cloaked figures, looking down at me from under the depths of their dark hoods.
I swung my legs over the edge of the altar, disoriented and more than a little afraid.
“The Knights of the Order of Shadow pledge themselves to you, Lady Lilith,” The priest from earlier announced. “What is the will of the Strange God?”
I was not aware of my mouth moving, but it was definitely my voice that answered.
“Allies, we need allies.”
One of the ‘Knights’ removed his hood, and I was surprised to find myself looking at Maddox.
“Who?” he asked me, as others lowered their hoods, revealing more familiar, and unfamiliar faces.
Kellert Krossian was there, which made me die a little inside, since I was sure he didn’t know I was debating mating his son. His mate, who I just recognised, was next to him. Beside them both was Bane, who smiled at me. There were others, a few that I could recall seeing around the school who must be teachers for the older years, and even more that I didn’t know.
“I have been gifted seven bonded protectors.” My mouth was moving of its own accord again. “Aeron is one, there are others who are unknown, they must all be found if I am to survive the year. The other Succubae and Incubi must be found and kept safe. Vrosis must be turned to our cause.” I was saying things, but not saying them. I didn’t know what I was supposed to do, but words were pouring out. I shut my mouth firmly, looking to control it. What was in that drink? Were these people even to be trusted?
I looked around the plain stone room, seeing statues of demons here with horns like mine, only bigger, then some with wings, others with talons the length of their fingers. The figures from the legends?
Maddox nodded at me, drawing my attention away. “They shall be contacted, Lady.”
I looked Kellert straight in the eye, and I couldn’t stop myself from speaking. “Do not trust Professor Saxon, she works for our enemy and hunts our brethren through you.” He looked stunned for a second, as did the rest of his family, but he bowed his head. His mate’s eyes, the same rich penetrating brown as Bane’s, filled with tears, and I remembered Aeron telling me that his mother and Leonie had been friends.
“As you say, Lady.”
“The Tester lives. She knows the truth.”
Maddox’s eyes narrowed. “What truth?”
“I am a Succubus.”
On those words, I felt something leave me, and it left me drained. I sagged, clutching the altar to keep myself up. “My head…”
My grip wasn’t enough, and I pitched forwards, still conscious, but so weak.
Bane caught me, looking completely stunned. Judging by the silence, I think everyone was.
“Where am I? What happened?” I whispered, but the noise still hurt my head.
“The chapel, at the Shrine of the Gifted,” Bane whispered back, propping me up against the altar. “Don’t worry Lilith. Everyone here has taken an oath to serve the Strange God and his chosen till the death. They won’t betray you.”
I looked around. “What does your order want from me then? Vrosis wants me to be the hope of my caste. Those people want me as a broken symbol. What’s next?”
“We exist to serve those chosen by the Strange God,” Bane explained. “We were the followers of Ibrixion, then we served Rutia, even Helvia…” He looked back at a statue behind him.
Someone handed me a drink and I looked at it suspiciously. I took a hesitant sip but tasted only the sweetness of green tea with honey.
After a few sips of tea, the effects seemed to go away somewhat, I pushed myself upwards till I was standing.
“Any other surprises for us?” Maddox asked sardonically.
“I think you need to fill me in first.” I took stock of the rest of the people, still stood in a ring around me. “Do I get any introductions?” I wondered aloud.
“You know me.” Maddox smiled briefly. “And Bane. It appears you might also have an idea of the couple beside him as well?”
“Mr and Mrs Krossian.” I nodded at them, trying for a pleasant expression despite this really not being how I would have chosen to meet my in-laws. “I’ve heard stories.”
“Beside them is Alicia Pruitt, Sloth,” Maddox continued. “She’s Calandra’s nicer twin and an elder.” I nodded at her. “This is Dorian and Hadrian McKinnax, Unshown and Gluttony respectively. Hadrian teaches advanced duelling at Vice, he’s watched a few of our sessions.”
I did remember him, but his brother, hidden under a headscarf and concealing clothing like most unshown, was another matter.
“You hold back when you fight,” Hadrian remarked. “Why?”
I blushed, annoyed that he read me so easily. “I’ve been getting advanced lessons from older students. It was Vrosis’ idea.”
“Good thing too if Aoife Saxon is against us. She was watching every duel,” another woman muttered darkly, her eyes sweeping around the room assessing everyone there. “Ruelle Ixia, Wrath. I’m an elder, and in charge of security for the demon colleges in Britain.”
Like Vrosis and Alicia Pruitt she didn’t look her age, but there was power falling from her in waves. She was the oldest demon I’d ever met.
“The bishop here and his acolyte are representatives of the demonic church.” Maddox gestured to the two remaining hooded members.
“The full force of the church backs you, Lady.” The priest bowed. “We have waited a long time to serve the Strange God directly.” His acolyte nodded along like an eager bobble-head beside him.
“Last but not least, Ferris Inferna, father of one of your classmates and gifted financier, he takes care of our money. Beside him is his son, Vice’s head of security, Blaze.” Maddox finished, pointing out two men with fiery red hair. “His daughter is also being considered for candidacy, their family has been in the Order for centuries.”
I gave the stern looking man a nod of acknowledgement, vaguely remembering the surname. I turned to acknowledge his son, but the intense look that Blaze was giving me dried my words of greeting in my mouth. His pale green eyes were scrambling my brain cells, boring into me like I was some puzzle that he couldn’t understand. I had to look away just to remember how to speak.
“What now?” I asked.
It was the bishop who spoke. “In matters like this, events often play out slowly to begin with. I recommend recruiting Vrosis and putting the word out to any other Succubae and Incubi, as we were instructed, and then waiting. The Strange God will surely put your other mates in your path soon.”
“I want Lady Lilith to undergo more advanced duelling training with me,” Hadrian recommended. “I won’t have another Lady Frigg on my watch.” They looked solemnly at the youngest statue in the room, and I recalled the tale of the girl whose death acted as a catalyst for revolution.
“What are your thoughts, Lady?” Maddox asked me.
I looked Hadrian up and down. “I’d like that.”
“I’d suggest the old tourney ring, early in the morning.” Maddox noted it down on his hand with a pen.
Hadrian nodded. “I shall meet you by the Gatehouse an hour before dawn on Saturdays, Lady,” he decided. “Now I must take my leave.”
He hesitated as if waiting for my permission. I nodded
, granting it to him. “I’ll see you on Saturday.”
The two elders and Dorian left with him. Leaving me alone with Maddox, the priests, the Infernas and the Krossians.
“You are welcome to use the chapel whenever you wish, Lady Lilith,” the bishop announced as he and his acolyte left as well. “It was good to see you again, Grand Master.”
I blinked at hearing Maddox referred to as Grand Master, but it made sense. He did seem to be in charge there.
“How long have you known about your bond with Aeron?” Maddox asked me. “If his mother is working against us, it could be problematic.”
“No way,” Bane rebuked him. “That woman is barely a mother to him, and he’d sell his soul for Lilith. I was going to sponsor him to become a knight, but this all happened.” He gave me a long look.
“My son is loyal,” Kellert adds. “He would make an excellent candidate.”
Maddox waves it away. “If he is your mate, Lilith, he is trusted.”
I don’t really know what to say to that. “He is one of my mates…” I trail off, thinking of the six unknown others.
“Then the Strange God obviously believes you need all the strength you can get.” Maddox seemed grim. “I must go, an announcement must be made to the other Knights. Lady Lilith, this room is open for your personal use whenever you need it. It’s also a safe room. If you close that door, there are six inches of titanium and three feet of stone between you and anyone else. I don’t think it really needs to be said that the existence of this order is a secret, not to be disclosed to anyone else.”
I barely had time to say goodbye before he disappeared, Ferris and Blaze trailing after him. The latter gave me a long, assessing look just as the door closed behind them.
“I haven’t seen anyone else from my sub-caste in years,” Kellert began. “And now suddenly one turns up and mates my eldest son? Unbelievable! There are so many things I need to show you!” He said as he mentally drifted off.
“Don’t mind him.” His wife smiled. “I’m Leonie. Darling, don’t you think it would be nice if instead of staring at her, you got to know your daughter-by-mating?”
Kellert shook his head as if to shake out the cobwebs. “Sorry. I get distracted. You said you’d heard about us?”
“Aeron had to tell me about you both to get me to accept that we were mates,” I told him.
“Now they’re fighting,” Bane whispered, conspiratorially.
I flushed a deep red. “They don’t want to hear about silly drama.”
Kellert shook his head. “I know Aeron is intense, but he’s damn loyal. When Bane was refused entry to Vice because of his mother, Aeron made a bet with Aoife to give up coming to see me if Bane didn’t undergo his showing.”
“He visits you? I thought we weren’t allowed to leave the grounds while we are enrolled?”
Kellert made a face. “It’s complicated.”
I was beginning to think everything about Aeron was complicated – especially his family.
“But I’m sure there are more interesting things to talk about.” Leonie broke the awkwardness that was threatening to encompass us. “How much have you learned about your power?”
“Not much,” I hedged, hesitant to discuss it. “I know you took Pruitt’s youth somehow. And I know I could kill with it, if I wanted to. I can feel the edge of the power there.”
Kellert nodded sombrely. “But did you know you can draw power from just a kiss? I would show you, but if you’re mated to my son…” He shrugged.
And the awkwardness was back.
“Not to mention how possessive Aeron is.” Bane smirked. “Not that I’m in a hurry to say goodbye, but Lilith and I have a class in fifteen minutes.”
I swivelled around, looking for the time. I didn’t see a clock, but I did get the opportunity to study the statues around me. My eyes were drawn to the smallest statue, a girl barely taller than me stood in a plain dress, looking down at her hands in abject sorrow and terror. Her talons were only half an inch long, tiny in comparison to some of the three-inch ones the other statues sported. The artist had captured the expression on her face so perfectly that my heart ached for her. All the other statues had been carved in poses that were fierce or confident, increasing the contrast between them and this one.
Bane noticed my gaze. “Lady Frigg,” he explained. “She was only eighteen when…”
“She died,” I interrupted him. “I read a book on the legends given to me by Professor Saxon. It mentioned her.”
Bane gave me a fierce look. “It won’t happen again,” he vowed. “The Order didn’t get to Lady Frigg in time to protect her. You’ve got us behind you, you’ve got mates to protect you.”
I shrugged. “It could be worse.” I looked at the figure with horns and talons, wild eyes glaring out at the room from a mass of hair. “Helvia,” I acknowledge the marble likeness, her horns easily six times as large as mine, curling back like rams horns from the very front of her hairline. “At least I didn’t wake up to horns and talons.”
Bane snickered. “Helvia didn’t start out with both. She was gifted her talons to start with, her horns came after she destroyed an entire fleet by herself. It was supposedly a sign that she had exceeded the Strange God’s expectations.”
I was still gaping at that when his mother came over to us.
“Didn’t you two need to be getting to lessons?” Leonie asked, giving Bane a pointed look. “I know you love the lore of the Order, dear, but don’t let it distract you.”
He gave his mother a sheepish glance, then led the way towards the door that everyone else had disappeared through. Beyond it I could see the rest of the chapel, but I was more interested on how I had never noticed it earlier.
As Bane closed the door, it blended seamlessly with the wall. I watched with abject fascination, trying to find a seam or something, anything to show where the entrance was.
“Secret passageways are common in nearly all old demonic buildings,” Bane told me, his eyes lighting up with mischief. “The only way you can tell where they are is by looking for this symbol.” He pointed out a tiny rune, like a compass made of lightning, that sat unobtrusively in the bottom corner of the stone. As I watched, he kicked it sharply with his boot, making a clicking noise. The door swung inwards, revealing the room we had just been in.
“Unshown use some of them to get around, but even they don’t know where all of them are.” Bane lead the way out of the chapel. “It’s how Aeron visits our father and I make runs to the kitchens for the occasional midnight snack after curfew.”
“Lady Lilith?” A female voice echoed from behind us as we were leaving. I turned to find Pruitt’s sister, Alicia, leaning against a wall. “I forgot to speak to you earlier. I heard Calandra banned you from her classes?”
“That’s right.”
Alicia pursed her lips. “I don’t know how much you know about the summer solstice ball, but you need to know the things Calandra teaches to be recognised as having a caste.”
“I’ve been copying Bane’s notes…”
“It won’t be sufficient. There are dances, table manners and greetings that need to be practiced properly. They also announce your sub-caste at the ball. To lie and say you were not a Succubus would be considered disrespecting the other elders. It’s the sort of thing that could result in you being declared unshown. I don’t know what Vrosis was thinking…”
I didn’t know what to say. “He feared I’d be targeted for assassination, like in the 1920’s purge.”
Alicia frowned. “He told you about the purge?”
“He told everyone in the Carnal Tower as soon as my testing was done. I don’t know if he’d be happy for me to just announce my sub-caste like that.”
“There is no choice,” Alicia retorted. “If you do not, and later you are discovered, which you inevitably will be, the ramifications would be huge and horrific. As things stand currently, you can simply state that the tester made a mistake. No one need think it was anythin
g more than an accident. She’s old and it’s happened plenty of times before.” I wasn’t convinced, but she carried on. “You said that your enemies already know anyway. What harm can Maddox quietly changing your records do?”
I really didn’t know what to do. Her argument made sense, but my entire caste had been lying for me all this time. And beneath it all, I was scared. Bone deep fear of being persecuted like Kellert had left me clinging to the safety blanket of anonymity.
“You have people to protect you,” Alicia said, as if sensing my fear.
I took a deep breath and relented. “Do it as quietly as you can.”
“I’ll come by on Sundays to teach you etiquette as well, I know you’ll be busy with Hadrian’s extra duelling classes, but there’s nothing else that can be done,” Alicia informed me. “The elders are a tricky bunch, Lady. Do not get on their bad side.”
