by Mari Dietz
Vic jumped up and brushed her hands over her body. “I’m going to wash my dishes.”
Bomrosy laughed as she rushed to the side of the hall to wash her dishes. They only employed cooks. The reapers were responsible for cleaning what they used.
Kai wasn’t far behind. His arm brushed against hers as he washed his dishes. She nudged him.
He leaned down and whispered, “Since there’s no patrol for us later, why don’t we do something?”
“After confronting Xiona, sounds like a plan.”
They smiled. Her nerves eased, but small jolts filled her. She didn’t know if it was Kai or the fact she was about to talk to Xiona. Since seeing Samuel this morning, Kai had stood closer to her and touched her more than normal. Vic liked it. Also, the jolts might have been from the possibility that they’d rot in a cell. That brought out end-of-the-world vibes.
They waved at Bomrosy as they left, and she winked at them.
“I think I might kill her,” Kai muttered.
Vic laughed. She wanted to take his hand but restrained herself. He was now close enough that their arms touched. His touch comforted her. They walked down to the end of the hall. Large double doors with two scythes carved into them waited.
They burst open, and Xiona stood before them. A bit of dirt stained her black clothing, and her hair was a little mussed. Her brown eyes had dark circles under them. Up close, she stood shorter than Vic. At the branding ceremony and at the trials, she’d felt taller.
Xiona held open the door. “Are you coming in or not?”
Kai went through the doors, and Vic followed him. A large desk took up the center of the room. Another door in the back likely led to her living area. Windows on the wall behind the desk had a view of the front courtyard, and the blinds were open, letting in the morning light. Neat stacks of paperwork sat to the side of the desk, and Xiona’s scythe remained within reach from her desk chair. The whole place didn’t have much in the way of personal items or furniture, but it was immaculate.
Xiona waved briskly at two chairs, and she lowered herself into her chair behind the desk. “This couldn’t wait until after my shower?”
“I thought you would want to know what we found out.” Kai talked in a steady tone, his posture giving nothing away.
“Does this have to do with the four reapers you put in the cells tonight?” Xiona folded her hands on the desk. Her face remained calm.
“When we were on patrol tonight, Vic informed me that she’d seen reapers trying to cut out the orb of a citizen. I wanted to confirm this, so we looked into the area where she saw it.”
Xiona leaned away from her desk. “What about your training?”
“We finished it first.”
Did she really care about training over this? Vic felt knots form in her stomach.
“Continue.” Xiona tapped her finger.
Kai remained on the edge of his seat. “We then saw this patrol attack someone and try to cut out their orb.”
Xiona pushed forward and carefully placed her elbows on her desk. “Why would they be doing this?”
“I’m not sure what the motivation behind this is.” Kai’s shoulders tensed.
Xiona placed her palms flat on the desk in measured movements, not taking her eyes off Kai. “Do you think they’re following orders?”
“Yes.”
One by one, her fingers slowly tapped on her desk. “And you think the orders came from me?”
“Yes.”
Vic jerked. He’d mentioned that in passing, not that he believed it.
The two of them stared each other down, the tension in the room growing thick.
Vic bit the inside of her cheek.
“Kai, do you know why?” Xiona’s face remained blank, and all her fidgeting stopped.
“The reapers are doing too good of a job.”
Wait, what did he mean? Vic wanted to talk, but one glance from Kai and she stayed silent. Were reapers clearing out the blight too fast?
Xiona tilted her head back, and she let out a loud laugh that didn’t fit the mood of the room. “Yes. In a way.”
Vic’s skin grew cold as Xiona stared at her, finally acknowledging that another person was in the room. “I suppose I have you to thank for this. I didn’t know if Kai would be open to this plan, but now I get to find out.”
Vic swallowed, wishing she hadn’t come in the room with Kai. “Happy to help.”
Xiona snorted. “Well, Kai, are you with me?”
“I am.”
Her heart fell through her center, and she was surprised it wasn’t beating on the floor.
“What?” she yelped. He was with her?
His gaze pierced her. “I am with her on this plan. There isn’t enough corruption to be purified. This way, it stays controlled.” As he spoke, she saw his face flinch.
Vic jumped up. “You have to be kidding me? You’re in favor of corrupting souls?” Forget her heart falling out; it had gotten ripped out. She’d thought she could trust him.
Xiona held up her hand. “This way we can keep them controlled. We know who will get corrupted, and we can drain them.”
“You’re killing people. Without the orb, you can’t save them.” This didn’t sound right. Wouldn’t it be easier to prevent them from charging? They were letting them turn into corrupted souls. “If they’re only corrupted souls, that isn’t much blight, unless you let them become mogs. Mogs can go after others, so you aren’t killing one person, but their family members too.”
“A small sacrifice,” Xiona replied while still sitting calmly at her desk as if they were talking about the weather.
“I bet the ones you choose would care. Or are you only choosing those without high-end relics? After all, how important are they? We have to make sure the founders get charged, but forget the rest.” Boiling rage rose inside Vic. When she’d found out she was a reaper, she’d thought she’d be protecting people from getting the blight. It turned out they were giving out the blight. “How many reapers know what’s going on?”
Xiona took a piece of paper out of the stack and examined the writing on it, going about her day. “I don’t need to explain myself to you. I saw a problem, and I solved it. Nyx now has the resources to feed and clothe the reapers.”
That could mean anything. Vic didn’t know if other Orders were doing the same thing. In the past year, she’d noticed there wasn’t enough charge to go around. Even last month, she’d needed to trade in more blight or credits to get charged. She could have become corrupted if she hadn’t gotten into Nyx.
“Even so, you don’t get to play god,” Vic spat, her mind a swirling storm. Her sister was leaving to protect this madness?
Xiona placed her paper to the side and folded her hands. “Says who? Who will stop me? You?”
Vic squared her shoulders. “I can do my best.” The words had flown out of her mouth. Anger took over her body. She didn’t have backup. Her commander had told her he agreed with this plan. It was her against Nyx, and she didn’t know how many reapers were involved.
“Very well.” Xiona nodded, and before Vic could react, Kai had grabbed her scythe out of her harness.
She twirled to block him, but he already had her relic. Vic darted forward, but Xiona appeared behind her and gripped her arms, pinning them to her back. A click sounded, and something cold rested on her wrist.
“With this, you can’t leave the grounds of Nyx without your commander. You’re a recruit, and I would hate to lose you.” Xiona smirked. “I think you need time to see how life really operates on the outside, founder brat. In this walled city, we have little choice.”
With a push, Xiona let her go, and Vic stumbled forward. Kai lifted his hands to help her, but she shoved him away and righted herself. She glared at him when hurt flashed across his features. What right did he have to be hurt? He’d taken her relic from her. A new pain filled her, and it numbed her. She’d trusted him, but he’d proved he was no different from the founders, stomping on the weak t
o raise himself up.
Xiona snorted. “I think the love birds need to have a talk. Take her to her room. You get to deal with her until she can see things clearly.” She blinked slowly. “The fact you’re the daughter of a founder may be the only thing keeping you alive. How’s that for privilege?”
Vic tried to kick her, but Kai pulled her from the room. When he shut the doors behind them, she jerked out of his grip. She tried to walk away, but sharp pain burst up her wrist.
“You can’t leave the grounds, but she failed to mention you also can’t get more than a few feet from me.” He held up a ring on his finger. “I can’t remove it. Only she can.”
Vic clenched her hands into fists. “This is a sick joke.”
What kind of masochist invented such a thing?
“Sparks …” He stepped closer.
She held up her hands. “Don’t call me that. Stay the maximum distance away.”
The tingling ran up her arms, and she rubbed the pain that lingered.
He walked. She had no choice but to follow. They went down to Bomrosy’s workshop.
Bomrosy was bent over something on the table. When she straightened, it made a loud clicking sound, and Bomrosy yelped in glee. Then, in mid-celebration, she saw them waiting.
“Finally got it to work. I hope you two don’t think this is a make-out room.” Vic avoided Kai’s gaze and folded her arms. Her smile faded. “Don’t tell me you already hate each other?”
Vic turned her head away from Bomrosy.
Bomrosy smacked Kai’s arm. “What in the blight did you do?”
“Keep this in your lockbox.” He must have handed her the scythe.
“Why do I need to keep this?”
Vic stared at the wall. If she saw her scythe disappear, she might not be able to hold back her tears.
“Follow orders.” Kai’s words shot out like a whip.
“Fine, then.”
Vic heard the shuffle of footsteps, then a series of clicks, and a slam told her Bomrosy had locked away her scythe.
“Let’s go.”
Vic turned to follow him and glanced to see Bomrosy standing in the middle of the room, looking confused. She mouthed something to Vic, but Vic turned her face away to follow Kai.
His shoulders were stiff, and he paused in the hallway. “I’m not sure where to go.” His voice was soft.
Vic studied the stone floor. She had no power. A slow burn in her body made it hard to focus. She tried to shove any attraction she had for him into the dark corner of her mind. It was only a physical attraction. She only respected his abilities and didn’t know him much as a person. Keep telling yourself that.
He let out a frustrated sigh and stepped forward. She didn’t walk beside him. She could tell that made him feel awkward.
Her tired body walked of its own accord. She wanted to sleep but didn’t want to be in the same room as him. She visualized punching him in the face, then replaced his face with Xiona’s.
When they continued out of the Order, she paused, and he took her down a different path, not toward his place but farther up the city.
“What now? Can’t I just sleep?” Fatigue filled her. She’d pushed herself beyond her limits tonight. Every step on the stone path hurt, and the blight-covered sun made her squint.
“I need you to understand.”
Vic snorted and followed him. The stone road widened as the canal shrank. Only narrow water taxis could go here. Most of the homes had some greenery; they were in the farming area, so it made sense. Every tree or plant in Verrin produced something that could people could eat.
Kai took her to a stone house where a graceful woman stood in front, hanging a clean white sheet on a line. Some didn’t like to use the imbued appliances to save credits. She shook out another item of clothing and hung it up with deft fingers. Her movements reminded her of Kai’s but less brutal.
Kai stopped at the gate. “Mom?”
The woman turned. Her face lit up, and she dropped the shirt she’d been about to hang. “Kai? What are you doing here?” She ran up and wrapped him in a hug, her hands clasped tightly. She backed away and glanced at Vic. “Who did you bring with you?”
“One of my new members.”
His mother nodded. “She looks strong.” To Vic’s surprise, she hugged her as well. Her warm body enveloped her, and Vic melted into this stranger’s arms. She missed her sister. With everything piling up, she felt too exhausted to think.
“Do you mind if we rest?” Kai asked.
His mother patted her back before letting Vic go. “Your sister’s still asleep.”
“I only need my room.”
Kai led her into the house. They went up a narrow flight of stairs, and at the top, the ceiling slanted in, but the whole space was one room. It was a simple room with a bed and a desk facing the window. A worn sofa sat to the side with a colorful knitted blanket tossed over the arm. Kai motioned for her to take the bed.
Vic almost refused but didn’t know what point she’d be making. He shut the dark curtain as she fell into bed. She heard him rustling on the sofa.
She turned her back to him, and in the darkness, tiredness overcame her. Images of her sister, Kai taking her scythe, and her father’s restrictions danced in her mind’s eye. Her fingernails bit into her palms, and silent tears fell. It was too much. She’d finally gotten into an Order, but it had become more of a mess than her home.
“Why did you bring me here?” she asked.
After a long pause, he said, “Get some rest. I want you to understand something. I don’t think you’ll forgive me, but I want you to understand. And we’re both too tired to talk now.”
She didn’t reply. In a way, she already understood, but it made her feel powerless and alone. She took short breaths to calm herself. In the coming days, she wouldn’t get the luxury of crying.
14
Vic
A thin line of light escaped through the curtain in Kai’s room. Watching the line make slow progress across the wall calmed her. From the other side of the room came Kai’s steady breathing. She didn’t know how long she’d slept, but it hurt to move, and she was happy to stare at the light for a while. Her thoughts had quieted. Right now, she had to deal with Kai. What she needed to do about Nyx didn’t matter at the moment.
The steady breathing behind her stopped, and she heard him shift. “Are you awake?” he asked, breaking the silence in the room.
“Yeah.”
Vic pushed herself up and stared at the wall. Kai let out another sigh. She tied up her hair and waited for him to explain.
“I can smell food downstairs.”
Vic cleared her throat. She traced circles on the stitching in the blanket. “Do you really want to have this talk in front of your family?”
“Will you not look at me?”
Vic glared. “What?”
“Do you think I should go against Xiona to her face? I have no clue how deep this goes. We don’t all have founder blood to keep us safe.” His posture stayed relaxed, and his expression pleaded with her to understand.
“I’m a Glass, so I can do what I want?” When the words left her mouth, she knew it: a founder got more chances than everyone else. She could afford to be rash. Xiona had even said as much.
“Basically, yes.” He crossed his arms. “I told you I’m the only one in my family with a relic. What do you think will happen if I lose it?”
Her anger with him melted away, and her frustration with herself grew. He was trapped like her. “You’ll let her keep doing this?”
She understood what he stood to lose, but she still pushed him.
“Are you not understanding my situation? What do you think would happen if I told her I didn’t agree and wanted to stop her? Use your head, Sparks.” He slammed his hands on his legs.
He would lose his relic. Xiona had the power. Then his family wouldn’t get enough credits to get charged. “I understand, but what they’re doing is wrong.”
Kai laughed
. “Do you think I don’t know that? But I need to see how far this goes. I’m one man. It may not make me a hero, but I will put my family first and play along until I can’t anymore. You would too.” He rubbed his forehead, and his shoulders bent with the weight of his responsibilities. His family could remain safe for a while longer.
Vic thought of her sister. She sighed. It still hurt, but she had to admit she was angrier at the fact that they were trapped in this situation with Xiona. She’d let her anger get the best of her in Xiona’s office. She should have thought about Kai’s situation too.
“I get it. What are we going to do?”
They needed to navigate this situation delicately. Vic liked to face things head-on, and most of the time, she tended to overreact. But Kai was right. She could, and being a founder could get her out of many situations. It wasn’t fair to expect Kai to mouth off like she did.
“You have to play nice so we can convince her to get rid of the band on your wrist.” This would be more challenging for Vic than facing a mog.
“Play nice,” Vic said dryly. “Somehow, I don’t think she’ll buy it.”
Kai crossed over to her. He reached out slowly, but Vic didn’t step away, letting him rest his hands on her arms. “I will get your relic back. I’m sorry, but I didn’t want you in there.”
She raised an eyebrow. “Would you have told me everything if I hadn’t been there?”
“I doubt you would have let me not tell you.” He went to the desk in the room and sat on it. “I won’t let this go. Xiona, along with who knows how many reapers, will be watching me. Getting my relic taken away will help no one.”
“Yeah, yeah, I get it. I was stupid.” She’d lost her relic. And for what?
Her heart still ached. Her stomach rumbled at the smell of cooking. He smiled at her. Her feelings felt mixed. She understood, but part of her wanted him to take her side. Em had always told her she shot off too quickly and wanted people to take her side all the time. Vic’s family was as safe as they could be, and she needed to understand that Kai’s family wasn’t. Xiona and Kai were right: she had privilege. It came with its own chains, but it also provided a shield. Her actions affected others, and she needed to be careful.
