Reaper's Order (Founders Series Book 1)

by Mari Dietz

  She put on Kai’s clean set of clothes and left her feet bare while her boots dried.

  Kai put a bowl of soup in front of her.

  She cupped her hands around the warm bowl.

  “Bomrosy and I have been trying to figure out if anyone else is in Xiona’s inner circle. We keep landing on the same six. The rest of the Order seems to know nothing.” He helped himself to a bowl.

  That made Vic feel better about Nyx. If she hadn’t caught the rogue reapers that night, Xiona might have had more time to expand her inner circle.

  “The fact is, I am second in command. If something happened to Xiona …”

  Vic paused in the middle of eating. “You would be in charge.”

  “I think we can use the power of the Order to infiltrate GicCorp.” He tapped his hand against the table.

  Vic took a bite and said with her mouth full, “But GicCorp will still come after me.”

  “True. That’s a problem.” He focused on his dinner.

  She finished the food and leaned back in the chair. “I guess I get to hide out in the cells.”

  “How many saw you as a radiant?”

  “Only all the founders.” Tristan had made sure to put her on display. He probably hadn’t cared that Emilia wanted to say goodbye. He’d wanted to humiliate her or maybe her father.

  Kai looked thoughtful. “Could we play it off as a joke?”

  Vic flinched. “That I played a joke on my family?”

  She was already infamous for leaving her family. “That would be expected from a spoiled rich girl?” She’d already left them, so what was her reputation as a founder? Though she was mad with her father, she would never do anything to hurt him this much. The rest of the city didn’t know that.

  “The only ones who know what really happened are Xiona’s inner circle and the Nordics. If you come out as a joke … what could they do?” He finished his meal and set the bowl on the table.

  Vic pointed to the black square on her neck. “There’s also this.”

  Kai frowned and reached out to touch the raw flesh. “This won’t be easy.”

  “You’re making it sound like something is possible.” Covering up the large black square on her neck would be impossible. What could they do? Paint her skin and then paint on scythes? With how often she got soaked, the paint would rub away.

  “Only something painful.” He lightly traced the edges of the black brand.

  “Great.”

  That was how Vic ended up lying across Kai’s table with a stick in her mouth and a blade to her skin.

  She removed the stick. “Shouldn’t we have a professional do this?” Her voice sounded higher than normal.

  “Too many people will know. There are already too many we need to keep silent.”

  “Silent, as in kill them?” Coldness filled her stomach.

  He stilled. “Is it worse than killing imbs?”

  She’d never killed a human before in her life. The mogs had been human once, but she didn’t see them as human. She turned her head away, exposing her neck to him.

  “I don’t know.” Her voice was quiet in the empty room.

  Kai rubbed something on her skin to numb it.

  “The bandages should help with the scarring, but it won’t be perfect. I may have had a healer friend steal these for me.” He grimaced. “I didn’t tell him why I needed imbued bandages to help skin grow,” Kai rambled, probably more nervous than Vic. “It just needs to be perfect enough to rebrand you before any other Nyx reapers see you.”

  “How many times will my neck be burned?” Vic put the stick back in her mouth.

  “Hopefully only once more?” Kai took a deep breath and focused on her neck.

  Vic turned away from him and swallowed. The cold blade scraped her skin. She cried out and bit down on the stick. Hot tears flowed down her cheeks while Kai skinned her neck. Her warm blood dripped onto the table as he pressed bandages to her neck. Kai couldn’t go too deep, but he needed to get down to the layer of her skin that wouldn’t show the brand. He followed behind with imbued bandages. Vic tried to think of something else besides her skin. She didn’t dare move, or the sharp blade might hit something important. Rawness coated her throat as she forced her neck to remain still. She wanted to jerk away from the torturous blade.

  When he finished, he sat back, his hands coated in her blood. “I never want to do that again.”

  Vic wanted to pass out on the table. “How in the blight do you think I feel?”

  They met each other’s eyes and laughed.

  “Blight take us, we are screwed.” Kai’s blood-coated hand trembled.

  “Most likely.”

  Kai reached out to put on a new bandage. The magic wore out faster with the amount of healing it needed to accomplish, but he had plenty of bandages to spare. Vic eyed the supply as he went to the sink and washed her blood off his hands before returning. “It’s an honor to go down with you.”

  “I bet you’re wishing you’d left me in the canal?” Vic couldn’t leave the table, her body immobile from the strain of trying not to move while Kai had skinned her.

  “Never.” He pulled her up so she sat on the table. “You are trouble, Sparks, but you opened my eyes.” He cupped her face, careful to avoid her fresh wound.

  She leaned into the heat from his hands and tilted her face up. Their lips met, partly in desperation over what they were about to do. They pushed their bodies closer as their lips melded together. Heat pooled through her as she stayed in Kai’s arms. His lips moved slowly against hers, and she pressed against his hard chest. Her fingers trailed down his neck as he kissed her. Tonight, they couldn’t know how it would end, but together, they could steal this moment. She allowed herself to get lost in his touches and not think of everything falling apart around her. He kissed her, and he was solid and warm. Too soon, they stopped and held each other while their breathing filled the silence.

  They separated, and he pressed his forehead to hers. “I didn’t know that skinning you would be such a turn on.”

  “Just don’t tell anyone.”

  The corners of his mouth turned up. He lightly brushed her hair away from her forehead. “It’ll only be the two of us against Xiona and her group. Even if we think more reapers are involved, the reports were only in the sections that matched those six’s routes.”

  “That was stupid on their part.” Vic couldn’t understand why they hadn’t branched out.

  “They’re most likely only the tester group.” He picked up another bandage and put it over her slowly healing skin. “It might be best to keep your hair down so no one can see it if the bandage falls off.”

  “She really didn’t make an announcement or anything?” Vic furrowed her brow. It was unlikely that Xiona wouldn’t say anything.

  Kai lightly pressed the bandage over her neck. “I think she’s waiting for the news to come out about you being a radiant. If you left to become a radiant, it would make more sense than her kicking you out. After all, you’re a founder.” He glanced at the clock. “We better get moving if we want to capture them before the patrols get back.”

  Vic shifted from him and instantly missed the warmth. Bits of pain ran down her neck as the bandage pulled on her skin. She placed her hair around her neck and slid up the hood of her sweater.

  As she waited, Kai placed manacles and vials containing liquid into his pack.

  Her eyebrows rose. “If you’re planning on knocking them out, I don’t think we can carry all of them back at once.”

  Kai closed his bag and stood. “If we can lure them here first, it should help with how far we have to carry them. I don’t know how we’ll move them into the cells under the Order. If only the usual number of reapers are on patrol, we’ll still need to worry about the reapers who aren’t with them. Then hopefully Xiona will assume that the four we attack tonight were killed by a mog so no one will go looking for them. Xiona will be harder to catch.” Kai ran his hand through his hair. “Nyx reapers would onl
y believe a mass attack of mogs took out Xiona.”

  “Rumor planting. I guess it might work as long as it can’t be traced back to us.”

  They didn’t have much time to execute their plan. It needed to happen before news of Vic’s transition to a radiant came out so she could claim it was a prank. She couldn’t bring much more shame to the family. If the founders cared so much, then Emilia’s sacrifice would make up for the Glass name.

  He cracked his neck as they got ready to leave. “The best team taken out will be the hardest to believe. This is a normal occurrence for reapers. Xiona has lasted a long time for a reaper.”

  The cool air hit her face as they left. The blight was now a bloody crimson in the sky. They needed to get beyond the city walls without the guards seeing them. Kai took them down a dark alley and lifted a metal grate in the ground. The smell of sewage hit Vic’s nose.

  She stepped back. “You’re kidding?”

  “Ah, Sparks, you haven’t had the pleasure of sewage duty yet. You’re in for a treat.” Kai winked.

  “Blight, stone, and a founder’s ass.” Her nose stung from the stench.

  Vic breathed in the fresh air and gestured for him to go first. He disappeared down the tunnel. She placed her hand on the edges, stepped on the slippery ladder, and pulled the grate over her head before descending. She tried to breathe through her mouth, but she could practically taste the foul air. She pulled her hood tighter over her face, burying her nose in the fabric.

  Kai walked next to the sewage river, and she followed him in silence. The tunnel was tall, so they had plenty of space. On the side of the sewage river was a stone path. Imbs came down here to fix any problems during the day. Spider webs clung to the dim lights, and claws skittered on the stone as they ran in the tunnels. They didn’t speak so they could listen for any approaching mogs. Vic didn’t look forward to their trip home, carrying or dragging the other reapers through the muck.

  They made it to the grate without interruption. The path through the swamp appeared past the bars. With minimal clanging, Kai broke the lock open. Now they needed to wait for Xiona’s patrol to come through the swamp. They would need to jump into the swamp to get to the path, then run after them and take them by surprise. They removed their boots to avoid being weighed down by them. Vic waited in the tense silence. There was nothing else to say. They would either fail or succeed. The hard part would come after the battle. The unsaid truth was that they would try to subdue them but might be forced to defend themselves.

  Vic swallowed at the distant sound of footfalls. Kai turned to her and nodded. He squeezed her hand, then got ready to jump. The first two reapers passed at a fast trot. Kai and Vic waited until Xiona and the other reaper had appeared in their wake. Their eyes met. Vic rolled her shoulders and scooted out of the tunnel to grip the edge with Kai. They hung as low as possible so as not to make a loud splash. They both released the edge and fell into the water, landing with her knees bent. Water and mud clung to her as she pushed forward to the path. Kai reached it first and put his hand out to help her out of the water.

  Their feet padded silently as they chased after Xiona. Someone shouted from behind them as they spotted Xiona’s back. Xiona turned to face them, and Vic froze. She took a quick look behind her. Behind them stood the other members of the group. They blocked the way, each with a grim expression on their faces.

  Footfalls sounded behind her, and Vic pulled out her scythe. Kai mirrored her as they put their backs together.

  “Seven on patrol?” Kai asked.

  Xiona lightly tapped her scythe on the path. It made a dull thud in the swamp. “I keep my allies close. I hoped I was wrong about you, but I had a feeling you wouldn’t like the new Order.”

  Vic’s heart pounded. They could have faced four or three reapers, but not seven. Kai tapped her left thigh. They would go through the three reapers and run. Their rebellion had ended in a moment. Now they would both be on the run.

  They took off toward the fewer reapers and stuck together to force their way through on the edge of the path. The middle reaper swung at her head, but she blocked the blow with her folded scythe. Kai chose to crash into the reaper on the right side, shoving them into the swamp. Vic’s attacker closed in, but Kai and Vic stayed on the run. Vic blocked the scythe, giving Kai the chance to bludgeon the reaper in the head. The reaper fell, and they ran to where they’d left their shoes with the other reapers sprinting down the path.

  The wind tore her hood back as she ran.

  “We can lose them in the sewers.”

  Vic didn’t answer, just followed as the sound of Xiona and her reapers closed in behind them. They jumped into the swamp. Vic was jolted back as someone grabbed her sweater. She reached up and clawed at the hand, but it held firm. More hands gripped her. Kai turned to see what the commotion was about. Holding out his weapon, he came back.

  “Kai, go!” Vic pulled on the neck of her sweater to get some air.

  He ignored her. Vic kicked out and made contact. A deep grunt filled her ears, but they didn’t drop her. Vic couldn’t see Kai, but the hands gripped her tighter and forced her up. The reapers pinned her legs down and her arms behind her. Someone forced her head up. The reaper Kai had attacked lay on the ground, and next to him, Xiona stood in front of Vic with her opened scythe pointed at Kai.

  “You’re killing your own?” Xiona asked, her voice flat.

  “My own doesn’t kill those we’re supposed to protect. I thought you knew this. You’re the one who trained me. You told me that our honor as reapers depends on defending those who are weaker than us!” Vic could hear the pain in his voice.

  She couldn’t see Xiona’s face, but she saw her back stiffen.

  “You don’t know the lengths I’ve gone to to protect everyone.” Xiona stepped back and nodded to the two reapers holding Vic. The other reaper stood next to Xiona. “Stand down or we will drown her while you watch. The other option, since you are like a son to me, is that I will let you and her live out your days in the cells.”

  Vic tried to shout as Kai dashed at Xiona, but the reapers thrust her head under the swamp water. Her mouth filled with the muddy water, choking her. Her lungs burned for air, and she futilely tried to squirm out of their death grips. Her head grew foggy, and her body went limp. It became oddly peaceful as the water took her. She faded, and her last thoughts were of her sister as she blacked out.

  I’m sorry, Sister.

  21

  William

  William couldn’t look at his brother as they faced his father when he arrived home. Samuel’s vacant face had become his personal ghost. Vic’s accusation filled him. The fact that he’d forced the change ate at him.

  “I appreciate that you filled in for me today. I think you’re ready to take on more responsibilities.” His father patted his shoulder, making William feel more like a good pet than a son.

  William stared at his father’s hand like it was attached to someone he didn’t know anymore. He looked back at his father’s proud face. “Do you mean turning people against their will? Using our power as a weapon?”

  His father’s hands rested calmly at his sides. “Son, I think you understand after helping someone like your brother. He was doomed for destruction. Now, he’s on that higher plane we all desire.”

  William pulled at his cuffs. “He didn’t desire it, though. We both know that.”

  His father let out a condescending sigh. “Sometimes, you have to choose the right path for others.”

  A strange, sick feeling rose in William. “How many people have you made this choice for?”

  His father guided Samuel to the table and eyed William. “I don’t like your tone. Don’t tell me I misjudged your morals?”

  A short laugh fell out of William’s mouth. “Morals? The ones that say we never change people against their will? Are those the ones you want? Or these new morals where we judge what’s best for humans.” He shook as he faced his father. The carefully built world they’d made as
radiant was collapsing. They thought they were better than everyone. They were pure and soon to be free of magic completely.

  In a fit of rage, his father slammed his hand on the table. The dinnerware rattled, and Samuel sat calmly through it all. “I thought you could see how broken people are because of magic. Don’t you understand that we can’t fight their brainwashed ways? They think life without magic is a horrible fate. Some will see reason, but we must show others.”

  “How many, Father?” He took a slow breath. He needed an answer.

  “Do you think they would rather become a creature that eats people?”

  “How many, Father?”

  His father meticulously straightened the crooked dinnerware. “Choose your questions wisely, my son.”

  William laughed. “Or what? You will purify me too? Might as well. I can’t stand to look at my brother and feel the shame at taking his life.” It was all a lie. A lie. The walls of their home closed in, and the mildew smell filled the air. It was so hard to breathe in there.

  “A higher plane!” his father shouted and threw a plate at William.

  He didn’t dodge, and it smacked him in the shoulder. He welcomed the pain. The plate shattered on the floor.

  “I don’t know if I believe that anymore.” The words fell from his mouth without emotion. Words that challenged his whole faith.

  His father stood in front of him. “That magic user founder got to you, didn’t she?” He gripped William’s shoulders. “We won’t marry you to a founder. You’re too easily corrupted, it seems.”

  William brushed away his father’s hands, went to Samuel, and grabbed his hand. “Let’s go, Sam.”

  They walked by their father.

  “Where are you going? Without purifying blight, you can’t charge. You’ll become a mog.”

  “So be it.”

  His father held up his hands, and William thought he might be the next one purified. He stared down at the man who had lied to him and made him believe they were doing something helpful. Was his whole life a lie? His father dropped his hands and looked away.