by Marie Mistry
“Portinax deserves the honour of having his fate known,” Ajax argued. “They found him strangled in his sleep by the vine which grew outside his window. It was clearly a specialised form of PK and, though it galls me to think that any shown demon would side with them, they've clearly taken advantage of someone who still … retains the sympathy of youth…”
The purposeful way he said that made my skin crawl, but once again Vendra was on my side.
“Fortunately, Lady Carazor was fully vetted before her appointment as Head of House Carazor, as were we all.”
Ajax nodded slowly, but he had a glint in his eyes that left me questioning if he believed her. The rest of the car journey passed slowly; the conversation flitted between Assembly gossip and politics with such speed that I wondered if they weren't all the same thing. Vendra seemed to know everything about everyone, and Ajax and I both absorbed her knowledge like sponges.
Onyx and Ivory quickly grew bored and decided to amuse themselves by playing with the controls for the air-con and the radio. Vendra and Ajax didn't acknowledge the issue, but our driver repeatedly apologised for the 'technical malfunctions.' It only took three such interruptions until my grandmother snapped at him, ordering him to remain silent for the rest of the journey. After that I decided it was probably best to send the imps away, in case they got anyone else into trouble. But without them, things became even more tedious, and I swiftly gave up trying to contribute to the discussion and settled for just listening to them instead.
The more I listened, the more it became obvious what they weren't saying. Prime Hannibal remained unmentioned, and whenever the conversation steered in that direction, Vendra harshly redirected our attention. It wasn't until we approached the gates of Regent's Park that Ajax finally got up the guts to talk about him.
“Our new Prime will be trying to push his reforms through today,” Ajax began. “Have you heard his plans for the unshown?”
“The ones which require a member of my security team—a male—to touch me to enter the Assembly, as well as Gilly?” Vendra's eyes flashed dangerously. “The ones which he only announced this morning, on such short notice he might as well have told us at the gate? What does he think his new regulations will do? Cause our most loyal unshown to revolt? Ridiculous. Does he think us so weak we're unable to put a stop to such a situation if it did happen?” Ajax had gone quiet, perhaps regretting his decision. “It's flagrant disregard for our traditions. Even during the wars, we were never required to give in to such blatant humiliation.”
I remained quiet, watching the queue of black cars progress in front of us. Whatever Hannibal wanted to do was so radical that he wanted us to bring security with us, which meant the news was important enough that Nelly and I should have heard something before. That we hadn't, meant someone wanted to keep us in the dark.
“Apparently we're required to take a member of our security team in with us today,” I thought to Blaze. “Have you ever wanted to see the inside of the Assembly?”
“What is going on that means some of the most powerful demons in the country will be in danger enough to warrant extra security?” Blaze's surge of protectiveness hit me along the bond, and I smothered a small smile.
“Hannibal has some proposals he thinks might incite the unshown to rebel,” I admitted. “Perhaps you could warn Leonie? I'll vote against it, but I think the anti-unshown sentiment will be high today.”
I was going to say more but our car drew up at the gates of Regent's Park and the door was swiftly opened. Ajax left as though his ass was on fire, limping up to the gates with surprising speed. Obviously, he couldn't wait to get away from the temper he'd incited in Vendra. Unfortunately, she called my name as I tried to follow him, and I had no choice but to hang back as Gilly sorted out her mistress's bag.
Blaze and Vendra's security guard followed at a discreet pace, a little in front of Gilly and Leonie, as we started the long walk towards Triton Fountain.
“Ajax is a long-term ally of mine,” Vendra muttered after we'd passed the gates. “He requires careful handling, as you've seen.”
“His paranoia about the Resistance … is it founded?”
“Oh, they've always been opportunists,” Vendra brushed aside my concerns. “But in this case, Ajax is correct. We must support Prime Delaroza's move for more regulation of the unshown, but only up to a point. Hannibal is from the Ambition sub-caste of Envy. It's likely he'll attempt to introduce harsh reforms in a bid to see how much he can get away with. Regulation of the unshown is good, but not at the expense of our autonomy. Better to take gentle measures early and prevent harsh ones later.”
“I don't see the problem with the unshown. Surely it's the Resistance itself the Assembly should worry about.”
“Every unshown, even the most loyal, is a potential candidate for the Resistance,” she corrected. “They outnumber us, and that advantage is one they will kill to keep. No doubt it's why they targeted your car after the last Assembly. Your ability to give young demons a showing will eventually render them obsolete. You are a threat to them.”
I was silent, mulling over her words when she continued. “I understand that in youth, the unshown's position seems unfair; slave-like, even. It takes experience to see how much protection they gain from their position. It is necessary to keep them under control to keep them safe because, without them, our species would be on the brink of extinction.” She scoffed, staring at Ajax's retreating back. “If those like Reece Ajax had their way, they would have exterminated all those who failed to go through a showing, and a good few who happened to be in the 'wrong' caste.” The look she tossed my way was meaningful.
I stiffened but kept walking. Was Vendra talking about what I thought she was talking about? Did my grandmother know about the Syndicate? “You believe Prime Delaroza's new regulations will protect the unshown?”
“I have only heard rumours about what the regulations may be but, yes, I believe they will keep the unshown, those who are innocent, safe.”
We both turned silent for the rest of the journey. It wasn't until we reached the stairwell that Vendra turned to address her guard. “You will not touch me for longer than absolutely necessary. Is that clear?”
“Yes, Lady Braxion.”
He bowed dutifully and followed Gilly in placing his hand around the side of Vendra's forehead to touch her sigillary. My grandmother stiffened instantly. I'd never seen her move as fast as she did down those few steps to pass the barrier. The instant Gilly removed her hand, the security guard did as well, but Vendra remained stiff.
“You need to touch my brimstone to pass the barrier,” I encouraged Blaze.
His fingers were surprisingly gentle as he caressed the small heart-shaped crystal on my spine. Our mating bond warmed between us and I would have sighed if Leonie hadn't chosen that moment to touch it as well. She removed her hand and fell behind after the few steps it took to pass into the Assembly, but Blaze's touch lingered. He used his body to block the view of anyone behind us as his fingers caressed the skin of my back. The moment his large palm cupped my ass, I almost jumped three feet in the air.
His dark chuckle followed me the rest of the way down.
Chapter 17
Although we were technically late, I walked slowly into the Assembly so that Blaze could have a chance to marvel as I had. I shouldn't have bothered. Blaze was in professional mode and didn't take the opportunity.
He silently followed me through the Low Chamber and up to the High Chamber, stopping patiently as I was greeted by nearly every Lord and Lady we passed. All of them were shadowed by their own guards, some of whom nodded at Blaze as if they knew him.
I'd almost made it to my seat when Hannibal cornered me.
“Lady Carazor!” His exuberant call had Blaze stiffening behind me.
I turned and dropped a bow. “Prime Delaroza.”
“I'm so relieved to see you unharmed after that horrid attempt on your life by the Resistance.”
I would
have responded but he hadn't asked a question, so I was forced to remain silent.
“How is Vice College treating you? If it were up to me, a Lady of the High Chamber wouldn't be stuck in an institution but, alas, there are some laws even I can't undo.”
I straightened my spine and tried to ignore the itch in my wings as I looked past him to my waiting throne. “I'm enjoying my studies; thank you, Prime Delaroza.”
He didn't get the hint. Instead, he just smiled wider. “I know all of these security precautions may seem rather intimidating but after the Resistance went after our youngest member, my conscience wouldn't allow me to remain quiet and do nothing.”
I smiled politely.
The Speaker cleared his throat from beside the Prime Throne, giving Hannibal a pointed look.
The portly Prime smiled and flicked a rueful look over his shoulder before turning back to me. “Fortunately, there's no such thing as being late when the events can't start without you. Tell me, Lady Carazor, what do you think about the unshown?”
The rest of the demons around us had gone curiously quiet and I knew that they, too, were awaiting my answer.
“They're important to our society,” I replied. “They're the ones who interact the most with the human world on our behalf and the ones who we rely on for everyday tasks.”
“Well said, well said! That's exactly why we need more regulation. We have incredibly strict rules about exposing ourselves to humans and yet, the unshown aren't even monitored. The amount of trust we're placing in them is almost foolish.”
That wasn't what I'd meant at all. Hannibal was twisting my words with the ease of a natural-born politician. But if I broke etiquette to correct him, I had no doubt I'd end up on the glass platform, killed like Rixon.
The Speaker cleared his throat again and Hannibal gave a long, suffering sigh. “Very well. As much as it pains me to leave your side, Lady Carazor, duty calls.”
“Creep,” Blaze grumbled in my mind.
I nodded politely at the Prime and tried not to run to my seat.
I collapsed on the cushioned throne and looked around the room.
Everyone seemed tense, although some of the Lords and Ladies seemed as though they were sitting straighter in anticipation. It was the look of death Lady Rutia was giving Hannibal that worried me. What could he have to say that would put such a look of aggression on Rutia's face?
I gestured Leonie over.
“Do you know what these regulations are about?” I asked, my voice barely a whisper.
“No. All anyone knows is that Prime Delaroza is targeting the unshown and the Resistance,” she murmured. “It has most of us very jumpy.”
Rutia was still glaring, but her eyes flicked towards me and I could see the level of calculation there. I tried to keep my face as even as possible, even as my words became quieter.
“Whatever he says, don't react,” I cautioned Leonie.
“I'm not afraid,” she whispered, defiantly. “Blaze promised to keep me safe and I have my own means to defend myself.”
She moved back and I settled into my chair, just as that chime sounded again and the Speaker called the Assembly to order.
“Today's Assembly will begin with an address from Prime Delaroza, who wishes to bring in new legislation regarding the unshown.”
Hannibal wasted no time in sweeping to his feet. “My Lords and Ladies of the Assembly!” he boomed. “I come before you humbled by your trust in me. I look around this room and I see thousands of years of proud demonic wisdom, cunning and power. Each one of you is a sheer force in your own right and yet, on my word, you put aside pride and accepted the presence of extra security.” He paused. “I can now tell you that this is because I wish to ask you to approve a set of regulations which will improve the safety of your noble houses and crush the Resistance before it can take the lives of any more of our members.”
The Assembly had been silent but it erupted in mutters at his announcement. Hannibal let it continue for a little while before nodding at the Speaker.
“ORDER!” the Speaker commanded, and the chimes deafened us all into silence again.
“What prompted this drastic action, you might ask? We have lost many members of our Assembly. Great demons, every one of them. But they were demons who had lived long lives and, during those long lives, given their unshown plenty of cause to wish for escape or retribution. Even I, who was great friends with the late Lord Portinax, found his death to be tragic, but not unexpected.
“One can almost champion a rebellion which acts in the interest of saving others. I must admit, I almost had some sympathy for their cause myself. Then, two months ago, the Resistance committed a crime so heinous that it chilled me to the bone. They attacked one of our own again, but this lady of the High Chamber had no unshown to abuse. She has not lived the centuries of life required to earn such animosity from the Resistance. No. Lords and Ladies, this demon was targeted solely because the Resistance saw her as a threat.”
The Assembly was silent. Every demon waited with bated breath. As did I, though I knew what he was going to say before he said it.
Cold, impotent fury filled me with the knowledge of how he was going to use me to manipulate the Chamber.
“Lady Carazor is still a student at Vice College. Still vastly untrained and uncorrupted by the pessimism of age. She has committed no offence to the Resistance; she has no unshown of her own and was thrust into her new role as a result of her grandparents' tragic death. Yet the Resistance tried to assassinate her in a brutal attack on her departure from this very Chamber. Why? Because she is the answer to the problem of the unshown!
“Lady Carazor possesses the gift of sending our young people through their showings, and the Resistance is threatened by a world with no unshown! What Prime could stand by and do nothing, when this rebellion threatens the youngest among his Assembly? Certainly, not I.”
He paused and looked around the room, making conscious eye contact with everyone in the High Chamber. I could've sworn I saw Vendra shake her head slightly as he reached her, but Hannibal just opened his mouth and spoke again.
“Therefore, Lords and Ladies, I propose to you that we take a register of the unshown. When their true numbers are known, we can fit each unshown with a tracking implant. These implants will allow us to see the locations they frequent, analyse likely Resistance bases, and raise the Army of the Assembly to rout and eradicate the Resistance once and for all.”
Silence reigned for a moment—
Then, the room erupted.
The unshown were in uproar, yelling at the top of their lungs. Only Leonie, Gilly and a few others remained quietly at the backs of their Lords and Ladies. I saw a few demons using PK manacles to restrain their unshown, rooting them to the spot whether they liked it or not, but the rest swarmed the balcony in an angry brown mob.
The chimes echoed over the ruckus, but they didn't silence anyone this time.
The unshown would not be contained.
Several reached for me, yelling at me to stand up for them, and for a second, I almost gave in. My hands turned white on the arms, but my rational brain told me Hannibal had planned this. Whatever he did to the unshown who were rioting would be horrible, but I couldn't help them if I was facing the same fate. Slowly, the pleas for help became attempts to drag me out of my throne but they couldn't get close enough. Blaze had a shield of PK around us so strong, it was almost opaque.
My eyes met Leonie's and held them. She was as angry and afraid as the rest of them, every muscle in her taut with tension. I silently pleaded with her to remain silent and let out a sigh of relief when she nodded.
Hannibal allowed the chaos for a few seconds, letting the impact of the riot sink in before he acted. “Security, please restrain any unshown who have left their posts. Keep them for interrogation by a mnemokinetic.”
Assembly guards swarmed out of the alcoves. They slammed PK shields up, dividing the unshown into lines as more shields forced them forward. Herded by
the shimmering curtains of power, the unshown stumbled and tripped over each other. Their anger turned swiftly to fear as they realised what was happening. Some screamed for their masters to save them, others pleaded with the guards, but to no avail.
The crowd was cleared in under two minutes and soon, only a handful of unshown remained. Only when the hall was silent, did the chimes finally cut out and Blaze let his shield around me drop. Without the barrier between me and the hall, I could see Hannibal's genial smile as he addressed us all again.
“Please, excuse the inconvenience. I anticipated that there would be some objectors, so I brought several unshown from my own estate to serve you whilst yours are undergoing assessment.”
The majority of the Assembly seemed to still be in a state of shock. The quiet, invisible unshown they were used to had switched to an angry mob and just as quickly vanished. Some of them were staring, open-mouthed, at the doors through which their servants had disappeared. Others were watching the new, brown-robed figures entering the room in complete confusion.
Hannibal left them to their thoughts, only continuing once he had their undivided attention once more.
“The unshown are the face of demon society the humans see. They're vital to our secrecy and our survival. Just now, they proved how unstable they are. They're dependant on us for their safety and it is our duty to protect those who depend on us; even from themselves, if we must.” He stepped back. “I welcome debate before we vote on my regulations.”
Last time, I'd not addressed the Assembly but this time, I found myself rising from my throne. I had no plan for what I would say but outrage lifted me to my feet just the same.
Lady Rutia got there before I did. She stared down the entire room as she addressed Hannibal. “This kind of imposition reeks of dictatorship. You'd take away our autonomy on how we keep our own unshown in hand and impose your tracking devices?”
Her words resonated with a huge number of the lords and ladies and cries of agreement rose to answer her. I stilled, hovering halfway between standing and sitting, before slowly lowering my ass back into my seat.
