by Hanna Peach
“Then we must steal them first,” Adere cried.
“No,” Samyara said, and a smile began to creep its way across his face. It chilled Passar down to his bones. “I have a better idea.”
* * *
Passar opened the door to his room. His left arm burned a little from the bloodink. Thankfully there wasn’t much left. He moved across the room towards the bed. His whole body, nay, his entire soul felt tired. Drained.
Without meaning to, he caught a glimpse of himself in the oval full-length mirror framed by engraved cherry wood in the corner. Even though Passar knew what he would see, the sight of his face still startled him.
Passar moved slowly towards the mirror. There, staring back at him, were the soft lines, the plump top lip and the clear blue eyes of Elijah.
Elijah seemed to stare accusingly back at him. What have you done?
“I’m doing this for you,” Passar whispered to the mirror. “Everything is for you, my love.”
In the mirror Elijah’s lips moved in time with Passar’s words, but in the depths of his eyes, Passar could see the sadness and disappointment. A wave of rage escaped his carefully controlled lake of emotions. “How dare you be disappointed?”
Before he knew what he was doing, Passar’s arm shot out and smashed against the mirror, shattering the reflection of Elijah’s face into fragments. The fragments now showed multiple pairs of blue eyes, all staring back at him in shock at what he had done. But what was worse, those eyes carried enough disappointment to crush him.
Chapter 23
As soon as she returned to Aradale, Alyx sent word to Tobias to make sure that everyone would be in his office in half an hour. She had news about the Black Stone. In the meantime, she took to the shower to wash the salt and the smell of shisha off her skin.
Alyx had just enough time to check in on Mini. She was pleased to find Mini sitting comfortably on her single bed in her new room with Ky. Ky was chattering away at her, telling her wild stories punctuated with even wilder arm motions. Thankfully, the girl didn’t seem to realize she was a prisoner in her new room.
Alyx felt a small sliver of guilt that she had barely any time for Mini lately. At least Ky had taken to her and was keeping her company for most of the day. It seemed that Ky was keeping the girl from retreating within herself.
Alyx realized that she had barely seen any other younglings while she had been here at Aradale. Ky must have had a lonely life before Mini came along.
Feeling somewhat whole again, Alyx headed to Tobias’s office and found the door was already open. Alyx moved into the doorway and froze. There on one side of the room were Israel and Vix, standing very close to each other. Very close to each other. Vix laughed a light laugh, and her hand went to Israel’s arm. Alyx’s blood started to boil. She began to entertain visions of slicing Vix’s hand off.
But worse, Israel was doing nothing to stop her. Her mouth went dry when Israel laughed as well and leaned his face in closer to her. A stab of pain shot through her gut. They seemed even closer than before Israel had learned that Alyx had been keeping secrets from him.
Was this her fault? Did she drive Israel away with her secrets so that he was now turning to Vix? Was Israel doing this to pay her back for keeping secrets from him?
What about you with Jordan, huh? A voice inside her accused. She pushed this away.
“You gonna stand there all day or you gonna let the rest of us in?” Marin’s gruff voice from behind her reminded her that she was still frozen in the doorway, gawking. Israel and Vix both looked over.
Don’t let him see that you care. Alyx held her face like stone and strode into the room, picking a chair as far away from them as possible. She refused to look at either of them. She ignored Dianne’s glare as she entered after Marin.
Jordan was the last to arrive, sitting in the empty chair next to Alyx, greeting her with, “Hello, beauty.”
At least there was someone here who was happy to see her. In her periphery Alyx could see that Israel had stiffened in his chair. Good. A thought flashed across Alyx’s mind. Two can play at that game. Alyx gave Jordan the biggest smile that she could, even though her cheeks strained from the effort. She placed her hand over Jordan’s. Jordan smiled back at her and twisted his fingers through hers.
Guilt began to worm its way through her defiant cloud. Jordan really likes you. You shouldn’t be doing this.
Alyx could feel her smile beginning to falter. But she didn’t have the time to think about this right now as Tobias handed the meeting over to her.
Alyx cleared her throat and pulled her hand from Jordan’s. “The stones that have been stolen so far have been child’s play. There are four Black Stones left and they’re big. I discovered the location of them. Unfortunately, Samyara has as well.”
Alyx outlined everything that the RaceKeeper had told her about the four Black Stones.
“The RaceKeeper just told you all this?” Marin said. “Out of the goodness of his heart.” Apparently the RaceKeeper’s reputation was well known in Aradale, too.
“Well, no…” Alyx hesitated. She wasn’t sure how the Aradale Rogues felt about the night-races. But they would just have to put their prejudices aside. “I had to race for the information.”
There was a gasp and a few grumbles around the room.
“What the hell, Alyx?” she heard Jordan say under his breath. Israel was the only one around the table who didn’t look shocked.
Alyx frowned. “Can we stop focusing on how I got the information and start talking about what we’re going to do about it?”
“Obviously, we need to get to it before the Darkened,” Israel said.
“So…we steal the Black Stone pieces first?” asked Alyx.
“Hell yes,” cried Marin. “Finally, a real plan.” He looked like he was ready to leap out of his seat and start kicking down doors that very minute.
“But…stealing?” said Dianne.
What choice did they have? They couldn’t let the Darkened steal the remainder of the Black Stone and make weapons out of them.
“Would you feel better if you didn’t think of it as ‘stealing’ but as ‘borrowing’?” Israel said, directing this to Dianne. “We would just be relocating the Black Stones until it was safe to return them.”
“But…”
“Israel’s right. We have to relocate them before the Darkened steal them,” Alyx said. She noticed that her agreement seemed to take Israel by surprise. But his features hardened when they locked eyes.
“Is this something we can agree on?” asked Tobias. “All in favor raise their hands.”
Everyone around the room raised their hands with varying speeds. Dianne acquiesced, raising hers last.
“So how do we do this?” asked Vix.
It was Jordan who spoke first. “First, we’ll need to undertake some sort of reconnaissance on these four places. We need to see what we’re dealing with. See what the layout of the places are, who is guarding them, what times of the day are quietest. That kind of thing.”
“We’ll split up,” said Tobias. “Does anyone have a preference for location?”
Vix spoke up, “I’m best to take the China location. I used to live in that area.”
Tobias nodded. “It’s just a reconnaissance mission, Vix. Don’t approach the monks there, especially not after what the RaceKeeper said. Not until we know what we’re dealing with.”
Was it Alyx’s imagination or did Vix turn a shade paler than usual?
Tobias continued, “That goes for everyone else as well. Got it? Okay then. Lukas, you take Saudi Arabia. Marin, you take Lima. Jordan, you go to Florence with Alyx. I’ll send a swallow on ahead to the closest FreeThinker communities in Florence, Lima and Saudi Arabia and see if they can provide a guide. We’ll meet back here as soon as we can.”
Tobias was met with nods around the table.
“What do I do?” said Israel. “I can’t just sit here doing nothing.”
“You can’t come
with us. You can’t fly. You’d only be weighing us down,” said Jordan. His voice was matter-of-fact, but Alyx detected a challenge in his eyes. Alyx could see Israel’s eyebrows pull into hard, angry lines. Israel opened his mouth, no doubt to respond in anger. But then he closed it and sank back into his chair with his arms crossed.
Tobias nodded. “Check in with me as soon as you get back. Good luck. Remember the Darkened may already be canvassing the locations as well. So be careful.”
The room rumbled with noise as everyone started to get up and leave. Alyx was anxious to get out of this room without having to deal with either Israel or Dianne. But Jordan grabbed her arm, holding her in place. He bent his head down to her, a look of annoyance on his face. “That was stupid of you to go off on your own, especially to a night-race. Why didn’t you get me?”
Alyx bristled and snatched her arm out of Jordan’s grasp. “I don’t have to get your permission to do anything.”
Israel snorted as he passed them both, having evidently heard their exchange. “Now you know how I feel.”
When Alyx raised her eyes to Israel, she found his gaze fierce and cold, eyes like two hazel stones. He didn’t slow down as he strode from the room, leaving Alyx’s heart in her throat and feeling that she had destroyed everything between them beyond repair.
Alyx pushed Israel from her mind and turned to Jordan again. “I took the opportunity when it arose, okay? Everything turned out fine. Better than fine. I got the locations of the Black Stone, didn’t I?”
Jordan rolled his eyes. “That’s not the point, Alyx. It was an unnecessary risk that could have turned out horribly for you.”
Alyx sighed. “Please. Do we have to argue about this? What’s done is done.”
Jordan’s face softened. “No, you’re right. I just worry about you, that’s all. Are you ready to go?”
Alyx nodded, but her mind was still on Israel. She forced back the sadness that threatened to overwhelm her. Can’t think of Israel now. Later. Deal with Israel later. One thing at a time. Just deal with one thing at a time.
As she stepped from Tobias’s office, she spotted Dianne a little way down the corridor, glaring at her, arms crossed, waiting for her. Great. Another thing to deal with.
Alyx turned to Jordan. “I’ve just got to speak to Dianne for a second. I’ll see you outside.” She ignored his questioning look.
Alyx steeled her resolve and strode over to Dianne. “I’m not leaving,” Alyx said firmly. “It won’t do anyone any good if we run away. I’m staying and I’m going to make things right. If you want to tell Jordan or whoever what you saw, that’s fine. I’m not ashamed.”
Dianne’s mouth dropped open. Alyx turned and flew off before Dianne could reply.
Now, to start making things right.
* * *
“Vix,” Israel grabbed the seraphelle’s arm. He almost had to jog to catch her after she had rocketed out of Tobias’s office.
Vix turned with mild surprise on her face. “What’s up, Israel?”
“That monastery in China. I saw your reaction when Alyx said the name. You know that place, don’t you?”
Vix glanced around her before nodding. She lowered her voice, “If I’m not mistaken, it’s the exact monastery that I lived in.”
Israel frowned. “You don’t sound very happy about that.”
Vix let out an audible sigh. “You don’t understand. These monks, they’re not just some quiet docile mortals living in the middle of nowhere.”
Israel lifted an eyebrow.
Vix continued, “I don’t think we’d be better off removing the Black Stone from them, even if we could. I think the Black Stone is safer left where it is.”
“So tell them what’s going on.”
“They’ll need some sort of proof that the threat is real.”
“So we give them proof of what is coming.”
Now it was Vix’s turn to lift an eyebrow. “We?”
“Yeh, I’m the proof. I’m coming with you.”
Chapter 24
The lights of Florence reflected off the Arno River as Alyx and Jordan flew overhead following Luce, a seraphelle from the local community just south of Florence and their local guide. The giant dome of the main church of Florence, the Basilica di Santa Maria del Fiore, and the castle-like clock tower of the Palazzo Vecchio were prominent, breaking through the roofline of this Italian mortal city and shining like beacons against an inky sky.
They landed on the roof of the Galleria dell’ Belle Arti, a gray building. Luce peered over the edge of the building and then turned to face them. To Alyx she looked like a teenager who hadn’t grown into her body yet. Adding to her youthful appearance were her wild auburn locks and a smattering of matching freckles across her nose. But her no-bull attitude, which seemed to be devoid of all humor, gave Alyx the impression that Luce was a lot older than her deceptive looks. Luce had probably seen enough to rub away all the remains of the lightness of life.
“Stay low so we’re not seen from the street,” said Luce. “I shall take you to the hall that houses the statue.” She had a slight accent, her vowels sounding rounded, adding a musical note to her speech. Italian, Alyx guessed based on the fact that this Rogue came from a local community. But it was only a guess. Alyx had never been to Italy in any of her patroles, and she had to try hard not let her sights wander out over this new city. When this was all over, she would come back and explore this city, Alyx promised herself.
Alyx crept along the roof of the Galleria dell’ Belle Arti following Luce’s lead. Despite the late hour, Alyx could see that there were still groups of mortals walking the streets of Florence below.
The jumble of buildings making up the Galleria formed a square around three courtyards of various sizes. This main hall jutted off the smallest courtyard. Soon they found themselves near the roof’s edge on the side of one of the internal courtyards.
“There are windows that run along the underside of the roof,” Luce said. “I’m a MirageWeaver so I can cover us while we have a look inside.”
Alyx and Jordan took either of Luce’s hands. Alyx felt the familiar pop when Luce pushed her mirage out past her. They stepped off the building and floated to window-height.
Inside was a center hall that took up all three stories of this building, with corridors and more halls branching off it. Along all of the pale walls at mortal eye level were framed paintings. A particularly large painting took up most of one wall’s length and stretched two mortals high. Dotting the black-and-white tiled floor were various statues, frozen in their states on their pedestals.
In the very center of the hall was the Three Archangels, a black statue of three winged figures joined together by sculpted fire and smoke. It was larger than Alyx expected. She shuddered at the thought of how many weapons the Darkened could make if they were able to get their hands on this statue. One thing was for sure: all of these windows were too small to get the statue out.
Alyx’s breath hitched when a door opened below. A security guard stepped out into the courtyard. Luce shot Alyx a dirty look as if to say, shut up fool. He can’t see us but he can hear us.
Alyx held her breath while the guard finished his cigarette and went back inside.
Once they were back on the roof, Jordan said, “We’ll have to come back during the day so we can get a good look inside.” Turning to Alyx, he said, “Fancy a day at the gallery, my dear?”
Alyx nodded and pretended not to notice Jordan’s playful attitude. “That’s a good idea. We can pretend to be tourists.”
“You can both stay at our community tonight,” Luce said. “It is just outside of Florence. It’ll save you a trip back to Aradale.”
Jordan nodded. “Thank you. We are forever grateful.”
* * *
Half an hour south of Florence was the Castelli del Grevepesa, a winery on the gentle plateau of the rolling hills of the Tuscany countryside, marked by rows of vines. When Alyx broke through the mirage, the winery buildings c
ame into view, a large main building with several smaller buildings surrounding it.
Madame Belle Duago, the chief of the community, greeted them at the front of the main building. She had a lovely expressive face, chestnut hair that was wound into a bun and her hands clasped demurely in front of her off-white apron.
“Thank you for letting us stay, Madame Duago. Your hospitality is very generous,” Jordan said as he lowered himself into a graceful bow and kissed the back of her hand.
Alyx could detect a hint of a blush on Madame’s face. Strangely, she realized, she didn’t mind Jordan’s flirting.
“It is no trouble. I will do anything in my power to assist you and Tobias. He has been most generous in sharing his Mirage-guardians with us to help keep our wards up.” Her voice had the same lulling accent as Luce’s. “And please, just call me Belle.”
“Belle,” Alyx repeated. “That is not your Seraphim birth name.”
Belle nodded, “You are correct. It is preferred here that the inhabitants of our community take on a local name. It helps us to blend in more. Luce, you can retire for the evening. Thank you for your help.”
Luce nodded her head and bid her goodnights before making her way down a corridor.
“Come,” said Belle, “I shall give you a quick tour of the grounds first.”
The main building held a large wood-fire stove, a large dining hall with rustic timber benches and tables to fit the hundred or so inhabitants of the community. There was also a large living and recreation area with mismatched chairs surrounding tables piled with playing cards and hand-painted board games. Upstairs in the main building was a small library and a plain office area, similar to Tobias’s office. The rest of the main building was comprised of rooms.
Belle led them along a path from the main building to the second largest construction, which turned out to be the winery. The roof was low and made of thick wooden beams. Large wooden barrels crowded the room reaching higher than Alyx, even as they lay on their sides.
