Chapter Forty-Three

Chapter Forty-Three

Anora and a New Set of Rules

It’s been two days since the mausoleum.

I pace the room even though my body resists. I’m not fully recovered. I’m sluggish, and most movement causes extreme nausea…or maybe the nausea comes from the anxiety boiling in the pit of my stomach at the thought of facing the Order. Maybe it’s the anticipation of returning home to Mom, not knowing how to explain any of this to her and knowing I probably won’t ever be able to anyways.

My stomach roils. It’s Sunday, which means Mom still thinks I’m at Temple. Thank God for small miracles. Still, I’m desperate to see her, because though Bastian and Mr. Val have assured me she is safe, I won’t believe it until I see her with my own eyes.

I turn my thoughts to the present moment and the task at hand. The elite of the Order are assembling in the Council chamber as we speak—every single member, no holograms this time. They’re here to interview me, Shy, and Natalie about the events of Friday night.

I’m not sure what more they think to discover through another interrogation. Once I’d woken up late Saturday morning, I’d been questioned by Elite Cain for hours. I have no more answers left in me, nothing more to say. Thane killed the Valryn who attacked me at the vigil and kidnapped me. He was possessed by Influence and tried to kill me, so I killed him. He worked with Lennon, who also tried to kill me and can apparently control occulates. She is half Valryn. She has some crazy powers. I told them, “You better watch your back, because I’m pretty sure there are more like her.”

They didn’t like that, and they’d demanded more information about what she was capable of.

I smiled and said, “Ask Lennon.”

She is still alive, imprisoned like her father.

“You should rest,” Shy says. He’s sitting on the marble bench a few feet away in his human form, arm in a sling, blond hair a mess. His bright blue eyes practically smolder. He’s been staring at me differently since Friday night, like if he doesn’t pin me with an incredibly unnerving gaze, I might disappear, and I guess he has a lot of reasons to believe that.

“I’m fine,” I snap.

He lifts his head a little, expression unreadable. I don’t know what he thinks of me. We haven’t talked since Friday when I defended Lennon and said I didn’t trust him. Standing in the aftermath of what happened that night, I know I’m wrong, and I owe him and Natalie an apology—so many apologies.

“It’s not like the Order’s discussing your future this time,” he says. “You can relax a little. They just want to question you about Lennon and Thane.”

I’d like to repeat what I said—that I have nothing new to add—but I don’t. The Order wants to know how many followers Lennon has in the Underworld, and what exactly is the extent of her powers.

I want to know that too, but for a very different reason.

Now that everyone knows about Lennon being an abomination, will the Order continue to demonize half human, half Valryn? Or do they hope to use the powers Lennon possesses in some way? Was that why they kept her alive all along? To study her?

“What will they do to her?” I ask.

Shy mistakes my question for concern. “Don’t think about her. She can’t hurt you.”

“I’m not saying what Lennon did was right, but…experimentation, torture…those aren’t punishments, Shy.”

He doesn’t respond. Clearly, we think differently. After a moment, he rises to his feet and approaches me. Every bit of me comes alive in his presence, and it’s hard to breathe. He reaches for me, places his free hand on my waist, drawing me close so our bodies touch.

I stare at his chest, not wanting to meet his gaze. There are things we haven’t discussed, understandings we haven’t made, relationships we haven’t defined. I feel his fingers under my chin. He tilts my head upward, and then I’m caught in his gaze—a fly in a spider’s web.

“Just worry about today,” he says.

He removes his fingers from my chin, but I don’t look away.

“I’m sorry.” My mouth quivers as I speak, and Shy’s gaze melts me.

“I know,” he says and kisses me. He doesn’t pull me any closer or crush me to him, conscious of our wounds, but his lips on mine are warm and solid. Heat rushes through me, and I lean farther into him, rising onto the tips of my toes just to have more, to taste deeper. I sigh into his mouth, and the urge to crush myself to him is overwhelming. Too bad the pain in my shoulder overrides me.

Someone clears their throat, and we break apart to find Bastian in the doorway. He is in his Valryn form. I have only seen Bastian in his human form once—blond and blue-eyed, he looks far more grounded sporting black-framed glasses than he does sporting weapons and long, silver hair.

“It will never be a good idea for you two to stand that close, but it is an especially bad idea here.”

It’s easy to forget that this Valryn is both knight and parent. Bastian’s features are cold. Shy says his father always looks like this, that it doesn’t mean he dislikes me. I want to disagree. Part of the reason I don’t know where I stand with Shy is the Order and their rules against me—a human—being with him—a Valryn—in any sort of romantic way. Lennon’s powers don’t exactly instill confidence that they can control abominations. And being the Eurydice or our past connection doesn’t seem to matter. Needless to say, Bastian has a reason to dislike me.

“Need I remind you what might have happened—”

“Had someone else found us?” Shy finishes quickly, the implication being no. “They didn’t.”

Bastian narrows his eyes, promising a conversation later. Just the thought of what it might include embarrasses me.

“The Order is ready for you, Eurydice.”

I think about correcting him, requesting that he call me Anora, but I don’t want the Order to be informal with me. The goal is respect, and they can start by using my title, and after that, they can start by obeying my rules. I’m done with letting others control my life. The Order needs me if they want to stop Influence, and I am not going to let them forget that.

Anxiety knots my stomach. No one—not Elite Cain, not Bastian, not even Shy—knows what I have planned for the Order. It will throw everyone off balance, and maybe, in the end, they will kneel.

Bastian turns, holding the door open as we pass through. We walk, escorted, down marble halls toward the Council chamber. It looks the same, except the large window is crowded with thick greenery, and all twelve seats in the chamber are full.

I have to say I prefer the elites when they are mostly holograms. Facing people who are whole and solid, people with unfriendly eyes and stone-carved faces, is way more intimidating, and somehow, I feel they’re even more disapproving of me. The projection at the middle of the table moving through images of Friday night isn’t helping. They include pictures of Thane’s lifeless body, two resurrection coins, Lennon’s winged body, pools of liquid occulate… It had been one hell of a night, that’s for sure.

I take the same seat I had before, at the head of the table.

“Eurydice,” Roth purrs when he sees me. “I speak for all of us when I say we are glad to see you recovering.”

I want to scoff at his formality, but I manage a civil “Thank you” as I sweep a glance up his frame, wondering where he might be keeping Poppa’s coin.

“It is our understanding you owe your life to Luminary Roth,” says Elite Ezekiel.

I glance at Roth. I owe my life to Natalie and Shy—and mostly to myself—but clearly a different set of events has been communicated to the Order.

“You must be eternally grateful to him.”

“Very,” I say tightly.

“Eurydice,” says Elite Cain. His eyes remain on the projection at the center of the table a moment longer before someone switches it off. Now there is a clear view across the table. “Why don’t you tell us the events of Friday?”

“I have told you everything I know,” I say. “I’m not sure what more I can bring to the conversation.”

“Just your perspective, Eurydice,” Elite Cain says. I have a feeling those words are supposed to be encouraging. They aren’t.

I begin with the fight in the cafeteria between me, Shy, and Natalie, realizing Lennon was responsible for revealing Lily’s secret and my life on Roundtable, then move on to the vigil when the Valryn guard attacked me. Some looks are exchanged, as if to say How can you believe this child? I ignore them and plow through to the part where Thane kidnapped me instead of taking me home to my mother.

Elite Ezekiel interrupts me.

“So you willingly left with him because you did not think we had your best interest in mind?”

“Well, one of your own did attack me twice,” I say. “And you wanted to keep me away from my mother, the only person I have left in this world. What if something happened to her?”

“We wouldn’t let that happen, Eurydice.”

“Well, I don’t believe you.” I experience a pang in my chest, and I have this gut feeling that my words hurt Shy, but he doesn’t understand.

The elites are silent for several moments.

“Please continue, Eurydice,” Elite Gwen says.

I do. Explaining where I’d woken up, the conversation I had with Thane, that he was eaten alive by Influence and wanted his mother back. Then we move on to Lennon.

“And you say there were no signs prior to Friday night that Lennon Ryder was an abomination?” Elite Ezekiel asks.

There were signs she disliked the Valryn, but they were subtle, comments she made about Lily and Shy that suggested the two were on different sides.

“No.” I’m surprised when Mr. Val answers for me. “Lennon Ryder was one of my students. She showed no obvious signs of being anything other than human.”

I nod. “My first impression of her was that she couldn’t see the dead. She seemed bored, and I guess, in a way, she was.”

And she’d found entertainment with my coin, which translated to devastation for the rest of us.

“Tell us what you saw of her demonstrated powers,” Elite Cain prompts.

“She seemed to be able to manipulate the occulates.”

“But not Influence?”

“No. I think…it was too strong.”

“And you were possessed by Influence briefly?” Elite Ezekiel asks.

“I was.”

“How do we know you’re not possessed?”

“Because I’m not.” It’s a weak response, but I’m not sure how else I’m supposed to convince someone I’m not controlled by Influence.

“How was Influence removed from your mind?”

“I can’t…explain it.” It was too personal of an experience, and I don’t want to give these people any more of myself.

“Eurydice, you realize expelling Influence from a host is a valuable weapon?” Elite Gwen asks. I don’t like the way she looks at me, like I’m some marvel—a rare insect to study.

“Yes,” I say. “And I can’t really tell you how I did it, but I did.”

Elite Cain and Mr. Val exchange a look—a wordless conversation that says: Figure it out.

“Eurydice, you have told Elite Cain that Lennon has a following,” Elite Ezekiel says. “Have you seen it?”

“No.”

“And yet you believe this?”

“Lennon is captivating, and she has a story. Anyone jaded by the Order would follow her.”

“Including you?”

“What?” First they question whether I’m possessed by Influence, and now I’m being openly accused of treason.

“You make it no secret you despise us.”

That is a strong word. “Are you ignoring the part where she tried to kill me? Why would I follow someone who wants me dead?”

“We’re just trying to determine where your loyalties lie, Eurydice,” says Roth. I glance at him. He’s been silent this whole time. I don’t like that he’s chosen now to speak up, especially since he’s sealed my allegiance by stealing my poppa’s coin.

“My loyalty lies with myself,” I say.

Everyone is quiet, and my gaze sweeps the faces surrounding me. There is a mix of reactions. Some mistrust me. Others seem smug, almost proud. Some I can’t read, including Mr. Val.

“Very well, Eurydice,” Elite Cain begins. “You are—”

“Before I’m dismissed, I have requests for the Order.” It’s time for new rules.

The whole room tenses, even Shy, who I can feel behind me.

“You have requests?” Elite Ezekiel asks. “To make of us?”

I just stare. I won’t repeat myself.

The Valryn laughs. “This is ridiculous. You do not get to make demands of us.”

“I don’t threaten to abandon you to Influence’s power or leave lost souls on earth. I don’t even threaten to take your soul,” I say. “But you will do me this courtesy because you respect me. Is that understood?”

Another peal of laughter. It’s Elite Gwen. When I meet her gaze, her eyes sparkle. She says, “Please, Eurydice, continue.”

“First, you will grant me a patrol and access to your records. I can’t know what’s going on in my town without it. Second, I get to choose my partners. Third…”

“This is insane!” Elite Ezekiel exclaims.

“With all due respect, Elite Zeke, shut up,” Elite Gwen says.

“Third,” I say pointedly, glaring at Elite Ezekiel. “I want to be trained as a shadow knight.”

“That is absurd! You are not Valryn. We cannot teach you!” he argues.

“Why not? Is there something that prevents me from using your weapons? Will the hilts burn my hands if I touch them? Will the world come down around us if you spill the secrets of your weapons’ mastery?”

Man, I love mocking the Order.

“I don’t see the problem,” Mr. Val says. “I can easily add weapons training to her schedule. She should fight like us, especially if she is to patrol. She will be a liability otherwise, or worse, she’ll just keep using the Thread of Fate as a weapon.”

I meet his gaze, shocked that he sided with me.

Thank you, thank you, thank you.

His eyes say: Don’t thank me yet.

“We will grant these requests, Eurydice,” Elite Cain says. “Are you finished?”

“No,” I say, smiling. “I have rules for how you are to use my powers.”

No one says a thing, so I continue.

“Resurrection coins aren’t to be kept by the Order, even for research purposes,” I say, looking directly at Roth. “I will never be used as an assassin, and I am on the side of good. If I feel you have corrupted your purpose, I will no longer help you. Are we understood?”

No one responds, but I smile anyway and say, “Great. Should I draw up the contract myself?”

“Contract, Eurydice?” Elite Cain doesn’t sound surprised, just tired.

“Yes, it will be harder for you to twist any of our agreement if it is in writing, not to mention it’s likely you’ll remember my requests better in the form of a contract you must sign.”

“We will draw up the contract, Eurydice,” Roth says. “After all, we have expectations of you as well.”

I don’t like that, but at least it means they are accepting my terms. “Very well, but I plan to read it thoroughly.”

“As you wish. Is that all, Eurydice?” Elite Cain tries again.

“Just one more thing,” I say, standing. “I told you I wanted to choose my own knights. I will offer those names now: Jacobi Quinn, Natalie Rivera, and Shy Savior.”

“Eurydice, the three knights you chose are in training, not to mention on probation.”

I shrug. “We go to school together. They’re my friends. They are least likely to cause suspicion. No offense, but one of you hanging out around me is going to look creepy.”

Elite Cain pinches the bridge of his nose. I like the idea that I might give him a headache.

“I will discuss it with the commanders,” he says.

I want an answer before I leave, but I figure they’re running out of patience fast.

“Thank you,” I say.

I’m escorted out of the chamber by Bastian. Shy’s at my side. We don’t speak as we head back to Elite Cain’s office. Once the doors are shut, I find father and son staring at me like I’ve grown two heads and tentacles.

“What?” I ask.

“That was…” Shy begins but doesn’t finish.

Bastian shakes his head.

I think that’s as close to approval as I’m going to get.