House of Ravens (The Nightfall Chronicles Book 2) (5 page)

Carter bows. "Consider it done. You will have your keys by the end of the weekend."

"Thanks."

Carter returns upstairs and I continue training. To keep the conversation going, I ask a question I've been curious about since finding out what I am. "How do you turn someone into Nephilim?"

He pauses. "You're losing focus, but okay. First, the person must be drained of blood."

"So you feed from them."

"Yes, but if they lost blood another way, say an injury, that would suffice."

I stop my training for a moment. "Did you have to feed off me?"

"Yes. You were bleeding out, but I needed to speed up the process. There was an Angel there, after all."

I resume the drill, performing a block, then a strike. "What next?"

"You feed the person your blood, usually by cutting open your wrist. The Nephilim blood replaces the human, and the person begins to change."

"How long does it take?"

"It's different for everyone, but it often takes a while to awaken."

I remember waking to find the Angel gone, my parents dead. I finish my form, a thought occurring to me. "Zorin, if you knew where I could find the Angel, would you tell me?"

His face is cold. "I'd tell you what you needed to know."

I see he is conflicted. I need—

"Important news, Scarlett," says Evie.

"Show me."

An image of an apartment building surrounded by Bruisers and Officers appears. The reporter speaks. "As you can see, the Zeniths have taken everyone in the building hostage, and the Inquisition has the area surrounded. The terrorists don't seem to be part of a known group. We don't know if any demands have been made—" I stop the video and message TR and Trix.

"We need to rescue the hostages," I say over the eGlass.

"We can't go against Zeniths," TR replies. "Not publicly. Let the Orders handle it."

"I don't trust them. If Inquisition messes this up, both the hostages and Zeniths will die."

Trix speaks through the eGlass. "One of our guys has eyes on the area. Looks like the Zeniths have snipers at the windows. There's no way in."

I unleash my wings and fly out of the Cathedral. "I'll find one." I tell them my plan.

"You can't save everyone," says TR.

He's wrong.

I can save them all.

I wonder if this is my fault, if the terrorists were inspired by my threats at Jax's execution. I was bluffing, but the world didn't know. From now on, I must be more careful with my actions.

Trix meets me in the sewers. TR and Zorin position themselves in the building across from the terrorists. We will convince their leader to free the hostages. If that fails, we'll free them ourselves.

I pinch my nose as I trudge through water and filth.

Trix chuckles. "What's the matter, N, not used to the sewers?"

"The smell is unpleasant." The smell is horrible, but I'm trying to look composed.

"Why'd don't you just fly over it?"

I can, but Trix can't, and right now, I need to build camaraderie. I need her to see I'm willing to get dirty like the rest of them. "I like walking. Don't you?"

"Sure, N. I'd rather walk than fly any day." The sarcasm is thick.

We share a smile.

"Are we almost there?" I ask.

She checks her eGlass. "Five feet away."

I raise my eyebrow, though it's hidden under my mask. "You say feet when I would say meters. Why don't you use the universal system?"

She shrugs. "My mom and I worked on a lot of old vehicles, used a lot of old parts. Quarter-inch bolts. Twelve-foot tape measures. That's what I know."

"My family was…" I debate how much to tell her. "My family was modern. They liked to live small, away from big cities, but my mom was a tech genius and kept our technology fairly up-to-date."

"Tech genius, huh? That explains a lot. Sounds like our moms were pretty awesome."

I stop walking. "Yeah, she was."

"What happened to her?"

"She fought a battle she couldn't win."

She grips my shoulder. "I'm sorry, N."

I try to keep my emotions buried. This is not the time. I start walking again. "We've all lost things."

"It doesn't make it easier."

"How'd you deal with it? When your mother passed?"

"My mother's still out there."

"Oh, sorry." I never imagine her with living parents. When I see the Dark Templars, I see people like me, with nothing to lose. Perhaps I am wrong.

"Don't be sorry, N. My mom and I, we haven't seen each other since the War. She didn't like that I volunteered."

"She was looking out for you. You were looking out for others."

She stares down the tunnel. Her eyes are distant. "Yeah, I suppose. I know I said I joined to help the soldiers. It's what I tell everyone, but really… I joined for a boy."

I want to ask what she means, when Evie speaks into my ear. "Scarlett, you are in position."

"Thanks, Evie." I turn to Trix. "Time to do your thing."

Trix grins. She flips her automatic rifle over her shoulder and jumps. She flies higher than any human and thrusts her open hand against the ceiling. A ring of red explodes from her palm, turning the stone into lava and then ash. It happens in the blink of an eye. I've never seen her powers in full force before. I'm glad she's on my side.

As Trix falls back down, so does the white dust, revealing a hole that leads inside the steel building. We both jump through it and land in a wide hallway. Trix grabs her rifle and scans the area. We're clear.

"Evie, hack the cameras." She does, showing me images from the different rooms. The hostages are all in one location, surrounded by ten Zeniths. The terrorists wear thick blue armor, military grade, making them look more machine than human. Where did they get the gear?

The top level is dark, the windows covered in metal. A lantern on the ground lights one side, casting the shadow of someone sitting alone. I can't make out the details, but this must be their leader.

Trix points her rifle at the double doors before us. "What's the plan, N?"

"We request a meeting. Evie, the military helmets will be equipped with eGlasses. See if you can contact one. Tell them Nightfall wishes to meet their leader."

"N, they're here," Trix says.

What?

Two armed Zeniths, their armor so large they tower over us, enter through the doors. How could they get here so fast? There were no Zeniths near us, unless…

"The cameras have been tampered with," I say.

Trix grits her jaw, finger on the trigger and ready to shoot.

I raise a hand, gesturing her to hold.

One of the Zeniths speaks. He sounds as if he's speaking through a radio. "Nightfall, we are here to escort you to our leader. He is very eager to speak with you."

I don't like this. Someone is anticipating my actions. But I don't have a better plan. "We have many things to discuss."

The Zenith tilts his gun at Trix. "You must come alone."

"I will, but my companion must not be harmed."

"Very well."

I step forward. A voice speaks through my eGlass. It sounds manipulated. "Don't go with them, Nightfall."

"Who is this?"

"Call me Crixus, leader of the Red Eagles."

Two shots explode from behind us, hitting the Zeniths in the head. They collapse, and I turn to see two people in the same heavy armor. But unlike the Zeniths, their armor is black. A red eagle is painted across their chests.

The voice in my ear continues. "These are two of my soldiers. You can trust them. They will escort you out of the building."

"No. I need to save the hostages."

The voice sighs. "My contacts have informed me this is a trap. If you stay, you will be captured."

Trix moves her gun from one soldier to the other. "N, what's going on? Why are the Red Eagles here?"

"They want to help," I tell Trix. I speak into my eGlass "Why?" I ask Crixus.

"You and I share an enemy. We can be very useful to each other."

"Why are you contacting me now?"

"Because trust is a rare thing in our line of work, and I want you to trust me, Nightfall. So please, accept my help."

I've waited eagerly for contact from another rebel leader, but I never imagined it would happen like this. I want to establish an alliance with Crixus, but I can't accept his offer. I can't let people die. "I will free the hostages."

"Very well," says Crixus. "My soldiers will depart. But remember, I offered help in a time of need." His signal ends. The soldiers turn and disappear around a corner.

Trix keeps her gun at the ready. I have my hand on my sword. There have been too many surprises today.

"Evie, how did Crixus contact me?"

"He hacked your eGlass."

I shudder. I thought Evie's security was unbreakable. I'll have to figure out a way to upgrade her. This can't happen again.

Trix grabs my shoulder, startling me. "N, you still want to do this? What if their leader doesn't want to listen?"

I smile to put her at ease. "I can be very convincing."

"Not if they put a bullet in your head."

"We have no other choice."

"I know, but this… this doesn't feel right."

"I know." I tap my eGlass. "Evie, contact them."

"What shall I say about their two dead men?"

I shrug. "Tell them to check their cameras. I had nothing to do with it. I seek a peaceful solution."

"Very well. I've made contact." I check the cameras. Four armored Zeniths enter an elevator, heading towards us. So not all the video feeds have been edited. I can use that.

"They're on their way," I say. "Evie, loop the video from here to the room adjacent to the hostages, but keep my feed original. Trix, take position. Be ready for plan B."

"Okay, N. Be careful." She holds my eyes for a moment, then disappears past the doors.

A moment later, the Zeniths arrive. In case their orders are to shoot me on sight, I'm ready to unleash my wings and charge them. I pray my swords skills are enough to win.

I don't get to find out. The Zeniths surround me in a square and escort me to the elevator. One of them asks, "Where's the other one?"

I speak casually. "She left."

We don't speak again.

The elevator stops at the top floor, and the Zeniths lead me to a door at the end of the hall. According to my eGlass, this is the dark room with fortified windows. Evie informs me that Trix is in position. I tap out a message to TR.

You have eyes on Trix?

He responds.

Have eyes on her and the hostages.

Zorin should be right beside him. I hope they can cooperate long enough for us to succeed. I message him.

Don't act without my command. The situation is delicate.

He responds vocally. "If it's between you and the hostages. I'll choose you." I appreciate his response, but... my life shouldn't matter more than others.

The Zeniths open the door and gesture me to enter. I do, and they close the door behind me, leaving me in near darkness.

The floor is tiled marble. The room is large, but empty except for the lantern and the man. He sits cross-legged, his back to me. His breathing is deep and slow, and I feel it radiating through the room. His hair is dark brown and twisted into a ponytail. When he stands, I realize he is a head taller than me, if not more. His body is thick and muscled. Black and gold armor clads his body, and it's not like the armor of the others. It's thinner, shaped for his figure. It's the armor of a Knight. Of a King. As he turns, the light catches his black cape. And reveals a golden raven.

"Varian," I say, jumping back, my heart pounding.

He grins. His voice is deep and his purple eyes penetrating. "You wanted to talk. So let us talk."

I can't talk. I can't think. This is the man who matched Nyx in combat. The man who ended the Nephilim War. And he's here to end me.

I yell into my eGlass. "Trix, get the hostages out, now." I watch her on my screen. She turns a wall into ash and jumps in, firing her rifle. Evie switches the camera, showing me the next room.  Trix shoots down two armored Zeniths. A third collapses, shot down by TR. The eight hostages are on their knees, heads down, arms behind their backs. A Zenith terrorist threatens to kill one. His helmet shatters from a sniper rifle bullet.

Zorin speaks through my eGlass. "Scarlett, what's wrong? What happened?"

My voice trembles. "It's Varian. He's here. Save Trix and get everyone out!"

"Run, Scarlett! I'm coming."

I will my body to move. Everything feels slow. I fly toward the door, and Varian draws one of his blades. It extends, turning into a whip. He snaps it forward. The whip grabs my ankle and pulls me back. I slam into the ground.

My head pounds as everything appears to speed up again. I untie the whip and crawl back on my feet. Varian does not move. His blade recoils, turning solid once again. He has an eGlass and seems to be watching the fight going on below. He must have bypassed Evie's looping of footage. "I wondered if you would choose to rescue them."

On my screen, TR and Trix take out two more terrorists—no, two more soldiers.

I draw my sword and face Varian. "You'd use innocents to lure me? You'd lie to your people?"

He chuckles. "The people are pawns, and I their King. I will manipulate them again and again to win. But, innocents… Nightfall, you disappoint me."

What's he talking about… the hostages aren't innocent. They can be criminals or…

No.

"Trix, get out of there!"

I'm too late.

Varian whispers something into his eGlass, and the hostages rise, drawing pistols from under their clothing. They aim at Trix. She shoots one down. A soldier smacks the back of her head with his baton. She falls to her knees. All ten remaining soldiers aim at her. There were never any hostages.

"Stop!" I yell. "Don't hurt her."

Varian whispers an order, and the soldiers hold their ground. "Wouldn't it be sad if Trix never saw her mother again?" he asks.

His knowledge stuns me. "You bugged the sewers. Because of how I rescued the Shadow of Rome. You knew I'd use them again."

He smiles. "Finally, you're thinking. Tell me, what happens next?"

My mind rushes through the possibilities. There's only one. "I surrender."

"That's it?" He shakes his head. "You are nothing compared to Nyx." His answer surprises me. He wanted a challenge, and I gave none. I've been playing a game, only to find out I barely know the rules.

Varian taps his eGlass. "Execute the Shadow of Rome on my command."

"No, please. I'll come with you."

His voice is cold. "You will come with me, and the Shadow of Rome will die."

TR pleads into my ear. "Nightfall, you need to do something. You need to save her."