Eighty
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Kaden
“D o you like music, Roccurem?”
The fate merely shrugged. The suit he had on was a copy of the
ones that most of the men below were wearing.
“The vibrations are pleasing at times, and sometimes not.”
A hundred bustling mortals shuffled toward their seats as the orchestra began to play. Instruments range from woodwinds, bowed string instruments, brass, and percussion, but my favorite was held by a female no more than thirty feet from me. Her arms moved as she readied the strings of her veslir. I stood on a balcony, several suit-and-tie mortals walking around behind me. Given how much had happened in the last few months, the gala was larger than I’d expected. I adjusted the thin lace mask on my face. It was identical to the ones everyone wore or held on a stick. Masquerade was the theme this evening. I folded my arms over my chest, the suit jacket bunching at my shoulders. The lights dimmed, and a mortal stepped onto the stage to announce the first act.
“You’re late,” I said, feeling him stop behind me.
“I got here as soon as I could.”
The music began slowly at first as everyone got settled in.
“Hmm,” I said, turning to face him. “Nice suit, Vincent.”
Vincent came to my side, as tense now as he was when he first started working for me. He gave Roccurem a once over, but the fate seemed to ignore him. He leaned forward, gripping the rails as he spoke.
“You are a fool to come out of hiding when everyone is looking for you.”
I ignored him, turning back toward the orchestra. The blonde woman began her solo, plucking at the strings of her veslir.
“I never understood music until coming to Onuna. The veslir has to be one of my favorite parts of this lowly world,” I said, nodding at the woman.
“It’s the smallest in its family, but oh, the pitch is the highest. I feel as though it’s overlooked at times. Sure, people know its name, but not what it
can truly do.”
“Is this another mind game?”
I slapped a hand on his shoulder, and he jumped. I spun him toward me.
“No more games, buddy. The final act is about to begin, and I need you all where I want you.”
He nodded. “It’s done. The dream eaters did their part by planting the seeds of freedom in their minds.”
I squeezed his shoulder roughly, his bones groaning in my grip. He flinched beneath my hand. “Good. Good. I need them separated for what I
have planned.”
“What happens to them? After?”
I smiled, turning back to watch the musician as she worked the instrument, coaxing beauty from it. “You know what happens. Don’t play
dumb now. It’s not your strong suit.”
“Will it hurt?”
A smirk formed on my lips as I glanced toward him. “Don’t tell me, Vincent, the leader of Onuna and The Hand, suddenly has fucking cold feet.”
His jaw tightened. “I don’t have a choice in the matter.”
“You’re godsdamn right, you don’t. You work for us. That’s it. Don’t ask me questions about the so-called family you are betraying. It’s none of your concern.” I slapped his arm twice and smiled.
Vincent remained quiet, watching the show below.
“That’s what I thought. We both know that once those realms open, you are going to wish you never aligned yourself with Samkiel.”
Vincent nodded and stepped back, straightening his jacket. “I’ll make
sure they are separated.”
“Good.”
The music rose, and I turned back toward the orchestra, the dismissal clear. I heard him take a few steps and then stop.
“He is with her, you know? Fully. It didn’t separate them. If anything, it made them stronger.”
I felt the banister under my hands creak, the wood chipping beneath my claws.
“If they complete the third act and seal the bond, she will—”
“Leave, Vincent, before I do something that even I will regret,” I growled, feeling Roccurem shift beside me.
Vincent nodded and left the balcony area. I faced Roccurem, willing myself not to rip him to pieces and ruin everything we had built and worked for. Jealousy, hot, blinding, and violent, ripped through me.
“Did you know? You said turning her would prevent that. Killing her fraudulent sister was to prevent that. Do you have any fucking idea—”
“The mark is not on her finger. You overreact like a child would.” His eyes popped open, all six of them. “I have seen a multitude of possibilities, their bonding being the least likely. The time shall still pass.”
I growled, fangs erupting from my gums. “If The Order cannot—”
“The Order will have what they wished for,” Roccurem interjected.
“What you all wished for. The death of Samkiel.”
I released the banister, small shards of wood falling onto the crowd below. The music reached its crescendo and fell, dropping the room into silence for a brief moment before the crowd below stood and applause rained. The woman bowed deeply as the curtains drew to a close.
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