by Mari Dietz
17
Vic
Vic winced as she turned her head, the brand still raw. She touched the brand gingerly and hissed. They hadn’t bothered to bandage it before throwing her into the cell. Maybe if she died from infection, it would make their lives easier.
She scanned the dim cells, and she was alone in this one. There was a young woman in the cell next to hers. It had to be who she’d seen before passing out. The woman huddled next to the bars and shuddered every so often.
“Hey, are you okay?” Seeing she was locked up in a dungeon, probably not. “Why are you here?” Maybe that was a better question.
The young woman raised her head. Deep red rimmed her irises, and black veins branched out on her face. It wouldn’t be long before she changed. At this stage, they’d already lost their human self.
“Hungry.”
Vic slid farther back until she felt the stone wall behind her. “Yeah, me too.”
The woman continued to stare at Vic.
“I don’t plan on being your next meal.” Something wet soaked into Vic’s shirt from the wall.
The woman blinked hungrily at Vic.
“Nice place you have here.” Vic looked everywhere but at the woman. She hadn’t known about these cells, but she’d only been at Nyx for a few weeks. She had a feeling most Nyx reapers didn’t know this place existed.
The metal bars were melded into the stone by magic. Vic placed her hands on the damp metal to see if any were loose. Kai might know she was here, but he couldn’t do anything. His family needed him more. He might have a hard time explaining why Vic hadn’t been wearing the band. She didn’t know if Xiona would believe him. There was a reason Xiona had never told him about what they were doing to the citizens, and if Vic knew anything, it was that Xiona wasn’t a fool.
If Ethan Nordic was part of this, other founders might be involved. Tristan, his son, likely knew as well.
Vic sat in the middle of her cell. She needed to get out of here first. Then maybe she could think of what to do about GicCorp. She placed her chin on her knees. The world had to be bigger than Verrin. Maybe she could get her relic and take her chances out in the swamps. This would mean leaving Em and Kai behind. She hoped there was something better out there.
A pattering of footsteps interrupted her thoughts. Xiona stopped in front of the bars to her cell.
“Like your room?”
“Could smell better.” The secret dungeon didn’t get any outside air. “When did your job become about profit instead of saving people?”
Xiona ran a finger along the metal bar of the cell. “No one gets charged if there isn’t enough blight to purify. Remember that, Glass.”
“I’ll try. It gets harder when you see innocents who are barely surviving getting sacrificed.” She dug her fingernails into her legs and let the pricks of pain give her courage.
Xiona’s expression grew cold. “What would you know about their lives? You spent a few months on the streets and now you understand their struggle? Deep down, you knew Daddy would come and save you before you starved.”
Vic jumped up and slammed her hand on the bar next to Xiona’s face, but she didn’t flinch. Pain flared in her hand from the strike. “You don’t know me either.”
“Rich girl problems. I’ll pass. Ready for the show?” She approached the cell of the woman now rocking back and forth.
“What are you going to do with her?” Vic asked, but she already knew.
“Sometimes, it’s easier to have the mog change here.”
Vic’s throat felt dry as she glanced at her neighbor.
Xiona’s voice grew quiet. “Pay attention, rich girl. No one cares about the poor.”
The woman in the cell moaned, a deep feral sound of pain, then a sound like bones cracking followed.
“It’s reforming,” Xiona noted in a bored tone.
“She.”
“It doesn’t matter.” Xiona took out her scythe and flicked it open.
The woman’s bones crunched, and the skin broke open, reforming. The blood and muscle turned black as her head elongated. The ligaments and muscles squelched around the bones. Her moaning spoke of hunger and pain. In one slobbery gulp, the mog scooped up the glops of skin that had fallen off its body.
Vic had never seen the transformation since most corrupted souls went underground before it happened. Before the mog could adjust, Xiona thrust her scythe in and absorbed the blight. As a new mog, it didn’t need more than one reaper. Its skin and bones fell into a heap on the ground, and some of it leaked through the bars into Vic’s cell.
“I’m surprised you don’t feed it to make it larger.”
“Only for the trials.”
Vic swallowed. “You don’t go out and find them?”
Xiona stepped back from the melted skin. “Is there a special on naivete today? Had you kept your little nose out of everything, you would have been happy here.”
“I guess my nose is too large.” Vic stepped away from the mass of skin creeping into her cell. “Are you going to do that to me?”
Xiona flicked her scythe shut. “Can’t.”
“I’m in a cell. How is my family name protecting me?” If her father didn’t know she was down here, he couldn’t help her. They might have a problem explaining to him how she’d gone missing.
Xiona stared at Vic, her dark eyes searching for something. “Your birth gave you something, but you probably won’t like what it is.”
“Gave me what?” Vic frowned. All the webs connected in her mind, but there was something left unsaid.
“I think you’ve learned enough. Your fate will be sealed soon.” Xiona sneered. “Maybe you would have been better off poor.”
Her footsteps echoed up the stairs, and the stone wall grated shut. The other cells were empty, but her orb was still in her neck. The only way out was through her cell door, and she would have to wait until someone opened it. The smell of the mog filled the dungeon, and there were no windows to let in fresh air. Vic stayed in the corner and knew she would only get one chance to escape.
Hours passed, and she didn’t know what time it was anymore. The grate sounded, and she heard more than one set of footsteps.
“This was better than marrying me?”
Tristan stood in the basement next to Xiona. His clean and expensive contrasted with the dirty cells.
“If you knew about these cells, then yes.” She shouldn’t have been surprised since she’d assumed earlier that he was involved.
Tristan looked her over and avoided the small puddles that gathered on the stone floor. “Get her cleaned up and under control.”
“I don’t know why you care,” Xiona replied
“She wants her there.” He smoothed his lapels. “It’s the least I can do for Emilia and the vital ceremony.”
Xiona shook her head. “You will regret this kindness.”
“Perhaps.” His bored gaze spoke of power and money that could solve any problem Vic might create.
“What’s going on?” Vic asked.
Dread filled her. How would they control her? Put her on a leash for the ceremony? That would raise a few brows among the founders.
“It saddens Emilia that you won’t be there. As a gift to her, you’ll go.” His eyes hardened. “After all, she has a higher calling, and this will be the last time you see her.”
Vic’s hopes rose. This was it, her way out.
Tristan’s calm voice stated her fate: “Maybe we should purify her. That would solve many problems.” The corner of his mouth turned up. This must have been the plan all along.
Her heart sank. She recalled Samuel’s glazed eyes. A film of sweat formed on her forehead at the thought of becoming a radiant. “No need. I’ll be good.”
Xiona scoffed. “I’ll get a radiant here. It’ll make her more cooperative. Good thinking.”
Tristan nodded. “Emilia cares so much about you. I hope this gift will give her peace before she enters her new life.” His teeth flashed at the
mention of the word life, his tone flattening.
Vic grabbed the bars. “What do you mean? Why does it sound like Emilia won’t be alive?”
“Don’t you know you won’t see her again after today.” He frowned, his previous look fading and the company line remaining intact. “Unless the radiant don’t understand what’s around them, so maybe dinner will be the last place you see her.”
“Why? What are you going to do to her?” She tried to grab him through the bars. The metal scraped against her skin.
“You know the vitals keep us alive and safe. They live a happy life in Haven. She will be part of that. Much better than making glass.” Shadows crossed his eyes.
Vic shook as she gripped the bars. She wanted to take him by the hair and slam his face into the metal. All she could do was stare at him angrily. Vic wanted to throw herself at the walls or do anything besides just being trapped here, waiting for her life to end.
Tristan spoke, “Do it soon. We’ll need to clean her up after. The ceremony is only a few hours away.”
They left as if they’d discussed the weather and not the stealing of Vic’s magic. This couldn’t be it. The way he’d spoken about the vitals had sounded off. They protected Verrin, which had been all well and good until it was her sister leaving. He’d made it sound different from what she’d been taught. A sick feeling filled her. Vic paced the cell and slammed her hands on the stone. Blood came off in a smear, and she resisted the urge to scream.
When the grating of the door sounded again, she positioned herself to attack. They weren’t taking her magic without a fight.
“Very dirty down here.”
William had never looked so good in his ridiculous white uniform. He stood next to Xiona and six reapers. He was more rumpled than usual, and there was a wildness to his eyes.
William looked hesitant. “She doesn’t want to become a radiant.”
Xiona brought out a large key ring. “It’s better if you just do your thing, okay?”
“Understood.”
Xiona opened the door. Before Vic could bolt, the reapers pinned her down and chained her to the wall. Then Xiona shoved William in and locked him inside.
“This should be a private moment, even if she’s unwilling,” William stated.
“I don’t care. You have five minutes.”
Vic backed into the wall. The chains provided her little movement. “What are you doing?”
“They wanted my father, but he wasn’t around.” His back to Xiona, he widened his eyes, his pupils moving. He was telling her something, but he couldn’t say it.
“How are you okay with this?” Vic asked.
He got closer but blinked in a weird pattern. “There’s too much magic in the world. Accept this fate and live a pure life.”
His eyes widened and squinted over and over, but Vic couldn’t read what he wanted her to know.
If she could get to her sister’s ceremony with her mind intact, she’d drag her out of there. The way Tristan had talked about the vitals made her more nervous about her sister leaving. How could she save her sister if William purified her?
William made his eyes go blank, then normal, then blank again, continuing the pattern. Did he want her to pretend to be a radiant? He quirked his brow as if asking if she understood.
She could try. Vic made her eyes lose focus and tried to smile vacantly while William blocked her from view. She focused on him again, and he briefly nodded.
Xiona clanged something against the metal bars. “Hurry up, radiant!”
“Hold still, magic user.” William reached toward her with his relic.
Her throat tightened. She had to trust him. She struggled against the chains until he placed his hand on her. Then, just like she’d seen during his cleansing ceremony, she relaxed and fixed her face to look like a radiant.
“It’s done.” William gave her one last look before he turned. He acted worried that Vic couldn’t pull it off.
Vic pictured her sister’s face. I have to. Her anger toward him about his brother still thrummed inside her, but his eyes were red, and his gaze flittered around the cell as Xiona entered to release her from the chains. He was hurting too.
“About time.”
Vic let her arms relax at her sides, and she waited for William to tell her what to do. Her mind raced, and she focused on keeping her expression easy.
“Let’s go, radiant.” Xiona turned her back, and Vic’s gaze flicked to William.
He nodded again. She must have been doing okay.
Vic schooled her expression and let William guide her. Part of Vic wanted to burst through and run, but if she did, she might never see her sister again.
“I should stay with her since she doesn’t yet have an occupation. She may get lost.” William took hold of her hand and led her out of the cell.
“Fine. We need to clean her up.”
“So you said on the way here.” He held her and didn’t shake. Vic admired how calm he stayed.
Vic didn’t dare glance around, so she couldn’t see Xiona’s face. William guided her up the stairs, his hand warm in hers. Her mouth already hurt from smiling for so long. Was she really that angry of a person that it hurt to smile? Xiona stepped in her line of sight and led them to a room with a shower. A light green dress hung in the corner.
“Can a radiant bathe themselves?”
William bristled next to her. “Yes.” To Vic, he said, “Shower and get dressed. Be quick.”
Once the door shut, there was no need to tell her twice. She looked for a window but found none. Part of her wanted to run out of the city, but she couldn’t leave her sister behind. They would make it in the swamps. With her fighting skills and Emilia’s glass making … they probably wouldn’t stand a chance, but the fate that awaited her was ominous.
Vic let the water clean off her time in the cell. She washed fast since she didn’t know when Xiona would be back. After the shower, she toweled off and slipped on the dress and shoes. It was a simple yet elegant dress fit for a founder. There was a bandage next to the sink for her to cover her neck. Only a few people knew of her rebranding. Her vision blurred as she covered the ugly black square on her neck. These bandages were not imbued. It figured Xiona wouldn’t give her relief from the pain.
She sat down and arranged her face into a blank expression. It was so odd, but she had to remind herself to blink.
The door opened, and William took her hand again and led her out. Then her heart fell when she saw Kai next to Xiona.
His words came out harshly as he demanded, “What did you do to her?”
Vic didn’t dare look at him directly. He could ruin everything.
“She’s safe now. Don’t worry,” William replied.
Kai took a step closer, but Xiona blocked him. “I thought your loyalties were not in question. Why do you care what happens to her? You can get any woman to sleep with you.”
Kai backed off, and William led her away. She wanted to reach out to him, but he would understand. He wanted to protect his mother and sister. Right now, she needed to protect her sister.
She followed them down to the courtyard where a car waited for them. Xiona waved them inside.
“You’re to take her to the ceremony and then give her to your family when it’s over.” Xiona slammed the door shut.
When they pulled out to the road, Vic relaxed but stayed still. The driver would notice something, and he used his magic to run the car. William said nothing either, his gaze on the swirling blight in the sky.
They arrived in a mass of cars and slowly inched up the drive. Guests got out one by one, and when it was their turn, the greeters recognized Vic. They smiled at her, but she stayed expressionless.
Some of them gave her and William a wide berth, as if they thought they might get purified next.
It made it easy for William to navigate through the crowd. They found a place to stand near the wall to wait for the ceremony to begin.
“What’s the plan?” Willi
am asked without looking at Vic.
She kept up her blank expression. “It’ll have to happen after. I need to get her alone.”
“I don’t see that happening.”
Vic squeezed his hand. “Then I’ll blow my cover and drag her out.”
He sighed and adjusted his cuffs. “You may be better off letting me take you out of here rather than breaking your cover. If GicCorp thinks you’re a radiant, you’ll be safe in radiant territory.”
Safe? She could do that. Be safe and free. She could pretend to be magicless for the rest of her life. Smiling and following orders. Never hearing from her sister again. She tried to puzzle out Tristan’s intonation when he’d talked about the vitals. Had she imagined the way his tone had been off when he’d talked to her? Her heart gave a sharp pang. How had things fallen apart so fast? Her father had changed, their house had fallen apart, and the reapers were now the bad guys. Now here she was, trying to rescue her sister while surrounded by founders.
The crowd quieted down, and Tristan walked to the stone table with his parents. An elegant metal rod with a marble handle waited next to a paint palette. Emilia, a vision in a cream gown, stood between their mother and father. The rest of the vitals formed a semicircle around the Nordic family, with their parents next to them.
Vic looked at the parents’ faces. Most had a sense of pride, but there was also sadness in the air. Those left behind were told that they’d live out their lives connected to magic and have their own families. The vitals looked nervous, and a few retained calm smiles. After all, they were heroes.
Ethan Nordic spoke, “With the blight entering our world, many were lost to the corrupted magic. Our founders made a way to purify the magic, but it requires isolation and a connection to this new relic. For those who are connected to it, if they go too far away, they will die.”
Ethan continued, “Those with the strongest relics are the only ones who can connect to the magic.” He put on a kindly expression. “Given this power, we understand the sacrifice we must make. All of us here have said goodbye to our children, knowing they will save the city while we run it in their trust.”