Chapter 27

I slump over the tiled floor as I vomit again, my mouth foaming and my fingers uncontrollably twitching.

My tear streaked face presses hard against the cold floor, but I can't move.

The tiles are so white and so clean. They shine and-

I try to reach for something, to use my hands for anything, to just move because then this nightmare can be over and I can go back into that ballroom and pretend to be happy and to spout false pleasantries.

I have to get up because I promised Irene that I would do this for her, that I would go an entire evening without being my usual snarky, loud mouthed self. And I did.

Coal black eyes flash across my vision as things get blurry and I'm tipping over and... wait I'm on the floor. I fell. I can't tip over. The world is spinning and.. Oh, Irene, you came.

I blink and blink and blink and blink and the world tilts because worlds tilt, like they do. So, so, hot. My skin must be on fire and covered in nettles because I am very hot and Irene is gone and she left me because... why? No. What?

My breathing. Why can't I breathe? People breathe. Am I not a person? My eyelids close and I try to force them open, but they won't come open and I- I-

I am so sorry.

Rory Nivirah stands awkwardly in the doorway of one the many third floor meeting rooms. After finalizing a few alternate strategies, Leander had headed back to Highstone in the Halian mountains and all the Lunata Elders had only lingered top world as long as the meeting had been.

When we had finished talking they had disappeared into a plume of smoke that had nearly choked me to death on my own way out.

I motion for Rory to come in and sit. Her features remind me so much of Haley that it is hard to look at her without picturing her naked and it really grosses me out right now.

I'm trying to work without vomiting the black goo that has been at the back of my throat since last night when I had started hurling my guts up and out.

"Come. Sit."

She sits next to me with hesitation and I can feel her heightened surge of power. Her natural instincts are screaming at her to run, to defend herself against me, but she pushes it all down, ever the Lady of House Nivirah.

But I guess a true Nivirah head would never lower themselves to working with an Aculiac, or in other words, the rubbish of the world. I hate that I can really respect a Nivirah. I'm supposed to be her enemy, but I suppose I've never really followed tration and neither has she, so here we are.

She straightens her back, readying herself for whatever request she has to ask of me, "I want to know what Lunata Civitem is and I want to know how I can get my people there."

I close my eyes and sigh, so she wants to have this conversation. Fine. "I can't bring a Nivriah down there right now. The Hawthorns are the neutral house, which means they get first pick, then my long standing alliances need to be honored."

"And how do I get my people to safety and in that city?"

"Do you know about the Nivirahs history with Lunata?"

She swallows, immediately knowing where this is going, "no."

"Ravenna Nivirah led a company into Lunata. It is Lunata tradition that we host all those who haven't proven themselves guilty. Lunata is a place where anyone from any culture or background may seek asylum. Ravenna was granted the opportunity at a temporary stay. She was able to trick the wards and prosecutions put in place to avoid just this."

Rory closes her eyes, finishing my words in a knowing way, "And she attacked."

I nod, swallowing my own guilt, humiliation and the memory of fear that had overtaken me when sector two had gone up in flames, "yes. And they will not be so welcoming again."

O0oo0O

"Yes Valerie."

She smiles in amusement at my use of her full name, "Someone's on edge."

I roll my eyes in annoyance, looking briefly up to the ceiling before facing her, "I just had to tell Rory Nivirah that I was sentencing her people to death, basically. What is it?"

She frowns, brushing her fingers across her face, wiping a few stray locks of her auburn hair away, "Charlotte Night was found dead. Some suspect that it's a suicde due to the way the cuts were made, but I found evidence of foul play."

My fingers pause in their tapping out of a random rhythm on the desk as I process. Charlotte NIght was alive just a few days ago when I had last seen her. She was alive and well and breathing. Something though, is wrong. I replied the day I had last seen her back in my head. "Andromeda. Question her. Fake her death and take her into Spector holding cells. I want to know how and why by nightfall."

She dips her head slightly, "Of course. I'll get those to you soon. In the meantime" She pauses, pulling a stack of papers out of her coat, "these are good to go."

I laugh lightly, "Thanks."

She dips her chip, "of course."

O0oo0O

I lean unsteadily over a metal bucket as black goo comes up and out of my throat. I didn't sleep last night. I had tried to read up on Eulus O'Quinn as much as I could. Now I'm tired, queasy and-

Bile climbs my throat and I lean back over the bucket. I close my eyes, not wanting to see this happen to me. I empty everything in me out as I hurl and spit up the most foul looking substance.

I wipe my mouth with the back of my hands. I fall back against a few of the cabinets in here. At least marble floors are easy to clean up, right?

I look at my internal clock. Gods no. I sign, my head banging against the wall. Twenty minutes until Draven, Aaliyah and hopefully Leander show up.

I stand up on shaky legs and move myself over to the mirror.

I get a cloth out and wipe at the sweat beaded on my brow. I open a drawer and pull out a bag. I swipe some lipstick across my lips, smacking them together and I touch up my makeup as best as I can.

If only I could be as naturally beautiful as almost everyone else in this court, then I wouldn't have to try so freaking hard at a task that I absolutely loathe.

I brush a few strands of hair back and smile. It falls flat so I smile again and again and again until I get it right. When I do I walk out with it firmly planted on my perfect lips.

I lean over my dressing table and try to take my mind off of the implications of what I'm about to do. I need to bring people I can inexplicably trust to Lunata.

If they turn on me, the Elders will never have a reason to trust me again.

After Ravenna, I had done my best to fix my mistakes, but what I had done, what Ravenna had done, could not be forgotten. I would not get a third chance here.

I had sent messages to Draven and Aaliyah requesting their presence in my rooms at approximately eleven suns. A message had been sent to Leander as well, but I wasn't sure if he would be able to get here so quickly. Hopefully he had someone who could shadow port him.

I don't know him and I don't really know Draven or Aaliyah, but I trust them more than anyone else in this court. If not them, then who?

Twenty minutes. I have until then to prime myself.

I look over a few of the papers that Valerie had returned to me fully filled out in what looks to be my hand and signed in, well, my hand.

Perfect. My straight run of locks falls over my shoulder as I lean over and place my hands on the desk. I will be perfect, I have to be perfect.

I feel their footsteps when they enter my hallway. Three sets. I exhale in relief. Leander could make it. Fantastic.

I stand and continue to smile, not letting it slip. I fear that if I let myself slip, I won't be able to bring three strangers, or, well, practically strangers, into a prospering city of peace.

They don't knock, they never do. They enter looking rather somber and I can only assume they think I called them here because a progression in the war has been made early. After all, Leander had only been back in the war camps for less than a day.

This shouldn't be hard, but it is.

I don't trust my judgement. Even though I've literally been through their minds and flicked through their memories and thought process, I don't trust anything anymore. Not after Ravenna. I was so stupid and foolish, naive most of all.

I need to stop thinking and start talking. They look even more serious at my momentary silence. I laugh. Like an airhead bimbo, I laugh and I can't stop myself. I press a hand over my mouth, my eyes widening as another laugh bursts through me.

Leander steps forward hesitantly as if he thinks I've caught some sort of illness, "are you- are you okay?"

I chuckle a little, a few more laughs escaping me, my eyes crinkling at the edges before I compose myself fully and take on a serious look. "I have something important to show you three."

1657