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They both forgot about Nadia.
And Neelofar’s gift to her.
She pulled the knife out from between Kassemyr’s ribs and pushed it into his chest, piercing his heart.
Nadia saw his eyes widen through the eye holes in the mask. Then he sank to the floor, his hand releasing Darrow’s throat. His body began smoldering, turning to blazing embers of fire, right there on the tiles.
Nadia yanked her knife free and she and Darrow backed up, Darrow clutching at his damaged throat and neck.
“You need to leave,” Nadia told him. Unlike him, she was looking around. There was a moment of chaos while the donors and Wraiths were trying to get a read on the situation. No one noticed the death of Kassemyr because there were other burning vampires in the throne room. There had been more than hybrids guarding the Palace.
“What?” Darrow croaked.
“You need to leave, Darrow,” she said and got him to his feet by forcibly helping him. “What you did won’t matter to them.” She indicated the door behind the dais where the throne had once stood. “Leave now. Take the tunnels. None of us are down there yet. Do not take off that mask until you’re outside.”
He nodded and then did what she said, heading for the door and leaving them behind.
Nadia turned back to the chaos which slowly developed into confused calm. The hybrids were dead. Kassemyr too. Yet Nadia didn’t join in the joy when she looked up toward the gallery and saw a few Ghosts there, looking down, Harmiston among them. The look on his face as he stared down at the dead beasts, was one of pained acknowledgment of what he’d just been a part of. It was a pain she wished she could take away, yet knew from a long life as a Wraith that she couldn’t.
* * *
It wasn’t until the next day that they deemed it safe to take off the gas masks inside the Palace. The city mages helped clear the air by using their magic which among some of them was honed to clear air of toxins.
Nadia walked through the mostly quiet hallways and corridors, her blue clothes marking her as a Ghost and giving her access just about anywhere in the building. The courtiers had begun to come back but none could live inside yet. There was a lot of clearing out to do after Kassemyr’s hybrids had trashed much of the place. Now, his legacy existed as dead hybrids being carried out of the throne room. That place was a mess with all the blood and ashes from dead vamps mixed in. Which was why Nadia was headed to the Queen’s chambers in the north wing instead.
She had been summoned and didn’t know if this was bad or not. She’d been put to work the moment everyone had been able to gather themselves, which for the Wraiths and Ghosts had been quick. They’d helped the traumatized donors out of that hall of horror and otherwise kept watch and brought messages back and forth all day. Half the Wraiths had been dispatched to the Shade to handle the few hybrids who’d been keeping guard in there. Corrine had told her a few Wraiths had fallen in the process. That had been the case inside the Palace too for both the Wraiths and the Ghosts.
“They told me to come,” Nadia told the Ghost outside the door when she reached the Queen’s chambers. She was let inside and found her way by following the murmur of controlled voices into a large office. The elegant and no doubt expensive rooms had been left alone. Nadia suspected Kassemyr had taken this place as his own.
“Sentinel,” Queen Isona said. The Queen had been led into the Palace shortly after the demise of the hybrids, after the first sweep to ensure it was safe. She sat on a cream-colored sofa instead of behind the large stone desk in there. Nadia gave the odd piece of furniture a curious glance but thought it fitting considering they all lived in a vast cave.
“Ma’am,” she greeted Isona. There were other people in the room—the Queen’s counselors, a few Ghosts including Marika and Kary, as well as a few Wraiths. Nadia gave a quick nod of acknowledgment to both Terys and Atherton. Most of all, she wanted to talk to Harmiston who stood in the room, a few steps to the side of Suchin and a few of her fellow mages. Something about that situation made Nadia’s heart sink. Whatever was happening here, it wasn’t good. She’d promised Harmiston she’d do anything to help him avoid the Spellbound Halls, and she had meant that. But what if they took him there before she could intervene? She’d hoped they’d have more time.
“I’m glad to see you’re doing well, Sentinel,” Isona said with a friendly smile.
“Thank you.” Nadia frowned. “But if I may … what is going on?”
“I forgot you’ve been on guard duty. We have taken back the city and the Wraiths have done an admirable job in the last hours of rooting out most of Kassemyr Temedius’ followers. Our dungeons are quite full. I hear there are celebrations in the city and that my presence is requested, but we have a few things to take care of first.”
“Yes, that’s what I meant, Ma’am. What’s going onhere?” Nadia pointedly looked at Harmiston who didn’t meet her eyes. That was even more disconcerting.
“Are you taking him to the Spellbound Halls?” she asked and didn’t care about being blunt in front of the Queen. Harmiston was too important to her.
“You disapprove?”
“Yes. Wholeheartedly.”
“Why?”
“He’s done nothing to deserve being shut in there, as I’m sure none of the other mages have either. Other than being born. They’re not to blame for what our ancestors did.”
“Nadia,” Harmiston said, and she turned toward him. This time, he did meet her gaze. “I think I should go.”
“No! That’s not what you—”
“Is his opinion not something that matters?” Isona asked, seemingly innocently.
“What? No. Of course it is. But I know you Harm, and you’re not thinking straight right now. You feel guilt for all those who died when you set off that bomb, despite their cruel actions. But we all share responsibility for making that happen. And it was the only way to stop them. You know how strong they were. You fought them with me.”
