Page 111 of Winterfall Destiny

"Are you asking how many alive or how many dead?" I reply casually. "Not all who take the blood survive, and those in charge lie. They tell the other kids that the dead ones are out recruiting."

"The majority of deaths are witches, I'm guessing?" says Jamie flatly.

"Gabriella's learned through trial and error that hemia make the best subjects. Obviously. Not only do they tolerate the blood better, but they can't leave in daylight. If any wanted to try, they'd only have a small window of time to escape."

"How many?" repeats Ash. "A dozen? Fifty? More?"

"Natalie thinks there's around a fifty spread through the catacombs."

"How the fuck does Gabriella have enough blood for that many kids?" asks Andrei.

"Only a few drops affected you the night at the academy," I tell him. "As long as the blood she mixes keeps a level of the First's potency, Gabriella can keep going."

"Why the hell is the First allowing this?" Ash stands, violently pushing his chair back.

"Part of the game?" I suggest. "Remember the original threat against Andrei—because he contained the blood mix from Gabriella, he'd die if his mother died? The First won't worry about the recruits because they'll die when we kill Gabriella."

"But we have to get through them all to kill her." Ash drags a hand through his hair. "How can we?"

“Hopefully most are trapped in the catacombs awaiting instructions," I say. "Nobody told the recruits when and where, only that they've an important role to play in a ritual. The kids all think they'll survive and find power in the Dominion ranks."

"But they don't know anything," protests Andrei. "This girl only knew my name; nobody else's. The idiots don't know what they're fighting for, or who they're facing."

I sigh. "Natalie told the same story as always, Andrei. A new world where the Dominion rule and the Confederacy no longer exists. Oskar replaced by Gabriella. The recruits don't understand the danger because nobody showed them the full picture."

"They're dumb bastards if they happily accept that blood," says Jamie.

"Happily?" I ask. "I don't think all volunteer."

Maeve finally sits at the table. "And these kids don't know us as the enemies?"

"Dominion are training troops to attack Confederacy targets."

"Confederacy targets where?" asks Andrei.

"Again, 'need to know' basis. They know Oskar Petrescu's name, and Natalie mentioned other names I don't recognise." I shake my head. "That part could be true, or Gabriella could just be surrounding herself with extra defence while she prepares to leave."

"And the ritual?" asks Jamie.

"I've a date. One that matches the shipping manifest. Friday."

"But what is the ritual?" presses Jamie. I arch a brow at him. "Another 'need to know' basis, huh? Are these kids completely brainwashed?"

"The Dominion achieved this once before," I say quietly. "The shifters. Academy." Ash looks away. "Natalie genuinely doesn't know what the ritual is, but whatever this involves happens in two days," I continue. "We move deeper into those catacombs and find whatever else might be hidden there."

"Like Gabriella might be holed up inside? That girl might not know everything," says Ash, as he crosses his arms over his chest. "Final boss at the end of the dungeon." I look at Andrei in confusion, who shrugs. "Like in the games. And before you say anything, yes, I know this isn't a game."

"I presume you killed your informant, Tobias," puts in Andrei. "Did you finish the guy, too?"

"No," I say softly, avoiding Maeve's eyes. "They left."

"What the fuck?" This time, Andrei jerks his chair back and stands. "Are you insane?"

"I wiped their minds of all memories from the last year," I say tersely. "They didn't deserve to die."

He chokes. "The two kids were Dominion who'd kill you if they had a chance."

"Isn't that the point, Andrei? They don't stand a chance." I drag a hand down my face, aware Maeve's eyes rest on me, but I keep mine on Andrei. "Natalie and the other kid didn't need to die. As I spoke to Natalie, the situation reminded me too much of the academy and the innocents caught in that."

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