Page 71 of Dark Angel

“I have been meaning to come by. Just a lot has happened recently.”

They both nod at her. “We heard about the killings.” Florence says in a low voice. “Shifters have been talking about it. They’re worried the Ascendancy will blame them.”

Kora’s brows furrow. “Why would they blame Shifters?”

“You know…”

Florence trails off and Theodore finishes her thought. “The carvings appear to relate to our kind. But I assure you, no Shifter in our pack has had anything to do with the killings. We have other matters to deal with.”

Florence nods in agreement.

Kora lets out an exhale. “I apologise then if they’re looking at you to blame. I’ll be sure to tell Robert when I see him next.”

“Thank you,” Theodore’s deep voice sounding grateful.

He straightens his posture on his stool as Florence asks Kora, “What brings you to the docks today?”

She looks around at the many passers walking around. She leans over the small table and Theodore and Florence follow her lead. “I am actually here to talk with an Augur.” Her voice hushed.

Florence’s ears prick up, and she pulls a thoughtful face. “Scarlett’s stall is right near here. I am sure she will be willing to help you. She is the only one I’d suggest seeing. Most Augurs, although they are truthful, often bend the truth in cunning ways.” She explains.

“Where’s her stall?”

Theodore points to the small jewel coloured tent set up a few strides away. It’s red in colour, with a small sign out the front readingScarlett Delacroix-Foreshadower and Augur.

Kora swallows before looking back at her friends. “Thank you, both of you.”

She turns to leave when Florence grabs a hold of her hand. “Are you all right to go in alone?”

Kora nods at her. “I should be fine.”

The inside of the stall is nothing like she imagined it to be.

Crimson colour surrounds her, and the tent seems to have grown in size to fit as many as ten people at once. There’s a small fireplace burning in the corner. A table sits in the centre, with a deep ruby blanket thrown over it. A chandelier hangs down from what appears to be midair.

Scarlett sits in an overstuffed red velvet seat, her dress fabric blending in. Deep red rogue swiped on her lips, vivid against her pale white skin. Her hair is a deep shade of cherries that curls down her shoulders.

“Come in dear.” She holds out her hand gently. Her fingernails are also painted crimson. It’s as if red is the only colour Scarlett can see.

Kora follows her over to the table. Pulling out a chair, they sit opposite each other. Kora didn’t notice when Scarlett was sitting far away, the small spindly looking broach on her corset.

She looks closer to admire it when it moves and hisses at her. Kora pulls back, almost falling off her chair as Scarlett smiles crookedly. “Eli does not like being touched. He’s a little shy.” Her flinty voice warns her.

“Eli?” Kora questions, staring at the broach some more. Upon closer inspection, she sees that it’s a small golden coloured spider.

Scarlett explains nicely to her. “Eli, my pet. He doesn’t bother you unless I tell him to. But if you stare at him again, he will probably spit poison into your pretty hazel eyes, young Seraphim.”

“Oh,” Kora brings her eyes back up to meet Scarlett’s deep ones, not wanting to aggravate her pet spider, “Florence told me to come and speak with you.”

Scarlett makes an understanding sound. She holds a soft coloured ruby in her hands about the size of her fist, “I see. You’re here to discover what kind of creature you truly are.” Head tilting to one side as she assesses Kora.

“I am a Seraphim.” Kora states loudly.

“You may bepartSeraphim, but there seems to be something else flowing through the blood in your veins.” She tosses the deep coloured stone in between her palms, her gaze unmoving from Kora’s. It makes Kora feel slightly uncomfortable, but she knows it’s the way Scarlett can reach inside her mind. Augur’s always use some sort of Earth element to read people’s thoughts and memories. For some it’s stones, others hold metal or dried flower petals.

“I am seeing gold.” Scarlett says abruptly.

“Gold. Gold as in my blood?”

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