Page 63 of Acedia

“Let’s go sit down, shall we?” Tallulah said cheerfully.

Damen rested a hand on the small of my back, gently guiding me into the room and into a seat, managing to help me into it in a way that felt entirely natural and gentlemanly. It wasn’t that I was opposed to accepting help or didn’t think that I sometimes needed it, but Nana’s insistence that I should be more than capable of doing everything on my own was a difficult lesson to unlearn.

“I was hoping we could start off today with a bit of a catch-up on what’s been happening in the human realm,” Tallulah began. The king and queen really wanted to be here for this conversation, but sadly, they had commitments in other parts of the realm today. King Allerick sends his assurances that both myself and Prince Damen are fully capable of acting in his stead in this regard.”

Damen jolted slightly next to me, as though the words were a surprise to him. I couldn’t understand why they would be—Damen who was nothing but thoughtful and patient and the first to lend a hand, seemed as though he could be trusted with anything.

“Cool,” Harlow said easily. I really wanted to ask Damen how old she was because she soundedveryyoung, but I wasn’t sure I could do it without anyone else overhearing. “Basically, a few of us have sort of taken over when the old guard went to jail. As I’m sure you’re all aware, there are regional councils—we’re just one. However, we’re the most influential one since we won the bid to handle the Shade negotiations. Obviously, there’s been alot of pressure from the other councils who are trying to swoop in and take over because they don’t like the direction we’re going in. Sebastian has been doing a great job at holding his ground on that front—he’s been offered millions of dollars to go and work for some of them.”

“You have?” Tallulah asked, surprised. “And you’re not interested?”

Sebastian cleared his throat. “I took on board what you said last time about being in a position to effect real change. That’s not an opportunity that can be bought. Besides, I don’t need millions of dollars in the shadow realm.”

“Do you want to stay in the shadow realm?” Damen asked dubiously.

“Yes. Perhaps I haven’t always done a good job at showing it, but I do really like it here.” He cleared his throat nervously. “I’m actually seeing someone. I think she could be the one, you know?”

There was a long silence.

“…Cora?” Damen hedged.

“What?! No.” Sebastian sounded appalled. “She’s, like, nineteen. I’m not even sure she likes men? I’m dating a Shade. Cosima.”

“That’s amazing,” Tallulah gushed. “So you’re going to stay here?”

“If the option is available to me,” Sebastian replied uncomfortably.

“I don’t see why it wouldn’t be.” Damen stretched his arm over the back of my chair. “I don’t think you’ll be invited to any parties hosted by the Duke and Duchess of Lindow, but other than that, I’m sure you’ll fit in just fine.”

“I can live with that,” Sebastian agreed.

“So we’re in agreement that if Hunters want to move here, they can?” Harlow confirmed.

“As long as they’re respectful of our realm, sure,” Damen replied. “It’s probably best for them to do a test run of sorts the way Sebastian did to make sure they like it and they get along with everyone. But yes. We’d like to fuel the power stores… that way. Rather than the old ways.”

“In Elverston House,” Tallulah added. “Where Meera and Verner are acting as dorm parents of sorts.”

“That seems reasonable,” Harlow agreed. “Feeding is the big issue we need to come to an agreement on, though.”

“Yes,” Tallulah said. “While there’s a preference to have more ex-Hunters in this realm to keep the energy stores filled… that way.” She cleared her throat, and I could have sworn Damen snickered quietly next to me. “We appreciate that the likelihood of being fully self-sufficient is remote at this stage. It’s a big realm, there are a lot of Shades to feed. They’re going to need to be able to supplement by visiting the human realm.”

And scaring humans.

I fidgeted a little, struggling with the morality of that notion having grown up being repeatedly told how awful it was.

“It would be our preference that Shades returned to the human realm to feed. At least some of the time,” Harlow added.

“That’s your preference?” I asked, surprised. I hadn’t actually meant to speak—I didn’t feel qualified to add anything of value to this conversation—but the words had come out unbidden.

“Sure,” Harlow agreed. “Fear isn’t inherently a bad thing. The kind of fear that Shades instill when they feed is like a warning bell in the back of your mind, reminding you to be aware of your surroundings, to assess your risks, to not be reckless. You’d be surprised at how eerie the effects are when that suddenly disappears from society overnight.”

I hadn’t thought about it that way. No—I hadn’t beentaughtabout it that way. The kind of fear Harlow was describing didn’t sound that bad. The way Nana had described it, the humanvictims were writhing on the floor in agony, trapped in an endless loop of horror within their own heads.

“I appreciate how dangerous it is for you guys there, even if our region is a strict safety zone,” Harlow was saying.

“Is that the intention?” Damen asked.

“Yes. I’d like to reassign the existing patrols for that purpose. To keep those who don’t agree with our new policy out of our area.”

---