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“What did you say your last name was?” Talon’s voice deepened slightly, an odd downwards tilt that had me finally making eye contact with him. “It’s odd I’ve never seen you around. Dove and I spend a lot of time in the Star District, believe it or not. I feel like I would remember you.”
Nearly losing my barely there cool, I shifted my weight onto my right foot, leaning ever so slightly towards Bargin. “Actually, Elite Bargain was needing my help with something before the ritual, so I better get over there. It was nice meeting you though, Talon. Good luck today.”
I could feel the weight of Talon and Azazel’s stares on me as I walked up to Elite Bargain, attempting to casually chat with her about the made up task she had mentioned earlier. When I dared a look over my shoulder, Talon turned away, his cheeks reddening again as he began conversation with some of the others. Azazel didn’t so much as flinch when my gaze flicked to him though. Instead, his sharp and calculating stare remained on me. As if he were studying me like I had done to them.
No. The way he eyed me was more than assessing. It was accusatory. Hateful, even.
Azazel Altair knew exactly what I was.
Chapter Nine
Azazel
“The first time I saw an eadi die was when I was four. Father snapped his spine like he was a toy. I didn’t even flinch. I had already known by then that, like cattle, their lives were so much less important than ours.”
-From the journal of Azazel Altair, 9229 AS
Ihad never met an of eadi before. Father and Mother would have rather died than let me be so near one that I might be sullied. Mother was certain that any of eadi would surely displease the stars eventually, which meant being punished. Like Father had been. I wondered often if they had felt giving him their essence was as much of a mistake as giving magic to those born from eadi.
Meeting Nova Tershetta reaffirmed that idea.
From the start I knew something was off about her. Cal didn’t recognize her, and he was always using his ridiculous curls and outlandish jokes to pick up shaytan women in the Star District. Which meant he knew everyone around our age.
But not her.
Not the girl with curls so wild they would make any core mother scream. Who assessed those around her with keen, honey eyes and a calculating mind. Yes, I had suspected from thefirst moment I laid eyes on her. But when Talon started probing her to no success,I knew.
An of eadi getting shadow magic was not an option. There were already three of them tainting the history of the elites, we didn’t need another. She would have to go. And perhaps killing her would win me enough favor with Father to get him the fuck off my back.
Chapter Ten
Nova
“The Ether Cathedral was stunning. I swear it’s the closest thing to being in the skies themselves. Too bad Mama and Dad will never see it. Hopefully one day the cores will let eadi come after their twenty-fifth birthday.”
-From the journal of Nova Tershetta, 9256 AS
Being in the Ether Cathedral again felt odd. Almost…foreboding.
While I was more than welcome to live in the Star District, I only ever came for training. As for the cathedral, I had stepped foot through those doors a single time and never come back. While I was just as devout as any other—just as desperate to prove myself to the stars and serve them—I was far less eager to be among my so-called peers. They, unlike the stars themselves, didn’t feel I deserved magic. Coming to the cathedral was an unnecessary risk I was unwilling to take. Plus, I couldn’t bring Mama, Dad, or Celeste.
But today was more than necessary, it was pivotal.
So I walked along the pale marble floors, taking in the constellations upon the walls and the crystal towers above that gave us the perfect view of the morning sky. About two hundred of us had shown up, most of them already here when oursmaller group shadow walked in. All but the six core family children seemed to revel in the sight of it all, eyes wide and cheeks flushed. Maybe that was because most of us felt honored to be chosen by the stars. Like we were blessed. Whereas the core families felt it was owed to them. Their legacy they earned simply by being born with the right last name. It didn’t help that the stars consistently proved them right by always giving them magic.
As we all passed through the arched doorway that led to the sacred well of essence, a hush took over the crowd. This was it. The moment when everything changed.
“Welcome!” A deep and guttural voice boomed from ahead as we formed a line along the south edge of the water.
Across from us stood three people. On the left was a woman with broad shoulders and jet black hair that framed her strong jaw. Her russet skin seemed to glow as the light of the early morning sun reflected off the well of essence. She wore training leathers much like we all did, though she also had a thick, black cloak that marked her as other—elite.
The man on the right was dressed identically, though he sported mousy brown hair secured in a long braid and pale skin that showed his age. He had to be at least nine centuries old. Nearing the end of his life, probably.
In the middle was the man who must have spoken. His hair was the same silvery-blonde as Azazel Altair’s, the short cut allowing his ethereal features to shine as they contrasted with his black clothing and cloak. He was practically his son’s twin, though there was an air of authority and superiority to him that no one else I had ever met possessed.
“I am so very glad to see such a turnout for the shadow ritual,” General Altair continued. While his words were enthusiastic, the tone of his voice was far more morose. As if letting down a child gently. “Your bravery to seek more for ourpeople does not go unnoticed or unappreciated. You should each be proud of your choice to come here today. What an honor to know so many of our youth still care about serving Dajahim.”
The two people at his sides nodded, their movements stiff and unconvincing. Meanwhile, Iblis Altair stretched his arms out as if inviting an embrace.
