Chapter 21
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
PHOENIX
Since I graduated the Ezkai Academy and joined the Order, three nights is the longest time Daegel and I have spent apart. I got so used to sleeping next to him, either in my bed, or most often, his bed, I forgot how lonely it feels to sleep alone.
Now that some time has passed, the anger and frustration that plagued me after our last argument, only this morning, has calmed. My studio is so quiet.
Any other day, I’d make my way to Roman’s studio to avoid the gaping void in my chest, and the lonely silence trapped between my apartment walls. But Roman’s not home.
He will never be home again.
The backs of my eyes burn, so I close them and inhale a deep breath. I’m in the armchair, my feet folded under me. A couple of candles scattered around the place offer little light. Shadows flicker on the empty walls, the cool midnight breeze flowing inside through open window above my bed.
I should have asked Roman to paint my walls the way he did in his apartment. This way, I’d have something of him with me. A reminder of his existence.
My gazes slides to the wardrobe and the luxurious dress hanging on the door. Slowly, I rise from my seat and approach the gown. It’s stunning. The smooth silk against my fingertips reminds me of home.
My mom had the whole wardrobe full of silks and laces, dresses similar to this and even more beautiful. She always knew how to dress the part. My sisters and I used to love watching her get ready for events at the king’s palace.
“Mom, you look so pretty,” Quint said, her head hanging off the edge of Mom’s bed. “Even upside down.”
I paused rummaging through her jewelry box to look over my shoulder at Mom. She did look stunning in a flowy sky blue dress with armored corset and high neck.
“Thank you, darling,” Mom said with a smile.
Fane picked up one of her many blades lined up on a cushion on one of her wardrobe shelves. “How are you gonna fit this anywhere?”
Mom approached Fane and took the blade with a white bone handle from her. “Careful with these, sweetie.”
Fane scoffed. “You never tell Phoenix to be careful around your knives.”
“That’s because I’m trained,” I said and poked my tongue out at her. We were eight.
She returned the gesture and crossed her arms. Mom caressed Fane’s head and ushered her to join Quint on her bed.
“Let me show you,” Mom said and parted her skirts to reveal a leather sheath strapped to her thigh. She slid the blade in its place. “Just like that.”
I grinned, excited for the future when I would get to attend balls at the king’s palace, dressed in beautiful gowns, my blade strapped to my long legs that I got from my mom.
“Phoenix, did you find the necklace?” Mom asked me.
“Yes, mom,” I said and handed her the pearls.
The sound of my metal bed frame creaking brings me back to reality. I look at it over my shoulder to find nothing but the breeze rustling the curtains.
Everything in this apartment is old. Maybe I should move in with Vera. Too many memories linger in the corners here already. Memories that will do me no good.
But I can’t. I need to have a place where I can speak with Daegel in private. While I may have agreed to break up with him, it doesn’t mean I have to.
Despite the odds, there’s a part of me that believes we can make it out together. If only he listens to me, and truly hears me.
With a sigh, I pad over to the kitchen table. The floorboards creak under my feet, and somewhere else in the apartment. I look around, heart pounding.
But it’s just me and the shadows.
I pick up the invitation to the Black Night. The paper is sturdy, the black ink flowing in intricate patterns on the page. I have no clue what to expect from this event. What if the moment Ekions find out I’m aiming for the Ezkai General role they boo me off the stage?
A human as their Ezkai General. There’s bound to be resistance…
The presence behind me is sharp. Wrong. A blade sings free of its sheath. I spin, catching the assassin’s wrist mid-strike.
Dressed all in black, with a hood, the figure rips their hand away and ducks. They sweep their leg across my ankle, but I’m faster. I jump to avoid stumbling and rush towards my wardrobe where my weapons lay.
The attacker is good, though.
They grab me by the waist before I can tear the wardrobe doors open. I reach for my dagger, mere inches away from my fingers. But the intruder spins us around and tosses me onto the bed.
I bounce off the mattress, my hair in my face. Before I can recover, the intruder is on top of me. They pin me in place with their hips. But my hands are still free, and it’s a mistake.
I catch the hand with the blade once more, and pull it closer to me. As the intruder falls forward, I roll us around so I’m on top now. I pin the hand with their blade to the bed.
Unfortunately, they’re fast, too. Before I can react, a second dagger is in their free hand. I grunt when the knife sinks into my side. Sharp pain goes through me.
I punch the intruder hard enough to break their nose. I can’t see their face through the thin veil they wear, but I hear the crunch and their grunt.
With the blade stuck in my side, I rip their other one from their grip and angle it across their neck.
“Who the fuck are you?” I pant.
The intruder freezes.
“Who sent you?” I snap. “Is it Caligos?”
Instead of answering me, the intruder lifts their head towards me. My blade sinks into their neck and blood pours onto my sheets.
I’m flabbergasted by the suicide. They choke, convulse, force themselves down until the steel severs. They choose death over answers.
I let go of their arm and plop next to the corpse onto my mattress. My heart hammers in my chest and ears, the wound in my side bleeding.
What the fuck was that?
With trembling hands, I rip the veil from their face. It’s a young fae woman. I tear her black muslin tunic away, looking for Caligos tattoos, but I find none.
I frown. If not Caligos, then who sent this assassin?
Vera? To urge me into her care? No way. She’s an ally. She doesn’t want me dead.
I hiss from pain as I rise to my feet and head towards the door. I need to send a message through the messenger hawk downstairs.
There’s only one person I trust to help me.
Taaslord Noire stands tall at the foot of my bed, his eyes on the lifeless body spread out in the middle of it.
I’m sitting in the armchair, with a healer kneeling next to me while they tend to my wound. Two Ezkai from the Spy Unit stand guard at the door.
The Taaslord glances at me. “You said she committed suicide when you started asking questions?”
I nod.
Noire frowns. “That points to Caligos. They train their members to kill themselves whenever they can’t escape.”
“She doesn’t have the tattoos,” I say. “If you don’t believe me, check for yourself.”
Noire’s gaze softens. “I believe you, Ezkai Phoenix. But just because she doesn’t carry tattoos doesn’t mean she’s not one of them.” He turns back to the fae. “Caligos must earn their tattoos.”
“Why would they try to kill me? I’m not a threat to them.”
“You’re a threat, Phoenix,” Vera says, striding into my apartment.
The Ezkai do nothing to stop her. Her steps halt next to Noire.
Not an ounce of horror or surprise is visible on her perfect face as she surveys the crime scene.
“You made yourself their enemy the moment you signed up for Val’taz Ezkairin. ”
“What are you doing here?” I ask. The healer is done bandaging me, so I stand to my feet, a little unsteady. “Noire? Did you call her here?”
“He didn’t have to,” Vera says, turning to face me. “You’re my chosen champion, and it’s my business to know everything that relates to you and your well-being.”
I narrow my eyes. “You have someone follow me? Spy on me?”
She doesn’t look guilty at all. “I must protect my investment at any cost.”
I scoff. “I can’t believe this shit. Maybe you’re the one who sent this assassin to me, huh? So I would move in with you.”
Vera’s eyes flicker, but she remains silent.
“Vera didn’t sent the assassin,” Noire assures me. “She’s not the enemy, Ezkai Phoenix. There’s enough of them as is. Let’s not look for them in our allies.”
I frown at Noire. “Are you in on this, Noire? You’re working with Vera?”
Vera and Noire exchange a glance. Finally, he says, “Officially, I’m not. As a Taaslord, I’m acting as the temporary Ezkai General until the new one is chosen. I don’t have the right to choose a champion to support. However, Vera has my blessing.”
I shouldn’t be surprised. Vera was always with the Ezkai General, and the Taaslord. They must be close, too.
“You can trust Vera,” Noire says to me. He looks at her. “Never before has anyone in the history of Ekios disrespected the honorable trials like this by trying to assassinate one of the contestants. I’m afraid it’s a bad sign.”
I glance at Vera. She stands next to the tall Ezkai with her chin held high. I look from her to my bed. The mattress is soaked with blood. I can’t sleep here, not anymore.
If Caligos sent this assassin after me, they’ll send another.
I can’t go to Daegel’s place. Not if I want to keep Vera’s support. As far as everyone knows, we’re enemies. Considering I haven’t seen him since our argument when he stormed away from my apartment, maybe we are.
My heart breaks at the thought that he may hate me now. I can’t bear it.
I don’t have much of a choice.
With a sigh, I say, “Okay. I accept.”
Vera arches an eyebrow. “You accept what, Phoenix? Please be more specific.”
This woman.
“I accept your offer to move into your studio for the duration of the trials,” I mumble.
She smirks. “Glad to hear you came to your senses.”