Chapter 14
Chapter Fourteen
ON THE ROAD
I head back to the house, my mind whirring.
It’s obvious, from the running toilet to the disturbed air, that the guardhouse was recently occupied.
The clothing, when I emerged from the bathroom, had been cleared away.
But who was the human I saw being pushed onto the coach?
And where are they going? Is this an illegal hunt?
There’s obviously guard involvement; the human one I saw getting on the coach, and possibly the vampire whose secrets Kyle seemed to know.
But if humans are disappearing from the estate, which I have to assume from the discarded Raven clothing, why has nobody noticed?
A few missing sheep from a flock of millions.
Yeah. That’s why. Because of the shitty, shitty world humans have to live in now. My mother is still angry that people tried to kill her family. Yet there are humans out there who have lost everyone. What’s their anger like?
Shit. We’re leaving in a matter of hours, but this seems important. The North Wind might be over, might have said they’re taking everyone to the Channel Islands, but what if they’re not? What if they’ve left cells behind, ready to continue what Mistral started?
Choose your fight. You cannot win one, if you focus on them all.
Another lesson from my father. He’s right, of course. My priority is to stop this Challenge before Mistral get the majority they need for it to go ahead. Civil war is unacceptable. The threat to my reign is unacceptable. The death of my father is unacceptable. This is where my focus needs to be.
But the strangeness of the guardhouse tugs at me as I sort through my dresses, piles of chiffon and velvet, like flowers strewn across my bed, ready to go in the huge travelling trunks.
In the end, I decide to check the rosters.
Humans are counted in, then counted out.
Any discrepancy should be reported and flagged. At least, that’s my hope.
But when I ask Bertrand, and he leads me to a basement office, I find this isn’t the case at all. I didn’t tell him what I overheard, of course. Just that I wondered how we kept track of humans working here.
‘So, there are five fewer people arriving than left the estate, and that’s just on yesterday’s afternoon shift alone?
’ I frown, flipping through sheets of paper.
The vampire behind the desk, a young man with unusually flushed cheeks, nods, darting a glance at Bertrand.
‘It doesn’t look like there are ever the same amount of people leaving as arrive.
I don’t even understand the point of making a list, if no one bothers to match up the numbers. ’
‘If you’ll forgive me, my lady, the numbers change because the blood dancers work different shifts to the food hall.
So, if there are dancers on the coach coming in, they won’t be counted coming out with the same shift because they’re still here.
And if the dancers have a day off and want to go to the Safe Zone, they join the departing shift.
And sometimes—’ the young guard pauses, looking down for a moment ‘—sometimes, humans don’t get to leave, if they are overcome in some way.
So, the numbers are never going to match up. ’
That list is never fucking up-to-date, anyway.
The words come into my head, suddenly. And the voice. It all clicks together. I take in a short breath.
‘My lady?’ Bertrand comes closer. ‘If you wish, we can change how we track the humans. And the ones who pass away, I swear they’re treated with dignity.’
‘No. I mean, yes. Sorry, what?’ I stare at Bertrand, my brows drawing together as I take in what he just said. ‘Humans are dying here? While they’re working? That’s unacceptable.’
Both Bertrand and the other vampire look pained. ‘My lady, it’s not something that happens often. And it’s most often from natural causes, rather than … any misuse.’
‘I just…’ I swallow, feeling a bit sick. I turn my attention to the vampire behind the desk. ‘Perhaps we might take greater care with the health of those down here. If someone appears unwell, they shouldn’t be made to work.’
The laxness horrifies me, as does the idea of people dying down here, alone. No wonder that blood dancer was able to come in and attack my father, if no one is properly managing who comes in or out.
Then there’s the other thing. The human commander who saved me, when I was trying to get home after killing Kyle; I swear it was his voice I heard today in the guard hut, the same inflection and timbre.
And he wore a red-enamelled flower pin, just like the driver who dropped me and Laurel off at the estate.
Who was the same person pushing the human onto the coach today.
It has to mean something, surely. But who can I ask?
Human guards and vampires don’t interact.
That was clear when I was trying to get home, when the human guards didn’t even know I was missing, or who I was.
‘Emelia! There you are!’
Bertrand and the other guard bow as my mother sweeps into the room.
Her cheeks are flushed, her onyx gaze gleaming.
She’s obviously just fed. ‘I’ve been looking all over the house for you,’ she continues, frowning.
‘What on earth are you doing? Your father and I need to go through a few things with you before we leave.’
‘Did you know humans are dying while they’re working here?’
My mother’s eyes widen.
I wave the sheets of paper at her. ‘And the numbers aren’t correct. More people coming in than leaving, dancers on different shifts to the feed hall. This must be how that dancer was able to get in here and attack—’
‘That’s quite enough.’ My mother doesn’t like to be reminded of that night. Her attention moves to the young guard at the desk. ‘Is this so? How are these humans being tracked?’
‘By numbers,’ I say, before he can answer. ‘Not names.’ Another thing that sickens me. ‘Even though each one of them is a person.’
My mother sighs. ‘Right. Enough of this. Emelia, we have things to do. Bertrand, can you make sure that humans are now tracked by name, as well as numbers? For security purposes. I trust I can leave this with you.’ She takes my arm, pulling me from the room.
I glance back over my shoulder. ‘Sorry,’ I mouth at Bertrand. He shakes his head, amused resignation gleaming in his blue eyes.
‘Honestly, Emelia.’ My mother takes me along the panelled hallway, then up the stairs into the main part of the house. I brace myself for the inevitable lecture.
‘I appreciate that you wish to change things, and both I and your father are keen to see you stepping up to rule,’ she says, as we cross the foyer. ‘But you need to learn that not every detail needs to be managed by you. This is why we delegate. It’s too much for one person to do.’
‘But I just—’
‘And I will remind you, again, that you are not just going to be ruling humans. Like it or not, at least half of your subjects will be vampires. They deserve the same consideration.’
‘Do they?’ I mutter.
‘What was that?’
I know she heard me. She just wants me to repeat it.
‘Do they? Deserve the same consideration? Because if that’s the case, I guess I’d better herd them into towns where they aren’t allowed to leave.
Where they have to give up their lives, their choices, their very blood, just to be safe.
Then it will be equal for everyone, right? ’
‘That’s not—’
‘I know it’s not what you meant. But when there’s such glaring inequality, surely the focus needs to be on raising people up, rather than knocking them down?
Me checking how humans enter and leave this house is just a small thing, but it could make a difference. Not just to them. To our own safety.’
She presses her lips together, but her expression softens.
‘I don’t want to argue,’ I continue. ‘I feel like we do enough of that. I know you and Father are helping me, and I also know I wasted a lot of time when I should have been learning. But that can’t be changed. If you want me to rule, you need to let me try things.’
My mother nods. ‘You’re right, of course. To a point.’ There’s a flash of warning in her eyes. ‘Come. Let’s sort out those gowns of yours. Image is as much a part of ruling as anything else.’
* * *
Just before sunset I hurry down the flight of steps at the front of the house.
Our huge travelling coach is parked on the curve of gravel drive, silhouetted against the fading sky.
A second coach waits behind, to carry guards and blood dancers for our journey.
There are human drivers on both coaches, as we’ll be on the road during the day. I cannot wait to get out of here.
The coach door opens with a hiss, the steps unfolding.
I haven’t been inside it for a few years.
It still smells the same, like perfume and violets.
Still looks the same, all gleaming chrome and soft velvet, plush cushions and carved timber, gilded with the faint gleam of candle lamps.
It’s massive, with a second storey and sides that extend outwards, all sealed against daylight.
The flight of narrow stairs at one end leads up to two doors, one of which opens into my room.
It’s small but comfortable, with a bed against one wall, a built-in wardrobe and dressing table with a gilt-framed mirror, a TV on a stand and an en-suite bathroom.
All done in velvet and tapestry and carved timber, the peak of luxury.
I drop my bag on my bed. There’s not much in it, just my notebook and a few old documents to read through, my jewellery box and toiletry bag. I unpack, putting everything away. My trunks have already been loaded, my gowns hung up, shoes lined along the shelves, glittering and shimmering.
You have more privilege than you know. Kyle’s words, spoken in a darkened room in the Safe Zone, twist through my mind. He wasn’t wrong. I didn’t know. But now I do. And I plan to weaponise it, to use it to speak for others like me.
Outside the sky is dark navy, a few stars starting to appear.
My parents are on board now; I can hear them below, talking to Varin.
I open my jewellery box, lamplight sparking from the small pile of jewels.
There’s a small wooden acorn, nestled amongst the gleaming gems, the leaf and dimpled cup perfectly rendered.
My heart clenches. Michael bought it for me at one of the night markets in the Safe Zone, after we’d been dancing.
Something about it feels real, warm compared to the icy glimmer.
I hesitate, then pull out my phone, my finger hovering over his number.
Maybe I should just message him, make sure he’s all right. Or maybe I should let him go.
I put my phone down and head out to the small landing, telling myself it’s for the best. I need to move on. There’s movement behind the other door, which leads to the driver’s cockpit. On impulse, I knock on the door then push it open. ‘Hello?’
Inside are two padded leather seats, plus a dashboard covered with dials and switches.
The windscreen curves above me like a bubble, open to the road and wide sky.
A young woman clad in a black and silver Raven uniform is kneeling by the dashboard, fiddling with something.
A long red braid snakes across one shoulder.
At my entrance she turns, her blue eyes wide. ‘Oh!’ She stands, wiping her hands down her uniform. ‘My lady? Can I do something for you?’
‘Sorry, I don’t think we’ve met before. You are…?’
‘The driver. Uh, Sophie.’ The young woman blinks, as though surprised at my question.
‘Nice to meet you. Uh, so—’ I gesture towards the two seats, feeling awkward ‘—I was wondering if I could sit with you, while we’re travelling during the day?’
‘Of course. Whatever you like.’ There’s a line between her brows, though, despite the brightness of her tone.
Right. I’m still her boss. The thought briefly deflates me. I don’t want to push myself on anyone. ‘Well, it’s also what you like. I don’t want to make you uncomfortable.’
She grins, her face lighting up. ‘The only thing making me uncomfortable is that it’s dark.’ She glances out the window. ‘We need to get on the road, if we’re to make our schedule.’
‘Emelia?’
I stick my head out the door. My mother stands in the curve of stairs, the pale oval of her face turned up to me. ‘Are you coming down?’
‘I might stay up here a while.’
‘Of course.’ She smiles. ‘Come when you’re ready.’
There’s a rumble and sway as the coach starts to move. I return to the cockpit, sliding into the seat next to Sophie. Stars stream above us, the moon a lantern to light our route. I think of Laurel, with sorrow that she never got to travel like she wanted.
I’m doing this for you. I send the thought into the ether, as though she might hear it. We head down the long driveway, past the huge wrought-iron gates, my eyeline level with the stone ravens on top of the huge pillars. Excitement curls in my stomach, mixed with nerves.
My reign might be under threat before it’s even started. But this Raven is taking flight.