Eve’s recovery was slow, even aided by the blood magic of the hospital nurses. The wound in her side was hardly a problem for the staff, taking merely days to completely disappear. The wounds that lay above and below her heart, however, were a different story entirely.

  Every day they receded - skin healed, swelling departed, scar tissue began for form. But every night, they returned. Every night, she’d wake in a feverish panic, calling for Oleander. For Meave. For Sennar and Arric and Castigan.

  Only the latter two ever responded.

  Eve lay in her hospital bed, watching Arric’s slow breathing. He’d made the chair in her room his temporary home - hardly leaving her side for more than a few moments. His brow was furrowed, lips taught.

  His lips… Eve touched a finger to her own, tracing their outline, relishing the memory of the night they’d kissed.

  He can’t relax, can he? Rose’s voice rose through Eve’s sleepless thoughts. Look at his face. He’s hardly resting. He’s worried about you.

  “I know he is.”

  He loves you, Rose continued, both of them. I love you.

  “No, Rose, you’re bound to me. All three of you. That’s not love.”

  Rose’s voice bounced off a Eve’s consciousness in a sharp retort, but was drowned out by the click of the door and the soft strike of boots entering the room. Eve looked at the candle hanging by the door. It burned low, low enough that no one should be visiting at this time. Arric stirred briefly, but didn’t wake.

  A grey-haired older gentleman, straight backed with neatly trimmed facial hair, stepped into the room. A cool breeze followed him into the room. Eve sat up higher in the bed, pulling her sheets up above her breast, holding them above her wound.

  “Eve Bishop,” the man began, “do you recognize me?”

  Eve stared at him blankly, part of her didn’t believe he was actually there, that he was some apparition created by her lack of sleep. Rose’s voice thrummed gently in the background of Eve’s mind, but Eve’s attention was locked on the newcomer.

  The man smiled. “I’ll take that as a ‘no’. I am Headmaster Sheffield, and the last time I heard your name was the day I signed the papers that rescinded your admission to Veilward.”

  “Oh,” Eve said flatly. She recognized the name now, she remembered seeing it scribbled across the formal notification of admission rescission – a fancy letter they’d sent to remind her she’d been expelled. “Is there something I can do for you?” She winced as the wound in her chest ached.

  The headmaster stared straight at the budding pain in her chest. “I simply wanted to ask you a few questions.”

  “Well lucky for you I have nowhere to be right now,” Eve said with a tight-lipped smile.

  Sheffield returned a half smile before letting silence fill the room. Arric stirred once again. Eve found herself wishing he would wake up. Wishing Castigan would stare into Sheffield’s eyes and burn him away. That Arric would hold her and tell her it’s okay.

  “What do you remember of that night?” Sheffield finally asked. “The night you died.”

  So that’s what we’re calling it? Eve thought, the night I died? I’m not dead. I’m right here.

  “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” she said, “I’m right here, aren’t I?”

  “Why, yes. I suppose you are,” he said, his own eyes drifting up to the candle on the wall. “My, it is late isn’t it. My apologies.” He stepped further into the room. “Are they treating you well? Is your…companion cared for?” He stepped in Arric’s direction.

  “Leave him alone,” Eve said as her thudding heart sent scarlet anger into her cheeks, “don’t you touch him.”

  Sheffield paused. “No harm meant, my dear. I’m simply curious.”

  “What do you want?” Eve’s voice rattled in her throat, a mix of nerves and anger and fear.

  “What do I want?” He returned with a cool stare, “I simply want Eve Bishop happy and healthy, that is all.”

  “Then I suggest you leave,” Arric’s voice rose from the chair, “before someone gets burned.”

  Eve’s heart fluttered annoyingly in her chest as her eyes fell upon him. Castigan’s words, Arric’s body - she wanted to melt.

  Not that she’d ever admit that to anyone.

  Sheffield held up his hands to Arric in a display of harmlessness, “now, now, no need for that. I understand it’s late.” He turned back to Eve. “When you’re ready to understand – to know what you are…come find me. My office is in the Administratorium.” He looked at the candle once more before turning to leave.

  “I’ll see you soon, Eve Bishop. Shade born.”

  He shut the door gently behind him.

  Rose’s voice finally breached the surface of Eve’s consciousness.

  All wrong. All wrong. All wrong.

  “I was worried you’d leave. All of you. That feels worse than death, to me.”

  Eve had asked them all to be there. Arric and Castigan, Nisha…even Jace.

  “We’re not gonna leave, it’s still raining and we just got here, it’ll probably stop in like, an hour, so as long as we wrap it up around then –”

  Nisha silenced him with an elbow in the ribs.

  “I don’t know what everyone remembers about that night. Or what everyone saw…but –”

  “Yes, yes, we know, heart on the floor, possession via sword, eat-y murder-y – look, you don’t have to explain anything to us. He, or, well, they love you. She,” he pointed to Nisha, “is your sister and loves you whether she wants to or not and I – well, I’m the guy fucking your sister so I guess that means you’re important to me too. Bottom line – you’re in Veilward. It’s a school for Necromancy. Weird shit happens here. Explain it when it’s about to kill me or I’ll die of boredom.”

  Eve flushed, a strange combination of embarrassment laced with anger. “I – what do you mean you know?”

  “You’re the talk of the town,” said Nisha, “people are saying you’re a Shade born. First in centuries.”

  Eve paused. Shade born. The same thing Sheffield had called her mere nights before.

  The memory was still raw…the way her heart ached, the fear that finally crashed over her once he had left…the way Arric held her and Castigan warmed her cold skin as she –

  “What’s a Sha –”

  Jace interrupted, “Someone touched by a shade at birth – fucking shit, can we leave?”

  This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

  “Do you really want to leave?” Nisha asked him, “you’re the biggest brain in the room, for sure, babe. Don’t you want to show us all how smart you are?” She placed a finger on his lips and winked.

  “I…it’s not…it’s the monkey.”

  “Sit down, I’ll make it worth your while.”

  Jace, resigned to his fate, sat.

  Eve turned to him, “Jace, what’s a shade-born?” He looked at her like she’d asked him to pull his own teeth out with a pair of tweezers.

  “A shade-born is someone who was touched – blessed by a shade at the time of their birth. The shade would have watched over the whole pregnancy, maybe even guided it.”

  “Okay…so?”

  Jace leaned forward. Nisha smiled.

  He must be enjoying it now, Eve thought.

  “Well, the world hasn’t seen a Shade-born for centuries, so it’s hard to say exactly what they can do…but as you’ve probably guessed, they can consume souls.”

  “To what end?” It was Arric’s turn to ask the question.

  “Some say that it makes them the most powerful necromancer in the world simply because they can bind and consume whatever souls they choose. Some say that they can use the power manifested by the last soul they consumed. Some even say that they can manifest any power from any soul they’ve consumed.”

  Silence fell upon the room.

  “At least…that’s what people say – I haven’t read much about them.”

  “What about the monkey? What does he know about them?”

  “Jack? Oh, he –”

  “His name is Jack? That’s so cute,” Eve said.

  The monkey appeared on his shoulder and glared at her.

  “Sorry…”

  “As I was about to say – Jack doesn’t actually know that much more about the world than I do, he’s just…very perceptive. Well, that, and he sometimes chats with things in the Incorporeum…but he doesn’t like things that might eat him.”

  “Why would shades want to make a Shade-born?” Nisha asked.

  Jace shrugged. “Your guess is as good as mine.”

  A knock at the door halted the conversation.

  Must be a nurse.

  “‘Come in,” called Eve.

  A man in military leathers entered the room.

  Shit.

  “Miss Bishop? Eve Bishop?” he said.

  “Yes, that’s me.” Eve gave a slight wave from the bed.

  “Perfect. Could, uhh, could the rest of you clear the room, please? You can have her back in just a moment, I promise.”

  He smiled awkwardly at the group as they stepped into the hallway. He shut the door as he mouthed the words, “just a minute” to them.

  He stepped back into the room.

  “Miss Bishop…I presume you know why I’m here?”

  She shifted uncomfortably in the bed. “To…arrest me, I guess?”

  “What? Oh! Oh goodness, no,” he said through laughter, “Although, now that you’ve said it, I can see why you might think that.”

  Eve stared at him as heat rose to her face.

  He shifted on his feet.

  Uncomfortable? Good.

  “Miss Eve, in light of recent developments, Veilward Military Academy is proud to offer you compulsory re-admission to whichever of our Mortuary Arts programs meets your needs. As I’m sure you’re very well aware, Veilward is the top military academy in all of Thanacea and we’d be proud to have such an important civilian join the ranks of Veilward’s elite soldiers. In exchange for your acceptance, we’re willing to…forgive certain transgressions against the Academy.”

  Eve’s jaw fell open.

  “On behalf of the administration here at the Academy, I’d like to offer you my congratulations on your admission and on your full ride scholarship.”

  “I killed someone.”

  He faltered. “Yes well, as I mentioned, we’re willing to forgi –”

  “I consumed the soul of a bound spirit.”

  His discomfort was growing. She could see it spilled across his face.

  “Miss, I just –”

  “I want a full ride for my sister, too. And my friends Arric and Jace.”

  “I…Miss Biship I don’t think –”

  She gnashed her teeth at him.

  He jumped back, startled.

  “I…” he brushed himself off, “Miss Eve, I’m pleased to hear that you’ve accepted your offer of re-admission. Your guidance counselor will be reaching out to you soon. Do you have any questions for me?”

  “Can you please fuck off now?”

  He turned on heel and sped out of the room.

  Two months. That’s how long it took for Eve’s wounds to fully heal. If she could even call it that. The wounds in her chest stagnated for a time. She thought she might spend the rest of her life in some sort of unending dance of healing and unhealing.

  “Let me help,” Arric had said one night, “I’ve been watching the blood mages work on you and…their magic is different from mine. Let me help.” She’d spent most of that evening crying, she didn’t have the energy to tell him ‘no’.

  She could still feel the shiver that ran through her when his hand touched the bare wound. He healed it. For the first time since the blade entered her heart, she was whole.

  Of course, it didn’t last, but it was more durable than anything they’d done before. The next night, he did it again. Then again. And Again.

  It was a ritual now. She would lay in the hospital bed, he’d stand at the side of her bed with a sure smile and the scent of amber and –

  A cool breeze threw Eve's silver hair across her face. It felt good to be out of the hospital. Although she wasn't sure if it was a cruelty or a kindness that they'd discharged her on move-in day.

  “I don’t think you realize just how expensive a monkey familiar with a crippling alcohol addiction actually is.”

  She rolled her eyes at Jace as she tossed her luggage into the back of his car.

  “Fine, I’ll give you some money for fuel, just don’t forget who got you a full scholarship to Veilward –”

  “I still have to pay to live on campus now that you and Nisha are living there for free. They won’t let me bunk with her there.”

  “But you’re living with Arric, won’t that make it free?”

  “Well, I mean, I’ll still need to buy food and probably new furniture and things that…they need…do I need a litterbox or something?”

  “He’s a human, dickhead. Just a formerly dead one.”

  “Is that a ‘no’ on the litterbox?”

  She glared at him.

  “Fine. Fine.” He walked back inside calling, “thanks for the scholarshiiiiip.”

  Eve smiled as she slid her belongings towards the back of the trunk.

  He’s funny.

  Eve jumped.

  Rose, you scared me.

  Sorry.

  No, it’s okay I just didn’t expect –

  I’ve been thinking, Rose continued, about the promise…about Castigan…about a body.

  Eve paused.

  I know Castigan asked first, obviously we…I mean you…or…how do I –

  “We. You can say ‘we’.”

  Obviously we are going to help him get a body first but, after that can…could we try to find one for me, too? I don’t even know how that would work.

  Eve had almost forgotten about the promise, the agreement she’d made with Castigan in the Incorporeum.

  “I don’t know how it will work either, Rose, but –”

  “Eve,” Arric called through the second floor window, “shall I bring your melted box of music?”

  Damnit.

  “It’s called a computer, Arric,” she started walking back into the building, “and don’t touch it until I’ve had a chance to look at it. I might be able to salvage something.”

  She turned her attention back to Rose.

  “Rose, I don't actually know how to get Castigan his own body. I don't even know if Arric's current body is real.”

  Oh…

  Eve could almost feel the shockwaves of the girl's heart hitting her stomach.

  But you'll figure it out, right? And then we can both have bodies.

  Eve paused with her hand on the doorknob. She wanted to lament, even if only briefly, leaving this place. The apartment she'd lived in with Nisha, and apparently Jace, for the last year. She still wasn't sure how they'd snuck that on by her.

  Instead she was desperately trying to avoid disappointing Rose.

  “Yeah. I'm sure we'll figure something out. I am about to attend the most highly regarded mortuary arts school in Thanacea, after all. I'm sure they've got a good library.”

  She walked in the door.

  “No, Jace, not that one – that stays with the apartment. Octavia, can you carry the cookware out to the car? Arric – where'd Arric go?”

  Eve chuckled at the flurry of activity on the first floor. Nisha was ecstatic to be leaving this place. I should be, too. Finally going back to Veilward…it's what I've wanted since they kicked me out.

  A rock sat in the pit of her stomach.

  “Eve, can you find Arric? I need him to help Jace break down the bed frame.”

  “On it.”

  She meandered towards the stairs, letting her hands graze the fuzz of fraying wallpaper. This couldn't feel any more surreal. As if on queue, the wound in her chest throbbed. She reached a finger into her shirt, tracing the outline of a circular scar.

  For a moment she imagined herself pressing a finger hard into the rough tissue. Pushing through until she heard the wet thump of her heart on the floor. Would she still live if she did? Would the Shade return? Or would she just be…”Eve the Heartless”.

  I don't actually hate the sound of that, she thought, maybe too edgelord.

  “Eve?” Arric's voice came from the top of the stairs. “Are you coming up?”

  She answered him with the sound of boots on wood.

  ‘Are you coming up?’ How fucking mundane of him, she thought, the most supernatural thing in the building and somehow he's the most boring one here.

  His lips weren't so boring though.

  She pushed past him at the top of the stairs.

  “Let's talk. My room.”

  He followed her into the tight quarters. The room was nearly barren. All that remained was her computer, desk, bed, and a few loose pieces of clothing she'd still not packed.

  “Shut the door.”

  He paused for a moment, then acquiesced.

  He looked at her, waiting.

  She could only imagine what was going on inside his head. Arric and Castigan…shoved together. She struggled to think of two souls who were more diametrically opposed. It would be hilarious if it wasn't such a fucking problem.

  “We have a year.”

  “What?”

  “You heard me. Both of you. We have a year to figure this out. No first-year is going to have a clue about your…predicament. Most come in without any familiars at all, let alone annoyingly perceptive shoulder monkeys.”

  “Do we even have that long before our souls merge?” One of them asked.

  Eve shrugged, “the fuck should I know?”

  They looked at each other in silence before Eve’s eyes fell to her bed.

  “I thought I might die, you know,” she said, all too aware that Arric’s eyes had followed her own.

  Arric nodded.

  “Of course you know, you called me out on it, didn't you?” She laughed.

  She put a hand on his chest. His sharp inhalation sent a thrill through her. She smiled.

  “Let’s get packing,” she looked into Arric’s confused face, “and next time you kiss me…next time either of you kisses me…let’s make sure I’m not actively dying, okay?”