Erador took a bite of bread, red jam slopping onto the book in his lap. Cursing, he smeared it off. He searched for a place to wipe his palm. His hand hovered over his pants and he settled for the bench, rubbing the sticky substance on the corner.

  Erador groaned at the remaining jam on the page. Normally he wouldn’t eat while reading, but he hadn’t had food all day. Only a few bags of reserved grains were left. He’d been too busy watching Yuni in the Shadow Realm. Passing out in bed was the first thing he did when she was asleep.

  The candle in the holder above him had melted to the bottom. He stared at the stack of cards on the table, wishing he was playing Warden Tower rather than reading this worthless book. He bit off another piece of bread and read.

  Vespers were created by Epheius, the Nocturnal Nature God, to defend his throne and the nature crystal. Little did he expect that his twin Sueina, the Diurnal Nature Goddess, didn't want to share the Warden throne with her other half.

  Sueina was like many of the greedy Seniths. She used the vesper's constant hunger for blood to her advantage and persuaded them to seek Haria to feed. When the vespers left, it allowed her a chance to steal the throne from her brother.

  The Senith Religion promotes violence and suffering. Why worship these greedy creators when you can find peace in Paradise?

  Erador had to keep himself from laughing. Who comes up with this stuff?

  A pair of yellow shoes stopped beside the bench, where he had rubbed the jam.

  Erador chewed slowly. His gaze moved up the flowing yellow dress, tight around small curves, and the low cut bodice. Pia’s bronze cheeks were brushed with pink. Her black hair delicately laid over her shoulder.

  Erador swallowed his food. It was refreshing compared to her uniform spotted with blood and hair in a bun. He almost couldn't recognize her.

  “Pia,” Erador moistened his mouth. “You look nice.”

  Her teeth shone bright through her red lips. She cupped her hands below her hips and looked at the book. “What are you reading?”

  “Uh,” Erador looked at the cover. “The flaws in the Senith Mythology and Religion.”

  She squeezed beside him, her leg brushing against his. “I like mythology.”

  Erador shut the book. “It’s not my thing.”

  “Oh...” Pia laid her hands on her lap, playing with her ring of an anchor. “You like math and puzzles?”

  He nodded and wiped the back of his hand across his mouth, quickly forgetting about the ring on her index finger.

  Pia pointed at the jam on his chin. “You missed some?”

  Erador rubbed it off and set the book down, scooting away from her. “Are you going somewhere?”

  Pia shook her head.

  Erador tapped his knuckled on the bench. “When is your next shift?”

  “Tomorrow.” She bit her finger and slid closer

  Erador licked his teeth, eyebrows drawing in. “What do you really want, Pia?”

  “I... was talking,” she said, in a high pitch.

  “Do you always dress up to talk?”

  Her cheeks flushed and she opened her mouth, but closed it.

  “I know why you’re here. The blushing, avoiding my gaze, staring at me when I’m not looking, and now this,” he said, gesturing at her clothing.

  Pia lowered her head, gripping her knee. “You noticed?”

  “You’re not exactly discreet.”

  Pia groaned and pressed her forehead.

  “Did you think wearing a dress would convince me to like you?” he said, raising his eyebrows.

  “I... No,” Pia said, stuttering. “I mean... do you?”

  A low uncomfortable chuckle escaped Erador’s throat. He tapped the book spin on the bench. “I don’t pursue women who try to impress a man with looks.”

  Pia’s face collapsed. A sob choked from her throat as she darted out of the room. Erador shut down any feeling of pity, thankful Shade hadn’t retaliated at his attitude. He opened the book and peeled the jam page apart and crossed his ankle over his knee. It was better to shut her down than lead her on.

  Footsteps pounded toward him. A hand smacked the book from him.

  “What the—” Erador said, looking up.

  Yuni’s chest rose and fell with prominent movements. She held Pia’s wrist. Erador didn't feel ashamed of her furious eyes that challenged him.

  “How dare you insult her?” Yuni said.

  “Insult her?” Erador looked at Pia. “That’s what you told her?”

  Pia shook her head, hair swaying in her face.

  “Listen, hog,” Yuni pointed at the jam on his shirt. “You’ve already begun your gluttony. Would you like me to get you cake? Will it make you satisfied enough to stop belittling and threatening people?”

  Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.

  Erador licked his lip, jaw tense. “All I told Pia was that I didn’t like her.”

  “You said you don’t pursue women who look pretty.” Yuni crossed her arms. “That’s an insult.”

  “It’s the truth.”

  Yuni stomped her boot. “That doesn’t make it right. Apologize to her now.”

  “No,” Erador said, firmly.

  “No?” Yuni cocked her head, her eye twitching. “She deserves an apology. Pia has been nothing but helpful and sweet. I’m surprised she has put up with cleaning after that wrinkly and smelly man for this long.”

  “I don’t deny what she has done for my father. I have thanked her on many occasions,” Erador said as gently as he could. “ Haven’t I, Pia?”

  Pia peeked out from behind Yuni.

  “You’re scum,” Yuni said. “No wonder Miraline laid with someone else.”

  Erador shot up. “Don’t fucking bring her into this.”

  “Oh, poor Erador,” Yuni pouted. “I guess I shouldn’t have dressed Pia in yellow. After all, that’s Miraline’s favorite color.”

  Erador rolled his eyes. “So you led Pia on?”

  “I gave her advice. It was her idea.” Yuni nudged Pia.

  Pia rubbed her eye. “I didn't think I was pretty enough to approach you, so I asked Yuni for help.”

  “See. She wanted to be pretty for you.” Yuni leaned toward him. “Take it as a complement next time. The girl is in love with you.” Yuni rolled her eyes. “I know I wouldn’t be. No offense Pia.”

  Pia curled her shoulders in. Erador swallowed as Pia took torn peeks at him that stung. “I’m sorry, Pia.”

  He didn't need Shade to tell him how stupid he handled the situation. Though Yuni made it worse than it seemed, his apology wasn’t enough to rectify his actions. Pia didn’t deserve to be mistreated.

  “Aw,” Yuni said. “So genuine.” She whipped out a paper from her satchel and swayed it. “And I was afraid I’d have to hold this over your head.”

  The spell. Erador snatched it from her. “About damn time.”

  “A thank you would have been nicer.”

  Erador grumbled and read the paper. The ingredients were listed alphabetically. He skimmed the list, only recognizing the healing blood. He looked up. “What are some of these?”

  Yuni shrugged. “I was told to get the list, not the ingredients.” She patted his arm. “That’s on you. Don’t worry, it’s not the only copy.”

  A voice called Erador from the hall. Hawth skidded to a halt in the doorway. He supported himself on the frame and dodged Yuni’s glare.

  “Erador...” Hawth composed his panicked expression as he pointed over his shoulder. “I need to... talk.”

  Erador folded the paper and slipped it in his pocket. He stared Yuni down. “We’re not through.”

  Yuni wiggled her fingers as Erador followed Hawth out the door.

  “What’s wrong?” Erador asked as they hurried down the hall.

  “I'll tell you when we get there.”

  Erador followed Hawth out the manor and into the woods. It didn’t take long to realize where Hawth was leading him. He checked back several times to make sure no one followed them to the building. The door creaked as Hawth opened it.

  A rotten smell pervaded Erador’s nose. It confirmed what happened. Emera laid stomach down on the ground. Erador searched Hawth for answers but he only nodded ahead. His fearful look confirmed it was something he needed to see to believe.

  Erador maneuvered around the weeds in the floorboards, not wanting this to be real. Emera was dead and at their own hands.

  He stopped beside her corpse. The light streamed through the cracks in the roof onto her face. He blinked, unable to process that her once tanned skin had darkened to a reddish purple like she had full body bruising. That wasn't the worst of it. Blood leaked from her ears, nose, and eyes that were black craters and part of her leg had been removed. Erador raised a weak hand to his nose.

  “What happened?”

  “I don’t know.” Hawth’s voice shook. “I found her this way.”

  Erador kneeled and used the blanket to turn her cold wrist. Her skin reminded him of the smeared jam on the page. He couldn't find any trace of the bluish veins underneath the skin.

  “Her veins.... They’re gone.”

  Hawth approached him. “What do you mean gone?”

  “Her blood leaked out of them... maybe exploded.” Feeling queasy, Erador lowered her arm to the floor.

  Erador couldn't imagine what pain she endured. He never wanted this to happen. With an intent stare, he swung his head toward Hawth, but he avoided him, fiddling with his fang earring. Erador rose stiff to his feet to keep his body from shaking.

  “What did you do?” He stepped toward him with rage in his voice. “You were watching her. People’s veins don’t explode!”

  Flinching, Hawth stepped back. “It wasn’t me.”

  “Then explain how under your watch this happened,” Erador said, pointing at the corpse.

  “I’m a scant, remember?” Hawth said with irritation.

  Erador grabbed him. “That means nothing.”

  “It could’ve been an animal. It looks like one chewed off her leg!”

  “An animal can destroy veins now?” Erador scoffed and looked at the flesh of her leg that appeared to have been torn by teeth, not cut. “It probably got to her after. This had to be a crystal. An element couldn't do this!”

  Erador wished he never saw Emera like this. He wanted that voice in his head to remind him that witches weren’t scary, unlike what his father wanted him to believe. Witches weren’t like a lurker, they were just deadly in a different way.

  Hawth’s face tightened. “Just because I happen to be the guard on duty when the Raven gets free, and I’m there when Emera dies, doesn’t make me guilty.”

  Erador narrowed his gaze, but Hawth didn’t relent his hard expression. He couldn’t prove who killed her or who let the Raven free. Hawth’s excuses didn’t make him innocent.

  “What a coincidence that you happen to be on duty during both occurrences?” Erador said, sarcastically.

  “Are you going to blame me for Eli too?” Hawth said.

  Erador’s tight shoulders fell with the release of a breath as he let Hawth go. He would have if he were there. Eli’s death felt like no accident. It could’ve been staged to look natural.

  “What happened before this?” Erador said, lowering his tone.

  “This morning Emera woke up screaming and tried to attack me,” Hawth said.

  Erador examined the welts on her wrists under the chains.

  “I tried to calm her down and she sat still on her own. I left for a bit and when I came back she was...” Hawth cringed. “Like this.”

  “Why didn't you tell me she was feral?”

  “I thought she was angry over being kept here.” Hawth rubbed his head. “It’s not like I could find you.”

  “Right,” Erador said, remembering he was in the Shadow Realm spying on Yuni.

  Erador searched the building, finding nothing but splintered wood and plants. A shimmer in the light by Emera caught his attention. He bent down and lifted the ram necklace around her neck. The chain was coated in blood... this time Emera’s rather than Taurin’s after his father had cut his arm during a scuffle. Erador dropped it. Why did someone want her dead?

  “We need to tell Aminria.”