Erador pushed his plate back at the dining room table meant for fourteen guests, but it was empty except for Pia at the end. Erador was usually gone before anyone, but he ate slow to be alone with her. Pia wore a buttoned blouse, and her hair was in a single long braid. This was the real Pia, without the blood splattered apron, dirty nails, and loose hair strands hanging from her ponytail. One thing was the same, the dark circles seemed to have stained under her eyes.

  Pia looked nervous when she caught him staring and kept her attention on her stew. Erador moved to a chair across from her, knowing it would make her nervous, but he wasn’t going to wait to get an answer from her.

  “Why do you eat slow?” Erador said.

  “Huh?” Pia said, looking up quickly.

  “You’re always the last one here.”

  “Oh…” She lowered her spoon. “I… pace myself.”

  “Not like me.” Erador smiled. “I’m like an animal.”

  Pia took a sip of her stew not meeting his gaze.

  Erador rested his arms on the table. “You have a day off?”

  She nodded.

  “Have anything special planned?”

  “I might... read.”

  Erador didn’t see her in the library often, but that was because she was caring for Judgment. When she came, she read books in a corner. Pia’s neat spoon strokes faltered as liquid dribbled on the table.

  “I saw you reading fairy tales,” Erador said.

  Pia nodded and stirred her spoon in the stew a few times. They were old books from long ago but acceptable enough as entertainment, nothing that would cause a follower of Judgment to change their beliefs.

  “There’s not one book you can’t find that isn’t in rough shape,” Erador said.

  “You kind of ruined one,” Pia said, quietly.

  Erador’s face heated. “That’s... not usually like me.”

  “But you hate mythology.”

  “That’s why I was so careless with it. At least Loma would thank me.”

  Pia gave an awkward smile in return.

  “Did your family believe in Seniths?”

  She looked around nervously to check if anyone was listening.

  “It’s fine,” Erador said, leaning forward. “You can blame me if my father overhears.”

  Pia relaxed, likely knowing that Judgment hadn’t been as strict about his practices since he fell sick. “No. My mother was a scientist.”

  Erador raised his eyebrows and leaned his elbow on the table. “You’re kidding.”

  “No.” Pia swirled her spoon in the bowl. “She used to tell me the Senith religion was a waste of time. Just stories to keep you from growing your mind.”

  “I like her already.”

  Pia gave a weak smile. “She wanted me to study but sometimes it was too much.”

  Erador laughed warmly. “Well… my father wanted me to train, devout myself to his religion, and follow in his footsteps. If you can tell, that worked out great.”

  “My mother isn’t much different. She wanted me to be a scientist, but I wanted to play sometimes.”

  “Guess that’s how it goes… you want what you can’t have.”

  Pia took a sip of her water. “I was going to graduate early.”

  “Wow…” Erador never would have guessed, but he blamed himself for not taking the time to talk to Pia. “That’s why you have the mammoth, but they also represent strength.”

  She pulled her sleeve up to uncover it more. “I don’t feel strong.”

  “Maybe it’s mental strength.” Erador studied her features and she blushed, looking away. All the Paradins had a story. Some of their lives were harder than others. “Why did you come here?”

  Pia opened her lips as if she was having trouble grasping what to say. Her story must’ve been one of the harder ones.

  “I didn’t mean—” Erador began.

  “No…” Pia dragged her braid over her shoulder. “I just haven’t talked about it for a long time.”

  Erador nodded and sat back. “I always wondered what it would be like to have a taste of the world, but so many run here because it scared them or hurt them. It makes me wonder if I should leave when my father dies.”

  “It’s not always bad…” Pia raised her lip. “Usually if you’re well off. We were comfortable… I think... but that changed.”

  “Your mother lost her position?”

  “Yes.” Pia rubbed her leg. “It was... my fault.”

  “How is it your fault? You were a child.” Erador had that same feeling growing up from his father. Maybe Pia’s mother did that too, or she took the blame like Haven.

  “I… went through some classified documents at my mother’s work,” Pia said, picking crumbs off her slice of bread. “When they caught me, they suspended my mother and said they wanted to see us the next day. After we got home, my mother had us leave.”

  “What were they going to do?”

  “My mother didn’t tell me but…” Pia dropped the crumb. “If we didn’t go, we would’ve disappeared. It happened to some of her colleagues.”

  Erador furrowed his brow. “Your mother did it to protect you.”

  “I know she didn't like it here, but... she never blamed me.”

  “I remember her,” Erador frowned. “A lot of people liked her and my father honored her wishes by cremating her instead of putting her in the lake.”

  Frowning, Pia dipped her head and aimlessly fidgeted with the tablecloth. She didn’t need to say it. She missed her mother. Her life had changed from one action and now she was caring for his father. Where would she be if she didn’t look at those documents?

  “What was in those documents?”

  “Some of it was redacted but… it mentioned these beings that disguised themselves as people. They would test on them.”

  “What beings?” Erador said.

  “I don’t remember much else.”

  “They just let you go that day?”

  Pia raised her shoulders. “Maybe we were lucky.”

  Erador smiled. “I’m glad you’re here.”

  Pia’s face brightened as she drank from her glass to hide her rising smile. Erador’s faded as he remembered why he stayed this long. He didn’t feel right asking Pia for help, but she wouldn’t be safe forever like her mother wanted, not with the Raven free and Emera dead.

  “Pia,” Erador whispered.

  She set her cup down too fast that water splashed out, “Ye...yes.”

  “Where does Yuni keep her crystals?”

  Pia’s eyes widened as she looked at the doorway.

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  “Pia,” Erador said gently, drawing her focus back onto him. “I need to know where she keeps her crystals.”

  Pia shook her head. “I can’t.”

  “Please,” Erador said. “Yuni might be involved in something that could affect us all.”

  “I need to go.” Pia rose from her seat and Erador followed her to the door.

  “Wait!” He grabbed her arm and she tensed against him. “I need your help.”

  Pia tried to pull from him. “Let me go.”

  “Not until you listen. Yuni is not what she seems.”

  “Yuni was right.” Pia narrowed her eyes. “I don’t know why I liked you.”

  Erador let her go and she stormed into the hall and he chased after her. “I know you heard Aminria and I talking about the crystal.”

  Pia stopped.

  “Loma told me that Eli overheard me in my room that night, but I don’t think it was him,” Erador said. “He goes to bed early. Mikra was on shift that night and Sescina stayed with him. They sent you away to have a break.”

  Erador moved around her. “I’ve seen you in the hall by my room when there isn’t much to clean. I’ve seen you turn corners and make excuses for why you were around my quarters. You were doing the same that night.”

  Pia lowered her head.

  “Why did you have Eli lie for you?”

  Pia didn’t meet his eyes. “I was... scared.”

  “Why?” Erador said, carefully but she still flinched.

  “I was afraid Yuni did it and she would find out I knew about the crystal after I dropped the rag by your room. I couldn’t go back and get it because I knew you’d see me. Eli said he’d take the blame for me.”

  It was too much like Eli to help everyone. He just hoped his death was natural and this wasn’t what got him killed.

  “So, you did think it was her?” Erador said, hope in his voice.

  “At first,” Pia bit her lip, “but… she’s been like a friend.”

  “Do you still think it?”

  Pia shifted on her feet, uncertainty in her brown eyes.

  “Then get me those crystals, if you want to clear her name.”

  “I can’t. They’re in a locked box in her room.”

  “Take me.”

  “But…

  “You’re a nice girl Pia,” Erador said, touching her shoulder. “But I’m not here to bribe you with promises of anything between us and I won’t use flattery to get my way. I need to find out if Yuni let the Raven out, because if she did, she could be dangerous.”

  Pia rubbed her lips together. “I can take you, but she can’t be there.”

  “Where is she now?”

  “She usually eats breakfast in her chair and should be getting up soon.”

  Erador peeked in the kitchen doors nearby. Mikra prepared two trays of food. One with simple broth and the other had bread, and scavenged berries; likely for Yuni.

  “We need to hurry,” she said.

  ***

  Erador followed Pia down the south hall he’d been down many nights to spy on Yuni in the storage room. Pia reached for the knob next door and twisted, slowly opening Yuni’s bedroom door and after looking around, she waved Erador inside.

  With Shade, Erador could only distinguish silhouettes, but now he could make out colors and objects. The room was as offensive as Yuni’s chair. Everything was a shade of some purple from the walls that must have been freshly painted for her, to the sheer curtains on the banister bed, and the lit candles. Only the furniture was that cherry red color, but if she had her way, she would’ve had it painted purple.

  “It’s here.”

  Pia waved him around the bed. She reached underneath, and dragged out a metal box on the rug. Erador picked it up. Not expecting it to be so heavy, he nearly dropped it. He set it on the bed and tried to open it but it was locked.

  “Where’s the lock?” Erador asked.

  “There isn’t one,” Pia said.

  “Then how does she open it?”

  Pia shrugged.

  “I could use Aminria now,” he mumbled as he turned the box upside down and found twenty buttons painted with different colors. He pushed one in and it stayed, but the box didn’t open. He pressed five more and after a click the buttons reset, but the box remained closed.

  “There’s a combination. I need time to figure it out.”

  “What should I do?” Pia said.

  “Lead Shade to the other hall so he can warn me when someone comes.”

  Pia left as Shade followed. Erador tried several combinations before she returned.

  “Have you seen her work this thing?” Erador said.

  “No,” Pia said. “I never paid attention.”

  The buttons were different shades of every color. They appeared to have been painted on, not likely part of the original box.

  “What colors does she like?”

  Pia stared at him in disbelief for not knowing.

  “Other then purple,” Erador said. “The combination is six colors. Does she have anything that isn’t purple.”

  “Her nail polish.” Pia moved to the dresser where nail polishes were set on a mirror plate. “There is black, white, silver, and pink.”

  Erador pressed purple first and added each color Pia said. “Is there another one?”

  “Just different shades of purple.”

  Yuni chose her outfits with meticulous care. They were similar in color with black and purples, but one thing was different. Her green brooch.

  Erador pressed it and it made a winding sound and the lid cracked open. He laughed with relief. As he went to open the lid, a tingle ran through his scalp as a warning flashed in his mind of someone coming down the hall. Based on the knee-length skirt, he knew who it was.

  “Shit. Yuni’s coming. She’s near the library.”

  “What do we do?” Pia panicked.

  “Distract her?”

  “How?”

  “I don’t know, think of something.” Erador looked around. “What about your emotion element?”

  “But… I was told to never use it for bad. If I had I would’ve used it on everyone… maybe you.” Her eyes widened when Erador looked uncomfortably at her. “I didn’t mean that. I think it’s why my mother and I could go home when I read those documents.”

  “Pia!” Erador said in a warning tone.

  “Right.” Pia snatched a nail polish and went out the door.

  Erador opened the lid and an array of colorful lights shot out. Crystals were filled to the top in every color from red and yellow, to black and orange. Each one made a faint humming noise as if the power inside couldn’t be contained. These were small as his thumb and the same size. He picked one up, warmth tingled his skin and raised the hairs on his hand. He searched for the etch—an anchor with ferns around it. Each crystal he checked had a different marking. What reason would she have to destroy the etch when she got the crystals from different places?

  When a shriek sounded outside, he dropped the crystal back in and shut the box.

  Voices sounded through the door. Yuni grunted. “You ruined my skirt!”

  As the knob turned, Erador shoved the box under the bed and ducked underneath with it. Below the bed trim he saw the door open and two sets of feet moved in the room. Yuni’s black boots, stomped across the rug and Pia took hesitant steps behind her.

  “I’m sorry,” Pia said in a shaking voice that made Erador feel bad for having her do this. “I…. I wanted to ask if I could use it but I didn't know it was open.”

  Based on her genuine voice, she meant it. He hoped she didn’t regret it and tell Yuni the truth. Yuni sighed and turned her heels toward the bed that creaked as she sat.

  “It’s fine,” Yuni said in a forced tone.

  Erador wished Pia used her element on Yuni to calm her attitude.

  “Why don’t you…” Pia paused. “Change so I can wash it.”

  “It’s better if I use a crystal. It might work better.”

  “No…” Pia said. “That would be a waste of one. I’m sure I can get it out if you hurry.”

  “Fine.”

  Yuni stood and her skirt dropped to her ankles. Erador shut his eyes and cursed to himself, thankful the bed trim made it difficult for him to see. Drawers opened and shut and metal hangers scrapped in the armoire as feet shuffled around the room.

  Then it was quiet, except the rustling of fabric in front of him. Erador opened one eye. Pia scooped up the skirt, lifted the trim and gestured for him to come out. Holding his breath, Erador pulled himself out from under the bed, closest to the door. Before he stood, he looked over the bed to find movement behind a changing screen and quietly stepped outside the door that Pia had opened.

  “I’ll be back,” she said, shutting the door.

  Erador rushed down the corridor with Pia at his heels. He let out a breath as they rounded the corner and pressed his back into the wall. Shade came back offering a greeting and Erador thanked him mentally.

  “That was close,” Pia said.

  “What did you do?” He looked to the skirt that had white nail polish splattered across it. “Oh…”

  Pia laughed. “She’ll never let me paint her nails again.”

  Erador smiled. It was the first time he’d seen Pia smile so large. She seemed relieved as if it was something she needed to do all along. Yuni had been demanding of the caregivers and they didn’t deserve harder treatment. Erador followed Pia down the steps to the laundry room.

  “How were the crystals?” she said.

  “They’re the same size and had different etches. The one I found was scrapped away. I don’t know that Yuni let the Raven out. She would have no reason to hide the etch when she doesn’t source her crystals from the same place.”

  Pia frowned and grabbed the knob as she looked back. “I’m sorry.”

  “No… it might be good. It helps narrow down my options.”

  Pia went into the laundry room and examined the stain on the skirt. “I don’t think I can get this out.”

  “If she’s hard on you—”

  “I know she’ll be upset but, she’ll come around. She usually does.” Pia lowered the skirt in a basin. “I know she seems cruel but, she can be nice.”

  “Not just to benefit her I hope.”

  “No… I think she’s genuine.”

  Erador stretched his lip in disbelief, but let it go.

  “It’s your day off,” Erador said, taking the skirt from the basin. “Enjoy it.”

  “Do you know what you’re doing?”

  “I’ll figure it out.”

  “Thank you.” Pia smiled. “This was one of my best days off.”