116

Mercy

I was halfway to Gwen's shop when I felt the shockwave of power. It raced out from the direction of Alistair's estate, no doubt spreading in all directions. While I desperately wish that Sonnelion and his crew didn't notice it, I'm sure they probably did. Which means I need to hurry.

I rush through the streets, pausing briefly outside of Gwen's shop before rushing in.

I'm not shocked to find her waiting for me in the front room, she's always had a sort of sense about when she's needed.

"You felt it?" I ask desperately.

She nods and ushers me to the back of the shop once more.

"What does it mean?"

"They've bound the fifth. The circle is complete and the chain is awakening fully. I would not be terribly shocked to find more shockwaves of that magnitude or greater occurring in the coming days."

"Is that good?"

"Hopefully. Now, what else did you need me for? I felt you before the wave."

"Ah, right, sorry. I have news."

She quirks an eyebrow, waiting while I gather my thoughts.

I plop down into a chair and run my hands through my hair, grimacing as I fill her in on my hectic afternoon. A frown makes its way to her face when I tell her about Talon, seeing him sneaking down the alley, and deepens when I detail the strange symbols and the covert meeting. It's when I move on to the man standing above the crowd and the almost soulless echoing of the crowd as he divvies up orders that she begins shaking her head in disbelief. And when I tell her about Talon's words, indicating that the man was none other than Sonnelion in a willing host, she gasps.

"This is not good, dear, not good at all."

"I know. They're getting ready to make their move. Do you think they knew I was there? Was it all performative?"

"No, I doubt that. At least we know where that little bastard got off to. And in Ramsey, no less. The man has always had a sickness about him, a cruelty far outmatching most vampires. Of course the demon of strife would choose him. And this explains his unhealthy obsession with Esme."

"True. What do you think I should do?"

"Stay the course. Watch, listen, and report back. Warn Novak, and fill them in on what you know through a temporary blood bond. Nothing out loud, in case Talon is watching. And find out about Gabriel. I don't want to have to put down another corrupt prince, but I will if it's necessary."

"And you'll inform father of what I've found?"

"Of course, dear. Now hurry back before you're missed."

Nodding, I make my way back to my room, slipping in through the window before heading downstairs and requesting some wine. Let the boys think I've spent my night getting sloppy drunk.

~

Alexander

I'm nearly to the estate of the newest crown prince when a wave of power rushes through the valley before me, nearly knocking me off my feet from the strength of the magic in it.

"What the fuck was that?" I ask the empty air around me.

Thankfully, there's no answer, because I'm exposed and unprepared to deal with an attack. I'm almost to the estate to check on the state of my baby sister. Not so much of a baby anymore, if father is to be believed.

~

Gabriel

I spend the evening in the city touching base with the contacts father wanted me to seek out. It's a long, tedious process, and the responses offered by each are nonsensical riddles that I can make little sense of. Whatever, my job isn't to understand the messages, just deliver them. Father has been very hush hush about everything going on, but much like precious Mercy, I see and hear more than anyone expects me to. A war that's been fought for millennia is coming to a head, and my entire family is embroiled in the whole morbid affair.

I send another note up in flames in my hand, transporting it in that way that only I can, for my father to view at his leisure. Discovering my ability to manipulate flames in such a unique way was a shock. One day, not long after being turned, I got angry at the treatment of one of the slaves father and I were watching. I was so overwhelmed that my body burst into flames. We thought that was the end of it, until the bastard who caused my ire tried to force himself upon the woman. That's when flames shot up around them, and I stepped forward, from flame to flame, emerging beside the bastard and burning him to a crisp before whisking the poor woman away, back through the flames, which were harmless to her as long as she was touching me.

Through time, we discovered that I could conjure flames anywhere within my sightline, and transport myself, others, or objects from flame to flame. Over the centuries, I've managed to grow the ability to transport things through my flames to a place that flames already exist, like, say, father's hearth in his private chambers. I'm able to command the flames to protect the items, and allow those that I choose to take them while harming all others. To date, we've not found a way for my flames to be extinguished, though we did try. It's a handy skill, and one we haven't let anyone else in on. As far as the world is aware, I can control and walk through flames, and nothing else.

Sighing, I extinguish the flame in my hand and head out. I promised to work on getting closer to Talon, to figure out what he's really up to. Father plays so many sides in this war, that sometimes I wonder which one he's really on, but Talon? He's pure evil. Always has been. I think father thought he could save him, change who he was by showing him the kindness he was denied as a slave, but sometimes people become their abusers, and there's just no helping them. There was definitelty no helping Talon, so now I must use him however I can before puting the sadistic bastard down for good.

~~~

Once again, the best laid intentions and all that. Unfortunately, that ear infection put me in the hospital, so it's only one chapter again tonight. With some wonders of modern medicine, I am rabidly improving, so I hope to regale you with more than one chapter in the next few days.