Chapter 60 The New Day

Chapter 60 The New Day
Three days passed by in the hostel in a manner that felt strange after everything we'd been through. We slept, ate, and tended to our wounds that finally started healing. The grayness had finally left Dorian's cheeks while his stitches remained intact. Kael's cast, which now decorated his wrist, was actually splinted and ugly; however, the boy had stopped wincing every time he moved his hand.

Mira mostly sat by the window, staring at the snow outside of it while being silent for the first time in many weeks. Zoe stayed close to her friend, always in her arm's reach while not pushing and bothering. Vance, in turn, buried himself again in the grimoire, seeking something I was afraid to ask about.

I found Jenna on the roof, snow melting under my boots while the sky seemed to be colored by winter shades. "You've been sitting here for an hour. What are you thinking about?"

I pulled my jacket tighter. "What should come next."

The girl joined me on the roof, pressing her shoulder against mine. "We could stay here and keep the hostel running, as if nothing happened. Act like ordinary people."

"Could we?"

The girl was silent for a bit. "No. Probably not."

I heard Zoe laughing downstairs, and my chest lightened. We had managed to survive and to win. However, I realized that surviving and winning were far from living.

Kael hobbled onto the roof, holding his cast against his chest. "There's a car coming up the road."

Jenna quickly headed to the edge of the roof, putting her hand on her iron rod. "It's the council, isn't it?"

Kael shook his head. "No. Just one car."

Following them, I looked down, noticing the black sedan slowly getting closer. Once its engine was shut off and the driver got out, I recognized the woman in front of me – she was tall, had dark hair streaked with silver and wore a black coat which seemed to fit her perfectly. The woman looked up at us, met my eyes and smiled.

The woman was familiar, but I couldn't put a finger on why.

"Who is that?" Jenna asked next to me.

"It's Councilwoman Verina, who took over the territory of the Commander, who has been following us for weeks," Kael answered.

My blood turned cold. "For weeks?"

The young man nodded. "Since the day we left the hostel for the first time. She's been waiting to see whether we would come back here."

Verina raised her head towards us and yelled: "I am not here to fight you. I'm here to offer you a truce."

Jenna didn't budge. "Why would we trust you?"

"That's because you killed the Commander. You destroyed Raze and are the most dangerous thing that exists in this city. I would rather have you on my side than having you against me," Verina answered.

There was silence on the roof and the wind tried to bite through my jacket. I noticed my heart beating and looked at Jenna, Kael, the sky and the ground beneath our feet. After that, I turned my gaze towards Verina.

"What do you want?"

Verina smiled again, but it seemed like there was no threat in it. "To talk, that's all."

I glanced at Jenna, whose shoulders shrugged under her jacket, and at the rod in her hands. "Your decision."

Taking a breath, I turned my attention towards the stairs. "Okay. Let's talk."

\---

We sat at the table in the lobby – the very same table which we used to discuss maps, plans and arguments. Verina sat across from me, her hands folded on the table and coat unbuttoned.

Dorian stood next to me, ready to intercept in case of any problems, while Jenna stayed by the door, Kael by the window, Zoe and Mira on the couch. Vance sat on the chair holding the grimoire in his hands in case if we needed some additional information.

Verina looked around the room, looking at all of us. "You built something here. Family, a real one. This is rare in our world."

I didn't say anything.

"You killed the Commander and destroyed Raze, making yourself a powerful person," Verina leaned forward.

"And what are you planning to gain by allying with such a person?" Jenna asked from the door.

Verina didn't let go of my gaze. "That you would leave the council's work to the council, stop your raids and theft of artifacts. In return, I won't allow anyone from the council to harm you. Ever."

"And if we don't?" Zoe asked from the couch, raising her voice.

Verina's smile came back, looking as thin and cold as the previous time. "Then you shouldn't expect your safety and neither I," the woman said.

There was silence in the room, and I felt all of our gazes looking at me and waiting for my decision.

Looking at Verina and her calm face and steady hands, I noticed the weight of her offer. "We'll think about it and get back to you later."

Verina nodded as if she expected this reaction. "Take your time but not too much." Standing up, the woman put her coat buttoned again, and moved towards the door. Once she put her hand on the door's frame, she paused and looked at me once again. "You killed the Commander and destroyed Raze. You became a powerful person. Power won't last long if you don't know how to use it."

She left us alone.

Jenna locked the door behind Verina, hearing the sound of clicking lock. "What do we do?"

I looked around the room, at everybody's tired faces, bandaged and bruised, their eyes watching me as if trying to get an answer from me that I didn't have.

"We decide what we want," I said, "then we make her wait."

Dorian hugged me, putting his arm around my waist. "And what do we want?"

I pressed my forehead against his chest. "Right now, a break."

Kael hobbling towards the stairs, holding his cast against his chest. "I'll take the first watch. All of you look like you need to sleep."

Jenna followed him. "I'll take the second."

Zoe took Mira upstairs and both of their footsteps echoed through the creaking stairs. Vance closed the grimoire and moved, his tired eyes but calm face. "I'll lock up."

It was silent in the lobby, fire flickering quietly, while shadows stretched and shortened on the walls. I sat on the table and Dorian stood between my knees, his hands resting on my thighs. "A break sounds good," he said.

"I agree," I touched his face, feeling the rough stubble under my fingers.

He bent and kissed me, softly and slowly, giving the kiss that
smelled of the promise.