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The city was quiet, full of dark shadows cast by the moonlight. I glanced up to the sky. Crimson-streaked clouds were tinged with light in places, fading into black in others. Morning would not bring much more light. It was a realm of eternal darkness. Hours from now a black sun would rise, and this place would fall even deeper into the dark, much like the Shadow Realm.
We'd installed ourselves around the tree stump table in Tilak's kitchen, beyond the Ciúin realm. Two half-eaten plates of food lay before us, and an open gold envelope sat pulsating in the center. The seal, now broken, was one I'd seen before. The blackened wax in the shape of a skull. Only one faction used a black skull to seal their parchments. Only. One.
"This is not just any invitation," Sylos said.
Turning my chair backwards, I sat, leaning against the woven back, toying with my food.
He held up two pages of parchment. "The first page is a verse, much like the last two." He read it aloud.
This game of ours is no longer fun,
Debt repayment has begun.
Blood oaths made by father and son,
Must not be given with forked tongues.
You cannot hide, you cannot run,
For we are all but pieces of some.
Seek me beyond the blackest sun,
Or mortal hearts will come undone.
This clue shall be your final one.
He flipped over the envelope and ran a finger across the black wax. "This seal, I know it." His eyes widened on mine. "It belongs to the Shades."
Realization had already dawned before Sylos revealed the sender. Every verse of the strange poem...I understood their reference. It hadn't been about my time with Adrius. It referred to my time with the Shades, when I sought the black magic of the Necromancers to bring Venus back to life.
"So the Shades have sent me a personal invitation?" I said, my eyes narrowing. "Why?" Part of me wanted the answer. Part of me wanted to forget we'd found their letters.
"I've no idea why." Sylos was nearly salivating with excitement. "But there's one way to find out."
He flipped to the next page, and against my better judgment, I let him. Had I been the one holding it, I'd have tossed it into the flames. The Shades were dangerous, and nothing good could come from any of this. She is not dead. I did not need their help reviving Lorelei because she was not dead.
"Truly, their writing is abysmal," Sylos said. "You'd think Demons would have better penmanship."
I rolled my eyes.
"To the Lord and Master Prince Zanthiel Numenôrr ayn Tal-Alúmenthor of the Unseelie Winter and Shadow Court."
He glanced up to see my reaction to using my full name.
I continued to poke at my bread.
"We have come to understand that an alliance may be forthcoming. It is one we have both expected and are eager to explore. Please accept our offer of aid in whatever matters you require. Your father began the mission we are now immersed in, and he gave us his word we would have your support and assistance when the time came. It seems that now the time has come." He paused, looking down the bridge of his nose at me. "Are you going to actually eat that biscuit, or merely massacre it?"
I glanced down at my plate to the half-eaten stale bread now in pieces from the repeated stabbing of my fork.
"Continue," I said shoving the plate away. Somehow anything to do with my father and his dealings left me with little appetite.
Sylos continued reading, but my mind had wandered elsewhere. I gleaned the gist of it. My father had made a pact, selling my soul to the devil in exchange for saving his own. Typical.
"Your immediate correspondence would be greatly appreciated, for we have much to discuss and would prefer not to let things get messy," Sylos finished.
Despondent, I stared at my butchered bread. I had a very clear picture of what it meant for things to get messy. I'd witnessed it myself. As shallow as my mother's pool of patience was, it was depthless compared to the Shades.
"And now I am expected to enter into dealings with the Shades, no matter how foul and wicked their intentions."
Sylos shook his head, refolding the parchment. "They are the scum of the bottom feeders. The bottom of the scum of the bottom feeders."
"You give them too much praise," I muttered, still working out how best to handle this fresh disaster.
"What will you do? Shall I fetch paper and ink for your response?"
Too lost in thought, I didn't respond for a time. There were so many things to consider, but only one that mattered. Perhaps they could help. They had means that others did not. Depraved and devilish means, but I was not in a position to be choosy. I'd sent them Venus and she had fared well enough. I was able to tap into her thoughts easily enough to know she was safe.
I rose abruptly, giving Sylos a start as my chair legs squealed across the floor.
"Where are you off to?" He eyed me with suspicion.
"I am going to do one better than respond by letter. I'm going to respond in person," I said, grabbing my sword from the counter. "I’m going straight into the belly of the beast."