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The city of Prague is a stunning place. A fusion of gothic buildings clad in sandstone, terra-cotta tiles, and modern architecture of steel and glass. Everywhere you turn there is something that catches the eye. One minute you’re lost in a time in which you can imagine farmers selling produce on the cobbled road outside St Vitus Cathedral, overlooked by the gargoyles. And the next, your outside the mesmerising twisted metal and glass Dancing House, wondering if the architect is either brilliant, insane, or even both. It’s perfect, but it is not the place for me. The simple reason I don’t come here often, is that I know who really runs this city. Selene.
Demetrius was once the force to be reckoned with here. But once he had his fill, he handed it over to his spoilt Daughter and retired. The order left the youth of our kind to rule, while they continue to take the spoils.
I arrive with Ben at the Halls of Valt. This vast mansion is where Selene resides, and this is where Laurie will face me after weeks in captivity. He will have to answer for the codes he’s broken before his death.
“This place gives me the creeps,” Ben says, his polished black shoes stopping briefly as he looks up at the stone vaulted ceilings.
“Please don’t let Selene hear you say that. This is her palace and she likes to hear how amazing you think it is.”
This is the first time Ben has ever been invited to a summoning, and his reaction is to be expected. The Halls of Valt have stood here near the Kotel Peaks since the order was formed. Built on the blood and sweat of citizens who feared and adored the pure bloods centuries ago. I can only describe it as a statement of how dark and powerful the order was back then. And this castle like building has endured era after era, just like our kind.
The entrance doors are closed behind us as we steadily walk down the hallway. The floors of black marble are similar to the floors of The Shard, but blacker. The walls are clad in slate and emerald tiles. The place is overpopulated with overbearing open fireplaces. Even walking down this wide corridor, we’ve passed by four of them. And the doors, well, they’re huge, black, each one like a gateway to hell.
I stop before the doors to the grand hall. This is where the order gather for serious matters, such as war. I need to make Ben aware of what awaits behind this door.
I take his elbows in my hands. “The purification ceremony is brutal. There’ll be moments when you see Laurie as he was. Our friend. You’ll have to stand and watch him suffer for a significant amount of time.”
“The only time Laurie was a true friend, was during the war. He deserves whatever is coming to him after what he did to Connor.”
I cock my head at his ruthless comment. Maybe I’m the one apprehensive about this. I’ve seen the ceremony done only once before. Selene had me witness an executive purified to show me what would happen if I ever betrayed her or the order. First you are sentenced. Then you are placed and chained to the rack. The ceiling is then opened in small sections at a time, so the skin burns beneath the sun from the feet upward. All the while your arms, legs, and head are stretched bit by bit. If there is any mercy, then pray you’re de-limbed before you burn to death over a period of days. The stench of charred flesh stays with you for months.
“Don't speak unless spoken to,” I warn him. “If you don’t like how I’m questioned, feel the need to jump in and defend me, don’t. Don’t in anyway put yourself in the firing line, no matter what happens to me.” I release his arms, wrap my hands around the doorknobs, and open them out into the grand hall.
I walk with my head held high, frowning up at the gallery where the order are supposed to be seated. But each oak high back chair is empty.
“Ah, Adrien.” Selene walks barefoot across the slate floor, the train of her long white dress following her. “Benjamin, would you please go and take a seat.” I turn to Ben and nod my head for him to do as ordered. “Bring him in,” she calls to an open door beside a roaring fire.
I watch as two of Selene’s servant guards drag Laurie through the hall.
I’m tense, fighting the empathy growing for him. He’s not fed in days. His trousers are torn, he’s topless, and his grey skin has been slashed at least fifty times. He gasps, lifting his filthy unshaven face to look at me. I can’t believe he’s looking for pity from me.
“Selene, why is the order not present? This is supposed to be a hearing.”
“We need to keep this little incident, our little secret. Don’t you think that is best?”
“Because of Elizabeth.” I lower my head.
“I have discussed this with father. He agrees that the girl should remain out of this. Tonight you will end this once and for all.”
Laurie begins to snigger. “You’re familiar with doing things off the books, Adrien.”
“Silence Laurie,” Selene warns. “You may have escaped the purification. But it is up to Adrien how you die.”
“Selene, this is not how we do things.”
“That’s right,” Laurie says. “You can’t do it can you. The girl made you weak.”
“Laurie,” I growl. “Shut the fuck up!”
“That’s why Ben is here,” Selene peers up to Ben sitting in the gallery. “A chance to prove his worth.”
I close my eyes for a moment, thinking. There was no point in me having Laurie brought here. I could have run him through the night he attacked Elizabeth. But after everything that happened, I wanted it known what he did. I wanted the order to be aware I followed our codes, to rectify mistakes made. I’ve killed before, but this is different. It is as though Selene is doing me a favour, and in return she will want the impossible.
“Let us begin.” Selene twirls with her arms out as though she has a loving audience watching her. “Bring down the rig.”
One of the guards turns a wooden lever on the wall, and from the ceiling the rig appears. It’s not used in the purification ceremony. It’s used to drain those chained in it of blood. It used to be used on humans, and knowing Selene, it probably still is.
“Adrien, friend, should I plead with you,” Laurie asks, smiling.
The guard latches Laurie’s chained legs to the rig, and begins to winch him up, until Laurie is feet off the floor, upside-down and swinging.
“Laurie, on the count of murder, how do you plead?” Selene exclaims, like this is an entertaining game for her.
I stride forward, snatching the blade a guard holds. I will not allow what is supposed to be serious, to be her amusement. I will not allow Ben be in a situation where he’ll owe Selene. Instead of this being a sentencing, it’s more like a show, and this is not how we do things.
“Sorry Benjamin. Looks like you didn’t need to be here after all,” Selene says behind me in a prideful voice.
I crouch down to look in Laurie’s eyes. His body swings and he doesn’t look bothered that I’m the one with his existence in my hands. I can’t say the same for myself. I never thought I’d be in a position in which I’d have to kill family.
“I'm ready,” he says clearly to me. “I forgive you.”
I shake my head at him, smirking. “We should have never gone to those damn mountains. And I don’t need your forgiveness, because I did this. You were a good friend.” The reluctance creeps into my mind.
“Then do it. Think of me on the night we died. Say goodbye to that man.”
“Goodbye Laurie.” Without another thought, I run the blade through his neck.
I remain in a crouching position, head down, wondering where it all went wrong between Laurie and I. His blood spills as he spits out and wheezes. I watch a look emerge on his face, like a peace washing over his body, even though peace for us can never be found.
He goes completely silent after one last jolt, and it’s when Selene’s fingers creep over my shoulder, I understand that she is the one responsible for everything. She turned us all into what we are. My men and I died in the war, and we never truly resurrected.
I stand up, pushing her hand away as I turn to her, furious.
“I understand that was painful. But do not look at me with hate in your eyes, Adrien. You are to always love me.”
I run my hand over my face. “Are we done here?” I ask.
“Not yet.” She strolls across to Laurie’s body, her bare feet and the train of her dress soaking up his blood. “It has been decided that you are to take more of a back seat in affairs in London. Use the time to make it up to that girl of yours. You have earned the break, and times are changing, and we must move with the times.”
“And just who will run things?”
“Leave that to me.”
I can’t believe what I’m hearing. All this time being bound to a duty and her, and she just cuts my leash like that. Of course I'm suspicious.
“And your father?”
“Leave him to me. He understands that the old ways do not work anymore. You will advise until your replacement is ready.”
“Why now Selene? After all this time.”
“I’m handing you the girl your heart desires. You are the best executive I have, but you became a liability because of love.” She flits and comes to a stop before me. Her head tilts and eyes burn with rage. “The order is not here, because you should have been purified this night. They will not see things as I do.” I hear Ben stand up behind me, ready to back me up, even though he doesn’t stand a chance. She glances briefly at him, then a strange grin spreads over her lips. “Which also makes me a liability, as I will always love you. That is why I am doing this. You will no longer be a liability, and the girl you love will be safe. Take what I’m giving you, Adrien.” She sighs as she turns and goes back to Laurie’s body. “Now, you’re free to go.” She prods Laurie’s body, causing him to swing back and forth. “Laurie will join the ashes of the other executives who strayed. Speak soon, sweet Adrien.”
Ben joins my side as I walk away from Selene in a daze.
“You think that this is over now?” Ben asks quietly as we arrive at the end of the hallway.
“With Selene, things are never over.” A guard opens the entrance doors for us. “For now, we lay another brother to rest.” I open the back door to our chauffeur driven Bentley, and sit down.