Oni and Skinshifters, as well as some I hadn’t but recognised from the pages of my handbook, like Imps and Goblins. But the one that looked the most terrifying dwarfed even the tallest Oni. It had oily black skin and a goat- like face. Two black horns protruded from its forehead and curved into twin spikes that arched above its head. I’d heard Tyler mention them once and read about the species recently in the handbook.
Devil.
I kept scanning the room, taking in each face to see if there was any I recognised. None of them looked familiar, which provided a small amount of comfort. I’d met most of the Guardians at the joining feast, which meant that the only Rogue appeared to be Dakin. That thought evaporated when the devil stepped forward and for split second I saw a face I couldn’t mistake. The birdlike features. The pale skin.
Sylvia.
I grit my teeth together in anger. This woman represented the Coven. She passed on our missions. If she was corrupt then the entire chain was corrupt. The bitch could make us walk into anything she wanted.
A door opened and Dakin entered the room. He was dressed in the same cloak as the other members. He merged with the crowd and I lost him amongst the sea of red.
All those in attendance were talking amongst themselves. Their noise blended into a single roar of sound and even with my improved hearing, I couldn’t single any of them out. One by one, they stopped talking and turned to face the stage. I craned my neck to see what they were looking at.
A man stood on the plinth, hand raised to silence the Soldiers of Sorrow.
The man was Sage Asmund.
I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. Sage Asmund wasn’t merely a disgruntled hybrid or Pandemonian or even a pissed off Witch. He’s the leader of an entire base! I finally understood how much the HASEA was suffering. The corruption was everywhere. A sick feeling rose in the pit of my stomach. It took all of my strength not to vomit.
He raised a second arm to join the first and complete silence descended on the room.
“My fellow Soldiers of Sorrow,” he announced. “Before we get down to the reason I have called you all here tonight, Brother Dakin has brought it to my attention that he narrowly avoided detection whilst trying to recruit new brothers and sisters in The Black Tap. Yet again, the HASEA fiends swooped in, raining down their bigoted oppression of the superior races. And for what? Humans?”
There was a roar of indignation from the crowd.
“Well no more!” Asmund grew louder. “They think they can do what they want without repercussions. Where was the justice when their newest recruit — the one they put their misguided faith in — killed Brother Dakin’s maker?”
There were more cries and fists pumped in to the air.
I froze. Rahuman was his maker? No wonder he hates me!
Around me there were more roars of anger. Fangs popped down and shifters struggled to keep their human form intact.
“The HASEA is nothing more than a bunch of human lovers who have made weak Pandemonians and Hybrids roll over like faithful dogs!” However, mark my words! Tomorrow evening that changes!” he paused. “Tomorrow The Sorrow comes.”
The room hushed.
I leaned in further, pressing my nose against the glass. My heart hammered in my chest. I prayed no one looked up.
Sage Asmund pointed a finger at the crowd. “So far, none of you have managed to complete the simple task of killing one solitary little Chosen. But it is out of your hands now. Hades has spoken. The boy is to be left to the Sorrow.”
There were murmurs of disapproval from the crowd. The devil let out a guttural growl that drowned out everything like a vocal tidal wave.
Asmund looked at the beast warily. “Do not let yourselves become angry brothers and sisters, you all still have so much you can give. This is what we have been waiting for. Why some have pretended, and others have remained hidden for so long. As I speak, The Sorrow lies in wait, unable to pass through the Veil. But its tracking is complete. The boy cannot run or hide. Tomorrow evening, we will attack the Warren and force that old fool to unseal the Veil! The Sorrow will pass through and claim their Alexander Eden!”
There was a crescendo of roaring enthusiasm. I could feel my skin crawling. I’d thought I was safe. But these people were declaring all-out war. Just so that thing could come and kill me.
“The boy represents more than a simple threat to Hades. He represents hope. Hope of a new rising of Chosen. Hope of our defeat. Hope of an end to the Ageless war. When The Sorrow extinguishes his life, the faith of the HASEA dies with him. More will turn to us.” He raised his hand into the air and coiled it into a fist. “Then we will crush those that remain!”
The room exploded into a roar of noise. He continued to shout above the snarls, growls and hisses. “Brothers and sisters, many of you may lose your lives tomorrow. But know that you fight for a cause greater than yourself. A right to be free of the HASEA! To sweep aside the human vermin. To prepare Earth for Hades reign!” He thrust his fists into the air and the roar from the crowd was so heavy, it made the window vibrate. I shrank back from the glass. I didn’t need to hear any more. My mind was racing. I needed to get back. I needed to warn everyone.
The SOS were coming to kill us.
“I’m going to rip his frigging head off!” hissed Scarlett. “I trusted that bastard with my life.”
“Scarlett, calm down,” interrupted Tyler, wrapping an arm around her shoulder. “Faru, how did no one know that Dakin’s maker was Rahuman?”
The whole of Orion — minus Sophia — as well as Scarlett and Tyler were standing in Faru’s office. After witnessing the SOS meeting, I’d sprinted all the way back through the maze of corridors to The Black Tap. The bar had been crawling with agents, loading our attackers into armoured vans. Gabriella and the rest of the team had still been there. I’d breathlessly explained what I’d seen to a horrified reception. We’d headed straight back to the Warren and called an emergency meeting with Faru, where I’d repeated what I’d witnessed again.
Faru placed his hands down on the desk and shook his head slowly. “He made us believe that his maker had been a Bloodling long since dead. He had always been such a good Guardian, I had no reason to doubt his words.”
“But what about the mind thing? Surely you would have seen?” I said.
“No. I cannot see into the minds of Pandemonians, or hybrids. I can only establish a communication link with them. That is all.” His face seemed to crumble with distress. He bowed his head and took a deep breath. “Sage Asmund was a dear friend to me; I have known him for over a century. How could he do this to us? Dakin, served this base for decades. Never once did I suspect he had ulterior motives.” His hands coiled into fists on the desk.“And Sylvia. All of these years, supporting the Alliance and protecting the Earth from the threat of Hades. How could I have been so close and failed to see it? Even Lafelei’s words alluded to her betrayal.” “What do you mean?” I asked. “Betrayed by the Moon and Stars.” The words sank in and it dawned on me. “Moon’s edge. The name of the Coven. And Witches, they worship the stars don’t they?”
The Sage nodded and lowered his voice lowered until it was barely audible. “I thank the Elementals that you were able to discover the meeting Alexander. If not, I truly believe it may have been the end of the Warren.” He bowed his head. “I am truly sorry for my failure. I should have known.”
I looked around at the room. Everyone seemed beyond uncomfortable at seeing our leader so upset. I tried to think of something to say, but couldn’t find the right words. Rachel found them instead.
“Don’t blame yourself Sage Faru. We all trusted the wrong people. Dakin was my friend. I can’t believe he was part of something like this.” She gestured towards Echo. “Scarlett and Tyler worked with him every day and had no idea. We all feel hurt, but there’s no point in going over why he did it. Tomorrow night, this base is going to come under attack. We need to protect Alexander and everyone else from what waits beyond the Veil.”
Her words were met with sounds of approval. Faru raised his head. “Rachel is right. We must not allow personal emotions to cloud the facts.” His tone shifted. “We need to prepare ourselves for battle. I shall speak with the other Sages and request additional support. Tyler, on my orders I want you to take a group of Chosen and place Sylvia under arrest. Put her in the prisons.” He took a deep breath. “I am disbanding Echo. When tomorrow
