The Darkest Edge of Dawn

closing his eyes and then opening them, his features taking on a harder, stronger expression, his gaze flicking to Tennin and the rest of the rapt jinn in the chamber, then back to Tennin. They exchanged grave nods and then Rex marched toward me, making me wonder what the hell Tennin had done to him, because the look on his face was one I’d never seen before. And it made me take a step back.

He didn’t stop, just hooked his hand around my arm and jerked me along with him and out of the chamber to the sound of Grigori Tennin’s booming laughter.

I stumbled several times before regaining my senses, and pulled my arm from his grasp, my ankle turning as I stepped into a dip in the floor. I cursed and fell back, behind Rex. “Rex! Goddammit, what did you bargain? Rex!”

He kept walking, up the stairs and straight out of the Lion’s Den and into Solomon Street.

“Rex!”

I ran, weaving through the crowd, the vendor carts, and around the fire barrels, until I caught up with him and grabbed his arm. “Stop! For God’s sake, just slow down for a minute.” He finally listened. My chest burned from the run and the large draughts of smoke that had entered my lungs.

Something had definitely changed. Rex’s eyes were filled with turmoil and though it sounded strange, they seemed to hold more depth, more knowing, more … force. Part of me wanted to rail at him, to put my hands on my hips and tell him what an idiotic thing he’d done by going to Tennin, but his grim expression and that look in his eyes gave me pause. “What happened? What did he do to you?”

“I remember, Charlie. I remember everything.”

He started walking again. I fell in step beside him, trying to understand exactly what he meant by that, my sense of dread growing with each step as I remembered standing in Bryn’s apartment two months ago, discussing the Bleeding Souls that were being used as an ingredient to produce ash:

You know why it’s called a Bleeding Soul? It was used in the Great War when the nobles first appeared in Charbydon and fought with the jinn for control. The nobles used it as a weapon, the biological warfare of their time. It forced the soul to separate from the body. Myth says that’s where the Revenants and Wraiths came from, that they’re really the souls of jinn warriors who have wandered so long that they’ve forgotten who and what they once were.

“Oh my God. You’re saying that’s true? That you remember?”

“Yes,” he said, looking straight ahead. “I remember everything.”

Rex was a jinn warrior during the Great War? I stared at his profile, before having to turn back to watch where I stepped. Our insane, goofy, sarcastic Rex was a jinn? A fighter? “You’re saying —”

“Yes, Charlie. And I was the best.” He turned the corner, striding out into the plaza and toward the steps to Topside. “You can close your mouth. It’s not entirely out of the realm of possibility.”

My mind raced with all the implications, what this meant for him, for me and Emma. He was at the top of the steps before I caught up to him again and darted in front of him, making him stop. “Rex. What are you going to do?”

“I’m going home. I’m going to take a shower. And then I’m going to sleep.”

He went to sidestep me, but I jumped in front of him again. “But—”

“Just chill, Charlie,” he said tiredly. “The collection debt is paid. I’m not making any decisions right now. You’re fine. Em’s fine. Tennin doesn’t command me. I’m far older than he … if only in spirit.” He dragged a hand through his hair. “What he gave me to make me remember, it’s made me tired. I just want a nap, okay?”

For some reason, I didn’t want to let him go. In fact, the urge to hug him gripped me hard, and I realized that I didn’t want him to leave us. But I stepped back, gave him an understanding nod, said, “Okay,” and then watched him walk away.

I wrapped my arms around myself as cold desolation settled into my bones, followed by a prickle of unease. I scanned the street, getting the feeling of being watched and wondering which of Pendaran’s nymphs was keeping an eye on me this time.

17

I shook off the paranoia and sat on one of the benches near the entrance to Underground, beneath a streetlamp, beneath the darkness overhead, and beneath what sure as hell felt like the weight of the world because I was pretty sure I’d just figured out how to get Rex out of Will’s body.

A Bleeding Soul.

The mythical Charbydon flower had been used in the Great War by the nobles to rip the souls from jinn warriors. Whatever mixture they used—however they made it and administered it—I bet it would rip Rex’s jinn soul right out of Will without Will having to die. And it was just a matter of time before Rex realized it, too, if he hadn’t already.

So why did I feel so empty? I should feel joy, triumph … something other than this bland, solemn acceptance. I pressed my cool palms to my closed eyelids, trying to reenergize myself. My cell rang, indicating a new text had arrived in my inbox. I shifted my weight and pulled out my cell, surprised to see it was from Emma.

I’m spending the night with the Motts.

I could hear that tiny, stubborn voice in my head and smiled. This kid was going to be the death of me. But at least she was “speaking” to me, and if I could’ve hugged her through that cell screen, I would have.

U ok? I wrote back.

Yes. srry 4 knockin u down this morning. A sad emoticon accented her words.

My fingers went slowly over the keys. I was not an expert in texting like Emma or Hank. Some power you got, kiddo. dont run like that again. you scared me to death.

Ok. mom? i feel weird. i don’t want u out tonite.

I tensed. r u sick? what’s wrong?

Not sick. it doesnt feel right. Im worried about u.

Apprehension stiffened my posture. ill be fine, kid. ill see you in the morning, k?

K. luv u.

Luv u 2.

I didn’t want to sign off, didn’t want to be working this damn case when I could be with my kid. I flopped back and instantly regretted it as my mark hit the back of the bench and sent a hot jolt through my wound. “Damn it,” I hissed, leaning forward and waiting for the sting to go away. It wasn’t long before the pain shifted to a tingling sensation that sent warmth easing through my system.

A shadow fell over me. I glanced up to see Hank standing there with his hands shoved in his jacket pockets and a grave expression on his striking face. He was still pale, and his hair was still damp.

“How’d you find me?”

He shrugged, staring beyond me. “Wasn’t hard.”

“Let me guess,” I ventured, flatly. “You were going to Bryn’s to find me, but hit the plaza and then your new Charlie Sensor started acting up.”

“Something like that.”

Figured there’d be side effects to the mark. I leaned forward, elbows on my knees, and gazed at the tops of my boots. When Hank sat down beside me, the mark’s warmth increased. “I thought it was just a truth mark.”

“It is. I’m not an expert in markings. Is yours warm?” I nodded, not meeting his gaze. “Mine, too.” After a deep sigh, he asked, “You see the Storyteller?”

“Yeah. Solomon started a cult called the Sons of Dawn. They worshipped the First Ones. Discovered what I’m guessing is the remains of one, and called her the ‘star.’”

“And the star is inside of that sarcophagus.”

“That would be the logical assumption,” I said, not hiding the weariness in my tone. “Llyran intends to raise Ahkneri or gain access to her power or her weapon. I think Tennin is waiting. Waiting for Llyran to accomplish his task. If a First One is raised, if the nobles learn the truth that Elysia was once theirs, they’ll wage war to take it