Nameless Ghoul

The Sentence

After Itzal cleaned up and Sunshine had seen to his head wound, they ate breakfast together in his room. He’d actually enjoyed the run with the ghouls and ghulehs. Even the fight with Alpha, though intense, hadn’t shaken him too badly. He felt...okay.

Sunshine’s phone rang. She stepped away to answer it, then glanced over at him.

“Sure, Papa. We’re coming now,” she said, hanging up. “Looks like you’re needed downstairs. Secondo and Shay want to speak with you.”

Great, he thought.

A few minutes later, they knocked on the door of Secondo’s study. His main bodyguard, Earth, opened it and beckoned them inside.

“Is it okay if Sunshine comes in?” Itzal asked.

Secondo nodded. Earth closed the door and took up his place behind Secondo, who was seated at his desk. Shay lounged in an armchair near the window, his posture relaxed. He smiled as they entered.

“Ah, Sunshine, my lovely. How are you this fine morning?” the old ghoul asked warmly.

“Very well, Councillor Shay. Thank you,” she replied with a sweet smile.

“Good, good,” Shay said, before his expression sobered. He turned to Itzal. “My peers across the Divide have concluded their investigation. Your sire has been found guilty and sentenced. The rest of your family has been cleared of any wrongdoing.”

Itzal moved to the chair in front of the desk and sat down heavily. Sunshine hovered behind him and placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder. Secondo watched them both closely.

“Ordinarily,” Shay continued, “the sentence would be carried out by the wronged party. But in your case, you can’t return to your home dimension. The collar prevents it.”

Itzal wasn’t sure how he felt about that. He didn’t enjoy killing, but for the traitor who’d sold him to Santos, he might have made an exception.

“A volunteer has come forward to act in your stead,” Shay said gently. “Your mother. She asked to be the one.”

Sunshine’s breath hitched. Itzal’s eyes widened. For a ghuleh to kill her bonded partner, no matter the crime, was nearly unheard of. But as he pictured his mother, fierce and protective, he found himself smiling. Of course she would step forward.

“When will it happen?” he asked.

“Tomorrow, at moonrise,” Shay said. “We’ve also granted a temporary summoning. Your mother asked to see you. It would be a waste to spill your sire’s blood without some good coming from it.”

His tone changed then, something feral flickering beneath the surface. Itzal caught a glimpse of the predator Shay must have been in his youth. He hadn’t climbed the ranks of the Council on kindness alone.

And then it sank in. A temporary summoning. A visitor’s pass. His mother would be brought to Earth... and he would see her.

The sting behind his eyes caught him unawares. He’d long since stopped hoping to see any of his family again.

“Thank you,” he said thickly. “I never thought I’d get the chance to see her again.”

Sunshine squeezed his shoulder, her presence grounding.

“I think it’ll help her too,” Shay said gently. “She’s livid with fury now, but when the moment comes... carrying out an execution like that, even justified, takes everything you have. Seeing you afterwards? It will be the first step toward healing.”

Itzal nodded, took a slow breath.

“Are you coping here?” Shay asked. “You’ve been through hell these last few years... and now this.”

Itzal met his gaze and managed a crooked smile.

“Sometimes I’m okay. Sometimes I’m not. It’s...a lot.”

Shay’s smile was warm, understanding.

“There’s another reason we needed to speak with you,” Secondo said, voice low. Itzal turned towards him. His expression was grave. “We believe Santos is testing our defences. The witches have detected someone probing the wards outside the Abbey.”

“Have you noticed anything unusual through your bond in the last couple of days?” Shay asked.

Itzal thought of the dream. The dark presence. The voice like honeyed poison.

He told them everything.

Secondo nodded, eyes narrowing.

“He’s trying to reach you, then. He’s stronger than we thought.”

Itzal knew that already. Santos’ power had grown, and the witches who followed him had made deals with lesser demons to fuel their rise. He’d been there. He’d watched it happen.

“We’ve been working on a theory,” Secondo said. “About Santos. And the collar. He’s drawn too much attention lately. Careless attention. We’ve had to clean up several of his messes over the past few days. He’s getting desperate. And he wants you back more than ever.”

Itzal’s chest tightened. The thought of falling into Santos’ hands again made his skin crawl.

Shay must have noticed, because his voice softened.

“Don’t worry, child. Whatever he’s planning? We’ll be ready.”