Only Skeletons Remain

Chapter 33: Walking the Layout

The air was thick with tension as the four Joseph siblings followed Sacarver through the narrow, winding streets of DEMA. Fog still clung to the ground, as if the city itself refused to let go of its secrets. The buildings loomed above them, twisted shapes and structures unlike anything Harper, Liam, Micah, and Andrew had ever seen. Sacarver, their guide, moved with a calm authority, occasionally glancing back at them with unreadable eyes.

"You'll meet the High Council now," Sacarver said, her voice steady. "They govern DEMA, each one powerful in their own right. I suggest you stay silent unless spoken to."

Harper exchanged a glance with Liam, who seemed to sense the unease growing within her. She felt it too—the faint hum of something darker lurking just beneath the surface of this strange city. She wondered why Fenrir had warned her about the city, but the further she got, the more her anxiety heightened.

They arrived at a towering, obsidian building that stretched unnaturally high into the mist. The entrance was guarded by two large, imposing doors. Sacarver pushed them open without effort, revealing a vast hall lit by pale, flickering flames in sconces. In the center of the hall sat the High Council.

Five figures were seated in a semi-circle on raised thrones, each distinctly different from the other, but all radiating power. The siblings stood in silence, taking them in one by one. Harper reached for Liam's hand, holding onto it tightly. She hated the way these people were looking at her.

Blurryface was the first to draw their attention. His skin was darkened in patches along his neck and hands, and his red eyes seemed to glow with an unnatural intensity. He leaned forward slightly, inspecting the siblings with a smirk. Despite the strange look of him, his voice was smooth and almost casual when he spoke. "New blood in DEMA. Sacarver told us you were different, but I wasn't expecting so much...spirit."

Next to him sat Blight, his sister. Her skin bore the same dark patches on her neck as her brother, but her eyes were a striking, venomous green. She was silent for a long moment, studying them with an icy intensity. Her gaze lingered on Harper. "They are untrained," she said coldly, her voice carrying a sharp edge. "Too raw to be of use to us now."

Harper felt a shiver run down her spine. The woman's stare was unnerving, like being examined by a predator. Her eyes felt like they were seeing right through her, and Harper swallowed a bit, not liking the experience at all.

Blight's son, Blasphemy, sat to her right. His features were sharp, almost feline, and his presence was palpable. There was a wildness to his appearance, with black streaks running down his arms, marking him as someone closely tied to his mother's power. His lips curled into a half-smile as he watched them with amusement, but he said nothing. He was eyeing each of the siblings, like they were prey to be hunted.

Bliss, the male figure seated beside Blasphemy, appeared almost serene in comparison. His eyes were closed, and his expression calm, as if he were merely listening to the currents of the room. Harper felt a strange pull toward him, as if there was more to him than met the eye. She narrowed her eyes before pulling her attention away.

The last member, Adrian, was perhaps the most striking in his normalcy. He was undeniably human, with no visible signs of the twisted influence that marked Blurryface or Blight. His posture was relaxed, but his eyes were sharp, cold, and calculating. He didn't speak, but his gaze lingered on Andrew, as if weighing something in his mind.

"Come closer," Blurryface commanded, his red eyes locking on them. "I want to see what Sacarver has brought to us."

The siblings hesitated, but Sacarver's firm gesture urged them forward. They stepped into the center of the hall, feeling the weight of the Council's eyes on them. Blurryface got down from his throne, walking towards the children and staring down at them with slightly narrowed eyes. He didn't touch them, though he raised his hand as if he were going to examine them. He then lowered his hand, glancing at his sister as she spoke.

"What are you?" Blight's voice was venomous, directed sharply at Harper, though it felt like the question was meant for all of them. "Are you here to serve DEMA, or are you another problem for us to solve?" Her black tipped fingers tapping on the armrest of her seat.

Liam's hand subtly brushed Harper's, steadying her, as she opened her mouth to speak. But before she could respond, Blurryface leaned back, his gaze shifting between all of them.

"They're not ready for what's to come," he said, a strange smile on his lips. "But they will be." He turned to the others, as if daring any of them to question him. Harper figured that Blurryface was in charge of the Council.

Adrian, who had been silent the entire time, finally spoke up, his voice low but commanding. "There are whispers in this city. The bishops grow restless, and yet, you bring us these... children. Why now, Sacarver?" He seemed to be more confused than anything else.

Sacarver's eyes never wavered as she replied. "Because they are the key. Even if they don't know it yet."

Harper's heart raced as the words sank in. There was no escape from whatever this city had planned for them. They would have to embrace it in order to survive living here.

"Two of them bear Ancestor marks." Blight grunted, getting off her seat, and she walked towards them, narrowing her eyes at them. "Have you taken this into consideration, Sacarver? Or have you taken them in because they are your kin?" 

Sacarver let out a low growl, her pelt bristling slightly. "You question your superior's judgement?" She challenged.

Blight dipped her head, a smirk tugging at her lips. "Of course not, Sacarver. You know I only look after DEMA's interest."

Blurryface rubbed a hand over his chin. "Bring them to their quarters. They can be with the other apprentices."

"Blurry, are you sure--"

Blurryface waved his hand at his sister. "They bear the Ancestors' Mark. If they are not trained in our ways, they will be no better than Clancy. We cannot have that again."

Blight dipped her head to her brother. "But if you are wrong anyway?"

"Then I am wrong." Blurryface turned to Blight. "But for now, this is the best way, until I find my host again." Blurryface turned to Sacarver. "You're dismissed."

Sacarver grunted, gently corralling the siblings away from the High Council. Her pelt twitched as she began leading them towards the apprentices' room. She gently nudged them towards the door. Harper turned to look at Sacarver. 

"What're you gonna do with us?" Harper asked.

"Just train you." Sacarver hummed. "You will learn our ways, and we will keep you safe." 

Harper didn't fully believe it, but she nodded her head. "See you in the morning then." She then guided her brothers into the living quarters, where they were met by five other children, varying in ages. 

Were these the apprentices? And why were they looking at them like they were outsiders?