The Shadow Kingdom

Chapter 17 - Retribution

I find Diana in the sub-basement. She cleans her guns with the delicate precision of a watchmaker. She treats them with the same level of care that other women would give to pearls and diamonds. "What was it like, that night when Adrian found you?" I ask. She doesn't even address me. She knows where I'm going with this. "Were you old enough to understand what was happening to you? What would have happened if Adrian didn't arrive on time?"

She puts down the FN F2000. "I would have been sold to a brothel. They would have forced me to use heroin everyday in order to keep me in line. Ten, maybe twenty different men would have raped me everyday. And I probably would have died of an STI before I turned eighteen. Is that what you want to hear?"

"We could have abandoned the mission!" My moral indignation explodes like a hand grenade. "We could have let the coast guard seize the ship! You and I would have still escaped, and the girls would have been saved!"

"And Augustus would kill you." Diana speaks with unnerving plainness. "He might even order me to do it. In our world, all the shades of grey are blacker than they are white."

"How did this world become so screwed up? The kings, they already bathe in gold and secretly control the world. How much power and wealth does it take to satisfy these men?"

"I stopped thinking like that a long time ago. I didn't make the world this way, and neither did you. We are just as much slaves as those girls on the boat." She looks at me as if I'm a delicate flower. I hate that. I would rather people fear me as if I were the monster. "William will call an emergency meeting soon. You need to be there to take the fall."

Adrian awaits us upstairs. A videoconference between the patriarchs is about to begin. Adrian and Diana stand beside me but out of sight of the camera. It has to look as though I did this on my own.

Five faces appear on the screen. I question how much true power the adjudicator actually wields. His position resembles that of the pope.

I expected to see William's enraged face, but instead, Nathaniel's sinister calmness stands in its place. "I have a grievance to present before the Consortium." He begins. "One of our freighters was attacked in New York City last night as I'm sure you are all aware. The ship was destroyed along with all its contents. I believe House Shang is responsible."

"These allegations are patently absurd." Augustus retorts. "What evidence do you have to back them up?"

"House Ortega and House Shang are the only ones with a strong enough presence in New York City to pull off such an attack. A team of waterweavers attacked the ship. They were all highly trained soldiers who were able to take on thirty armed warlocks. It is well known that your daughter has a flair for this sort of work.

"House Shang has declared war against us. As per Consortium law, we demand that they pay full reparations for the loss of our property and surrender a large supply of the life-giving blood as damages. If they refuse, this will mean open war – a war that House Ortega and House Hassan will be expected to join if they honour the law."

Augustus goes eerily silent. I take that as my cue. "House Shang had no involvement in this attack. I was the one who lead the team that destroyed the ship."

Nathaniel shoots me an undisguised look of disdain. "Why would you do such a thing, dear sister?"

"I'm openly declaring my intention to rebel against my father. The crimes that he has committed against me are unforgiveable. This was the first battle of my own personal war."

Nathaniel subtly licks his lips as if he can taste my deception. Or maybe he is just imagining me as his next victim. "And how did you manage to carry out this daring act of defiance?"