The Shadow Kingdom

Chapter 25 - The Morning After

My eyes open, and as the power of reason returns to me, I realize I'm in my bedroom. It reminds me of the first time Adrian saved my life when he was walking me home. Except this time, I am covered in gauze and surgical tape, and the pain of my wounds burns so badly that no amount of aspirin would help. Adrian promised me I would never wake up alone again. He broke that promise last night.

My neck, my back, and my leg are the worst. Selena used me as a human chopping block. I force myself to suffer through the pain and limp my way out of the bedroom.

Seven Hills has become a disaster zone. The floors are littered with body bags as the police and Praesidium categorize the dead for the sake of their families. The once beautiful corridors are now stained with blood and reek of gunpowder and ashes. Torn tapestries, burnt paintings, and devastated fixtures are all that is left of what used to adorn this majestic place.

What have I done? I remember what Adrian said to me about vulnerability. The reason he's denied himself the chance to love anyone his whole life is because his enemies would exploit it. And last night, that's exactly what happened. Adrian allowed himself to be taken in order to protect me. I was his vulnerability.

I wander the halls, silently condemning myself when I find Isabella. "Scarlett! You should be in bed." She helps me to the nearest couch that still stands on four legs.

"How did this happen?" My voice bleeds with sorrow.

"We let our guard down. House Ashcroft knew that all our leaders would be in one place, and they saw the perfect opportunity to hurt us. So they did. They hit us with a sledgehammer last night. If we weren't at war already, we sure as hell are now." I consolidate all the guilt and grief inside me, and I tell that useless part of me to shut up. This is not the time to be afraid; this is the time to be angry.

I meant to speak to Augustus about what is to be done, but he was consumed all day by what is left of his advisors. Diana was one among them, strategizing House Shang's counterattack. Octavia spent the day arranging the funeral for Tiberius, Vanessa, and all the others who died here last night.

Three days go by, and they are the most painful days of my life. Octavia's hatred for me has finally earned its merit. I am House Shang's Helen of Troy. The day Adrian fell in love with me was the day he and his empire were doomed. There are eighty-one people waiting to be buried who would still be alive right now if I had never entered his life. And right now, he is probably chained to a chair while my false family steals his life-giving blood.

Since meeting Adrian, I've forgotten what winter feels like. His supernatural gift and the Mens Tempus have always kept the sting of coldness at bay. The day of the funeral however, Mother Nature offers us no reprieve as the snow sprinkles over the graves, and the wind howls as if to taunt us. As I hug myself to stay warm, only now do I truly realize how much Adrian spoiled me.

"And in sure and certain hope of the resurrection to eternal life through our lord Jesus Christ, we commend to almighty god our sister, Vanessa Wong – Shang. And we commit her body to the ground: earth-to-earth, ashes-to-ashes, and dust-to-dust. May the lord bless her and keep her. The lord makes his face to shine upon her and be gracious to her and give her peace. Amen." Vanessa spent a lot of time in the United States. She would have wanted a Christian funeral.

The Sirens stand beside me. I was afraid that they would blame me for Vanessa's fate, but mercifully, none of them do. They are soldiers. They channel their fury at the enemy and no one else.

We lay our roses on Vanessa's casket, and Iris sings Amazing Grace in a mournful melody. We each say a silent prayer for our fallen sister. Even without speaking, I know we're all saying the same thing; that her vendetta will not die with her. As long as one of us breathes, House Ashcroft will see its bitter end.