Everything Is Eternal (Book Two)

XVIII

A throat clearing startled the women. It was Arthur. "Matilda? Love? Your father was wondering if you had the Brady file?"

"Oh! It should be in his office. I'll fetch it!" Matilda said, seeming relieved for an excuse to excuse herself.

When Arthur and Matilda were gone, Kate decided to gamble on Diana's sympathy. "What do you know of the state of the city?"

"Oh, I don't know much." The elegant young woman waved her hand. "Just that they've declared martial law on some of the lower areas of the city; you need passes and such to get around. I'm not sure of all the areas. I think a lot of it is around Slate Quarter? I do apologize that I don't know more."

"That's fine," Kate assured her.

But it was bad. Kate and Will had lived in Slate Quarter. Matthew and most of their friends still lived there. It was the closest area to the Edges and the easiest access. There were secret bases for Umbra in Slate Quarter. Despite threats in the past to put the area under martial law, but business interests had prevailed.

When Matilda returned, Kate excused herself for some air. It would distress Evelyn if she knew Kate was out at night, but the night made Kate feel alive. Something about the frigid night air energized her.

"Had to get out too, eh?"

Warren was sitting on an iron bench. He was smoking and looking up at the stars.

"Yes," Kate agreed. "What of you? Won't your father miss you?"

"Not while he has Matilda and the shining star Arthur," he said in a cheeky tone. "Didn't Will tell you? I'm the inept son and he's the heretic. Now I'd ask you to wager which one causes my father greater anger?"

Kate smiled at him. "I'm sure your loyalty is appreciated."

Warren laughed. "Appreciation! Precisely my dear sister. That's about the strongest emotion the old man can manage."

Kate sat beside Warren. "You seem quite different than your father."

"When I was younger, I thought loyalty would be valued," Warren said. "Now I know the truth. Loyalty doesn't make up for deficiencies. I am too stupid to be trusted with any business responsibility. I am too stupid to even be trusted with arranging my own marriage."

"Diana seems nice."

"She's stupid," Warren said rudely. "Though I feel confident that quality is why my father thought we would be a good match. Of course, I suspect her family's business connections to the Cielo Region helps..."

"She's sweet. A bit sentimental..."

"That would be well and good. If I were the kind she'd be sweet on," Warren said. "But you are more of the sort she'd be sweet on..."

"Oh. Well, some men like that..."

"I'll admit, I saw the appeal," Warren said. "But after a while, it's like trying to seduce your own sister."

A giggle escaped Kate. "But, dearest brother, that doesn't prevent you from trying to charm me."

Warren let out a wicked laugh. "I suppose if my choices are a fiancée who prefers my own sisters, my ice cold sister and my heretic sister...I'll take the heretic."

"Former heretic," Kate corrected, very much aware that Warren had inched nearer, but she made no attempt to move away.

"Ah yes," he said, so close she could feel his breath. "You are so pure."

"You know... I read somewhere that my name means pure," Kate informed him coyly. "So I've been pure since the day of my birth."

Warren's hand moved to her arm. Kate wished she could feel something. When Will touched her, it was like fire and wine. Right now she only felt cold nothingness.