My mother frowns slightly. I press on. ‘I’m human, aren’t I?’ She nods. ‘So, am I food?’ Her mouth makes an ‘o’ of surprise, her eyes widening.
‘No! Of course not! You’re my daughter. You are Raven.’
‘An accident of birth, though, right? If I’d been born in the Safe Zone, to human parents, all I could look forward to was living and dying in the same place and, possibly, being meat for some hungry vampire. There’s no difference between me and them. Yet you want me to have an education, to travel, to be your heir, while all they can do is drink and read second-hand books and p-pretend that they have a life—’ I’m trying not to cry ‘—and I think they should have more. That Raven should set an example.’
‘So, what do you want to do?’
‘I want to live there for a while, and see how it works. How we can make change, perhaps offer humans a different way of living, where they have a choice. There are islands, you know, not too far out. Perhaps we could even set up a proper Safe Zone there, one where humans can be truly free again. It’s time, I think, to try and build a world that works for us both.’
‘A good idea.’ My mother and I both turn to see my father leaning against the doorframe, his arms folded. ‘It won’t happen overnight, though, Emelia. There will be hard work involved.’
‘I’m ready,’ I say. I don’t just mean for the work. I mean for all of it. The crown, the mantle of Raven and all that it means. I’ve been through the fire and come out the other side, harder, stronger than I was before. ‘And it’s what I want to do.’
‘You might fail.’ My father is still serious, but there’s light in his golden eyes. ‘Are you prepared for that?’
‘Better I fail than don’t try at all.’
He pushes off from the doorframe, coming towards me. ‘Spoken like a ruler.’ One corner of his mouth curves. ‘You are right. It is time for change. But it won’t be easy.’
‘Because I’m human. I get that. But my weakness is also my strength.’ I see this now, so clearly.You have no idea who you could be.Words spoken in a darkened hallway, what feels like a lifetime ago. He was right. I had no idea. But now I do.
‘Are you sure this is what you want?’
I know my mother won’t want me to go. Almost losing me frightened her, and I know she’ll worry. But I’m determined. It’s time for the work to begin. ‘I’ll come back and see you, every week,’ I say. ‘I’d miss you too much, otherwise.’
She stands, holding out her hand. I take it, and she pulls me to her feet. We’re the same height and, for the first time, I feel I might live up to her. She smiles. ‘Well then, my beautiful girl, let’s make this happen.’ She takes my other hand and we dance, my bare feet twirling on the soft rug, my spirit rising at the potential of what’s to come.
ChapterForty
SECRETS
It’s early morning and I’m walking through the Safe Zone. I’ve been here for just over a week. This time of day suits me – there aren’t too many people around, and I’m still adjusting to sleeping at night. I have a small house near the beach, which I share with one of our blood dancers, sworn to secrecy. Mother insisted I take a guard as well – I refused at first, but knew she was right. After all, there’s still a rebellion going on. They keep themselves scarce, a gleam of silver and black in the night. The house has been modified, too – oh, nothing too opulent. Let’s just say I have a very effective security system.
I reach the small café I visited with Ruth. The awning is up, someone setting up tables and chairs on the pavement. I realise who it is.
‘Michael?’
He stops, putting the chair he’s unfolding down. When he turns I see a faint red line curving above one eyebrow.
‘You’re all right!’ We both say it at the same time, then laugh.
‘Oh, thank darkness,’ he says. ‘I was so worried about you.’
‘Worried about me? You werebleeding.’
‘Oh, that? Just a scratch.’ He grins, lifting a hand to the scar. It’s fainter than I would have expected, considering how much he’d been bleeding. His fingers are long, his hands beautifully shaped. ‘You made it home, then?’
‘Eventually.’ I put my hands in my pockets, all at once self-conscious, remembering our closeness in a dark alcove.
‘I’m glad,’ he says. Morning sun turns his hair to gold, his smile wide. ‘So, what brings you out so early?’
‘Oh, I just like it.’
‘I don’t mind early,’ he says.
‘Me either. It’s peaceful.’ I try to think of something else to say. ‘Well, it was nice seeing you again.’
‘You too, Emily. Hope to see you around.’
