My mother’s eyebrows go up. ‘Yes. Why do you ask?’
‘I didn’t recognise him. And…’He smelled of violets.‘I think he was wearing anti-feed. What in darkness did he do?’
My mother’s expressive features seem to ripple. It’s my father who answers.
‘I was standing by the window when he came towards me, a jug in his hand. I waved him away, but he threw the jug at me. I sidestepped, and?—’
‘It blew out the window,’ Mistral drawls. ‘I ripped him apart, but the damage was already done.’
‘And then he rushed me out of there.’ My mother still sounds shaken.
I swallow. So Mistral is responsible for the pile of body parts. Fuck fuck fuck. How is this even happening? ‘But, I don’t understand?—’
‘He shouted something.’ My mother’s voice is rough. ‘Before he threw the jug. “The North Wind will blow.”’
ChapterTwelve
TWENTY LIVES
‘The North Wind?’ It’s like a cold shock. ‘B-but, they’re humans!’
My mother grips my father, convulsive. ‘Oh, Aleks, if he’d succeeded—’ Her voice breaks and she buries her face in the curve where his neck meets his shoulder. He shifts, pulling my mother onto his lap. I look away. And catch Mistral frowning.
‘How do you know of the North Wind?’ he says.
Despite the fact that I’m shaking and cold, something about the way he asks puts my back up. ‘I saw it written on a wall, when I was out the other night. And I asked Ky— er, one of the guards about it.’ I pause to catch my breath. Everything feels strange, as though I’m in a dream. Or maybe like I just woke up. That little flame inside me flickers again. ‘I thought they weren’t a threat, though. I mean, they’re just humans.’
As the words leave my mouth it’s as though I can see myself saying them.Just humans.Who in darkness do I think I am?
Would you like it?
I don’t think I would.
‘What do you know about it, Emelia?’ My father is frowning, but one corner of his mouth curves.
‘That they’re rebels. And that?—’
Mistral interrupts me. ‘You don’t need to worry about them, child.’
Screw him. I’m not a child. ‘They just tried to kill my father – I think I do need to worry!’
He narrows his eyes. Then he smiles, once more flashing gold brilliance. ‘They didn’t succeed. And their agent is dead. Just another piece of human scum.’ He snarls the last part.
‘I’mhuman,’ I hiss.
My mother leaves my father’s lap and comes to sit with me, taking my hand. ‘I’m sure Mistral didn’t mean it like that.’
‘Forgive me, dear one.’ Mistral inclines his head in my direction. ‘Now, Penelope, I think we need to?—’
I cut in, my voice rising. ‘But how did the bomber get in here? If he was “just another human”.’ I let scorn creep into my voice, hoping it will cover the shaking. ‘And what do they want? For darkness’ sake, people are dead! They nearly killed Father! I mean, is there something we’re doing to humans, something we could change…’ I trail off. Of course there’s something we’re doing. Weeatthem. And I don’t see that changing any time soon.
‘Who knows? Or cares, if I’m honest.’ Mistral spreads his hands. ‘They’ll never win.’
I half-rise from my seat, my fists clenched, my control slipping.
My mother pulls me back. ‘Your father will be fine,’ she says, rubbing my arm. ‘You needn’t worry.’
‘Yes, he was lucky, little one,’ Mistral muses.
