Then I see it. The subject readsPopular Rhymes for Boys and Girls. Underneath, there’s a single line of text. ‘And we shall have snow.’
My hand trembles as I click the link.
Fuck.
The Raven logo appears onscreen, black and silver on a white background. But it’s been slashed with bloody red lines, a slogan written beneath in jagged black lettering. ‘The North Wind Will Blow.’ My stomach clenches. I click on the logo and a verse appears, replacing our tattered insignia.
The North wind will blow,
and we shall have snow,
and what will poor Raven do then?
The words onscreen fade into a scattering of black dots, and a photograph appears. I gasp. It’s my father. Once again, it’s been slashed to red ribbons. Beneath it are his name, and the words ‘Attack attempted: October 31st. More to come.’ His photo fades to be replaced by one of my mother, her beauty shredded by cruel red claws. I hold my breath, but there’s nothing written beneath her image other than her name. It fades, and a third image appears. This one is a drawing, though, of a young girl with black hair in plaits, wearing a blue dress. Beneath it are the words. ‘Emelia Raven. Photograph unavailable. Take on sight.’ What the fuck does that mean? Take my photo? Or take… me? The drawing doesn’t look much like me, though. Which may work in my favour. It disappears, to be replaced by more Raven photographs, different members of the family. Including Mistral. Some images have dates beneath them, others just names. But that’s it.
There’s nothing else. No way of contacting the North Wind, or any more about what they want. Just the revolving carousel of photographs, both a threat and a message. I click on the page a few times, just in case, but nothing. Then a little spinning Raven logo appears – I click on it, and a box pops up, asking for password details. I slump back in my chair.
Onscreen, the images continue to revolve. All the Ravens listed, including Father, are still alive, as far as I know. I realise though, as the images turn, that they’re all minor members of the family, other than Mistral and my parents. Some of them I haven’t seen in years – they don’t even come to the Gatherings.
I frown at the screen. Something doesn’t seem quite right, but I can’t put my finger on it. If I want to know more about the North Wind, I need to find them. Yeah, I know. Mistral and his ‘agents’ are on it. But I don’t trust Mistral as far as I can throw him. My plans haven’t changed – I still don’t want to be the next Raven – but I can’t just stand by and do nothing, not when there’s a chance I could make a difference. After all, I have one advantage that no other Raven has.
I’m human.
The shutters start to rumble, the pale square of garden disappearing behind dark metal with a final shuddering clang. My mind whirring, I get changed for bed, flopping onto the pillows. As I do there’s a faint crackling noise. What the hell? I sit up and pull the pillow towards me. Beneath it is a single piece of paper, cream against the white linen sheet.
I pick it up. The writing is black, sharp, letters scratched into the paper.
Emelia,
I’ve missed you. You smell like violets and taste of roses. I can’t wait to see you again, and finish what we started. Will you have me, my lady?
Kyle
Will I have him?
Well. Apart from the fact his timing is perfect, my heart is pounding so hard I’m surprised Bertrand can’t hear it through the walls.
ChapterFourteen
TO THE STARS
Iwake from a restless sleep, Kyle’s note still clutched in my hand. It was a bold move, on his part. I wonder how he even got in here without being seen. But I’m glad he did. For so many reasons. Not just because of what we did, or might do, even though my heart skips a beat at the thought. But also because he’s the only person who has ever given me a choice, who offered me freedom at the edge of a waterfall. My plans might have changed slightly, but I still think he could be the only one brave enough, or mad enough, to help me. I just need to take him somewhere we can truly be alone.
And I know exactly the place.
I shower and dress, brushing my hair so it crackles with electricity. I choose a dress in deep burgundy velvet, silver leaves embroidered along the cuffs and hem, the neckline lower than I’d usually wear.
When I open my bedroom door, he’s there. It’s all I can do not to fall into his arms, but the wide-eyed glance of the other guard with him, her hair pulled into a high silvery ponytail, stops me.
Still. I need to be alone with him.
‘I’m going to the library,’ I say. I pause, trying to remember the name of the other guard. ‘Er, Giselle, is it? I’ll be fine with just Kyle – I won’t be going anywhere.’
Kyle looks down, but I can see he’s grinning.
The other guard looks doubtful. ‘But my lady, Bertrand ordered me to?—’
‘I’ll speak with Bertrand,’ I say, with as much authority as I can muster.
