“Then take the necklace for his life.”
Sparrow closed the pendant in a tight fist, pleased with his new treasure. Blue light pulsed in his palm, and after dropping the necklace onto a tray, he faced the crowd. “I have another proposal to make, so listen well. You’ve assembled a form of government, mirroring what humans do. But why would you want to emulate such a lower life-form? You need a leader, someone you can depend on to protect you from all your foes. Someone who can create kingdoms like the ones you’ve left behind. Someone who can turn you from councilmen into generals, advisors, and intellects. Someone who respects your power.” Sparrow stepped onto a chair. “I am that leader. I have powers beyond your imagination and will tear down this city, brick by brick, and rebuild it from the ground up. A new world is dawning—the end is nigh. You are the most powerful immortals in Cognito. You have survived Breed wars, human wars, and still managed to hold on to your power and fortune. People follow you—they trust and obey you.” His voice lowered a fraction. “Join me.”
“Are you insane?” A man in a blue top did nothing to veil his disgust. “We won’t follow the likes of a common thief.”
Sparrow drew back his arm, and when he threw it forward, a spear fashioned from light sliced through the room and went straight through the man’s neck. “I have no tolerance for irreverence. Do I make myself clear?” He turned his gaze about the room, silencing everyone. “In a few moments, the walls I’ve built around you will close in. There is no escape.”
The crowd audibly gasped.
“And a terrible curse befell the winter ball.” He stepped down from the chair and swiped a white rose from the table. “Calm down—it won’t kill you. At least not yet. The light will infect your own like a parasite. Regardless of Breed, it will affect you all the same. You’ll exist in a shadow realm between the living and the dead—a place I carved into existence.” As he walked the floor, people moved away from him. “Swear allegiance to me, and I will see to your resurrection. Be warned: if you kill me, you will never return. Banished to live in the realm of shadows forever. The ferryman will not come for you, nor will you return to the living world. Both the living and the dead will see you, but you will no longer indulge in the pleasures of life. Nor will you indulge in the luxuries of death, such as walking through walls or being invisible to the living. Like a shadow, you will exist. But you will never be whole again.”
“You won’t get away with this,” Lenore snapped.
“Won’t I?” He tipped his head to the side. “If you go public and plead for help, you do so at your own peril. What will happen to your precious city when others realize that so many leaders are phantoms of another realm? What of your enemies?” He turned his attention to the crowd. “I recognize some of you. A seat of authority is nice, but why not a throne? We are gods. Do we not deserve a kingdom? I’m sure you’ve heard these dreams from those who rule in the Bricks, but I have no wish to build an empire with the dregs of society. They are beneath me. Their world is not as good as yours.” Sparrow turned his hands in strange movements, and threads of light wove together until an hourglass floated before him. He took the beautiful piece and set it on a serving table. “You have ten days, excluding this evening. If you’re smart, you’ll want to lie low tonight since your powers are temporarily suppressed, including your ability to heal. I wouldn’t want you crossing over to the other side before the transition is complete. Ten days should be enough time for you to adjust to your new situation and ruminate over your options. How long do you think you’ll be able to retain your jobs when you’re not completely alive anymore?” Sparrow straightened his purple tie. “Get your affairs in order. Those who join me will begin a new life, leaving the old behind. Sell your homes and liquidate your assets. You are free to pack a few personal belongings, but only what will fit inside a bedroom. If you have any decorative items of substantial value, let me know upon your arrival. There’s plenty of space in my castle for new things,” he said, gloating over his acquisition of our property.
“And how do we contact you to give our decision?” a brunette asked.
People gave her a scathing glance as she inadvertently labeled herself a traitor.
Sparrow turned, his coal-black hair swishing with the movement. “Return here if you wish to join me. One of my men will escort you to your new home. I will heal your light, and you will join my army. Come at me with bribes and I will cut you from that realm and put you in the next. Swear allegiance, and we will rule this world in ways never imagined. Refuse, and you will exist in limbo for all eternity, unable to live and unable to die.”
Sparrow strode toward the door. After putting all the jewels into trash bags, the Vampy little goons obediently followed their master. Without our powers, we stood no chance against them. Even if one or two people hadn’t indulged in the cider, fighting an army of Vampires without weapons was a death wish. A group of partygoers frantically dashed up the stairs while strategizing about leaping over the wall.
I turned a desperate gaze to Viktor.
Lenore lurched after Sparrow. “You can’t do this to me!”
Sparrow hesitated and looked over his shoulder at her. “Swear your fealty, and you’ll be my queen.”
Shepherd lunged at Sparrow and gripped his jacket. “If you hurt that boy, I’ll hunt you down and send you to hell myself.”
Blue grabbed Shepherd’s other arm, digging in her heels to pull him back.
Sparrow blasted Shepherd with energy. Shepherd flew back and knocked Blue and two other ladies down in the process. “Ten days,” he repeated. “No exceptions. No bartering. No tricks. Your oath will be binding. Join me or become… well, we have to give you a name now, don’t we? How about… shadow keepers?” He chuckled darkly. “Guardians of time. Lords of nothing.”
Sparrow whistled “Row, Row, Row Your Boat” as he and his men filed out the door. The sound of it sent a chill down my spine. We watched as they passed effortlessly through the light to the other side. A man shot after them, but as soon as he went through the wall, the light caught him and burned him to ashes.
“The walls are closing in!” a man cried out.
I ran to Viktor, my eyes searching the room for Christian. “What do we do?”
A crowd rushed up the stairs.
Lenore took Viktor’s arm. “Come with me.”
We followed behind them.
“Has anyone seen Christian?” I fell back a step, uncertain I wanted to go anywhere without him.
“Alas, I wasn’t paying attention,” Gem said. “I’m sure he heard us.”
“Not if he drank the cider.” I searched every face we passed, every room.
When we entered a dark room near the center of the house, Lenore closed the door and opened up a hidden passageway in the wall by pulling down on a sconce. “We can escape beneath the wall.”
We jogged down a staircase, and though I couldn’t see, I ran my hand along the wall for balance. Once we reached the bottom, a musty smell filled the air—one I associated with old basements.
“Where is the switch?” Lenore muttered. “It’s here somewhere. Does anyone have a light?”
