I would’ve given that command if Kai didn’t lay a hand on my shoulder… again. Perhaps he knew what I was thinking, and recognised that if he touched me Emon would take him with me too.
“Could I suggest that we can continue this debate inprivate…” Kai said, head tilting to the onlookers, reminding me of the mess hall full of powerless and fearful witches who had just watched their potential futures mocked on a television. “I think we are equally traumatised by the events we just witnessed. Except that isn’t an excuse to be arguing amongst ourselves.”
“There is nothing to discuss,” I said, seconds from yanking myself out of his grip and disappearing into the void. “My decision is final.”
“Actually,” Kai said, lowering his voice as he leaned in close, “it’s not. Because I think, if you are adamant about facing off against Tomin alone, you should know every single movement of his since yesterday’s act of terror before you leave, right?”
I couldn’t place it, but there was something in what Kai said that stilled me to my core. A few seconds of silent pause, and I agreed. “Then make it quick.”
Kai leaned back, hand dropping away. He won, because I gave Emon no command except ‘wait’.
“Follow me, please.” Kai swept a hand towards the exit. “Romy, you too.”
Not that she needed to prove anything, but clearly her display of old magic had been enough to show Kai that she was useful. Even though the one thing Kai and I clearly agreed on, without the need to speak aloud, was Romy’s safety.
I just hadn’t worked out for what reason he wanted to keep her safe yet. By the end of this conversation, I would.
* * *
“If we are going to make a move against Father Tomin, then you should know his movements since the orchestrated attack on the White Tower.” Kai paced at the head of a long white table with the pentagram symbol etched into its surface, worrying his hands together with such vigour it was a surprise to me when the friction alone didn’t start a fire. “Because that…manhas been busy since we’ve gone into hiding, and I have some insight into why.”
I shared a side-eyed glance with Romy who was sat rigid in a metal chair, body deadly still although her mind was likely whirring. Emon looked to be sleeping in the middle of the table, his obsidian-scaled body no different to a crystal ball.
“Do we really have time to discuss, knowing witches are about to be burned at the stake?” I asked, unable to hide the bite from my tone.
Kai bristled, cheeks flaring crimson. “Let’s not pretend that Father Tomin’s little TV appearance was anything more than a way to bait us out of hiding. And, if you’d already left, it would’ve worked.”
“Correct,” I tested. “Trap or not, no witch is going to burn today. I won’t allow it.”
Kai paused only for a second. “A notion we agree on. Trust me, our thoughts on your next actions are lined up. But Tomin is creating a spectacle. He wants eyes on the event… as many as hecan. If he didn’t, those witches would already be dead. Tomin’s treating the burning like a season finale of a beloved show… giving time to viewers to tune in and watch. Which, in turn, has given us time to think before we act.”
“All thiswetalk when I thought I’d made it clear you are both not coming,” I snapped.
It impressed me to see Kai’s too-calm demeanour shift into something dangerous for a moment. I couldn’t place it entirely, but it was something to do with his eyes—the way an inner light glowed as if he had unfinished business to attend to.
“To be determined,” was all Kai said.
“Then let’s get this over with so we can crack on,” Romy said, an air of authority lingering around her. “Quickly.”
Inspired, and obviously impressed by the woman to his left, Kai jumped into his explanation. “Tomin was awarded full access to the White Tower before any mortal government. Lucky we still have some witches seeded amongst society, and until they are discovered we will be getting any information we need to see us through to the end of this shit storm.”
“No,” Romy snapped, palms slapping on the table. “I don’t care what you think about this, but those witches must retreat. Right. Now. It isn’t safe for them. Send word, get them all to leave their positions until theshit stormpasses.”
Kai’s body sighed, his shoulders slumping forwards and back bowing beneath the weight of so much unspoken authority. “I have tried, believe me. They have refused. Unlike Jonathan’s previous rule, I don’t intend to be a dictator during my, hopefully,shortstint as acting Grand High. If those hidden witches still in society want to put their necks on the line for the rest of us, then that’s their choice. Romy…”
His voice softened, as did his expression whenever he spoke her name.
If the world wasn’t ending for people like me, I would’ve stuck my nose into why that was. Alas, time and place and all that.
“… I don’t want anyone putting themselves in the firing line of Father Tomin’s very obvious religious cleansing. I’ve given those witches the option to leave, and the aid from us if the time comes. Until then, we can only be thankful that we have them in positions of power that will hopefully aid us.”
Romy sat back, releasing a heavy breath that told of a thousand disapprovals to everything she’d just heard. “Continue,” she snapped, arms folding over her chest.
Kai nodded, mentally mapping out where he’d left off before continuing. “Due to Tomin’s knowledge and awareness of witch-kind, he was given authority to ‘sweep’ the White Tower for witches. Of course we’d all left, and he actually had no desire to find us either. He was looking for something else.”
“What?” I asked, buzzing through my bones, muscle and blood.
“Knowledge,” Kai said, his pale skin taking on a sickly green tinge. “As you discovered the knowledge about Bahmet during the Witch Trials, it is something that isn’t new information to those in power amongst the Coven. We have been collecting information on the demon, with the aid of previous Grand Highs. From all the books, collections and stores of magical artefacts my predecessors have obtained over the years, it would seem that the only things Tomin has taken from the White Tower is any and all information alluding to the demon currently possessing his son.”
