Prologue
The Veil
And He said, Let there be light.
And there was light.
And He called the light “day,” and He called the dark “day.”
And there was no evening.
And there was no morning.
And He called this place home. Midnite City—the Sprawl, the Bleed.
And He, the Head, watched from behind the Veil. Trusted acolytes, the Hand and the Heart, forever by His side.
And They watched over the Sprawl, the Bleed—Their neon paradise.
And in the shadows beneath Their light, the Ghost waits patiently.
Chapter One
Lilith
Dreamer.
Silly little dreamer.
That’s me, alright. Young, ambitious, and ready to take this whole damn world by storm.
But there’s not a lot I can do on my own. Sure, Mom has connections that can get me ahead, but using them would mean I’d be indebted to her. She might not expect anything in return, but I’d know. Deep down. I didn’t earn what I’m working so hard to achieve. I’d be like all the other snobby brats inMidnite City.
And, if the tabloids and gossip rags don’t already have enough to say about me or my family, that would be the perfect kindling for the types of fires they love to light. Just another rich reject, relying on nepotism and golden handshakes to get ahead.
I won’t let my name be tarnished by those lies.
I still have a lot to thank Mom for. Her glaring failure as a parent has taught me valuable lessons in how to operate at the highest levels. Use what you have at your disposal. Sure, charm, wit, and a pretty smile can carry someone far, but the best weapon in a woman’s arsenal is her body.
Flaunt it enough and you’ll twist every man’s head in your direction. Doesn’t matter if he’s some low-life thug or a CEO in the making, they’ll all be eating out of your palm.
And it’s on the backbone of that terrible advice that I find myself in the university library with Tom Henderson. He’s flicking through his notes in preparation for an upcoming exam, red-faced and frustrated that whatever he’s working on just won’t click.
“What’s got you so bent out of shape?” I lean forward on the table, pressing my chest out to expose as much cleavage as my tight black top will allow.
“This fucking bullshit,” he grumbles, fidgeting anxiously with a dog-eared sheet of paper. “Doesn’t make any sense.”
“I’d help if I could, but I’m no good with numbers.” Not necessarily true. It’s more that I dislike them.
While Tom’s studies prime him to take over his father’s corporation, Lux-Peak Technology, my interests lie in the betterment of our planet. I’m starting with animals and their preservation for now, but who knows where the road will lead?
It’s this drive that put Tom in my crosshairs to begin with. Lux-Peak is one of the most powerful mega-corporations in Midnite, and has recently established a new research lab, focusing on the genetic preservation of species on the brink of extinction.
And while my studies are still a long way from completion, getting an in with the Hendersons now can’t hurt my chances of securing my place in the good they’re trying to accomplish.
It also helps that my mark is easy on the eye. Broad shoulders, a strong chin and captain of the football team, Tom made it easy to lock on.
“Nah, this shit’s impossible anyway,” Tom grumbles. “That’s why I can’t wait for tomorrow night.”
