“Only a few very brave, and very old, Fae have dared keep the true word of the Creator alive against the Empire’s wishes. Many are members of our organization.”
“The real fire opal flute,” Mireille asked. “Don’t tell me that?—”
Layla nodded. “Otto has acquired it.”
“How?” Ronin asked, incredulously. “And why would the Empire be so careless as to let an object likethatslip through their fingers?”
“It was lost during the chaos of Leonin’s war with the humans. I have no idea how Otto finally managed to track it down after all these years.”
“And you’re sure he has it?” Mireille asked.
“He speaks as if he does. It’s central to his plans. Though I’ve searched this entire estate and have yet to see any sign of it.”
“Still,” Ronin said, “if Nyctima was destroyed, why would the flute summon her? How does Otto intend toresurrecther?”
Layla pointed toward the alcoves. “By using those.”
Mireille turned to survey the glowing stones.
“Those are the souls of the Fae that Otto has been luring to his estate with promises of restoring their elemental magic,” Layla said sadly. “Souls of mixed species heritage. Offerings to the Creator and the very fuel that’s rebuilding her fallen emissary. He’s been feeding them to Nyctima’s spirit. Strengthening her. The tree above keeps them intact, a symbiotic relationship of sorts. The souls give life to the tree and in return, the tree restores them after Nyctima’s feedings.”
“Where death feeds life and life feeds death,” Ronin whispered.
Layla continued, “Her spirit comes to feed every one-hundred-and-five days.”
“The Scales of Nyctima,” Mireille breathed. “Those lights that appear in the sky. They actuallyareNyctima?”
“Sort of,” Layla confirmed. “They are a cast-off of her spiritual energy, the only part of her that still remains. When they appear, a path between this world and the Halfway opens, allows Otto and Nostrata to perform those seances.”
Mireille gestured toward the stones. “So, is that what he intends for the other guests tomorrow? To burn them and capture their souls to feed to Nyctima once he summons her?”
Layla shook her head again, her mouth drawing downward. “No. This is the final feeding. Alivefeeding. It’s why he’s gathered so many guests. He only invited one at a time before he acquired the flute. This will be a group offering to both Nyctima and Adelphinae that Otto hopes will persuade the Goddess to bless him with fire magic.”
“He has no human heritage, though,” Ronin chimed in. “How could he hope to acquire it?”
“He may not have human heritage, but he does have mixed blood running through his system.” Layla shuddered. “He drinksfrom the guests. After he kills them and before he burns them. He’s consumed plenty these past decades.”
“Why doesn’t he just drink from humans?” Mireille asked.
“He’s convinced it has to be mixed blood.” Layla shuddered.
A crushing sadness weighed on Mireille’s shoulders. All this senseless death. She remembered the one that had kicked off this fucking bizarre week. “The diva?—”
“He fed from her, yes. Then fed her soul to Nyctima to open the Halfway last night, to confirm his suspicions about the heritage of this group of guests.”
Ronin crossed his arms over his chest, skepticism overtaking his handsome features. “Why is the Teles Chrysos trying to thwart him? Wouldn’t you allwantOtto to resurrect a weapon that can take down the Empire?”
Layla scoffed. “And giveOttoall that power? Whoever wields that flute willcontrolNyctima. Can use her as a tool for either good or evil. Which do you think Jurgev Otto will choose? Besides, it is not yet time for us to take on the Empire. The prophecy has not yet been fulfilled.”
Mireille waited for Layla to elaborate, but her candor had come to an end.
“Why are you trustinguswith all this?” Ronin asked. “We work for your enemies.”
Layla leaned back against the wall. “I can’t take him and NostrataandKosera down alone. I need your help. We work together to defeat him, then go our separate ways. And you promise not to reveal anything about our organization to your bosses.”
Mireille glanced to Ronin again, reading the same thing on his face that she had felt after her conversation with Otto this morning.
Fuckthe Empire.
