Page 16 of Grave Devil
Willa steps forward, her arms shaking. “Who, Atreus?” she yells. “Who controls the ravens? Who are you asking us to sell our souls to?”
I came prepared for outbursts. For doubts. I almost didn’t believe him myself. But he showed me great things. I felt his power, his seduction. And I knew in that moment I would pledge. If I could have even a smidgen of what he possesses…my gods.
“He has many names. Many faces. It does not matter what we call him. He has made us an offering. A bargain. And I have accepted.” I turn my palm toward them, showing them the jagged scar that adorns it. “I have given my blood to the Wishing Tree.”
“As have I,” Cage Blackwell cries out.
“And I.” Vale Wickford thrusts his hand up, showing his scarred palm.
Willa’s nostrils flare. Her chest heaves. “And what of her?” She points to Lucy. “Show usyourhand.”
But Imogen rises instead. She crosses the Circle to face Willa. “Bishop women have their own curses. Now quit pointing at my sister and sit down.”
A visible shudder rolls through the dark-haired beauty. She shrinks back and wraps a protective arm around her belly. “And what if I don’t do it?”
“Mi amor, please… sit,” Enzo pleads with her. She does, but her expectant gaze falls on me.
I offer a tight but warm smile. “No one is being forced to join, Miss Harker. But you will be asked to leave if you don’t comply in some way. We cannot have anyone we don’t trust living among us. I’m sure you understand. We will, however, send you with a full month’s ration for your journey.”
Her gaze darkens, and she snickers, knowing full well that she’s in no condition to travel. For a baby grows inside her belly.
“We will stay, Atreus. Please, forgive us. It has been a trying winter,” Enzo adds.
I nod. “Of course, my friend.” I turn back to the others. There are no more questions. Willa’s outburst answered them all. They will stay and pledge an oath or leave tonight. That is the deal. The new world order.
I make them follow us to the Wishing Tree. One by one, they cut their palms with the raven’s blade. They mark the bark with their blood and repeat our sacred oaths.
Mors vincit omnia.Death always wins.And so we will be sure to never play with it.
Mors tua, vita mea.Your death, my life.Our sacrifices will not be made in vain. We will choose each other. Protect each other.
In absentia lucis, tenebrae vincunt.In the absence of light, darkness prevails. And in that shade lies a power unlike any other. We shall possess it, wield it, and transform it.
Willa Harker is the last one left. She glares at the tree like it is her mortal enemy. “I have already given him enough.”
I close my eyes and finally understand. “Very well. But Enzo must pledge.”
And he does. He has to pry Willa’s hands off him first though. She didn’t want this for him. But what she doesn’t understand is how much stronger he will be for her and her baby.
At last, I turn and face the crowd again. The energy exuding out of us is palpable. We can all feel the power beginning to manifest like invisible threads between us. “A new dawn has come. But our true power lies in our name. We belong to the night. To the darkness. To the ravens. For we are Nocturnus.”
While all of the founding families became one that night. Not all remained. Over the centuries, feuds were born. Lines were drawn. And oaths were broken. But Nocturnus in some form remains…
Lucy kisses me on the cheek. “I’m so proud of you, Atreus. You will lead us into a new age.”
She squeezes her sister’s hand before addressing the crowd herself. “My sister, Imogen, was taken from this town. And then I watched it burn. While we all work hard to rebuild it, the true sacrifice has come from Atreus.” She nods toward me, and I step forward. “Evigheden is no more. From here on out, we shall call our home Ever Graves.”
The crowd cheers while my friends shoot me quizzical looks. This part wasn’t discussed with neither Cage nor Vale, as their pride would not allow them to agree to this. They would want to share in the naming. And while Lucy doesn’t love them any less, she thought it best for all of us if it was decided without them.
It will be our greatest downfall.
BONES
“Sometimes I feel stupid standing here, talking to an empty grave.” Last night’s rain has made the air crisper, the soil darker, and the leaves slicker with fresh dew. But nothing ever changes the fact that my brother’s body was never found.
My sister lets out an ardent sigh. She shifts back and forth on her designer boots, annoyed that they are getting muddy. “We talk to Sonny’s spirit. It doesn’t matter where his body is.”
Lettie always sees the good in everything and everyone. I wish I could be more like her sometimes. Other times, I wish I could be more like our brother Felix, self-avoidant. He has a way of detaching and disassociating that appeals to me the most when the nightmares keep me awake.
