Voracity

We assembled in the portal chamber. It was the first time that most of them had seen the Gate, and their reactions varied. Gavin and Merill were visibly impressed and stood far away from it, watching from a distance with…

The next day, a guard led the four of us to the Council’s armory. Sam already had a list of things we’d need for our trip into the old empire. The storehouse had dusty shelves holding gauntlets, boots, axes, rope,…

The next day, I was brought before the Council. Ibis, Capra, and Lupa sat on their thrones. The speaker of ghosts, Vesta, stalked behind them, watching me silently. In the chamber with me were Mal, Sam, Morgan, Gavin, and Merrill.…

I woke up in an infirmary bed. It was nice, and comfortable, and I fell back asleep in seconds. I woke up again, later, and saw two people in masks arguing. I drifted, and saw dozens of scenes like that…

I darted through the cracked streets and broken hovels of the imperial city. Ghosts all around, impervious to harm, exceedingly dangerous. Terror. Gwyneth was a madwoman. Ruthless, powerhungry, and destructive. I’d always known, but never realized. She blinded me with…

I bit my lip and stared at the weeping statues. The entrance to the catacombs was cold, dark, and intimidating, but it wasn’t the source of my hesitation. I had been loitering for an hour in these decrepit tunnels because…

The catacombs were brighter than the rest of the undercity. Fey light flickered in silver sconces, ice blue and arcane purple casting everything in a cold glow. I heard Caligula’s whispers twisting around me as I descended, goading me on.…

I found Strix conspiring with Cossus and a few ghosts I didn’t recognize. “Strix. Meeting, now. I don’t care who you bring.” I walked off and found a wide open, circular area to wait. It didn’t take long for the…

“More. I want more.” Strix nodded. “Agreed. We have momentum, and we need to use it.” We were gathered in Asellio’s house once more, in a makeshift war room. Maia and Felix hung back while Strix, Cossus, and I huddled…

We spent the night making plans, practicing what we would each say, and making supply runs to the boat. Asellio’s house was our new base of operations, something reinforced when Cossus brought more ghosts to it. He explained that they…