intel and impressions we gather, the better.”
I agreed with that mindset. Checking the escape tunnel was too much of a risk, indeed, but we could still question Egan’s family, since he was the only Darkling we’d positively identified, along with the golden guard guy from last night.
To make sure we were on the right track regarding the braids, I reached out to Amal, asking her to check the pockets of the Darkling we’d taken to the study rooms. If he, too, was in possession of a black-and-white thread, then we had absolute certainty that it was their mark, and we could eventually use it against them.
It was the best we could do, given these complicated circumstances, but it was infinitely better than what the Aeternae had accomplished against the Darklings. It didn’t feel like it was enough, though, especially since Valaine’s life was at stake.
We’d already lost our friend. I’d already killed people… This had to stop.
Sofia
As soon as Amal got word from Tristan regarding the black-and-white thread, she checked the Darkling’s pockets, but she couldn’t find anything. That didn’t stop her. She checked the hems, the boots, every single nook where the thread might’ve been hidden. Eventually, she plucked the braid out of a small, hidden inner-pocket. This confirmed the so-called anarchists had a way of recognizing one another in public, and the mere thought of such organizational complexity terrified me.
“It means the Darklings’ reach is far and wide, to the point where most don’t even know each other, perhaps only by this,” I said, holding the braid up.
Derek and Amal both nodded in agreement. We had two bodies in the study room with us, each under preservation spells put together by Amal—she’d learned enough swamp witch magic to complement her scientific excellence. A Darkling, better known as one of the gold guards in the palace, and our own Nethissis…
“I think we could easily consider it a secret society now. Certainly not the anarchists the Lord and Lady Supreme seem to think that they are,” Derek replied.
Amal went back to working on the Aeternae blood samples, occasionally stealing glances at Nethissis. The Lamia was covered up to her neck with a white silken sheet, her eyes closed and her copper hair neatly combed and braided. She was coming back with us, when our time here ended.
I knew Amal was not taking her death well, but she did her best to focus on work. I’d seen her crying a couple of times after we’d found Nethissis, but she pulled herself away, not wanting any physical contact or any form of comfort. Amal was generally distant, but she’d become attached to Nethissis before we’d left for Visio. All I could do was sympathize with her situation. We were all in pain. We’d all lost Nethissis.
“I’m splicing deeper through the blood cells,” the Faulty said when silence took over the room. “Hopefully, I should find the protein soon. I’m hoping two to three days, tops.”
“That’s fine, Amal. Take your time with this. We need to do it right,” Derek replied, then looked at me. “I think we’ll hear from the Aeternae soon, regarding the Black Fever. Valaine did say she’d speak to Acheron and Danika about it.”
“That’ll cut into my protein study, but it’s okay,” Amal said. “To be honest, I welcome the Black Fever challenge. This wouldn’t be my first brush with a deadly virus, if you remember.”
For a moment, my mind went blank, until the decimation of the Draenir came back to me from the depths of my Strava-related memories. “Oh, right,” I murmured. “The virus that nearly wiped out the Draenir.”
“Let’s hope they take their time with this request,” Derek said, taking a seat next to Amal and her microscopes. “I’d like to wrap up the protein issue first. The longer we stay here, the more unsafe I feel.”
That was a natural feeling, I thought, especially after what had happened to Nethissis. It bothered me tremendously, but we had objectives to accomplish. Most importantly, I wanted Tristan and Esme to get to the bottom of it before we had to leave. This was where Derek and I had slight differences of opinion.
Not that he didn’t want justice for Nethissis. On the contrary. But he didn’t think we were safe here in such a small number, digging deeper and poking the sleeping dragons, so to speak.
“I’ve studied their flight technology as best as I could,” Derek added. “I think they’ve got a pretty solid fleet.”
“More solid than our dragons and