to have around,” Timotheus said.
“How is Laramis faring these days?” Petra asked. It sounded like a mundane topic, but these were Darklings talking. There wasn’t anything normal or boring about their exchanges, no matter how mild they seemed.
I wondered where Seeley and the others were. I knew he hadn’t given up on me, but what were the odds he’d be able to save me? Atlas was big and dangerous enough to take on a horde of ghouls; I doubted our rescue buddies could help. As long as Petra kept me… well, alive, so to speak, I’d be okay. We needed her to take us to the top leader of the Darklings, anyway. I comforted myself with the thought that I was gathering precious intel, even though I was a captive.
“Calm, for now,” Timotheus replied. “But the people here are wondering… our faction has been thrown for a loop, and we cannot afford to appear weak. Especially in a town we’ve claimed.”
“I think we’ll regain our footing soon enough,” Petra said. “Now that Zoltan and Veliko are no longer fumbling our operations, we’ll be fine. There’s a clear way forward for us.”
“Speaking of a clear way forward, I was thinking—aren’t we perhaps too evolved and knowledgeable to keep living in the shadows?” Timotheus asked. “After all, we’ve spent eons protecting the Aeternae people from the Black Fever. We deserve respect, not arrest orders and shame.”
Petra narrowed her eyes. “What are you suggesting?”
“We should be out in the open. Validated by the empire. Praised, even! You deserve the damn throne, Petra, if I’m honest. For all the work you’ve put in,” he said.
The Visentis siblings exchanged nervous glances, while Petra let out a short laugh. “You’re too kind, Timotheus. Maybe someday I will be Lady Supreme, but until then, the current occupant of the throne is quite useful. I foresee a change in policy soon. The capital is boiling over.”
“Which is why we should step forward now. Take advantage of the political turmoil!” Timotheus insisted.
“We should ask the Master of Darkness first,” Petra said. “Personally, I agree with your proposal. I, too, think we should be free and out in the open, considering how much we’ve sacrificed for our species. But the Master must approve. Otherwise, we’ll end up chewing on Black Fever capsules to avoid execution. We need the Master’s support in this endeavor.”
Timotheus nodded slowly, carefully considering Petra’s reply. “Do you think he’ll tell us to go ahead with it? I mean, public opinion is already beginning to shift in our favor, especially after the rumors about Valaine started circulating. Some of my city scouts have said they heard people whispering among themselves, wondering if they should just kill Valaine and eliminate the risk. More and more Aeternae are starting to believe us where she’s concerned.”
“That is certainly encouraging,” Petra concluded. “But something tells me you’ve never met the Master of Darkness yourself.” She added a smile at the end of her statement, the kind where danger and secrets lurked.
Timotheus shook his head. “No, I have not had the honor. I’ve only been a Scholar for a few months. I hope I will meet him sometime this year, though.”
“Just as I thought,” Petra replied. “The Master signs off on everything we do. Every major assassination. Every intervention. Every word we put out on our so-called official channels.”
“Official channels?” Tudyk asked, then quickly covered his mouth.
Petra shot him down with a cold stare. “The adults are talking, darling.”
“Please, go easy on the boy. We need our young ones loyal and curious.” Timotheus laughed. “Official channels would be better called rumors… but we prefer pompous titles for pretty much everything we do, as you might have noticed,” he said to Tudyk.
Petra stole a glance at me as she leaned back into her chair. “The rumors are what move us forward. They influence public opinion. They skew the truth and amplify the lies. Rumors, my darling sons, are the most dangerous tool in our possession. It’s how more and more people are gradually finding out about Valaine. The more of them know, the easier it will be for us to get to her.”
“We’ll have to be careful,” Simmon muttered. “The dark side of hers is… it’s scary as hell.”
“Yes, I heard from Veliko’s boys that she did quite the number on them, north of Astoria.” Timotheus sighed. “We’ll get her. We’ll find a way to kill her before the Black Fever takes too many of our people. I’m sure of it.”
Petra scoffed. “Your