Daughter of Strife- Part 3 Read online

  Daughter of Strife Part 3

  The Nightfall Chronicles

  Karpov Kinrade

  Daring Books

  http://KarpovKinrade.com

  Copyright © 2019 Karpov Kinrade Cover Art Copyright © 2019 Karpov Kinrade ~~~~~

  Published by Daring Books ~~~~~

  First Edition

  ~~~~~

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  Disclaimer

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are products of the author's imagination, or the author has used them fictitiously.

  Created with Vellum

  Contents

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  About the Author

  Also by Karpov Kinrade

  Chapter 1

  Fate was with me on the flight back to Castle Vianney. No one was in the mood for talking, so my silence wasn't noteworthy. I did check on Wytt, who woke up long enough to quote something obscure, then promptly fell back asleep as he recovered from his surgery. My classmates ate and drank and recovered their strength from the ordeals we'd just been through in the desert. I suppose it was easier for them to stay silent as well. Some things are hard to relive.

  My heart weighs heavy at the thought of lives lost. Lives I vowed to fight for and protect as Nightfall. The Hospitallers who perished had families. Loves. Passions. Plans for the future. They were making a difference.

  Am I?

  That's the thought that weighs me down most as we disembark from the jet in a private landing strip behind Castle Vianney.

  Whether I like everyone in my class or not, we have seen each other through a lot. Pain, victory, heartache, loss. And now, success.

  We all passed our Trial. Each of us.

  That's rarer than one might expect.

  We will have a brief break before beginning our next quarter:

  Templar training.

  Despite my heavy heart, my mood perks at the thought of finally getting to study my chosen Order, and I eagerly guess over what the Trial might be. Hacking a secure location? Infiltrating a military base under disguise? Whatever it is, I know I'll have a Boon. Not because my grandfather is the Grandmaster of the Templars, but because I'm damn good all the Templar classes. I'm a natural. How could I not be? My parents groomed me from birth to be the perfect Templar, whether they realized it or not. I sometimes think they really believed they were getting out and giving me a normal life. Then I remember the hidden bomb shelter, the secrets, the lies. Their gruesome deaths.

  I brush the edge of my finger against the Ring of Strife hanging on a chain around my neck. Someday I will find the Angel who killed them.

  And make the creature pay.

  But…

  Is it justice I seek? Or vengeance?

  Zorin asked me once before. But in the end I wonder, does it even matter?

  We walk toward the castle, its white towers shining in the gleaming sun. The click of my grandfather's cane against cobbled stone pulls me from myself, and I force a smile that's not entirely insincere as he walks over, his long black robes brushing against the cane. Corinne stands at my side, attentive at his presence as well.

  "Congratulations, Scarlett, on so bravely and adeptly passing your Hospitaller Trial," he says with affection and open arms. His long white beard is braided and his bushy eyebrows are as expressive as ever.

  I hug him, inhaling the scent of old books and cigar smoke as I do. "Thank you, Grandfather," I say.

  He holds me out to look me over. "None the worse for wear, I'd say. But your class did give us quite a scare. Leave it to you to turn a healing Trial into something better fit for a Templar or Teutonic." He chuckles and I frown.

  "I didn't—"

  He brushes me away. "Oh I know this wasn't your doing, child. But you certainly do land in the thick of things more often than most, don't you?" he winks at me and I shrug.

  "I suppose I do."

  "I'm just glad you're well. I had to see with my own two eyes. These days, that's all you can really trust. I'll leave you to your rest. You have most definitely earned it."

  He turns to leave, then pauses and glances at Corinne. "Princess, if you could please come by my office later, there's a matter I wish to discuss with you."

  Corinne nods and he leaves, likely heading back to said office. It's just about the hour that he pours himself two fingers of brandy and enjoys a pipe.

  I raise an eyebrow at my best friend. "What's he need to see you about?" The chancellor doesn’t often make one-on-one time for students.

  "Oh, it's nothing," she says with a flick of her short pink hair. The color changes daily with EZ-dye. "I'm helping him translate some ancient texts for extra credit."

  "Huh. Wonder why he didn't offer me extra credit?" Not that I'd necessarily want to spend all my time translating old books. As it is I almost never sleep.

  "He didn't offer,” she explains. “I asked. Templar classes aren’t as easy for me as they are for you. Besides, you don't need extra credit. You're getting a Boon. Everyone knows it."

  "That makes sense," I say, realizing I'm acting a bit jealous. “It’s just… I never knew my grandfather growing up, and I guess I want all his time for myself now, but that’s not right or fair.”

  She nods understandingly.

  My grandfather teaches one of our most important classes for this quarter. Of course, a student like Corinne would be picking his brain for ways to improve and strengthen her standing. She won't be the only one, either. I sometimes forget the privilege I have, with such direct access to the school's chancellor and grandmaster of the Order of Templars. For me it’s just tea with my grandfather.

  We pause at the end of the courtyard.

  "You're not coming to the room, to unpack and clean up?" she asks, eyeing me skeptically. The plane had bathrooms for us to get wash ourselves and change clothes. But knowing Corinne, she was going to scour her body and put on something that smelled like rose petals and then enjoy some marshmallows.

  "I know what you're going to say." I hold up my hand to pause her. "And it sounds marvelous. Like heaven, honestly."

  She juts her hip out and raises an eyebrow, her purple eyes boring into mine. "And?"

  "And I need to go see Jax. We keep missing each other, and it's been too long." There's so much more to say about me and the boy I have loved my whole life. But Corinne knows. And my throat constricts when I try to say more.

  Messy. Confusing. Complicated. This is my relationship with Jaxton Lux.

  "Go," she says, shooing me. "Tell him hi from us. I hear he's doing some really interesting work. Ruffling some feathers, but impressing others."

  "Did you program your eGlass to be a gossip hunter?" I ask with a laugh.

  She just winks, and I wonder… did she? She's gotten better at coding under my tutelage for Espionage. She might have the skills.

  Damn that woman's going to be a great queen one day.

  It's not dark enough outside for me to use my wings without notice, so
I take the slow way to the mainland, through the underwater subway. I admire the beauty of the sculptures that have come to life with the ocean's growth covering them as we zip by, speeding through the miles. That and a cab ride later and I'm standing in front of a brand-new sign that reads "Lux Academy" in shiny black lettering against a golden plaque. Fancy.

  Jax's castle blocks the setting sun, casting long shadows over the freshly manicured land. There are still signs of the disarray the property must have been in when the Pope gave it to Jax. But those signs are minor. A crumbling wall in one area, an overgrown garden in another. But the castle is beautiful, with tall towers and smaller turrets made of grey stone that still hold their form.

  And most importantly, it's full. Full of people in training. There are adults learning basic movements for hand to hand combat and children as young as six sitting in tight circles holding their hands up in meditation or practice.

  "Scarlett?"

  I turn to face the unfamiliar voice calling my name. A petite pixy of a woman bounces over to me. Her hair is short and spiky, her nose pierced with a ring, and she looks like she was recently plucked from a flower.

  "Yes, I'm Scarlett."

  She holds out a hand. "I'm Arcadia. I've heard so much about you. You're looking for Jax, I assume?"

  I nod, a little dumbstruck by this adorable fairy woman. "Yes."

  She grabs my hand and pulls me forward with more force than I would have thought her capable of. "This way. He's going to be so excited to see you. We've been working non-stop for months and he needs a break."

  "We?" I ask, wondering who this woman is to Jax. A seed of jealousy plants itself in my heart.

  "I've been helping him build all this. Isn't it incredible? We already have over fifty Zeniths participating in the training, with more to come. Eventually we want to expand to more territories, to make this kind of training as widely available as possible. For all classes. He said you two always talked about that kind of stuff growing up?"

  My eyes sting at the memories, and I nod. "Yes, we did. I'm glad he's finally making it happen."

  We arrive at the armory, with wall-to-wall weapons of all kinds and sizes, each in its place and sharpened and polished to a shine. "Myrrden would be proud," I say when I see Jax, his back turned to us.

  He turns and a smile lights up his devilishly handsome face as he jogs over to me. "Scarlett!" he says as he pulls me into his arms.

  In that moment, all my jealousy dissipates, and I inhale his familiar scent and lean my head against his familiar shoulder. He's my home. He always has been. And for one moment I let myself pretend that's enough. That there aren't a million secrets forming a wall between the two of us. A wall he doesn't even know exists.

  When he releases me, I notice my eyes aren't the only ones glistening. That gives me a small thrill, though it shouldn't. I have no rights to Jax's heart.

  "I heard things went bad during the Trial," he says, frowning. "I've been worried."

  "Never underestimate how resourceful I can be when pushed to the wall," I say. I mean it to come out lightly, but the heaviness of my heart weighs down my words.

  Jax notices. He's known me too long and too well to not understand my moods as well as his own. But he says nothing. Maybe because we aren't alone. Arcadia stands nearby, so our reunion isn't private. Still, I'll take what I can get.

  "I like your sign," I say, smiling.

  His eyes light up. "Isn't it great? Arcadia made it herself." He moves away from me to bring the woman into our circle, his arm swinging over her shoulders comfortably, like he's done it hundreds of times. "She's quite the artist."

  "She is." I look at her and smile. "It's truly beautiful craftsmanship," I say honestly.

  She beams.

  "How do you two know each other?" I ask with what I hope is just the right amount of casual-I-totally-don't-care-just-curious attitude. I'm too invested to know if I got it right or not.

  "Arcadia was my sparring partner when I was in training as the White Knight. She may be small, but she's fierce on the battlefield. A true Teutonic warrior," he says with affection.

  I swallow a lump in my throat. "That's great. You fought the best I've ever seen you, so clearly it worked."

  Arcadia smiles up at him, plucking my heart as she does. Then she pulls away and comes to me, opening her arms.

  So we're hugging.

  Okay.

  We hug.

  And she squeaks. "It's just so good to finally meet you. Jax has talked about you non-stop since we met. I feel like you and I are already best friends, but of course you probably think I sound crazy. I mean, you don't even know me. Still, I just want you to know it's an honor."

  How can I not like her? She's charming and sweet and kind and clearly just loves everyone and brings joy and happiness to everyone she meets. Damnit.

  "It's really good to meet you," I say to her. "Jax needs someone like you in his life, so I'm glad you two are close." And I mean it. 99.9%

  She smiles ear to ear. "I knew you'd be just as awesome in person as I imagined. I have to go now, I'm teaching a class in a few minutes. I hope I see you later."

  She skips off, leaving Jax and I alone.

  The smell of leather and oil and metal is strong in this room. Also familiar. It creates an ache for Jax. For what could have been. For what was.

  And my heart hurts. I chose Kai. I lost Kai.

  I can't lose anyone else. Not like that.

  Jax walks over and grabs my hand. "Want a tour?"

  I nod, my hand clutching his.

  He walks me outside and then pulls me into his arms. "Hold on."

  Confused, I do, enjoying the feel of his body so close. And then we are in the air.

  My mouth gapes open as he flies us just high enough to see the whole estate piece by piece. Sometimes I forget that as a Gravir, he can fly nearly as well as a Nephilim.

  "See that barren area next to the castle?" he asks. "We're going to expand and build a world-class library there. Which includes works written by Zeniths, as well as information about their powers."

  He holds me close as we continue the tour. "And there we’re putting in a large fountain. Probably a sculpture too. Maybe a well-known Zenith. Over there will be a pool, and there we are putting in special pods where particularly powerful Zeniths with abilities that could cause injury or extensive damage can practice in virtual reality settings, so they can learn the consequences of their powers, what triggers them, and how to control them, in safety."

  My eyes prick with emotion, and I hold him tighter. "That's incredible, Jax. I can see it all. Every detail. You're going to change the world. The Zeniths will have a safe haven because of you. A place they can learn and grow. I'm so proud of you."

  We land at the edge of the property, where the property juts over a cliff overlooking a long expanse of mountains and the beauty of a setting sun.

  There are no words between us as we sit on the edge, his arm around me, my head on his shoulder. Together we watch as the sun disappears into the horizon.

  I give him as much time as I can, but a bing from Evie reminds me I have other commitments tonight as well. I sigh and pull away. "I have to get going," I say, my heart reluctant.

  "You should at least stay for dinner. Arcadia is cooking tonight, and she's a genius in the kitchen."

  "I'm sure she is," I say without any recrimination, after all, what right have I to take away his happiness, when I can't offer him anything? "But I have to unpack and get a proper bath and—"

  "I get it," he says, standing and pulling me up with him. "I know the demands of Castle V."

  "Of course you do." I smile and stand on my tiptoes to kiss his cheek. "I've missed you."

  "I've missed you too, Star. Come visit again soon, promise?"

  "Promise."

  Chapter 2

  It's dark enough now that though I order a car to drive me away from the castle, I exit when I can and extend my wings to fly the rest of the way.

/>   "Evie, let Corinne know I'm on my way to the cathedral and should be there within an hour. Tell her I'll meet her."

  "Already done, Big S."

  "Big S?" I nearly choke at that.

  "Just trying something new. No?"

  "No. Definitely no."

  I chuckle and turn off Evie. Sometimes I just need a few minutes with no one in my head, no leash tethering me to all my responsibilities as Scarlett and Nightfall. In the air, I can release it all. I can push out of my mind all the worries and plans and just be present with the air and clouds and birds. I can be me.

  When I arrive at the Cathedral, I am dressed as Nightfall. Masked, a symbol, no longer a real person.

  Only Zorin—and now Corinne—knows the real me under the mask.

  The sky still has shades of dark purple and deep blood orange bleeding through it as I fly over my base. It's grown since I was last here, which was too long ago. I know Zorin is ready to drop the leader cloak and give the reigns back to me.

  From the sky I can see the new members of our community, how they swell our ranks, adding and taking from our stores and supplies. It is, of course, challenging to bring together disparate groups used to their own rule for the greater good. It takes a lot of diplomacy to manage. Not Zorin's strength, but he's been around long enough to be good at it anyways.

  It looks like TR took up my idea to set up anti-aircraft guns on the wall perimeters. From the reports Zorin sends me, I know they've been robbing Order warehouses. The ones storing old equipment aren't heavily guarded and are easy enough to get in and out of without anyone getting hurt. That was important to me. No loss of life unless absolutely necessary. Trix has been taking the weapons they steal and modifying them. Giving them significant upgrades.