Dethil rocked back and forth on the swing. Erador picked bark off the trunk, helping the tree shed another layer. A small pile lay at his feet. Erador could recall peeling the bark on this tree summer after summer since he was a child; it had grown larger since.

  Dethil slowed the swing to a halt. “How long do you think Slen has been around?”

  Erador ripped on a piece of bark and it made a cracking noise. “Does it matter?”

  “Has he gotten bigger?”

  Erador stopped. He was too small to remember Slen’s size and a lot of things looked big then. Seeing Slen again, he wasn’t sure. Had he consumed another lurker and grown since?

  “He could have,” Erador said, peeling more bark.

  Dethil picked at the rope. “I saw another vision.”

  Erador stayed silent continuing to peel the tree. It helped occupy his uneasy mind and he hoped Dethil wouldn’t mention it again.

  Dethil rocked the swing. “It was a baby. I could only see the man’s hands, as if I saw through his eyes. He set the baby in this little girl’s arms and she smiled. I could feel the man’s happiness but he was also sad. I don’t know why.”

  Erador recalled the same memory of the man’s hands with a tattoo of a macadee bird on his left pinky. It was Aminria’s father, once king of Elsgrith but he wouldn’t tell that to Dethil.

  “Is Slen sad that he can’t see them anymore?” Dethil said.

  Erador tore off a piece of bark and sucked air through his clenched teeth when he hurt his hand. “He’s a monster.” He said it more fierce than he meant to.

  “Maybe he’s a monster because he lost everything. I remember how angry I was when my mother…” Dethil swallowed and twisted his pinky ring. “I was mad other people had a mother and I didn’t.”

  “But you didn’t become a monster.”

  Dethil let go of the ring and looked up. “Couldn’t I?”

  Erador rubbed aggressively at the fresh cut on his finger. “Not you.”

  “Right…” Dethil dug his foot at the dirt. “I’m too easy to step on.”

  “You’re the one allowing that,” Erador said, moving next to the swing. “How do you think lurkers survive? They would be eaten if they did nothing. You let your father rule you.”

  Dethil rubbed his cheek. “I wouldn’t say it’s like that.”

  “You already broke away by agreeing to help me. I’m proud of you for that.”

  Dethil nodded hesitantly, likely because he didn’t believe he had that kind of strength.

  Erador pushed on Dethil’s back, rocking the swing forward. “You have more strength than you think. That wound from Slen... you handled it better than I did.”

  As Dethil rocked he looked at the scar on his left arm. Slen destroyed the tattoo of his mother’s favorite flowers. In its place was dark reddish scar tissue. Dethil’s mouth dipped as he traced it.

  “That’s not your mother,” Erador said. “Just because it’s ruined doesn’t mean you don’t love her.”

  “I know…” Dethil said, quietly.

  “It’s like how those visions aren’t Slen’s,” Erador said, gripping the swing’s rope and stopping it. “They were his owner’s experiences… his emotions. They stay with the lurker and become a part of us when we have its venom. I know it’s hard to separate yourself from it.” He walked a few steps away, staring in the trees. “When I was a child, part of me wanted to believe those visions had more meaning. I thought I could have a father like that, if I ran away.” Erador frowned and faced Dethil. “We can’t help the cards we’re dealt. We have to make the best of what our lives bring.”

  Erador felt stupid for offering such advice when he didn’t always follow it. He regretted parts of his life constantly, wishing it could’ve been different.

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  Dethil pulled the loose strings on the rope. “I understand, but… how can you say lurkers are heartless? You do it with Shade too. They’re like animals who have feelings and thoughts.”

  “Animals aren’t senseless killers,” Erador said. “Shadow lurkers are their own breed. Their owners are what helped keep them sane, but when they lose us, they lose their sanity.”

  Dethil shook his head. “I don’t believe that.”

  “I’ve had a shadow power my entire life.” Erador touched his chest. “I’ve felt Slen’s anger, and his obsession to become stronger.”

  “I haven’t.”

  “Maybe if you’re with him long enough, you will.”

  “Maybe you’ve been with him too long and you’re blinded by his rage.” Dethil crossed his arms. “Or maybe you’re the one that’s angry.”

  Erador shook his head, but held in a scoff. This was pointless and would only lead to an argument. Dethil needed to suffer with it long enough, then maybe he’d understand.

  A card blew by Erador’s feet. He picked it up and flipped it over to find a dove, the corner was stained red. Blood rushed from his face as he bolted back to the manor.

  ***

  “Sescina!” Erador called through the manor hallway. He hadn’t found her in the throne room or infirmary and made his way to the dining hall.

  Erador burst open the doors and the carpet squished under his boot. He slowly looked at the dark red that soaked the fibers. The trail led around the table and stopped. A chair was tipped over, another askew, and behind it, a body in white. Erador pushed aside the chair. Sescina lay on her back, eyes wide at the ceiling with stab wounds in her chest.

  “No!” Erador fell to his knees and touched her cold cheek. “Sescina.”

  Never again would he get to see her smile and hear her laughter. He picked up her gloved hand as tears stung his cheeks. Rubbing them away, Erador rose on shaking legs and wandered into the kitchen. His breaths accelerated when he found Mikra at the counter.

  “You.” Erador ripped on Mikra’s shoulder, turning him around. “What happened?”

  Mikra looked baffled.

  “Sescina is dead!”

  Mikra dropped the dish he was holding and it shattered as he ran out the door. Erador followed him into the dining room.

  Mikra let out a cry as he rushed to her body and fell to his knees.

  “You didn’t hear her?” Erador shook him. “She was in the other room!”

  “What’s going on?” Dethil said, walking in.

  Erador lowered his head and didn’t need to say anything when Dethil found Sescina. Cursing, Dethil crouched beside her and lowered his head as tears rolled down his cheeks. Swallowing, he brushed his hands over her eyelids to close them.

  “Mikra didn’t notice. Not a scream. Nothing.” Erador pointed in Mikra’s face but he stood his ground.

  “Erador.” Dethil grabbed his arm. “He can’t hear well.”

  “What?”

  Dethil pointed at his ears. “It’s why he didn’t hear her scream.”

  Erador looked at Mikra. “Since when couldn’t you hear?”

  Mikra watched Erador’s lips. “Since I was a boy.”

  Erador stepped back. “How well do you hear?”

  “Only loud noises but I didn’t hear Sescina.” He bit his lip. “It was too far for me and the doors don’t help.”

  Erador shut his eyes. That’s why he didn’t speak well. “What were you doing in the kitchen?”

  “I was preparing food for Lord Judgment.” He gestured with his hands, signs Erador couldn’t understand. “Sescina was the only one helping and then she left.”

  Erador stared at him for a moment longer, but he didn’t notice any signs that he could be lying. “Tell everyone what happened.”

  Mikra gave a nod and left the room. Erador raised the dove card and looked past it at Sescina. Someone was playing with him. Dethil looked at the card, but he didn’t say anything. Erador could tell by the fear on his face that he was starting to believe it.

  Erador left the dining room and froze as he stared down the dim corridor. A man stood at the end wearing the ram’s mask. He stared for a moment before turning the corner. Erador raced down the corridor and stopped just at the end of the wall and listened. He heard nothing except Dethil coming behind him.

  Erador peeked around the corner of another long hallway, but the person was gone. “He was here.”

  “Who?” Dethil said.

  Erador faced him. “A man wearing the ram mask. He killed Sescina and Breck.”

  Dethil didn’t respond but he didn’t have to. He heard the rumors. “Does that mean he’s returned? Is he haunting us?”

  “No. They’re trying to scare us and make us think Taurin’s back for revenge, but we can’t be afraid,” Erador said. “We need to stay together.”