Gwen felt their arrival. There was a kind of static in the air, an overwhelming potential and power in the room. Even shrouded in darkness, Gwen could taste it. It hit her like a blast of wind.

  Lucille pulled back the hood and Gwen took in her surroundings. It was the most beautiful indoor architecture she’d ever seen. The ceiling was dome-shaped and painted with sparkling images of angels and origin myths. The walls were ornate and polished. The crown molding was gilt in gold leaf. The pews were blackwood with purple cushion seats, arranged in concentric circles around the room. In the center of the room, a raised dais, and standing center stage was the First Man, Holy Father of Mankind, Godfather, tyrant, murderer of countless fae, and the man who destroyed Gwen’s home and killed everyone living there. Adam.

  He looked resplendent in glory. Light shone down on him from above like God’s approval. He was draped in finery, jewels, and a crown that shone like the morning sun. His long, golden hair cascaded down his shoulders, which looked massive, covered by the thick fur of his royal mantle. He was surrounded by a crowd of worshipers and sycophants, braying for his holy attention.

  Animals flitted about the room, doves more than anything else, but familiars of all varieties. The room was packed with people jostling for seats. Lucille led Gwen up some stairs to the upper balcony. Lucille spoke quietly, so only Gwen (that is, Raf) could hear her.

  “Our family enjoys the best seat in the house, but not for free. We’ll be working during Godfather’s sermon. Don’t fret. You’re not expected to participate today, but next Adamsday, you will assist me. For now, just observe, alright?”

  Gwen nodded as they entered a private box with a dozen other people. Everyone looked rich and important, with similar features. She assumed this was all or most of the Luxori clan members. Lucille greeted everyone and introduced Gwen as her new ward one at a time. Raf translated but Gwen couldn’t keep up with the barrage of names and faces. It all became nonsense after a while.

  Finally, Lucille took her seat at the ledge of the box. In front of her, dozens of little mirrors were arranged on a wooden board. An older man with spectacles brought Gwen a tall chair, so she could sit and see over the balcony ledge. She thanked him with a small head bow and a hand gesture. He returned the head bow and retired to his seat.

  Gwen looked down at the crowd of people surrounding Adam. They, too, were retiring to their seats, clearing space. A large mirror was wheeled out and positioned in front of Adam. Beside Gwen, a young Luxori tossed a green cord down, which was caught and connected to the mirror’s base. Suddenly, all the little mirrors in front of Lucille changed, becoming tiny reflections of Adam. Lucille touched each little mirror, giving them a glowing frame.

  Gwen assumed Lucille was transmitting these images to other mirrors across Eden. Vaguely, Gwen remembered going to Church when she was little. She remembered a giant mirror Adam appeared in.

  This must be what happened on the other side. This is how Adam controls the world.

  “Look behind you,” Raf said.

  She looked, and all the other Luxori were seated and meditating. Some had their eyes closed. They were all holding little orbs. That’s when Gwen noticed the ambient mana all around her was flowing. It flowed into the orbs and then through the orbs and into Lucille, and through Lucille into the mirror board. Once all the little mirrors were glowing softly, Lucille told her Holy Father she was ready.

  And He began His sermon.

  It took forever. Gwen tried to pay attention, but it was so boring. He just went on and on about how God chose Adam to lead mankind, how the fae were dangerous, and how Adam defeated them, saving all his children. He talked about fidelity, tradition, and respect, then he suggested women were untrustworthy. He praised his loyal children and told them to shun and report any blasphemers to Church elders.

  “That’s interesting,” said Raf.

  Huh? She was thinking about Plenty and Hinata.

  “Concentrate. We’re getting good intel here. That last bit. Don’t you think it implies that some of his children aren’t loyal? And it’s a pressing enough issue that Adam has to mention it in his weekly spin release?”

  Gwen blinked and considered. He’s sermonizing the entire world. There must be pockets of resistance out there, but they could be anywhere. They could all be in Exile for all we know. This tells us his control isn’t absolute, but not much else.

  “Look closer at Adam. You’re missing something important.”

  Gwen frowned but did as Raf suggested. She looked at Adam. She looked at his boots. She looked at his pants. She looked at his feathersteel belt with an ornate gem in the buckle. She looked at his gauntlets, one made of shell and the other made of bone–wait…

  The bone gauntlet is a fake! It’s a replica! He doesn’t want anyone to know he lost it!

  “The sword, too. It’s hard to see under his mantle, but you can spot the hilt behind his head. He lost both remnants. He’s been lying about it for 40 years.”

  He’s weaker than he looks.

  “That doesn’t make him weak. We’re in a monument to his power, surrounded by hundreds of his worshipers. Even without the Bone Gauntlet or the Ivory Blade, Adam reduced Crescent and everyone on it to dust on the wind.”

  I was there. I don’t need reminding. In fact, I don’t need you right now. Take a break.

  Raf remained blessedly silent for the rest of the sermon. Gwen found herself resenting him and his constant presence. She’d lived her entire life in silence. Having to ‘listen’ to him now was grating, even as she missed her brother, even knowing he meant well.

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  Even if he isn’t really Raf…

  Lucille tapped several mirrors, and they stopped glowing. Gwen figured Lucille was directing feeds at Adam’s behest. He was probably addressing individual regions with specific instructions. Since Raf wasn’t interpreting, Gwen assumed it wasn’t relevant to her. Surely he was listening and would tell her later if something important was mentioned.

  So Gwen looked around the grand room. Eve sat in a position of high authority, elevated and distant. She looked bored and dreamy. Gwen averted her gaze, afraid to search for the dragonscale pendant that kept Raf’s soul trapped. Gwen stared at her fists. She and her Raf-memory-earworm had barely discussed it, but Gwen knew she had to rescue him. This wasn’t a heist anymore; it was a rescue mission. But she needed more time. She had to integrate among the Upper Gardeners, and she had to get closer to Eve.

  Down among the perishioners, everyone was paying rapt attention to Adam, except for two people, who looked up at Gwen, catching her attention. She recognized Win. No surprise to find him here, but the other man was a stranger to her. He looked hale and hairy. Even at a distance, Gwen could see his exposed, furry chest. The hairy man gave Gwen a discreet nod. Win merely smirked and waved an eyebrow.

  Gwen sighed. Win is going to drag me into some petty nonsense, I just know it. And now I have some new asshole to deal with. Another extortionist, no doubt. When does this interminable show end?

  Adam continued for what felt like a long time and finally dismissed everyone with a clap of his hands. Below, the crowd stood up and shuffled toward the exit, but Lucille and the rest of the Luxori clan remained seated and meditating. Only a few small mirrors were still left glowing. This part was meant for select audiences.

  What’s happening now? Gwen wondered.

  “He’s directing trade exchanges and moving troops. There seems to be a guerrilla rebellion in Exile, some region called Atlanta.”

  Interesting.

  That continued for a while until finally, Adam clapped twice, and everyone in the Luxori box put down their orbs and stood and stretched their stiff limbs. Lucille’s lips were tightly pursed as she guided Gwen out of the box and down the stairs. They entered a grand lounge area with dozens of couches and lounge chairs organized around artwork, sculptures, vases, and grand flower arrangements. A feast was laid out on tables near the wall. The air was heavy with the scent of roast and bird, smoked fish, fresh fruits, and sauted vegetables.

  Lucille led Gwen to an area with couches and a bunch of children of various ages sitting on them. With little difficulty, Lucille knelt to eye level with Gwen and whispered so no one else would hear. “You need to better control your facial expressions. Grown men have been cast down for failing to show respect to the Lord Father during His oration. You’ll get a pass once, because you’re young and because this was your first offense, but if it happens again, I’ll have you beat bloody, understand?”

  Gwen was surprised at Lucille’s casual capacity for violence, but she minded her expression. Obediently, she smiled and bowed her head.

  The side of Lucille’s mouth threatened to smile, but she only said, “Good. Now I have some rather tedious debts to settle, and you’re clearly bored, so go meet your peers. This is where the children of Upper Garden congregate after the Holy Father’s Oratory. You’ll probably be living and working alongside these kids for the rest of your life, so try to make friends. I’ll be back to collect you in a little while. Oh! I almost forgot. Millie sent me with this bottle of blood, in case you get thirsty.”

  Gwen almost leapt when she saw Lucille retrieve a small glass bottle of blood from her purse, but she was just chastised about showing restraint, so she signed ‘Yes, please. I’m thirsty. Thank you.’

  Lucille looked nervous about something. She pulled Gwen aside. “Okay. Come drink it over here. I’ll block so no one sees. Here. Drink fast. There you go. Chug. Great, I’ll take that. You alright?”

  Gwen burped and signed, ‘Yes, I’m alright.’

  Lucille tucked the bloody bottle away in her purse and retrieved a handkerchief, dabbing it against the corners of Gwen’s mouth, all the while looking distracted. “There. Yes. Now, go meet your peers.”

  Lucille pushed Gwen toward the couches with kids, then she wandered off to settle some vague debts.

  Aspen the snow leopard remained. He hadn’t left Gwen’s side once since they left the mansion.

  Gwen felt suffocated. She nearly frowned but controlled her expression.

  Lucille is right. I’m acting here, and I need to stay in character.

  Gwen plastered a dumb smile across her face and marched toward the kids.

  There were more than a dozen kids of all age ranges. Most looked like common Gardeners, pale complexion, tall, and slender, but there were a few odd kids who looked Exiled or Islander. As Gwen looked at the foreign-looking kids, she realized they were all half-Gardeners, and so was she. Gwen didn’t often think about her own mother. Emma was her name, and she was from Garden. Gwen supposed that meant she had a bit in common with these kids. She didn’t relish the idea of lying to them, but her life depended on it, and a friend could be useful.

  Enthusiastically, Gwen waved her hand. She signed and Aspen interpreted, ‘Hi! My name is Gwen… Gwen Luxori. I just arrived here yesterday. And I hope to be all your friends one day.’

  A tall, pretty blond with early developments sneered, “They really are letting anyone up here these days.”

  Gwen figured she was being insulted, but she shrugged and kept on smiling. ‘Or maybe I’ll just be friends with some of you.’

  A young boy with a dark complexion asked, “Why does your familiar talk for you?”

  ‘I’m mute. My voice never developed,’ Gwen answered.

  “Like Godmother?” he asked.

  ‘Sorta. I don’t know how… Godmother Eve became mute, so I couldn’t say.’

  Another girl stepped forward confidently, extending her hand in friendship. She looked in her mid-teens, with long, full, dark brown hair. “I’ll be your friend,” she said, and Gwen believed her.

  “Really, Maria?” said the sneering blond.

  “Yes, Tiffany, really. Who knows what little Gwen could do one day? Besides, my father wants positive relations with the Luxori clan.” Maria turned to Gwen to say, “Sorry, but that is the truth. That doesn’t mean we can’t be real friends.”

  The sneering blond, Tiffany, groaned. “Godfather, Whispers are such calculating little suck-ups. No, you’re right, little broken girl. Go be friends with the other mongrels and misfits. You’ll fit right in.”

  ‘Thanks for the advice,’ Gwen smiled at the rude girl. ‘I’ll do that,’ then she accepted Maria’s hand in friendship.

  Tiffany stopped sneering and instead glared in disgust. “Great. Go do that.”

  Maria smiled and pulled Gwen away from the couches and the other kids. “Don’t mind her. She thinks you’re her competition. That was her attempt at neutralizing you, but just keep doing what you’re doing, and she’ll only damage her own reputation.” Maria pulled Gwen to a place of relative privacy, near the wall, behind a large fern. “I meant what I said earlier, about my father. He asked me to be your friend. And he told me to give you this discreetly.”

  Maria pulled a small metal object out of a dress pocket. It looked like a small, foldable mirror.

  “With this, you can talk to your parents. Well, not talk–you know what I meant. Keep this hidden and don’t tell anyone I gave it to you.”

  Gwen took the gift and hid it under her belt. She would examine it later.

  ‘Thank you,’ Gwen signed. She almost cried with relief. She didn’t notice how lonely and frightened she was feeling before Maria treated her with kindness. ‘Thank you,’ she signed again.

  The larger girl wrapped her arm around Gwen’s shoulder. “Don’t you fret. Just stick by me. In a few years, we’ll be running this place.”