“Oh my.” Sescina removed the binding on Erador’s arm. “How did you get this cut?”

  Erador didn’t answer and she looked at him sternly.

  “What have you been up to?”

  “Just trying to keep this place together." He winced as Sescina dabbed a cloth on the cut.

  “I just worry you’ll get yourself in a much worse situation.” She sighed. “Hold still.”

  Sescina hovered her partially gloved hand over the wound that warmed and tingled under her touch. Her body slouched with exhaustion, she seemed too defeated to bother asking more. He didn’t want to let her know about it, but Haven insisted he get treatment.

  Erador clenched the edge of the marble seat and focused across the throne room. Pia sat against a pillar with slumped shoulders. She appeared like a statue and moving her would cause her body to crumble from exhaustion.

  The front door opened and Breck meandered down the rug, hand cupped to his chest. Erador's piercing gaze followed him until he reached Pia’s side. Her cheeks raised as Breck handed her a brown bag. Erador squinted at his left arm, wishing he could make the sleeve roll up and reveal a lurker wound. Breck was smaller than the hooded man at Haven’s village, but that didn’t mean he wasn’t a part of this.

  Erador noticed that more of the Paradin’s had been showing their tattoos, which meant Hawth’s stunt about blaming the Raven for Emera’s death worked. They were worried, but Erador was more worried that Hawth was doing it to shift the blame away from him.

  “You’re stirring trouble aren’t you?” Sescina said.

  Erador winched at the burning on his arm. “If you count trouble trying to save my father, yes.”

  Sescina lowered her hand, the warmth dissipating. “What are you doing, Erador?”

  “I told you.” Erador checked his wound. The flesh had mended slightly, and the outer edges of the wound had turned pinkish.

  “Your father is fine.” Sescina wrapped a fresh cloth around Erador’s arm.

  “He’s not fine.” Erador looked at Yuni’s empty purple chair. “How can you not see it?”

  “See what?” Sescina mumbled, as she slipped a safety pin between her lips.

  Erador nodded in the direction of the chair. “She's evil.”

  Sescina ripped the pin from her mouth and jabbed it in the cloth, poking his arm.

  “Ow! Watch it.”

  “You listen.” She wrestled the pin on. “Yuni has done nothing wrong since she has been here. Nothing. She helped us.”

  Sescina’s cheeks were more full than last he saw her. He was grateful to see her back to her old self, but this wasn’t right. Yuni had to be up to something. He felt betrayed at how much Sescina liked her.

  Erador crossed his arms. “I see she deceived you too.”

  “I’m not a fool, Erador,” Sescina said, shoving her medical supplies into her bag. “I know a traitor when I see one and Yuni isn’t it.”

  “The crops died, and then she showed up. To make herself look good, she gives us food. We don’t know where she got it.” He grabbed Sescina’s wrist and she looked at him. “Do you not see how she could be fooling us?”

  Sescina pulled away and clipped her bag. “You would be wise to stop this nonsense before you hurt someone or yourself again.” She stomped behind the throne and through the archway.

  Erador leaned back. The marble's coldness seeped through his shirt. He pressed his burning arm against the wall, allowing his skin relief.

  Breck had left. Pia pulled red berries from the bag and ate them.

  Erador dragged his gaze to the banners. Someone overheard him and Haven, but who? Who followed them? He counted the banners, stopping on number seven—a banner of a bat. He sat up and counted them again, but it was the same. Four were missing; taken down in case Odinaty returned but there should've only been ten in total. He counted again, slowly coming to the same number. The bat banner hung in the same place, like it hadn’t been taken down and placed on Eli’s body.

  He ignored the call of his name and the footsteps coming toward him, trying to remember if it had been taken down. Was the banner left and a different one placed on Eli’s corpse? A body blocked Erador’s view.

  “I’ve been looking all over for you.” Aminria looked to the banners and waved in his face. “You there?”

  Erador blinked and his eyes locked onto her white sleeve. “Let me see your arm.”

  “Why?” she said, holding herself.

  “Just do it.”

  She pulled up her sleeve to reveal the blue jay.

  “The other one.”

  Aminria glared at him and complied. She had no wound on her freckled arm. Not that he expected one. Maybe he wanted to believe it was the Raven behind this, stealing their identities like the tale and turning them against one another. He didn’t want to believe that any of the Paradins were betraying them.

  “That satisfy you?” she said, ripping the fabric down. “Tell me what’s going on.”

  Erador glanced around and lowered his voice. “Something happened.”

  “I can see that,” she said, looking over his bandage. “Did Haven beat you up again?”

  Erador rolled his eyes and winched as he pulled himself up. “Just come with me.”

  He crossed in front of the throne. Pia smiled and he acknowledged her with a nod as he opened the door. Erador followed the corridor, using his lighter to find his way up the stairs and into his room. He lit the candle and placed his hands on the glossy dresser. The door clicked shut. Aminria watched him in the mirror. His breathing became shallow and his hand drew to his throat as he replayed that moment in Haven's village of when he was being choked to death by that hooded man.

  His gaze flicked to the Aminria's reflection in the mirror. Her stance was rigid as if she anticipated an answer, but her frown displayed her concern and understanding to wait for him to speak.

  “Someone followed us,” he said. “I went with Haven to her village.”

  This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

  “I know you aren’t going to believe this but.” Aminria tore her guilty gaze from him. “Haven seemed fine. Are you sure she didn’t tell someone where you were going?”

  “Yes.” Erador’s jaw stiffened. “I’m sure.”

  Aminria stretched one of her curls and allowed it to bounce in place. “Was it a different Paradin?”

  “Could be.” Erador stared at his arm. “They were attacked by a lurker.”

  “Oh...” Aminria pursed her lips. “That’s what the sleeve thing was for.”

  “Yes, and their injury... it wouldn’t look normal.” Erador turned around and tugged his sleeve down to cover the scar on his wrist. “It would be... darker in the early stages and turn reddish after it heals. Did you notice anyone we could rule out?”

  Aminria dragged a finger across her lips. “Not Pia, or Eon. He’s always shirtless, and Sescina... She had nothing on her arms. We can’t go around asking everyone to lift their other sleeve.”

  They would start asking questions. If the Raven could heal while shifting, would the lurker mark go away?

  Erador sighed and looked at the bottom of the dresser where the corner of a paper poked out. He couldn’t accept that Yuni could be a monster and he dreaded the idea of telling Aminria. It might scare her away again, but it was all he had.

  “I… uh… have a theory.”

  Aminria watched as he reached under the dresser and pulled out the paper. Without looking at it, he handed it to her.

  She stared at the monster illustration and looked up at him. “That is?”

  Erador swallowed. “It’s a vesper. A human hybrid.” Erador swallowed hard and looked to Shade on the wall, who offered encouragement. “I think Yuni’s brooch makes her human.”

  Aminria stared at him but he couldn’t tell what she was thinking. “You think… she’s a monster.”

  Erador slipped his hands in his pockets and shrugged.

  Aminria lowered the paper and laughed. “And you made fun of me over the well lurker. Next you’re going to tell me you’re religious.” She studied him, her smile fading. “You’re serious?”

  He wished he could’ve laughed with her. “The Raven is a shape-shifter, so maybe a vesper is like that.”

  “This seems…” Aminria walked across the room and stared at the paper.

  “I know…” Erador said. “These creatures are demons in the Senith tales. If we convince people she’s one, they’ll be terrified. They won’t want her here.”

  Aminria dropped on the bed. “How… I mean… what are you supposed to do? Break her brooch?”

  Erador scratched his head. “I thought about it but... I'm not sure it'll do anything to her.”

  “Then what? How are you supposed to expose...” She looked at the paper. “This thing? If it’s even real.”

  “Someone followed us to Haven’s village and took the book about vespers from us. They don’t want us to know.” He took the paper from her. “Then Baubie said it’s dangerous for her to wear it. It has to mean something.”

  Aminria crossed her arms. “Don’t you find it strange you were followed when you were with Haven? No one else knew you were going but her.”

  Erador narrowed his eyes. “Haven had nothing to do with it.”

  Head down, Aminria rubbed her nails on her pants. He caught the crinkle on her forehead as her brow raised. He rubbed his lips together, keeping them pressed over his words that wanted to tell Aminria she was wrong. He didn't want to bother trying to convince her, but he needed her on his side and with Haven.

  “We went to... another place.” He didn’t mention it was related to Haven to avoid negative comments from Aminria. “The Cheeokwa see the vespers as saviors.”

  “That’s a savior?” Aminria pointed at the paper. “It looks like that thing I saw in the well and it didn’t seem nice.”

  “You’re kidding? You were a child. It was your imagination.”

  “It wasn’t.” Aminria rose her voice. “It was real.”

  Erador moved to the bed and sat next to her. He didn’t have time to argue over what she saw. What was he going to do? He dangled his arms between his legs and blew a hair from his face. Aminria fiddled with the moon charm on her bracelet.

  His vision blurred as he stared at it and his mind was taken to another place. Two little charms, a silver one with points around it and that same moon were held by little hands over a baby with wide silver eyes. The girl stood on her toes to reach further over the bassinet.

  “Isn’t it pretty,” she said, lifting the moon. “You’re the little moon and I’m the crystal. Just like the gods in the sky. They’re brother and sister too.” She looked at each one. “But I won’t go away like Absolution did.”

  As the vision faded Erador spoke, “I’ll always be here—”

  He caught himself before he finished, but it was too late. He found himself staring at Aminria's confused eyes.

  “Why are you saying that?” she said.

  A knock banged at the door. Erador's heart jumped and Aminria’s nails dug into his skin. He pried her off and reached for the knob.

  “Who’s there?"

  Pia’s small voice called from the other side. He opened the door and Pia stood rigid and didn’t greet him. The terror on her face told him something was wrong. He looked up and down the corridor before guiding her to the bed to sit.

  “What’s going on?” Aminria asked.

  “Remember when you said you knew that I overheard you about the crystal?” she gasped.

  Aminria blinked. “It was you?”

  Erador waved his hand to quiet her.

  Nodding, Pia lowered her head. Loose hair strands from her bun dangled in her eyes. Her body trembled as little sobs escaped her breath; she missed Eli and her fidgeting with her blood-stained apron further confirmed Erador’s suspicions. The pieces came into place. It was more than natural causes.

  Erador grabbed her shoulder. “Eli was killed?”

  Pia’s lips trembled, but she gave no response.

  “Killed, by who?” Aminria rose, her voice bordered on the edge of worry. “Sescina said it was a natural death.”

  “Maybe she couldn't detect the real cause.” Erador knelt down. “Who killed him, Pia?”

  “I don’t know,” she gasped. “I shouldn't have let Eli take the blame. I think he died because of me.”

  “Is someone blackmailing you?” Erador glimpsed at Aminria who gnawed her lip.

  Pia gripped the mattress. Her face twisted as if she was fighting to keep in her words.

  “She’s too scared.” Aminria moved to her. “Who is it?”

  Erador waved her off. “You can nod or squeeze my hand if it’s yes.”

  Pia took Erador’s hand and squeezed. Erador’s heart wrenched.

  “Why did they kill him, Pia?”

  Pia looked at the door and scooted closer to Erador. Her voice exited quietly. “I know who let the Raven out.”

  Erador let go of her hand and looked to Aminria. “Eli took the fall. How do you know?”

  “I overheard it.”

  Erador cursed. “Is it a Paradin?”

  Pia opened her mouth but shut it. Her hand fell from his grasp.

  “Why didn't you tell us?” Aminria said, annoyed.

  “Leave it!” Erador raced to his dresser, rummaged through his drawer, and pulled out a Warden Tower deck. He threw down the metal box and took Pia’s hands, placing the cards inside. “Show me the mark of the Paradin who did it.”

  A tear slid down Pia’s cheek as she shuffled through the cards. Erador’s throat tightened with worry, but he gripped the blanket. His hand loosened when she went through half the deck and kept going.

  Aminria touched her forehead. “This is useless.” She clapped and Pia's head shot up. “Tell us who it is.”

  Erador pushed Aminria back. “Stop it.”

  Aminria moved to the corner, mumbling. Sweat glistened on Pia’s forehead. She stopped and slid a card up but he could only see the back. Erador checked her fearful gaze and reached for it. She moaned and held her stomach. As Erador touched the edge, vomit spewed from her mouth. It sprayed onto the cards as she dropped them and fell to the floor.

  “Shit!” Erador said, stepping back. Red vomit coated his hand and sleeve. Disgust lingered as he wanted to strip the shirt from his back. But he turned his attention to Pia, moaning on the floor. Her fingers gripped her middle as the other hand splayed across the cards.

  “Aminria get Sescina!”

  She rushed out of the room as Erador placed his hand on Pia’s trembling back. Her eyes unfocused as her hand tried to find him. He called her name but she wouldn’t respond and her eyes shut.