"The people will allow whatever you tell them," Nyx said.
Ragathon’s robes rustled as he shifted in his chair. "We are their representatives, not their masters."
Nyx laughed without amusement, and my grandfather interrupted them. "Come now, Ragathon. Nyx is not wrong. The time for pretend is over." He turned to speak to Nyx. "We are no longer a democracy, that much is true, but we cannot give you what you ask. The Pope would never allow it. Nor, I'm afraid, would he allow you to live."
"And if I were to surrender myself?" Nyx asked, once again surprising me.
My grandfather shook his head sadly. "Then Zeniths would have peace, but not equality."
Nyx turned on his heel, fire in his movement. "Then the war shall continue," he said as he moved to leave, his apprentice following him.
My grandfather called out from behind him. "Is it worth it, spilling so much blood for so few?"
Nyx turned to face my grandfather. "Is it ever worth spilling blood at all?"
He walked out, leaving the Council members whispering amongst themselves.
The image cut short as Evie's voice interrupted. "Scarlett, that meeting was never made public, but there's something you need to see. Something urgent."
She relayed a live newscast into my e-Glass. A blond reporter sat in a newsroom and read from a teleprompter, and above her they showed a picture of Jax.
"Jaxton Lux, a Knight of the Fourth of the Teutonic Order and a Zenith, Class 1, has been sentenced to death for treason. Video footage was recently recovered showing Lux slaying eight Inquisition Officers using his Zenith abilities. The execution is scheduled to take place at Times Square in New York City in three days, and shall once again serve as a reminder why all Zenith, even those a part of the Order, must be regulated. This is Colby—" I clicked off the video, my heart beating frantically.
"Evie, connect me to the private line of the Chancellor."
"That will require hacking into the Order, do you approve the—"
"Yes, I approve," I said too loudly. "Just do it! Hurry."
It only took her a moment and the e-Glass buzzed as it tried to connect to the Chancellor, my grandfather.
When he finally answered, I had taken enough breaths to keep myself in check, but just barely. "What are you doing to stop the execution?" I asked without preamble.
"I suppose I shouldn't bother inquiring as to how you reached this line?" He asked.
"No, you shouldn't bother. But you should answer my question if you ever want to see me at that school again."
My fingers shook with pent up rage and fear and more emotions than I could articulate right then. I didn't trust Jax anymore, but I loved him and I would not let him die. Not while I still drew breath.
"I've done all I can. I'm sorry, Scarlett. I know he's your friend."
"You know nothing about me or my life," I said sharply, then disconnected the call and threw my e-Glass onto my bed. I had to get to the Castle. Had to talk reason into the Chancellor. Had to stop this insanity before it was too late.
I grabbed my bags and dragged them to the plane, then did one last check on the house. I glanced at our family chess set, my eyes lingering a moment longer than I had time for. Without thinking, I plucked my King from the board and stuck it in my pocket.
We were never out of moves. There was always something we could do.
***
I stormed into the Chancellor's office without knocking, my previous calm shattered by the hours it took to arrive. "What do you mean there's nothing more you can do?" I demanded, startling him from a cup of tea at his fire. His cat jumped off his lap and ran under the desk.
My grandfather gestured me over and I reluctantly went and sat beside him, my spine straight and body still pulsing with the threat lingering over Jax.
"I've pulled every string I can. I'm out of strings."
"What laws did he break that would justify this?"
"When Jax killed those Officers, he crossed Ragathon's authority. There's also footage of an Inquisition vehicle helping the rebels escape. They likely have someone in the Inquisition forces working with them."
"Then the Order should be going after them, not Jax."
He put his tea on the table beside and sat forward, his long robes spreading before him. "Ragathon's operation failed in the most spectacular way it could, and eight of his Officers died at Jax's hands, plus many more Officers who were killed by the rebels. He's trying to minimize the damage."
"So he's using Jax as his scapegoat?" This made me so sick.
"I'm afraid so," he said.
The cat meowed and came back to us, stalking us over the Persian rugs until she lay at our feet in front of the warmth.
"Why can't the Council stop him? He's not an autonomous power, no matter what Order he controls."
"We did take it to the Council. Grandmaster Gabriella agreed with the verdict. As did the Grandmaster of the Hospitallers. The Templars were outvoted."