Burn Bright

‘She’s fortunate. The Guardians allow some room for mistakes among the newcomers. If she does this again, though, her time here will be shortened,’ she drew a breath, ‘or snuffed out completely. Petite nuit must be observed.’

Retra recognised Charlonge’s sombre voice without having to open her eyes.

‘I’ll tell her.’ And Suki.

‘Krista-belle, you should know better than to let one of your own miss petite nuit,’ scolded Charlonge.

‘It was Brand’s fault,’ argued Krista-belle. ‘We were at the Drop. Kero was talking to Juice from the Freeks and I felt sick. I went to lie down on one of the couches. You know, behind the wall screens, where couples go to catch some down time. Brand found me. She … she … climbed on me and …’ Krista-belle faltered.

‘Brand? But the Ripers are forbidden to have any physical contact with us. It’s lore. They’re our Guardians.’ Charlonge sounded puzzled.

‘She’s been watching me for a while. I thought it was because I’m getting older. You never really know when it will be your time.’

‘You should go to the Youth Circle and tell them what happened. You must speak up.’

Krista-belle made a rude noise. ‘What’s the point? What would they do? Tell Lenoir? He already knows. He stopped Brand from hurting Retra after she threw the stool.’

‘She threw a stool?’

‘Right at Brand’s back. Smashed it into her.’

Retra sensed Charlonge’s astonishment in the silence that followed.

‘Lenoir said he would protect us. But I’m not so sure, Char.’ Krista-belle’s voice quavered when she eventually spoke. ‘Something’s happening with the Ripers. I mean … among them. I can feel it. Kero says the Freeks have noticed it. He’s going to talk to the Ghosts too. We think something’s going to happen soon. Not something good either.’

‘You’re imagining things.’ Charlonge’s tone was sharper. ‘And such talk can be seen as troublemaking. Speak to the Circle about the incident with Brand, let them deal with it. Otherwise keep your mouth shut. And you too, Suki. You’re too new here to be involved in this kind of thing. You’ll be tainted by it. Now, I have to go and supervise mealtime. Bring her down when she is rested.’

Retra waited until the door closed before she rolled over. Her eyes met Suki’s straightaway. The Stra’ha girl was sitting on a chair close to her. She was wearing a lace shirt and short pants, and chewing her fingernails. Kristabelle was at the foot of the bed, in a simple red velvet dress that set off her hair. They were in a room with a single bed, furnished with only a small table weighed by an untidy pile of old books.

‘We’re in Charlonge’s room,’ said Suki. ‘She said it was best not to draw attention to you.’

‘You feeling better, Retra?’ asked Krista-belle.

Like Suki she’d changed clothes since the club, but her eye shadow was still heavily purple and her lashes thick with paint.

Retra nodded, and levered upward to lean against the heavy bed head. The nubs of iron studs stuck into her back, and she rearranged the pillows to cushion them. Then she looked at her palm. The colour had faded again, leaving only the tattooed outline of the badge.

‘I’m well,’ she reassured them, feeling the heat rising in her cheeks at the unaccustomed attention. ‘Th-thank you for bringing me back here.’

‘Kero and the boys carried you,’ said Krista-belle proudly.

‘You zoned out in the club,’ added Suki. She sounded a little sour. ‘I told them they had to help, seeing as what you did for them.’

But Suki’s flat expression didn’t seem to have an effect on Krista-belle. The red-head jumped up from her seat and clasped Retra’s hand. ‘Kero’s down in the refectory. He wants to talk to you about joining the Wings. You can be one of us.’

Retra stared at her and then at Suki.

Suki shrugged. ‘They said I could too. Because of you.’

Krista-belle’s hand felt warm and sticky against Retra’s skin. ‘I-I don’t know. What do you do?’ Retra asked.

‘Oh,’ she said vaguely, ‘the usual. We go out in groups. Make sure no one gets forgotten and strays onto the Lesser Paths. Mostly, it’s just fun. Hanging out. We look out for each other. That’s the best thing. Though sometimes the boys fight against the other gangs.’

‘What do they fight about?’

She picked at her black-painted fingernails. ‘Stuff. Who’s tougher, I guess.’

Retra didn’t like the sound of it but Suki’s eyes lit up. ‘Fighting?’

Krista-belle tugged Retra’s hand. ‘Come and talk to Kero, please.’

‘Yeah,’ said Suki. ‘Geddup! I’m getting bored here.’