Burn Bright

They changed lines several times before they reached Los Fien, the highest of the churches. In the kars everyone was talking about the absence of the Ripers.

‘Haven’t seen a single one this pass,’ said a boy sitting in front of Naif and Markes. ‘Even that creepy bastard, Modai.’

‘I heard they’re fighting the League out on the paths,’ said another boy, hanging from the aisle straps.

‘Not the League,’ said the girl sitting closest to him. ‘Ruzalia.’

‘Whatever,’ both guys replied.

‘Sssh,’ said the girl, noticing Markes. ‘It’s one of the Circle.’

The boys fell silent and Naif looked at Markes. Sweat stood out on his skin and his eyes glittered in the way that Rollo’s had at the Agios ball. His breathing was jerky, but he no longer seemed afraid.

‘We have to take the paths from Los Fien and walk up to Danskoi,’ he whispered to her, touching his tattoo.

‘Have you been there?’ she said softly back.

‘No. But I heard them talk about it. And I’ve been to Los Fien. The map will tell me the best way.’

Naif moved her mouth closer to his ear so no one else could hear. ‘What happened. How did you end up at the Dominion?’

Markes inclined his head so that they were touching. ‘Brand was waiting for me in the apse after I left you outside Agios. She said they needed me to help them catch Ruzalia. She said the time was right – that after the vote she would set it up. I asked what it was they wanted me to do, but Brand wouldn’t tell me. I said I wanted to know more and she hit me. She and some other Ripers took me from Agios. They chained me up in the cave until the others came. Then they made me play while they talked. But you came, and the vote never happened.’ He spoke in a rush now, the words tumbling out. ‘Naif, who is Leyste? What did they mean about the light relays on the path?’

Naif told him what had happened to her.

‘But why is Modai so bothered by Leyste’s death?’

Naif shook her head slowly. ‘I don’t know. I’ve been trying to work that out.’

‘We’re here!’ Suki slapped them both on the shoulders, ending their conversation.


Los Fien appeared the most modest of all the Ixion churches; an unadorned oak construction that reminded Retra of the Grave food warehouses. Raw, metallic music blared through the simply carved entrance doors and only a trickle of partygoers waited on the platform outside to go in.

Markes pointed to lights far above them. The cathedral of Danskoi glowed eerily on the tip of the crater, as if suspended. ‘Paths go around either side of Los Fien, and then it’s straight up.’

Paths. Panic swelled inside Naif. Without realising, she stopped.

‘What is it?’ said Markes. ‘What’s wrong?’

I can’t. But she didn’t say the words.

‘Naif?’ Suki peered into her face, frowning. ‘You scared or somethin’?’

Unexpectedly, Charlonge spoke up for her. ‘A Night Creature has been stalking her since she passed through the Register.’ She shifted Suki out of the way and put her arm around Naif ’s shoulders. ‘The creature is dead now, Naif, and it’ll be fine as long as we stay on the path.’

Charlonge’s confidence revived Naif’s courage.

‘Yes, you’re right,’ she said and moved past Markes to take the lead. ‘Stay on the path.’ She must help Rollo; make up for how she’d treated him.

As they began to climb though, she heard the rustle of movement in the dark and caught a flickering of it in her corner sight. Something watched them.

Behind her, Suki broke a branch from a bush and peeled the spiny leaves off, leaving the sharp stick. She pulled her knife as well.

Markes copied her with the branch.

Naif didn’t tell them that a branch would be useless against the Night Creatures. Neither did she tell them, as they reached the last bend in the path before Danskoi, that she knew they were being followed.

They won’t come into the light, she told herself. She took care to keep her feet exactly in the middle of the glowing path, concentrating so hard that she failed to see what was ahead of her.

Hands reached from the dark and a cord whipped tight around her throat, pulled by agitated fingers.

‘Hush!’ said her captor. ‘Hush and be still or I’ll strangle ye!’

She stopped struggling and strained to turn her head to see the others. Markes lay on the ground, his captor holding his arm twisted and high behind his shoulder, a knee forced into his back. Charlonge was held fast like her, while two of them grappled with Suki.

‘She’s got a knife,’ one of Suki’s captors called out.

A boy, nearly as tall as Markes, thrust his face near hers aggressively. ‘What’re you doing on the high paths? There’s business going on up here that’s none of yours.’

Naif gagged, trying to answer until he loosened the cord a little, letting her speak.

‘If you mean the League, then it’s my business too.’

He looked suspicious. ‘Why’s that?’

‘Are you the League?’

He didn’t answer.

‘Go and tell Clash that his sister is here and needs to talk to him. Urgently.’

‘If you’re lying I’ll throw you to them.’

‘Them?’

He leaned back so she could see past him to the others and the path along which they’d come. With his free hand he hurled something into the air; a flare that sizzled and then popped as it exploded into light.

The mountainside lit for a long flash with stark white light, bright enough for Naif to see a mass of flesh writhing just beneath the spiny leaves of the bushes. Hundreds of Night Creatures gathered at the edges of the paths, waiting, craving for the slip of a foot.

‘Brave or stupid are you then?’ he whispered. ‘If you are truly Clash’s sister then I’ll go with brave; otherwise I might just give you to them.’

He swung her towards the darkness, lending weight to his taunt.

‘No!’ shouted Markes.

A tentacle flicked out and snaked around her sore ankle. She kicked but the tentacle tightened and began to drag her from the Leaguer’s arms into the dark.

‘Cloffie!’ admonished a harsh, strong voice. A figure strode in and a sword sliced through the tentacle, freeing Naif’s leg.

Cloffie dropped her to the ground.

Naif tore the writhing tentacle from her ankle and got to her feet to face the wielder of the sword. She saw the armour and the wide shoulders and knew immediately who it was.

‘Eve.’

‘Dark Eve,’ corrected the broad, tall girl. She sheathed her sword and peered down into Naif’s face. ‘Frossing Tri-Suns! It’s Clash’s little sister! Well, this is an interesting turn of events.’ She glanced at the dark as if expecting something more. ‘Hurry on. Everyone! This isn’t the place for long stories.’