Gray snorted. ‘You Academy people are all the same. You think you know everything.’
Lincoln stalked back towards us, moving right into Gray’s personal space, using his slightly taller frame for maximum looming effect. ‘I know enough about you to have made up my mind,’ he growled.
‘I can see that, mate. At least, I can see that you think you have. So, tell me, have you been to London lately?’
The way he said it made me bristle. Lincoln stiffened at the same time. His eyes shot to me briefly as his jaw clenched.
‘London is a city I go out of my way to avoid.’ With that he turned and walked away.
My heart pounded.
He’s known where I’ve been. All this time. And he’s stayed away.
Gray moved close to me as I stood in a daze, putting the painful pieces together. I knew I shouldn’t let it hurt. I tried to remind myself that it was what I’d wanted and that I should be glad that Lincoln had moved on. But right at that moment, my heart wasn’t being practical.
‘Hey.’ Gray snapped his fingers in my face, causing me to blink. ‘You want to win this thing?’
‘Of course I do,’ I shot back.
‘At any cost?’ he added, eyebrows raised in challenge.
‘I have nothing to lose, so, yes. Why?’
He nodded but was silenced as the main doors swung open and the Assembly began to file in.
CHaPteR eLeveN
‘There is no greater sorrow than to recall in misery the time when we were happy.’
Dante
Wilhelm and Rainer led the way down the long aisle that ran through the centre of rows of chairs arranged in the massive opaque-glass-encased oval hall. Standing near the front, I had a direct view of the Assembly members as they walked in. Rainer caught my eye and nodded. It was her way of giving what support she could. Though I noted she also looked at Lincoln on the opposite side and gave the same gesture. Wilhelm gave me a quick wink.
Hakon and Valerie came in next. Hakon still looked like a hulk but he was different as well; he moved slower and his expression was pained.
‘What happened?’ I whispered to Steph, who stood beside me.
‘He never fully healed after the explosions Lilith and Phoenix set off. They managed to save his leg but he’s never been the same. He doesn’t often fight,’ she explained.
I nodded. It was all I could do.
That was my fault.
‘No one blames you for what happened,’ Steph said, reading my mind. ‘I don’t think you understand how highly regarded you are by those who know you.’
I smiled sadly, failing again to muster a response.
That didn’t stop Steph. ‘And as for the rest, they don’t know you. They hear the stories but they don’t know what to make of them.’
There was a gap in the procession after Valerie. ‘No Seth and Decima?’ I asked.
Steph shook her head. ‘I’ve never even seen them,’ she pouted and I realised Steph was starstruck by two of the fiercest warriors I’d ever laid eyes on. ‘I don’t think they’ve returned since you were here last,’ she went on, then leaned a little closer and lowered her voice. ‘Rumour is they’ve petitioned for release.’
‘Release from what?’
‘Everything. The Assembly for one, but also from their angel makers. They’re the oldest Grigori alive but word is that they’re asking to die.’
‘Oh.’ I wasn’t even sure that was allowed. But I could understand. After all they’d given, surely they deserved some say in the matter.
Josephine came down the aisle next. She still carried herself as though she were merely the Vice of the Assembly, but everyone knew she wielded the power over Drenson.
Another reason I could never be part of their system.
As Josephine strode towards the stage, a number of Grigori began to make a small gesture, clenching their right fist and raising it to their left shoulder.
‘What’s with the salutes?’ I asked.
‘It’s old tradition,’ Steph explained quietly. ‘Not many Grigori from this century partake, but some of the older ones still do it. They’re marks of respect. Though rank has always been the obvious dictator in the hierarchy, throughout the history of Grigori true leadership was earned and won, irrespective of rank. The first level of regard is to bow one’s head. Second, the fist to the shoulder. And third,’ Steph pointed to where a few Grigori knelt on one knee, ‘complete service.’
I didn’t fail to notice that there were significantly fewer gestures of respect displayed when Adele and Drenson made their way down the aisle at the end.
While Drenson and Josephine addressed the Academy, I looked around the room. There was so much power here, but that only seemed to give rise to an air of uncertainty. Drenson was not a good leader, and it felt as if the entire room was aware of that and therefore discouraged.