“So... I assume you were not surprised by my message.”

  The director's office exuded intellectual sophistication and academic style. Tall windows were sliced by rectangular patterns, generously illuminating the muted tones of the interior, deep green, wood-brown and gold. Vast bookshelves with steel wings on the corners were bursting with the spines of plump books in shiny covers.

  “First, I would like to apologize. My decision to conduct the exam in the field led to an unacceptable situation. Although no one was hurt, the reputation of the university suffered significant damage...”

  “At least no one died,” Gibiska muttered.

  The table was covered with carefully organized papers and folders, a bronze writing set from the last century next to modern fountain pens.

  “That would be an unacceptable result,” the Director said. “Even with all the bureaucracy that relieves us of responsibility for the death of future shadowslayers, I bear personal responsibility for each and every one of my students...”

  It was terrible. Like a prolonged nightmare.

  Circe Fidelis brought them to the camp. Rosa wanted to run after her, to try to find Tully before something happened, frustrated Gebbi tried to tell her off it. Like, what are the chances that they will find an escaping invisible girl in a dark forest. Lilum behaved strangely. She did not say anything, only clutched the blade, looking around hauntedly at every rustling...

  “Thanks to your efforts and the results that your classmates showed, I have a chance, however, to pronounce a significant success.”

  The lamp on the table resembled an upside down, geometrically correct glass flower with colored petals, the hanging chandeliers were made in the same style. The light chairs with oval backs for guests were pleasantly soft, despite their strict shapes.

  “So it really was the Surge?” Gebbi asked in a stifled tone.

  “To my dismay, yes. We are still trying to figure out the situation in the Horazon Forest. But thanks to your success in the shadowslaying, it is much safer there. For the first time in a decade, I would think...”

  Professor Fidelis came out of the forest, looking as if she had simply come to fetch her students from the university gardens. Her gown was impeccable, as always. The difficulty of the situation was given away only by her high heavy boots, noticeably different from her usual choice of elegant low-heeled shoes.

  “So does this mean that we got good marks?” Gibiska perked up.

  “I assure you, all the students this year showed excellent results, demma Citrin.” The Director paused. “Almost all. Of course, there had been a few unfortunate situations...”

  Rosa glanced at Lilum. She sat there like an ice statue.

  Rosie tried to explain what had happened. Fidelis clearly mistook her babbling for signs of shock. They had been brought to the camp like children, almost by the hand, nobody listening to anything. They had been instructed to sit down right there and wait for evacuation, and were left in a tent. It was warm, there was food and chairs to rest. Someone was asking if they needed medical attention.

  There were other students there. Arthena and Fjora were there, looking utterly exhausted. Arthena smiled at Rosie when their eyes met. Artorius was sitting on a chair, looking half-fainted, and Han and Frank were exchanging vivid stories. Something about Bellethor, a wave of chains, and the giant send flying...

  Lily was angry. Rosa had tried to spoke to her several times, but other one ignored her. It was strange. She was breathing heavily and sometimes she would sharply squeeze the hilt of her blade. Once, a sudden sound made her jump in fear.

  “Lily.” Rosa tried again. “What happened?”

  “Nothing."

  “Why are you angry?”

  Girl slashed her with such a look that Rosa flinched.

  “I'm not angry.”

  The voice was calm, but the girl felt like she was slapped.

  “But... why did you try?..” Rosa lowered her voice: “Tally, you tried to...”

  “She's an animata.”

  The hissing was definitely angry. Bitter.

  “So what?” Rosa mused. “There are a lot of animatas here...”

  Lilum pinned her with a furious eyes.

  “Are you conspiring with her?! You knew!?”

  Something unfamiliar was burning in her silver eyes. Abnormal. Rosa shook her head desperately.

  “Conspiring? What are you talking about?”

  Diamas took a short breath.

  “True... They would hardly risked dealing with a stupid child like you... Monsters...”

  Gabby brought them food and drinks. Lilum did not touch hers. They were soon collected, the heliwings carrying them out of the strange camp in the forest back to the university grounds. They were given one day to rest and prepare a written report of their hunt…

  “I have read your reports. Your meeting with that... girl really does stand out from the picture. However...”

  “So you didn't find her?” interrupted Gebbi. “But... I mean, she just...”

  “Demma, I understand that you are concerned about the situation, as are the rest of us.” The Director was firm. “Believe me, the best outriders in the city are investigating right now. You have nothing to worry about.”

  Then the nightmare continued. The day of "rest" passed in a haze. The other students felt uplifted. Apparently. Rosa could barely concentrate on a short visit to the cafeteria. She barely managed to get a one page of the report. Her thoughts were tangled. She visited Gebbi, made sure that she doing equally poorly. Stood in front of Lily's closed door. She had been hiding from them all day. Rosa stood at the Tally's door...

  Why was she hiding from them that she was an animata? Why had Tally run away? Why was Lilum acting as if she was being haunted? Why didn't she say anything them?

  “Why?..”

  “What’s that, demma Rubin?”

  Rosie caught herself and looked at Gilbert King. The man's face was open and calm, inviting. The girl looked down, embarrassed.

  “Sorry... I was thinking.”

  “I understand. One day may not be enough to recover from such a stress. However, I hope you are ready to continue your programs at the Academy.”

  “Shouldn't we wait until the other one is found?” Gibiska said with emphasis. “I mean...”

  “Of course, the disappearance of demma Onyxson is a serious problem. However, I am sure everything will soon be cleared up, and your group will return to its previous routine curriculum.”

  Lilum clearly sighed, as if something was choking her.

  “Perhaps you wanted to add something, demma Diamas?”

  The sisters looked at Lily in unison. She sat in the chair like a statue, looking at King with a completely impenetrable face.

  “No, Director, I have nothing to add”

  He nodded, apparently quite satisfied with the answer.

  “Of course. However, I ask you, if anything new comes to your mind, any information, immediately contact me or Professor Fidelis.”

  The sisters made confirming noses. Lilum simply nodded briefly. The Director clasped his hands on the table.

  “In that case, despite the unfortunate absence of your partner, I am pleased to inform you that I have called you here to be assigned to a hunting party.”

  “A party?” Gebbi was amazed.

  “But Director...” Rosa said slowly. “We are not in the Guild. I mean, parties are organized to carry out a specific mission.”

  “I see you remember your basics,” he praised curtly. “You see, despite the fact that parties are a form of the Guild, I have taken this practice as the basis for the Shadowlore Academy. Those planning to become shadowslayers are usually divided into groups for training and preparation in the field.”

  “Won’t this not make us, like... way too attached?” Gebbi drawled.

  “I assure you, you’re in no danger of that,” assured the Director.

  “But without Tally...”

  Rosa fell silent in a loss. She suppressed the urge to glance sideways at Lilum. She already knew what she would see. Nothing.

  “As I said, I am sure that this situation will soon become clear.” The Director was impenetrable in his optimism. “For now, I am happy to inform you that the three of you – and in absentia demma Onyxson – are joining as one group.”

  There was an awkward silence.

  “Um... okay,” Gibiska said, with unease.

  King raised his eyebrows expressively, looking expectantly at Rosie.

  “Um...” She paused. “Is something wrong?”

  “Frankly, I'm surprised no one questioning for who would be the leader of the party,” the Director said.

  “Oh, umm...” Rosa hesitated. “Right, that's also part of the Guild doctrine...”

  “We decided that the leader of this party would be you, demma Rubin.”

  Rosa sat there stunned for a second. Then she straightened up, dumbfounded.

  “What? No.”

  King silently raised his eyebrows.

  “I mean... I didn't... Why would I be the party’s leader?” Rosa asked.

  “Why not?” said Gebbi. “You did well in that hunt, Rosie.”

  Rosa looked back at her comrades. Her sister looked at her with support. Lilum did not look at her at all.

  “But I don't...”

  She turned to the Director. Then she sighed calmly and said:

  “Lilum should be the leader of the party.”

  For the first time, Lily visibly reacted. Unfortunately, it was a remarkably similar to Tally's, indifferent and familiarly icy look.

  “This is an honorable place, demma,” the Director noted. “You'll just hand it over to someone else?”

  “I don't hand anything to anyone,” Rosa said grimly. “But Lily... Lilum, she's talented, and confident, and... I think she'll be an excellent party leader.”

  “I see,” King drawled. “You're right, of course. However, there is no need for modesty, demma Rubin, you have proven yourself more than capable in the role of a leader. Even demma Diamas noted this in her report.”

  “Really?” Rosa blurted out, dumbfounded.

  She glanced back at Lily. Girl answered with a cold sideways glance.

  “I was only trying to be objective.”

  “But... you want to be the party leader, don't you?” Rosa asked.

  Of course she wanted to, she couldn't not want to. Diamas was ambitious, and only her obvious talent kept her from the status of a spoiled mediocre hack that trio of Bright Young Things enjoyed.

  Now, however, she responded with a surprisingly hostile look.

  “I don't remember us ever discussing this.”

  Lilum seemed genuinely hurt by Rosa's words.

  “Rubin's words make sense, demma,” the Director remarked.

  It was looked like King is assessing them.

  “I don't plan to dispute your decision, Director,” Diamas answered coldly.

  “Probably for the best,” muttered Gebbi.

  Rosa glanced at her with annoyance. Lilum seemed to be drawing coldness into her very presence.

  “But…” Rosa managed to say. “I think… I think Lily should be the leader. Because she…”

  Rosa hesitated.

  “Yes?” King waited the continuation with polite interest.

  Rosa had the feeling that something serious was hanging in the balance.

  How could she articulate what exactly she was thinking? That she thought how Lily really wanted to be the leader. That she wanted recognition and responsibility. And that it would probably be better if Lilum got that responsibility, and that it would serve her well?

  “I think she’ll be more effective than me,” Rosa blurted out. “Since she’s… well, a better student than me. She gets better grades…”

  The principal’s face was impassive.

  “What are you doing?”

  Rosa met Lilum’s eyes. The arrogant garthian now looked as if she had just been covered with gutter sludge, if not worse. Rosa desperately suppressed the panic.

  “But... I really think so,” she said honestly.

  “Well... In that case, I must admit one thing,” the Director said. “The choice was between you and demma Diamas. Your intuition did not fail you, Rubin.”

  “But you chose her.”

  Lilum's voice was completely flat. King nodded and was silent for a while.

  “As demma Rubin said,” he finally said, “it is possible that in the role of your party leader you will be more... effective.”

  He leaned back in his chair.

  “When you live as long as I have,” the Director grinned, “you begin to rely more and more on instinct. But people are not omniscient, no matter what the street prophets saying. Your papers have not yet been finalized – due to the unfortunate absence of the last member of the group. And therefore I see no reason not to take into account the opinion of demma Rubin, and your personal opinion, demma Diamas, and draw new conclusions.”

  He paused, waiting for a reaction. Rosa looked at Lilum. She sat like a statue with a calm, even empty face.

  “In that case, the decision is final. Demma Diamas, my congratulations for the head of this party.”

  “Thank you, Director.”

  Rosa was afraid that it’s exactly how everything will end up. Lily could have accepted a cup of tea in the cafeteria with greater enthusiasm.

  The warm air was awashed by the aroma of the first flowers. Many trees confidently gowning themselves with greenery and the paths of the university grounds was turning into shady alleys. They caught up with her only when already outside.

  “Lily, wait! Please...”

  At first, she seemed to quicken her pace. But then slowed down and stopped. Apparently she figured that she simply won’t be left alone.

  “Lily, we need to talk.”

  “You don't think you've said enough?!”

  Lilum turned around. The garthian’s face wore an incredibly icy expression. Worse than during their entire time knowing each other, Rosa noted automatically.

  “I don't know what that stunt was for...” Diamas said in a tone dry with anger.

  “What stunt?”

  “...but I don't need some pittance, Rubin! Maybe I didn't put you in your place in front of the head of the university, but...”

  “You're would be the first to rush and tell what a great party leader you'd be!” Gebbi flared up.

  “I'm disgusted that you even for a moment think that you know me, Citrin,” other one hissed.

  “I don't care what your bother is! Rosa gave up her reward...”

  “It's not a reward!” Rosie interrupted. “Don't be idiots, both of you!”

  “You two useless...”

  Lilum let out an angry snarl, turned away and rushed off. Rosa was there in an instant. She almost reached Lilum's shoulder, but girl turned around with such a face that Rosa flinched back as if she got hit.

  “Take your paws off me, you filthy!..”

  “What the blast is wrong with you, Diamas?!” Gebbi cried out angrily.

  Lilum was inexplicably seething with rage. This truly was worse than ever.

  “I don't know what you're up to, but!..”

  “It's because of Tally, isn't it?” Rosa said firmly. “You're not yourself...”

  “Of course it’s because of her!” The tone was impressively angry. “Because of that little monster!”

  “Shadow tear you, why the fuck are you calling her that?!” Gebbi roared.

  “She's an animata!” Lilum barked.

  “So what? There are a lot of animatas!”

  “That's what I said...” Rosa added dejectedly.

  Lilum clearly gritted her teeth.

  “I suppose you really aren't conspiring...” she hissed, “because you two are clearly just idiots! Why would she hide her true nature?! She's a criminal, that's why!”

  “You don't know that!” Gebbi got annoyed. “Maybe – and this is just a wild guessing here – she hid her ears because of psychos like you!”

  “Why in the Dark you are protecting this... Thiiiss!.. This monster?!”

  Lilum was almost screaming. She and Gibiska were standing opposite each other, almost ready to start vulgarly tear at each other throats.

  “Just tell me what happened, princess,” Rosa pressed angrily. “I won't leave you be like this!”

  If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement.

  “It's none of your business!”

  “So make it our business!”

  Lilum was breathing heavily, looking angrily at Rosa.

  “Why don't you help us look?” she said. “We'll just find her and...”

  Diamas turned away coldly.

  “Oh, they will look for her. Just like the Director said. I suppose the police can handle it better than I.”

  “Why didn't you tell, then?”

  Lilum turned sharply to Rosa, piercing her with an icy stare.

  “You didn't say she was an animata, did you?” she asked. “And you didn't write it in the report. The Director didn't say a word. Why?”

  Lily visibly clenched her jaws few times.

  “You're angry...” Rosa drawled.

  “I'm not...”

  “Angry, angry! Why? Just tell us...”

  “It's none of your business!!!”

  A sharp cry made several people in the distance turn around. Lilum hastily caught her breath.

  “Even if we would try to find her, what exactly do you thinking? That filthy...”

  “Oh, what is wrong with you?” Gebbi flared up. “Either tell us why you hate her so much, or shut up with your slander!”

  Lilum visibly blushed. Then she got a hold of herself, the icy expression returning to her face.

  “As I was about to say, we have no idea where she might be headed. A criminal like her...”

  Gebbi breathed out angrily, and Lilum cut herself off.

  “Maybe you really should tell us...” Rosa drawled. “I have a feeling it would make you feel better.”

  “It's not up for you to decide what would make me feel better,” Lily hissed. “So, if you don't have any sensible ideas, I suggest...”

  “Isn’t it your job to suggest ideas?” Gebbi remarked acridly. “You're our leader now.”

  Lilum got openly furious and sharply flicked her hand.

  “Don't even think about it! I don't know what was the point of that stunt, but I...”

  "Aww, if only Uncle Vran was here," Rosa interrupted her in ruefully tone, "we would just ask him how to hunt people properly."

  Lilum fell silent, dumbfounded. Gebbi made a skeptical face.

  "Do you reckon he’d be of much use?" she asked.

  Lilum looked at them with shock.

  "What kind of family are you?"

  "Hunters," Rosa said matter-of-factly, and suddenly jumped up: "But there are plenty of other Hunters here! We'll just ask someone else!"

  They found him soon, in one of the empty auditoriums.

  "So. You came to dump your problems on my head. And here I was hoped that students would look to me in search of the enlightenment..."

  Bellethor was wiping the blackboard. A group of Free Hunters surrounded him. The sisters told him the story of the giant and Onikson's escape, hiding the part about the ears. Lilum was still hanging in a strange fringe state between the obvious desire to kill Tally and the need to keep her secrets, only dryly assenting to the sisters' words.

  Finishing with the board, Bellethor sighed wearily. Then he took the chalk and drew on the board two triangles.

  “Today's topic is – how to catch yourself a runaway animata...”

  He added a circle, leaving the distinctive image. The girls froze. It was the ease with which he voiced their greatest secret – Rosa was sure that they had not given away anything even by a hint. But, nevertheless, here they were.

  “I suppose Gil refused to assign you as a party until you dragged the other one by the tail?”

  Gebby snorted.

  “Director King did say something about papers...”

  Bellethor sighed patiently and put the chalk down, then turned to the others.

  “You knew?!”

  Lilum looked as if she was ready to throw a fist punch at the man.

  “Well, I didn't know exactly, but... Pretty obvious in retrospect, don't you think?”

  “What?.. How?”

  “Well, first of all, she’s always on guard,” Bellethor counted on his fingers. “She always hides the parts of her body where most animatas had their image manifested. She wears a false nails, I think… Oh, and what actually occurred to me – she doesn’t wear perfume. Strange for such a pretty thing, don’t you say? I suppose it irritates her sense of smell. It’s rare, but…”

  “You what, smelled her?” Gebbi asked suspiciously.

  “As if you haven’t,” the professor said with a hint of irritation.

  Gebbi suddenly snorted like a horse and pouted indignantly. Rosa, on the other hand, was on the rise. For the first time in two days, there was hope that Tully’s accursed secret could be solved.

  “So you know everything?” Rosa asked. “But… who’s looking for her? The Director said that it was being handled, we thought it would be the police…”

  “It should be the police,” Lily muttered.

  “But that means someone else from the Academy,” Gebbi chimed in. “Is that true, then?”

  “What?” Bellethor said, puzzled.

  “That Hunters always deal with everything between themselves?” Rosa blurted out. “Father said that it was all just rumors about the ‘stone wall’ and other professional solidarity, but that means that…”

  “Okay, stop, silence!”

  Metal clanged menacingly around them. The girls glanced around nervously, but noticed nothing.

  “What do you even want from me?”

  “We need help, Professor,” Rosa said bluntly. “If you had to look for someone, what would you do?”

  Bellethor measured them up and down.

  “You won’t leave me alone, will you?”

  The sisters shook their heads in unison

  “And if you do leave me alone, you will just go and get yourself into ton of trouble?”

  They nodded in unison. Lilum just stood there, arms crossed expectantly on her chest. The Professor sighed heavily.

  “Okay. Fine. It’s not like I’m busy with my college paperwork. Let’s go chase around everyone’s favorite cat girl.”

  “’Everyone’s…’” Rosa muttered skeptically. “I don’t think anyone even noticed that she’s gone. She’s so secretive…”

  “Oh, who knows, who knows,” Bellethor mused. “But let’s start with what you actually know about her…”

  A small upper tier’s square hung over the port like a colossal balcony. The buildings here did not shine with modern ornaments, it was just red brick and darkened cast iron. The decoration here was done with businesses signs – shops, bars, workshops and hotels. The narrow road was overflowing with cars, roaring with engines and purring with crystal chambers, urging passersby to keep to their narrow sidewalks. And there were many passersby. Some were occupied with their business affairs, others were interested in the goods of the street vendors who had set up a small spontaneous market on the busy platform.

  On the port side, however, the buildings were parted, opening up a view from up high. On the lower tier, a hundred meters below the road platform, there were rows of port buildings, behind which the piers were barely visible. Above the roofs rose the lattice towers of cargo cranes. An old-fashioned openwork fence, barely chest high, was the only thing that separated the absentminded pedestrian from short flight to the streets below.

  Far fewer people were here. A slender animata girl in a tattered jacket and trousers like the workers wore leaned on the railing, looking east, at the blue sea in the distance.

  “Excellent view.”

  Haanash settled down next to her, looking over the port.

  “Rusty boats, battered barges. Reminds me of the outskirts of Babel, only with boats instead of the cars.”

  Tallia glanced at him, pressing her ears menacingly. She wasn't even trying to hide her race now, her dark hair was pulled back into a tight ponytail, leaving her ears free, another tail, fluffy kind, hung down below her knees through a slit in the pants.

  “How did you find me?”

  “Oh, you know what they say about animata,” he said. “We have an excellent sense of smell.”

  “Drop the jokes.” Tallia's tone was not appreciative to games. “We both know that your image does not include a keen sense of smell. And even if it did, it would be useless in a hole like Elysium. So again – how did you find me?”

  “If I didn't knew that you liked me...”

  A subtle movement made Han stop short.

  “Wow. You really are serious...” he drawled.

  Tally subtly took hold of the edges of her focus. She was ready to attack.

  “Well?”

  “Okay, okay... I just...”

  Han paused. Then he turned and faced her.

  “Well, to put it short, I thought about it and came to the conclusion that you would be leaving the city in the most crowded way passible, on a ship stuffed with passengers.”

  “There are dozen of passenger docks here,” Tally noted dryly.

  “So I spent the whole day checking all the nearby hotels, telling them I was looking for my friend. Animata, black hair, dark eyes, pretty as a picture...”

  The girl's hand remained at her belt, touching the chain.

  “That's clearly not enough. If you're not alone, however...”

  "I've also noticed," Haanash said carefully, in response to the threat in her voice, "that you often take sweet bread for lunch. Banana bread, to be exact."

  Tally straightened up and gave him a stern look.

  "What, am I not allowed to notice things?"

  "You're stalkin..."

  "I wasn't stalking anyone, okay?!" he protested hastily. "I just..."

  "What does bread have to do with anything?" Tally snapped dryly.

  "Well, it turns out there aren't many banana bread stalls around here," Han replied with satisfaction.

  He pointed briefly at the other end of the square. There was indeed a street cart with sweets there, where an elderly animata with tufted ears was selling, among other things, shiny slices of banana bread.

  "I just assumed you'd be hungry. Then, after thinking it over, you’ll rent a room in the first flea-hole you come across and wait until the ship arrives.”

  Onyxson sighed reservedly. Then she dropped her calmness and leaned tiredly on the railing, huffing in annoyance.

  “Shadows tear it all...” she muttered in a strangled voice. “So much effort, and all for nothing...”

  Haanash was pleased to notice that her shoulders relaxed and her hand left the focus.

  “I suppose you don't mean your disguise? I mean, it's not like you were covering your tracks...”

  “Just shut up and get lost, Hurgan,” muttered Tally. “Why are you even frigging here if no one sent you?”

  “‘Sent,’” he said evenly. “I see. So you really are going on the run...”

  They stood in silence, looking at the square maze of warehouses below.

  "Is it really that serious?" Han asked. "I mean, you are..."

  Tally didn't answer.

  "You have good prospects here," he noted. "That's what you wanted, right? To become a shadowslayer."

  Tally snorted, now with a hint of annoyance.

  "Yeah... that was the plan."

  There was no follow-up.

  "You won't tall me if I ask what's going on, will you?"

  “Don’t see any reason."

  Tally glanced at him and added anyway:

  "I'm leaving, Han. I'm going home, I'm going to accept my shame, and I'm will go back to live with my parents. If they don't throw me out of the family for... my stupid behavior."

  "Oofff, and I thought I was the one with the family problems..." Haanash muttered. “But still... why just give it all up? I mean... what happened at the exam?”

  Tally glanced at him.

  “Unless it's personal, of course.”

  “Of course it's personal,” she drawled. “Since you were stalking me, then...”

  “I'm not a stalki... hrggh!”

  “...you’ve noticed something had changed with Diamas.”

  “Hmm, she does look angrier than usual,” Han mused. “And Rosa moping around like she's ready to burst into tears at any moment.”

  “What?..”

  Tally caught herself, then turned away and sniffed in annoyance. Her ears treacherously flattened for a moment, betraying her sadness, but she quickly raised them.

  “You’ll miss them, won’t you?” Han said.

  “What does it matter what I will do… They’re better off without my company. Oh, what a ridiculous thing…”

  Tally shook her head.

  “So… Are you ready to talk about your… whatever it is, between you and the prissy princess?”

  “Obviously not,” Tally snapped sternly.

  “That’s too bad. Because I see that I’m not the only one who was not stalking you…”

  Tally turned around sharply, her eyes darting across the crowd on the street nearby.

  They weren’t even trying to hide. Of course, why would they? Even from a distance, it was clear that Rosa was bouncing up and down happily. Then Gebbi grabbed her shoulder. They both turned to Lilum – who was staring at Tally unmoving.

  "Did you bring them?" Tally snapped with anger. "I gonna...!"

  "I swear to you on all the spirits that I had no idea!" Han said quickly. "I mean, I never thought they would not look for you, but I didn't..."

  He glanced back at the trio of girls. Lilum seemed to be physically radiating rage.

  "I think... you'd better take the stance, so to speak, right now."

  "Yes," Tally replied dryly. "And that's exactly what I was trying to avoid, you damn stupid furrball..."

  With a low "Ooff," Haanash pointedly stepped aside. And in an arched moved across the square toward the girls. That was the signal for Lilum.

  "Lily..." Rosa's voice was thin.

  "Don't. Interfere. "

  The answer was as icy as the northern peaks of the Spine.

  “Okay, but you promised,” Gebbi reminded her dryly. “And we're in a middle of the city!”

  Lilum did not dignify her with an answer. She walked a little woodenly, like a wind-up doll, towards the dark figure at the railing.

  “Who are you?”

  They stood face to face. Lilum looked paler than usual, her eyes gleaming with fury. Onyxson suppressed the surge of preservation instinct with a power of will, only her ears drooped slightly.

  “I suppose I introduced myself at some point, so you know who I am.”

  Lilum's cheek twitched.

  “You think this is funny, don't you?” she hissed.

  “Maybe,” Tally replied. “I wouldn’t know.”

  “I can put you in a cage right now!” Lily snapped.

  Tally sighed with noticeable sadness, as if confirming her fears. Then she simply turned away.

  “You can’t. I won’t let you catch me, and you know you can’t force me.”

  “Is that so!” Lilum blurted. “So you admit it! You admit that you’re one of them! You’re a Black Claw!”

  She spat the name out like bitter dirt. Tally sighted curtly.

  “No. I’m not a Claw. Not anymore…”

  “But you were,” Lily hissed angrily. “You were! You were one of… That night!”

  Tally turned to face her, leaning her elbows on the railing.

  “That’s right.”

  Lilum was breathing heavily through her mouth. Her fingers were shaking, and cold steam was billowing around her.

  “You… you’re a monster… An animal!”

  “What do you want me to say?” Tally said coldly. “That I’m sorry?”

  “I don’t care if you’re sorry, you murderer!”

  Onyxson frowned in confusion.

  "I don't think any of your family..."

  She trailed off. Then she cocked her ears questioningly.

  "You're not talking about family, are you?"

  "He was just an innocent old man..." Lily hissed. "And you... I know it was you!"

  Tally straightened up, looking at her intently.

  "So that's it..." she drawled. “So it was you there, that night. That's why he..."

  Tally gave a short laugh.

  "Fate is cruel indeed..."

  Lily looked up at her, and Tally saw that her eyes were glittery with tears.

  "You have no idea how much I want to kill you, Claw!"

  Lily's words dripped with a bitter black hatred. The emotional intensity was such that even Tally couldn't help but flatten her ears under the onslaught.

  “I said I wasn't a Claw anymore...”

  “Shut up,” Lilum growled tensely. “You... you wanted to kill him! For what? You pose yourselves as defenders of order! Ten people, they just...”

  “I didn't want to kill him, Lilum.”

  A cold tone interrupted the wave of reproaches.

  “I didn't...”

  Tallia sighed heavily and turned away.

  “I didn't know what he was planning, okay? I didn't...”

  She shook her head.

  “It was supposed to be different,” the animata said heavily. “The plan was simply to intimidate them. You. Your family, the mighty untouchable Diamas, in their new castle. ‘Drive them from their home, as they drive our brethren,’” she quoted with expression, but also with note of mockery. “‘Throw their children into the snow, as they throwing out our children.’”

  “So it's true...” Lily breathed out. “You are one of them!”

  “Was,” Tally pressed. “It was the last night I considered myself as Black Claw. He's not dead, is he? That old man. I asked around later, and...”

  “Why do you care?”

  Onyxson glanced sideways at Lilum with a strange expression, a mixture of disdain and irritation. This took the garthian aback.

  “You what, thinking I want to finish what I started?” Tally spat.

  “I didn't... not at all.” That's exactly what she thought at first. “If you must know, he got a concussion. A light one. He recovered, Father sent all the victims to the hospital, at his own expense.”

  “At least some benefit from your luxury,” Tallia said dryly.

  “How dare you!”

  “It's all because of you, you know.”

  Lilum actually choked on the indignation.

  “He begged me,” Tallia said gloomily. “I didn't even do anything, but as soon as he ran into the corridor, he said: ‘Spare the children, they don't know anything, they are innocent...’ I've never heard such... fear in a voice, not once. And I've heard a lot of things, in the slums. First in Azgart, then in Malja...”

  “Then why?” Lily said with sorrow. “Why did you...”

  Tally turned to her.

  “I couldn't just leave him be,” she said sharply. “The others vaulted in right behind me, what do you think they would’ve done?”

  Animata sighed heavily.

  “I told him it was better to play along and smash him on the...” Tallia wrinkled her nose. “When the others came in, I said the rooms were empty. Then there were explosions, sirens... You do remember, I suppose.”

  Lily leaned back in shock, convulsively hugging one arm with the other.

  “You were in that room, on the second floor.”

  “I saw you... against the window,” Lilum stuttered in strained tone “Damn you... You and your damned ears. I had nightmares...”

  Onyxson demonstratively covered her ears with her hands. Then she exhaled tiredly and turned back to the port.

  “I... You know that an apology won't change anything, so...”

  “Where is he?”

  Tally turned toward the voice. Lilum was standing almost right next to her.

  “Where is that bastard?.. I know he's not dead! He cannot be dead.”

  The silver eyes seemed translucent, as if there was something unnatural, almost inhuman, emotionless hiding behind them. As if Diamas was a machine. She was furious. Tally held that gaze. Then she nodded briefly a couple of times.

  “But I don't know.” Onyxson shook her head impulsively. “I just...”

  They fell silent. Lily backed away. Then she went to the railing and leaned heavily next to Tally.

  “I suppose you're going to say that all of this was just a coincidence?” Lilum drawled dully.

  “Our meeting on the very first day?” Tally clarified. “I won't, you won't believe me anyway. You know...”

  She fell silent. Then she leaned against the railing, pressing her ears back.

  “What?” Lily prompted her coolly.

  “I wanted to run away as soon as I saw you.”

  Lilum froze, nervously noticing with the corner of her eye how Tally’s black tail swung from side to side.

  “But I thought, ‘I’ve come this far, Light damn it.’ And then… there was Rosa. And then there was the Free Hunters’ exam…”

  Tallia let out a tired sigh and straightened up, looking into the distance, at the glittering sea.

  “I already bought a ticket. The ship leaves tomorrow morning. I’ll sail away and you’ll never…”

  “I can’t let that happen.”

  Tally glanced at her sideways, pressing her ears back.

  “I’m not going to jail, if that’s what you’re saying,” she reminded her flatly. “Don’t even think about it.”

  “I can’t let you run away from our group,” Lily answered evenly, not looking at her. “As the leader of the hunting party, I have to…”

  “Wait a minute, ‘the hunting party’?” Tallia asked.

  “Exactly. And you’re staying… here,” Lilum repeated, now firmly, then added with irritation: “Besides… if I let you run away, I’ll never know peace ever again.”

  She looked pointedly at the other side of the road. There, two pairs of eyes were staring at them with alarm. Han was distracted, buying something from a street cart off to the side. Judging by the paper bags in his hands, he was buying for everyone.

  “Does Rosa know that you’re the leader of her party?”

  “It was her idea,” Lilum informed her grimly.

  Tallia pressed her ears to her head and furrowed her brow in confusion. Then her ears rose up.

  “Wait a minute, what happened with you all?”

  “I suppose you'll have to come back with us and explain yourself to Director King in person,” Lily said dryly. “Without you, we can't become an official party, you see! Well then?”

  And Diamas sighed evenly, adopting a casual look, and then went to the others. Rosa, seeing this, bounced in place happily, with a smile so bright it was visible even from afar. Tally's ears pressed back to her head, although her face did not change. She followed suit.

  “I... still won't forgive you,” Lilum said quietly.

  “I didn't ask for forgiveness, Diamas,” Tally answered in the same tone. “I know that there is no such thing as forgiveness.”

  Lilum snorted and glanced sideways at her partner.

  “I see that you’re even more unbearable than I thought.”

  Tally snorted dismissively herself, twitching her ear, but said nothing. Rosa crashed into her, squeezing her with a hug.

  “I knew it would be okay, you don't have to say anything, it's all right, we'll just go back...”

  Gabby grabbed her shoulders.

  “Don't babble, you'll bite your tongue.”

  “How did you all find me?” Tally asked tiredly.

  Despite everything, she felt the shadow of a smile appear on her lips.

  “Oh, it was Professor Bellethor,” Rosa said.

  The animata's smile wilted before it could bloom, and Tally pressed her ears back, haunted.

  “What? How?”

  “And Gabby!”

  Rosa patted her on the shoulder.

  “We went to about a dozen different hotels, and then Gabby said we should look around this one, I guess. And I didn't think it made sense, but then we noticed...”

  She was interrupted – Han had stepped between them, a couple of bulging bags in his hands.

  “Hey, who wants a snack? Demmas?”

  Rosa grabbed the bag in an instant.

  “Ooh, banana bread!..”

  Lightless was perhaps the only place in Elysium that was illuminated all day round the clock. An irony, that even the most cynical of the locals recognized. It didn't make the haven’s lower streets any safer, however.

  The havens of the Shard were always overcrowded with residents. Settling efforts required organization and motions that usually happened once a generation, and the tradition was broken only some hundred years ago, ushering the Age of Colonies.

  Elysium, however, had always been the largest and most crowded among the havens. At first people lived on the ground, among its narrow shady streets, then smoking factories of mighty industry. When the city began to rapidly grow into the sky, many people stayed here. Only now covered by wide platforms of the Heights, where sunlight and tiny stubborn parks went to be. Along with all of big business.

  Down below, however, semi-darkness reigned almost around the clock. Anyone could understand that it was only a matter of time before the Surge would happen right in the middle of the city. Or rather, just south of the center, where industrial areas smoked the sky. The Senate of Elysium wrinkle its nose and made a painful decision to maintain the illumination schedule. The Keepers regularly checked all the lighting systems at ground level. However, this was the limit of their duties here.

  But the Lightlessness quickly learned to take care of itself. The old houses, squeezed by the concrete supports of the Heights, gradually merged into monotonous street labyrinths of stone and steel. They were illuminated by city lights mixed with advertising signs framed with lightcrystals and, in case of more modern ones, electric lamps. There were even more passersby on the narrow streets than on the upper tiers – the rent below was affordable. Even for immigrants, especially not quite legal ones.

  The life of a worker at a port or a factory was not a prosperous one. But, nevertheless, the growth medium was sufficient that even here there was room for "new gold". The facade of the building shone with lights around the clock. This was a necessity. A successful nu-rhythm club had to make waves. The sign above the entrance was executed with depth – in a box with graceful oval curls sat a bronze cat as tall as a man. The name "Cat's Corner" lay at an angle – the first word vertically, the second horizontally. The "a" and "o" had pointed ears.

  Autocars were driving in and out every few minutes. Well-dressed demuses led their demmas out of the cars, and by the arm were guiding them along decisively. Guests entered the club under the impassive gaze of a cat while their cars drove away – those who did not come by taxi held the drivers. The corner was "successful".

  The air inside was heavy with the smoke of expensive tobacco and alcohol, the vents were slightly malfunctioning. The elongated room stretched into the depths of the building. The interior was drowned in golden twilight, humming with laughter and conversation. The music muffled everything.

  The quartet was located on a low stage. The piano sang melodically with ringing notes, the double bass and saxophone added depth to the rhythm of the drums. The melody, smooth and shining, seemed to repeat the outlines of the ornament on the walls and along the stage, flowed in shiny bronze lines, and rhythmically exploded in leaf-like forms.

  In the fashion of fresh nu-rhythm were thin singers with deep husky voices. Preferably from Azgart, or Alfheim at the very least. But not here. The prima had luxuries forms and willingly demonstrated them in bold slits of a flowing shiny dress the color of the sunset. A clear, ringing voice crooned out the words of a story about how dresses should be thrown off in the rain. Sitting at the front table, Silence ran her fingers along the tablecloth expressively, without taking her eyes off the singer. The woman caught the gaze, smiled hungrily without halting the song... The impression was only spoiled by the fact that a songstress was not an animata.

  On the opposite side of the hall, a little to the side of the bar, several figures hidden in the dimness of light appeared from the back room. Men in expensive suits, with heavy bags. The bartender and bouncers ignored them as they passed through the soft yellow curtains that covered the stairs up.

  The entire hall lay out in plain sight from the top tier of the club. There were no guests here, as this place was only for the owners and their most trusted. The loge was furnished no worse than rich private quarters, several chairs very near the railing were turned half-way, giving an ideal view of the stage.

  Red lazily listened to the music, tapping his fingers to the rhythm. Figures appeared in the passage.

  “Boss?”

  “Yeah, yeah...”

  The man stood up and stepped toward his soldiers. They were gathered at a table at the far end of the loge. The bags opened, revealing the contents – many paper packages with official seals.

  “Clean job, boss,” one of the soldiers noted. “Just from Hallis.”

  “Nice, nice,” the leader assessed. “What about the keepers?”

  “As usual, three hundred.”

  “What, they didn't raise the taxing? Something's wrong here.”

  A soldier from the new ones chuckled at this. But the others only slightly pursed their lips.

  “No less than ten thousand, boss,” the young one noted. “We'll let them through the usual channels?”

  “Leave the decisions to me,” Red said curtly. “You'll pull your brain muscle in if you think too hard.”

  There was no threat in his voice, but the hireling immediately cut himself off.

  “Well then... good. Go downstairs, relax. Good job.”

  His men exchanged satisfied phrases and hurried to execute the order. Red went back to the chair and sat down.

  “Perhaps things really will go back to normal,” he remarked into the air.

  Even before he could regret what he just said, there was a rustle. Red slowly turned around.

  Silence was casually rummaging through her bag. She fished out the package, examined it critically, then dropped it back.

  “How do I ever tolerate you, you creepy sneak?” the man asked.

  Sai sat down in the chair opposite and stared meaningfully at her boss.

  “What?”

  Red knew that look. She had something in mind. Either that or...

  “Boss?”

  The Big entered the lounge.

  “Do I want to know?” gloomily asked the head of the racket.

  “Probably, yeah.”

  A small bag lay on the table in front of Red. Carefully opening it, he pulled out an impressive bundle of banknotes.

  “This...” he said.

  A quick glance of an experienced cash dealer allowed him to determine the amount.

  “This... is our payment for that job.”

  The Big handed him a rectangle of paper.

  “This was with the bag.”

  Red did even manage to take the thing, when the paper ended up in the grippy paw of Silence. She turned it around, examined it skeptically. Then she closed her eyes for a moment, as if listening to something.

  “Well? Is it cursed?” Red asked sourly.

  Sai answered with sharp gaze and held out a piece of paper in two fingers. It was a postcard with an image of an openwork bridge made of steel trusses. One of the symbols of Hallis.

  “I assume this is not a gift from our contact,” Red muttered.

  There was a tense silence.

  The recent trip to the Horazon Forest ended up as a complete fiasco. The target had never shown up at the meeting place, and they themselves had to run away from a small pack of the shadows. And this was after they had driven off just as many.

  Big and Silence looked at the boss, waiting for a decision. Red knew what each of them wanted. But on the other hand…

  The boss of their company sat up straight and patted his bag in a businesslike manner.

  “Shall we split it three ways?” he suggested. “Oh, no, wait, I’m in charge around here.”

  The Big just grinned. Sai made a face.

  “What did you think?” Red declared with a businesslike tone. “After all...”

  He turned the bag upside-down, dumping a pile of money on the table.

  “...we still did not deliver our order.”

  The end of Volume One