Queen of the Night (Witchfire 1)

Chapter 2 - Murder on the Mind

"Wait up," Richard wheezed.

Glancing back, I realised he was leaving a very obvious trail of blood behind us. "The cleaners won't be happy about that," I remarked.

Richard's shoulders went rigid. "My heartfelt apologies, Lady Nightshade. The next time I'm attacked by vampires, I'll ask them to lend me some paper towel."

I snorted. "That simply isn't true."

"Get off my case," he complained, limping past me.

I stopped short, realising that I hadn't even started to get on his case. I'd been trying so hard not to think about my brother's death that I'd almost squandered a vital opportunity to interrogate a key witness to it.

"How did you survive?" I asked abruptly, grabbing Richard's arm.

He turned around with a look that could kill pigeons mid-flight.

My answering one could kill pterodactyls.

"I ran," he said eventually, looking away. "The Irephang boy fights like something else. I wouldn't have survived if I tried to take him on."

I shook my head, tasting the ghost of something bad in my mouth. Not only had Richard failed to protect my brother, whose safety was his primary responsibility as the City Heir Beta, but he'd passed up the opportunity to avenge him as well.

"You disgust me," I muttered, unable to shake the sense that I should have been there. I would have been there, if it wasn't for my cursed ability to tell truth from lies. Richard's position in that pack was technically my birthright, and I'd never quite forgiven him for usurping it.

"You don't know what it's like," Richard whispered, staring intently at his bloodied boots. "What it's like to really live, or to nearly die. And how could you, cooped up in this gilded cage? Tonight I realised that my life is just a small collection of insignificant experiences. I wasn't ready to leave it at that."

"Insignificant is an apt word," I retorted, aggravated by the notion that I was naïve for lack of a near-death experience. "To describe you, that is."

"Says the girl who lives in her father's shadow," he snapped, eyes darting up to my face. "You've been a legal adult for what, a year now?"

"Yes," I ground out.

"I'm willing to bet you've done nothing with that freedom. That you've never even seen the city at night," he said, puffing out his chest. "Who are you to lecture me?"

He was right, but it was so much more complicated than that. My leash was always shorter than Arthur's, and to be lectured by a spoilt Olsen... "I'm an advisor to the City Pack. You're just a coward," I spat.  "A coward without a pack, because they all died on your watch."

"And you're a child," he snarled. "No, you're worse than that; children grow up. You're domesticated."

Anger surged in my chest. "Careful," I warned, resisting the urge to strike him; I wasn't entirely sure I would win. It would be more effective to threaten Richard with my father's wrath, if I wanted him to do my bidding. "The City Alpha would show no mercy if I let slip that you had a hand in Arthur's death."

He froze. "Why would you say something like that?"

"Why, is it true?"

Pressing his lips together, Richard yanked his arm out of my grasp and renewed his limping walk, trying to pull ahead of me. I matched his gait, loath to allow him a reprieve from my presence.

The longer we maintained our seething silence, the keener the cut of grief became, slicing through my chest and cracking through bone. Not ready to face the baggage that came with losing a brother, I floundered for a distraction, for anything to keep me focussed on the present. "Did anyone besides the Irephang boy survive?"

"Yes," Richard said curtly. "His personal bodyguard. But the guard was pretty messed up when I left."

I'd needed an enemy, and now I was being presented with one. Arthur's killer was still out there, alive and well. Something wet rolled down the heels of my hands. Looking down, I realised that my fingernails had drawn blood.

Richard actually shrank back when I looked his way, balking from my gaze. His unwitting submission sent a thrill of satisfaction through me. It also spurred an important realisation. I was a Nightshade, more beast than human, stronger and more cunning than all but my father. I was more capable of avenging my brother than anybody else in this damned community.

The Irephang boy killed a child of royalty. It was only fitting that I should be the one to return the favour.

A son for a son, I thought, growing surer of my plan with every second. Yes, that would make the playing fields even. That would be a responsible way to claim my revenge, as opposed to waging war on an entire populace for the actions of one fool. But when will I get the opportunity to go after him?

We were at war, and Father was insistent on my staying home. No doubt the second I reached the infirmary I would encounter my own contingent of guards, replete with silver blades and convincing excuses to see me safely to my room. Fearing the City Alpha more than his daughter, they would do everything in their power to ensure that I followed his orders.

The whole mansion had become a trap, and the only way to escape it was by leaving now.

News of the war was yet to be made public, so I wouldn't have to worry about excess patrols hampering my attempt to reach vampire territory. There was also the possibility of catching the Irephang prince before he made it back to his stronghold. With only one guard, and an injured one at that, he would be vulnerable, accessible; an opportunity that might never present itself again.

"Where were you attacked?" I asked, forcing an outward calm I didn't feel.

"An alleyway off of Collins Street," Richard answered, slowly this time. "Why?"

Perhaps it's time I saw the city at night. "No reason. Do you know the way to the infirmary?"

He rolled his eyes. "Of course. I've been there countless times before."

"I don't doubt that," I quipped, relishing the affronted curl of his upper lip. "Well, that settles it. We've evidently had enough of each other's company, so why don't you make your own way to the infirmary? I'm sure you can see to that, at least."

I kissed him on the cheek — right over the top of a bruise. I was halfway down the corridor when Richard processed my abrupt departure and started demanding my return. His panicked orders quickly gave way to terrified pleas; all fell upon selectively deaf ears.

I had an Irephang to kill.