Court of Nightfall (The Nightfall Chronicles #1)(35)

As I packed and sorted through my clothes and personal items, my mind went over everything I knew about Nephilim. It wasn't a lot. I was young when we went to war and hadn't really needed to know more since then.

"Evie," I said into my e-Glass as I shoved another sweater into my bag.

"I am here, Scarlett. What can I do for you?"

"Can you access the best footage you can find on the Nephilim War and show it to me?"

I flipped the e-Glass over my right eye to access the holographic display screen.

"Would you like the most popular news reports?" she asked in her crisp British accent.

I thought about it a moment and shook my head, which I had trained her to identify as 'no' from my movements. "Too censored. I need the files the public didn't get access to."

"Are you approving the use of hacking to acquire these files? They are stored in the U.F.I. database."

Another safety I'd programmed into her so she wouldn't just hack whatever she needed to get information for me unless I said okay. You can never be too careful in these situations. "Yes, I approve, Evie. Thank you."

"You are always welcome, Scarlett. The database is showing two thousand, three hundred and forty-two files. How would you like to view them?"

I paused in my packing and sat on my bed. That was too many to watch. "Sort by order of highest classified files and look for anything related to the Orders, Nyx… and look for files that might contain Jaxton Lux."

As she worked, I filled my suitcase and zipped it up, then grabbed a backpack for my laptop, books and anything else I thought I might need.

I didn't know what I hoped to find. Maybe proof that Nephilim were the monsters I'd been raised to believe. Maybe proof they weren't.

When Jax appeared as a holographic image before me, I sat back down and watched the scene. He looked so much younger. Barely old enough to be holding the sword at his side. And yet there he stood, in formal Teutonic Knight dress, sword at belt, back straight, chest out, on a stage before a small crowd. Ragathon stood before him smiling like a proud father as he pinned a medal onto Jax's chest. "Good job, son," he said, patting his shoulder.

"I did as commanded, sir," Jax said, staring out at the crowd.

"We ask no more from a soldier," Ragathon replied.

Jax turned his face toward Ragathon. "Which is why I would like to request a promotion, sir."

Ragathon rubbed his chin, a serious expression creasing his face in fewer lines than he had now. Then he chuckled. "Ha! I like you, boy. I'll put in a good word. We could use more soldiers like you."

"Yes, sir," Jax said, dead serious. "We really could."

Even then, he was hoping to change things for the better.

Evie flicked to the next video and I almost told her to go back to Jax when the council chambers appeared. My grandfather, Ragathon and the other Council Members sat in their assigned seats, a tense silence hanging in the air. Nyx, the instigator of the Nephilim War, and his apprentice, Erebus walked in, both of them cloaked in back. Nyx wore a white mask with black patterns, while Erebus wore a white mask with red around the eyes and gold details weaving across it. They were meeting with the Four Orders and Chancellor. I didn't remember ever hearing about this, and it would have been big news if the Four Orders were in negotiations with the leaders of the Nephilim.

"Evie, while I watch this, search all news records. I want to know if news of this meeting was ever leaked."

In the holograph, Ragathon was complaining that Nyx acted unjustly. "We had a peace, a truce between our people. We thought we could work with the Nephilim—"

Nyx interrupted, his voice deep, primal and fierce, but also synthesized, likely being altered by the mask. "Peace? You've killed my people for ages. You wish me to stop killing yours? Then surrender and abolish all laws related to Zeniths."

This shocked me. The Nephilim weren't just fighting for themselves, but for all Zeniths? While it was true that anyone with para-power technically derived them from Nephilim blood, they were at this point separate races and the public had always been led to believe the Nephilim were in it for themselves and no one else. That if we didn't eradicate all Nephilim, they would destroy all of humanity, including the Zenith.

"The people won't allow Zeniths to go unregulated," Ragathon argued.

"The people will allow whatever you tell them," Nyx said.

Ragathon’s robes rustled as he shifted in his chair. "We are their representatives, not their masters."

Nyx laughed without amusement, and my grandfather interrupted them. "Come now, Ragathon. Nyx is not wrong. The time for pretend is over." He turned to speak to Nyx. "We are no longer a democracy, that much is true, but we cannot give you what you ask. The Pope would never allow it. Nor, I'm afraid, would he allow you to live."

"And if I were to surrender myself?" Nyx asked, once again surprising me.

My grandfather shook his head sadly. "Then Zeniths would have peace, but not equality."

Nyx turned on his heel, fire in his movement. "Then the war shall continue," he said as he moved to leave, his apprentice following him.

My grandfather called out from behind him. "Is it worth it, spilling so much blood for so few?"

Nyx turned to face my grandfather. "Is it ever worth spilling blood at all?"