A Valley of Darkness (A Shade of Vampire #52)(8)

“About two hundred years, milady,” she replied.

“What do you think about them?”

I figured I might as well ask some innocent questions while I was here.

“I’m honored to have chosen this career path, milady,” Aspen said. “House Roho oversees the arts, and they’re wonderful patrons to begin with. I love making dresses and suits, and they sure love wearing them. I’ve made a good name for myself in this city, thanks to them.”

“They oversee the arts?”

“Yes. You see, the Five Houses of Azure Heights have patronage over specific fields. It’s been like that since our people first built the city. House Roho looks after the arts, of all kinds. Painting, sculpting, fashion, designing our finest jewelry and home décor… It’s all theirs to oversee. Their fortune funds our art school, and their endorsements of our skills often boost our individual businesses. House Obara, on the other hand, deals with law and administration. They write the laws to rule our city, and they oversee the very system that keeps Azure Heights running so smoothly.”

“What about the others?”

She finished tying my bodice, then helped me into the broad skirt, which was filled with countless layers of the same pale yellow tulle that was caressing my shoulders. The gold-and-gemstone embroidery at the top seemed like a continuance of what was on the bodice. She fastened the back buttons, and the fabric settled on my hips.

“House Xunn oversees architecture, infrastructure, and development,” Aspen said, checking every gem, every crease, and the hem on my skirt. “Our buildings, our roads, the tunnels and elevators, lighting, and everything else that makes this city work, it’s all thanks to them. House Mabaya deals with agriculture and hospitality. The inns, the taverns, the banquet halls, the farms, and food stores for both the Exiled Maras and the Imen, they’re all managed by Lady Mabaya.”

She opened her sewing kit, then pulled out a needle and gold thread, getting on her knees to fix a couple of small errors just above the hem.

“House Kifo is all about defense, law enforcement, and correction,” she said, the tip of her tongue sticking out as she labored with the gold thread between the red and pink gems.

“Can you tell me more about Kifo?”

“To be honest, I don’t know all that much, milady. You see, we do have our share of bad apples, and so do the Imen living here. We have a strict set of rules, and those who disobey are taken away. Their families are, of course, notified, but no one ever sees them again.”

“That’s a bit harsh!” I muttered.

“Maybe, yes,” she sighed, “but this is our new world. Our ancestors committed terrible crimes, and we do not wish to repeat them. We will do everything we can to avoid it. If the rules need to be harsh for us to keep our society under control, so be it. We accepted this a long time ago.”

“So, if your brother does something wrong, that’s it? You never see him again?”

“If my brother breaks the law,” Aspen made the difference clear, “I never see him again, no. Of course, appeals can be made. In some cases, clemency is possible. But that’s all I know. We don’t trouble ourselves with these issues any further. Call it a group mentality, if you wish. It’s how we live.”

A minute went by as Aspen pulled a tall mirror over for me to admire her craftsmanship. She was good, and she deserved all the credit for how good I looked. I nearly didn’t recognize myself, but the dress was a perfect fit.

At the same time, I couldn’t get this whole legal aspect out of my head. It sounded somewhat authoritarian, but they all seemed okay with it. I figured reading those laws would help me better understand what was considered taboo and didn’t merit forgiveness. I was suddenly looking forward to digging through their library with Heron, Avril, and Harper. More answers were bound to be in there, tucked away between pages of history and Exiled Mara legislation.

“Do you think the disappearances have anything to do with Corrections?” I asked, while Aspen helped me slip into a pair of simple but elegant pale yellow sandals with six-inch heels. “Like, I don’t know, those missing broke the law and were taken away and no one bothered to notify their next of kin? Or some overzealous Corrections dude enforcing his own interpretation of your laws?”

“No way.” Aspen shook her head, then stood up and moved around me, smiling as she gazed at my complete outfit. “That can’t be the case. I mean, look at Sienna alone. She’s a Roho; she didn’t do anything wrong. The same could easily be said about the other victims. These are innocent people going missing. Besides, our Correction Officers are reviewed every year. And our people are very good at speaking out if one of them gets out of line. It’s impossible. There’s no way they’re connected.”

She then took out a pair of earrings and a necklace that matched the dress—delicate droplets of red rubies and pale pink topaz mounted on fine gold. She grinned as she handed them over.

“These will be perfect,” she said. “You’ll be perfect!”

I chuckled, suddenly excited to wear all this tonight. I wondered what Vincent would say once he saw me.

Aspen was very open and communicative while she helped me out of the dress. She was keen to emphasize the importance of strict laws in the rule of Azure Heights. Some Exiled Maras truly had an issue with drinking blood from the Imen. They were primal and greedy, with a contemptuous nature and a disdain for the law. Some Imen were violent and easily committed crimes, stealing or killing other Imen and, in some cases, innocent Maras. These were all disruptive elements that caused nothing but trouble and grief.