Page 100 of Hidden Kingdoms

Stepping out of the most recent alleyway, the house we were headed to came into view, sitting in the middle of a terrace on a standard street of houses. In need of a little work, but nothing compared to a few streets over.

That’s how Firenze was situated—districts layered around Palace Incendo, the royals main home and the Great Temple of Suri, with the acre of holy Fire Fields that made up its centre. Each one slowly but steadily declining in wealth and status until the poorest were barley clinging to the outskirts, while those fuckers with titles and privilege and money to buy their waycloser to the cities central point, benefitted from the proximity to one of this kingdom’s most sacred spaces.

I preferred the fifth layer of the district, as it was far enough away from the city central that there was fun to be had if you knew where to look, yet they hadn’t sunk to the depths that they had here.

Though I’d never understood the draw to the city myself, why those living here—especially those barely eking out a living on the outskirts—were so desperate to be here.

But then I suppose Suri wasn’t my patron goddess.

The Great Temple and the Undying Fires that glowed night and day before it, was a lure, and while Incaendium was a harsh Kingdom to live in, there were better places—much better places.

The small front garden was bursting with weeds, but at least the gate wasn’t hanging off its hinges, which was more than I could say for most of the other houses. Its windows were clean and not a single one was broken or boarded, curtains hiding the view within.

I climbed the three shallow steps to the grey front door, symbols of Suri carved into the lintel above, the goddess’s image wreathed in her sacred flames—little help she had been to those inside—and reached for the salamander-shaped bronze knocker.

As the two raps faded into the quiet of the morning, the door was yanked open. A woman peered around the side, brown eyes flooded with disappointment before they tightened as she looked up under the hood that shadowed my face, as I stood at least half a foot taller than her—even while standing on the second step.

“Calloway Purnell?” I asked, and she nodded in reply, pieces of pale, blonde hair slipping free from where it was heaped on top of her head. Hands gripping the side of the door, her eyes were dark and ringed with red, though they remained steady asthey looked me over. Measuring the dark clothing, the weapons that were strapped around me glinting in the weak sunlight.

“Colonel Kaius Sceres, Arasauk Special Unit.” It wasn’t often I threw that title out there, but now it was needed.

The woman knew who I was, the fact that her expression remained the same told me as much. I had been paraded around enough to be recognisable, Prince Kaius Telluscere of Terrae. That title meant little to me, hadn’t for a while now, and I preferred not to use it.

“You’re here about Marina.” It wasn’t a question, and we both knew it was unlikely our paths would have crossed for the fun of it.

“We are.” It was then that Calloway’s eyes darted to Blair as she stood by my side, youthful face hiding the depths of her powers beneath those big eyes.

She didn’t say a word as she stepped back, opening her house to us.

Like the outside, the inside was worn but clean. The carpets a little faded, and a fresh coat of paint would go a long way, but this was a home that was cared for. Calloway entered a room to the left, off the entrance, and we followed behind.

Two large, emerald-green sofas filled the space, along with a grey side table; a single cup of tea sat on top, long since gone cold from the look of it. Boxes of toys were piled in a corner next to the hearth that was smouldering as though no one could really bring themselves to tend to it, a cone of incense trailing sweet smelling smoke into the air in front of the embers.

The TV that was mounted to the wall stood blank, no real sound filled the house and Calloway made her way to the sofa, setting herself into the tangle of blankets that filled one side. Placing the phone clenched in her fist on the arm, her eyes darted to it often, as if to reassure herself it was still there.

“The constabularies have already taken my statement. Why have they sent you?” I knew what her rough words implied, and was impressed she spoke them at all. The rumours were plenty on what I was doing here in this Kingdom. On what my role was in Incaendium.

“I suppose we’ll find out, won't we?”

I’d be wary if someone like me turned up on my doorstep.

Sitting on the opposite sofa, I pulled down my hood while Blair walked around the room, fingers trailing across the walls.

Calloway Purnell, thirty-five, Widow. Mother of Marina Purnell. Professor of Ancient Studies. Not a suspect.

That’s all the notes on her had said, which was why I’d got Calida to pull up as much information as I could. The constabulary’s guards were disappointingly lax in their files.

I knew she had married young and moved to Firenze for the job she still held, that despite the grief that clung to her, thick and heavy, she had power. Nothing compared to Marina, but she was more than capable of looking after herself, and from the hard set of her eyes, she wouldn’t hesitate to take me on. She wouldn’t win, but she’d still try.

I respected that.

I let my magik flare, watching the subtle wince as it swept over her. The slight tensing of her jaw as she shored up her defences. I pulled back, directing it elsewhere but she kept hers ready. There was no hint of The Darkness on her, no trace of magik that wasn’t connected to her own.

“I have nothing to tell you that I haven’t told them.”

“We’ll see,” was all I said as I felt Blair pass behind me, watching Calloway’s eyes track her movement.

“Are you going to do a better job at finding her than they are?”

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