Two policemen at the entrance watched as they approached. One was in the classic human uniform, black and blocky. The other had the Wake’s circular symbol on his armband. Kyan lifted his sleeve to show his circular scar, and the Wake’s officer nodded, letting theminside.
As they passed beneath the arched entrance, through the black iron gates and into the central criminal court, the Babewyn carved their names in her stone book. The grinding scrape shuddered through Kyan’s bones and rang in his teeth.
He felt the wards like a wall of condensed air and Luca grunted softly, his skin crackling as it subtly reacted.
Then, they were in.
Kyan scanned the interior as they strode up the double bank of white steps to the first floor and main hall.
It was a study in white: all arches and pale domes. Purple-veined marble adorned the walls, bordered with olive stone. Where black geometric patterns broke up the expanse of the floor, frescoes filled the crescent-shaped arches overhead, some of the domes above held up by sculptures.
Art, even here. Telling stories; giving warnings. Beneath the remembrance murals for human wars were depictions of Dark Ages and the Wild Hunt racing through the backgrounds of each. Reminders of what would happen if the Wake weren’t in charge; if they hadn’t guided and supported Empyreals.
Without them, there would be no need for courts of justice, because the world would be little more than a ruined hellscape.
An array of doors lined the hall, each leading into courtrooms. Kyan scented fear, the tang of sweat, and the bitterness of coffee. Both humans and supernaturals were prosecuted here. Empyreals weren’t the only form of justice supernatural society doled out. Yes, the most dangerous creatures were killed, but there were many other supernatural grievances, like playing with or torturing humans, or attempting to knowingly expose the supernatural world.
Once, humans had known about creatures and lived in harmony – stories around the world detailed that time in all manner of golden age myths. But Kyan wasn’t certain they’d ever see it again.
He recalled his research on Lynch from the Estwood job. The Spectre had been arrested before. Had his trial been held here? Was this the very location they’d experimented on him and then sent him on an assassination plot to Estwood?
‘Well?’ Kyan asked quietly.
He stopped Luca and pretended to dig out his phone and call someone, giving the Nazen time to feel out the building’s electrical details while he scoped out the people around them.
Supernatural guards or solicitors were marked by the circular logos on their clothing. He felt no malice from them, they were just doing their jobs or visiting the courtrooms. Many might not even know what was hidden beneath their feet.
‘There are definitely secret rooms under here,’ Luca said, eyes bright even from behind the glasses. ‘Door there.’ He nodded his chin to a wall that looked sealed, nothing but a plaque on it. ‘Cameras are …’ His eyes flashed, and his voice strained slightly as he said, ‘… down.’
Kyan’s attention sharpened on the wall, and sure enough, it had been supernaturally varnished to be invisible to humans and most supernaturals.
Exactly where one might hide the entrance to an important lab.
Who did they take in there? Convicted criminals they could just walk across from a courtroom to …this? Those they wanted silenced? A chill slid over his skin as they approached. A door like this also cloaked whoever entered it, meaning the humans didn’t turn as the trio passed through the door and into a spiral stairwell.
Callum made a thoughtful noise, but they descended.
The stone here was unadorned, grey and utilitarian. As they descended Kyan found himself glad Nicole wasn’t with him. Echoes of memory and horror lingered down here, no doubt they would have triggered countless visions.
Once they reached a flat stretch, what looked to be the remains of a Roman wall ran along their left. They followed it, and Kyan began to scent an acrid wrongness … the poisoned river beneath them?
The next door led into a hallway of white subway tiles that ended with a heavy-duty door with a small window in it, looking more like the entrance to a safe than a lab.
Reaching it, Callum glanced inside discreetly.
‘Another hallway that turns to the left. My guess is more roomsdown there or an exit of some kind. There’s one door opposite like this, with a guard outside. Otherwise, a glass wall on our right into what looks like a lab with two techs I can see. One door on the left, unmarked.’
Kyan frowned. ‘Why aren’t there more guards?’
Maybe it was just a small operation, something they could shut down and be done with.
‘I told you,’ Callum said, voice cooling at the idea. ‘Arrogance.’
An ear-splitting siren cut through his whirring mind. Kyan’s head snapped to the right, finding Callum’s hand on the fire alarm.
Luca jolted, clapping his hands over his ears.
‘What was that for?’ Kyan barked.
