Night of Nyx (The Nightfall Chronicles 2.5) Read Online Free PDF Page B

of action,” says Zorin.
    The priest steps closer, a sadness in his eyes. "Nightfall will change the world, but what will be left when she is done?”  
    “A better place,” says Zorin.
    “And who will rule? Her? You? The people?”
    The people. People destroy each other. He has seen it again and again. He will not let it happen this time. Zorin grins. “Be careful, priest. Men of god should not commune with devils.” And he flies away, into the darkness.
     
    ***
     
    Zorin lands on the Cathedral roof. He sits on the edge, resting. Seeing Danika tonight, even if only in ghostly memories, has shaken him. He misses her more, not less, as days march on. Whoever said time heals all wounds hasn't lived as long as him. Time is not a healer. It cares nothing for the hearts of man.
    But beyond his longing for Danika and the life they once had, he is scared. It is not a feeling he enjoys or experiences often. Varian is too strong, and Nightfall isn't ready for an enemy like him. And as Scarlett Night she'll be right under his nose, studying at Castle Vianney.
    The door to the rooftop opens and Carter walks out, his dark cloak casting him in shadows. He hands Zorin a blood pack and sits by his side.
    Zorin drinks in silence until the bag is empty. His healing speeds up with this new infusion of blood, and he breathes deeply as the pain finally ebbs away.
    "You went after Varian alone," Carter says. It is not a question. Carter knows him too well.
    "I did."
    "And you lost?"
    "I am not dead," Zorin says, staring at the first hint of sunrise on the horizon.
    "But Varian yet lives." Again, it is not a question. "You need to be more careful. Never has an enemy been as dangerous as that man. He has the strength, the ambition and the strategy to be our undoing. And he has the backing of the Pope. Give him the girl and let us move on with our own plans." There's a desperate edge to Carter's voice.
    "Leave me in peace, Carter," Zorin says, a deep weariness overcoming him. "I do not wish to discuss this with you tonight."
    Carter rises and walks away without a word as Zorin continues to stare into the new day. Sometimes, he wishes he and Carter had never been friends. Sometimes, he wishes his path had been different. But it is too late for such things.

CHAPTER 7
     
     
     
     
     
    Varian endures the medical ministrations from his daughter with silent impatience. "Corinne, I am already healing. There injuries are less severe than they appear."
    Corinne rolls her eyes as she inspects his wounds and dabs a potent-smelling mixture onto them. "I'm aware of your GenMods, Dad, but you can still get an infection. And bones can heal incorrectly if not set, no matter how powerful you are."
    "I appreciate your concern, but—"
    She cuts him off with a stern look. "No arguing."
    His lips twitch with a smile as she wraps his worst injuries in gauze coated with a special anti-bacterial mix. "How is school going?" he asks.
    She pauses to examine a cut on his cheek. "It's fine. Busy. I like my roommate, Scarlett. She and I will be best friends, I'm sure of it."
    He chuckles. "I look forward to meeting her. And your brothers, how are they doing?"
    Corinne shrugs. "Wytt is charming and annoying in equal measure. Kai is mostly just annoying. But they're fine. We're all fine. You didn't really have to come. We can take care of ourselves. We're adults now."
    Corinne moves to stoke the fire burning in the stone hearth facing Varian's bed. He stays in the chair she ordered him into and watches his daughter. She has indeed grown up into a beautiful and talented young woman. She will make an excellent Knight of the Hospitallers with her healing abilities. He can already feel his wounds closing, in part thanks to her concoctions.
    "You could run a nice business with your healing potions," he tells her.
    She returns to him and smiles. "I don't need money, I'm heir Princess to the Kingdom of Sapientia. What I need is my father the King to not get into deadly