Dark Light of Day by Jill Archer Read Free Book Online Page A

the Gaia Tribe.
    “The redhead was attacked by a
rogare
demon two days ago,” Ivy said.
    Surprise turned to outright shock. “Here?
In New Babylon?
”
    Ivy nodded. Fitz grimaced.
    In Halja, demons came in all manner of sizes, shapes, ages, classes, and types, but there were really only two kinds. The
regulare
demons, who loved rules and the adoration of their followers more than they loved anarchy and chaos, and
rogare
demons, who didn’t.
    “Did they catch the demon who did it?” I whispered, my throat suddenly dry at the thought of what it would be like to have a demon grab me by the neck.
    “No,” Ivy said. “Not yet. But the Council’s been alerted. I heard that some of the upper year Maegesters-in-Training here might help track it down.”
    I said nothing. All of my focus was on trying to keep my breathing steady and my hands from shaking. Knowing Halja was full of demons was one thing. Seeing one’s brutal handiwork was quite another.
    “What was he like, during the crossing?” Ivy asked.
    “Who, Ari?”
    “No, the captain,” Ivy said, rolling her eyes and grinning. “Of course, Ari.”
    “He was nice,” I said, finally tearing my gaze from Beauty’s burn marks.
    “Nice,” Ivy repeated flatly.
    Fitz barked out a laugh. “You just called one of your dad’s demon executioners
nice
.” He laughed again.
    My blood turned to ice. “Demon executioner?”
    “Yeah, you didn’t know?” Ivy said, frowning. “That’s how he pays for his education. He executes
rogare
demons. Last fall he declared and chose to train at St. Lucifer’s to become a Maegester. Lucky us.” She spoke the last two words completely without sarcasm. And from the way she was looking at him, she meant it.
    “So he’s Host, not Hyrke,” I said, confused. “But I’ve never heard of him. Where did he come from? Was he spawnedfrom Lucifer himself? Members of the Host don’t just pop up out of nowhere. They grow up in Etincelle.”
    There was an uncomfortable silence as my new friends processed my mildly profane outburst. Then Ivy said, “Well, he didn’t.”
    “I know,” I said, shaking my head in disbelief. “He said he grew up in Bradbury.” There had to be a mistake. They had to be talking about someone else, although the remaining sinking feeling in my stomach told me otherwise. I risked another peek toward the front and wished I hadn’t. My gaze suddenly locked with Ari’s and he stilled. My cheeks flushed and I looked away, embarrassed to be caught staring.
    “He said he had a younger brother,” I mumbled, turning back toward Ivy and Fitz. “Who’s considering going to Gaillard.”
    “Right,” said Fitz. “I heard that too. Or at least about the younger brother. He was raised by an adoptive Hyrke family somewhere in the southwest. So Bradbury fits.”
    Ivy kicked my chair. “He’s coming over,” she hissed.
    Every emotion I’d had—petty jealousy over the beautiful Mederi, incredulity over Ari’s surprising background, irritation over my own attraction—suddenly turned to liquid fear. If Ari was training to become a Maegester, I could have nothing to do with him. Those with waning magic could sense it in others. Peter’s temperamental cloaking spell now made perfect sense. But bolting now, while Ari was on his way to the table, would only call more attention to me. So I sat, forcing a bland smile, hoping he didn’t already suspect.
    “Hi, Noon,” Ari said, smiling down at me. “I had a feeling we’d see each other again.”
    I shrugged. “You didn’t mention you were a student here.”
    “Neither did you,” he said pointedly, his smile disappearing. “Did you get your room assignment yet?”
    “Megiddo,” I said, inwardly breathing a sigh of relief. He’d be over at Infernus on the floor reserved for the rest of the Maegesters-in-Training. At least I wouldn’t be seeinghim walking to the bathroom, toothbrush in hand. “This is my roommate, Ivy, and her cousin, Fitz,” I said,