about it for a moment. “He could be just another power-hungry idiot trying to use the Emporium for his own advancement. The announcement about us changed everything.”
“Whatever he is,” Ritter said, “if he’s not Emporium, they’ll string him along until they gut him.”
“Which might actually work in our favor,” Ava agreed. “Until this afternoon, we didn’t have anything solid on Ropte. However, there’s been a new development we can’t overlook.”
Dread filled my stomach. This was what she’d been leading up to. The darkness.
Ava jabbed her finger at her screen, pulling up another holograph that made my stomach churn. A family of four lay slaughtered, their blood seeping into the pale carpet underneath them. Ritter’s fists clenched tightly on the table near the gruesome image. He’d seen many such scenes during his long life, but this one of an entire family must haunt him, must bring back the night he’d lost his own family. I reached out to his knee under the table, giving it a brief squeeze. He relaxed marginally.
“This is what separates Ropte from the other power-crazed politicians,” Ava said. “The father of this family is Senator Burklap, and he’s been vocal in his support of the president’s new policies. He met with Ropte five times this month alone—and we’re only two weeks into the month. Twice, Stella picked up residual chatter about them arguing so loudly the secretary called security. Yesterday they had another meeting, and Burklap’s aide says he never returned to the office. Two hours ago, this slaughter is what that same aide discovered when he tracked down the senator at his DC residence.”
Ava paused, turning off the image. I was grateful for the chance to let my brain catch up. Staring at those dismembered bodies reminded me of all the deaths the Emporium had been responsible for, and how many of my loved ones they still might murder.
“A group of Hunters is claiming responsibility,” Ava added after several moments.
Ritter shook his head. “No way. They only kill Unbounded. And they never kill children.”
“The rules surrounding Hunters have changed too,” Ava reminded him. “At least with the new recruits who claim to be Hunters but are really just out for the sport.”
From what I’d seen, Hunters were all pretty much out for the sport, for killing and asking questions later. Almost from the first day I learned I was Unbounded, they’d been trying to kill me. “Maybe the family has some Unbounded connection.”
“No.” Ritter leaned back, folding his arms against his chest. “Some Hunters are downright bloodthirsty bastards, but too many of them are descended from Unbounded for them to start murdering children who haven’t reached the age of Change. They’d have to kill all their own children just for the possibility. And the attack against Senator Burklap’s family was experienced. They were cut specifically in a way to sever focus points. No wasted strokes like you normally find with Hunters.”
I really didn’t want to see the image again, so I’d take his word for it.
Ava pondered a moment in silence before saying, “Ritter, I’d like you to contact Keene and have him get some feelers out to see what the official word is from the Hunters. He should have some insight into it. But I’m with you on this. I believe either Ropte or the Emporium, or both, are behind these murders. Unfortunately, it gets worse. When I talked to the president this afternoon, he told me four more supporters have indicated their intention to change their vote. Not just any men, but outspoken supporters like Burklap.”
Fury built in Ritter’s eyes. “Their families.”
I could barely breathe at the idea. “Like Burklap.”
Ava nodded. “We knew the fight was going to get worse. However, I’m still hoping we’re wrong. Stella’s been tracking the families of the four since the news came. We have to find them, even if we’re only making sure
“Whatever he is,” Ritter said, “if he’s not Emporium, they’ll string him along until they gut him.”
“Which might actually work in our favor,” Ava agreed. “Until this afternoon, we didn’t have anything solid on Ropte. However, there’s been a new development we can’t overlook.”
Dread filled my stomach. This was what she’d been leading up to. The darkness.
Ava jabbed her finger at her screen, pulling up another holograph that made my stomach churn. A family of four lay slaughtered, their blood seeping into the pale carpet underneath them. Ritter’s fists clenched tightly on the table near the gruesome image. He’d seen many such scenes during his long life, but this one of an entire family must haunt him, must bring back the night he’d lost his own family. I reached out to his knee under the table, giving it a brief squeeze. He relaxed marginally.
“This is what separates Ropte from the other power-crazed politicians,” Ava said. “The father of this family is Senator Burklap, and he’s been vocal in his support of the president’s new policies. He met with Ropte five times this month alone—and we’re only two weeks into the month. Twice, Stella picked up residual chatter about them arguing so loudly the secretary called security. Yesterday they had another meeting, and Burklap’s aide says he never returned to the office. Two hours ago, this slaughter is what that same aide discovered when he tracked down the senator at his DC residence.”
Ava paused, turning off the image. I was grateful for the chance to let my brain catch up. Staring at those dismembered bodies reminded me of all the deaths the Emporium had been responsible for, and how many of my loved ones they still might murder.
“A group of Hunters is claiming responsibility,” Ava added after several moments.
Ritter shook his head. “No way. They only kill Unbounded. And they never kill children.”
“The rules surrounding Hunters have changed too,” Ava reminded him. “At least with the new recruits who claim to be Hunters but are really just out for the sport.”
From what I’d seen, Hunters were all pretty much out for the sport, for killing and asking questions later. Almost from the first day I learned I was Unbounded, they’d been trying to kill me. “Maybe the family has some Unbounded connection.”
“No.” Ritter leaned back, folding his arms against his chest. “Some Hunters are downright bloodthirsty bastards, but too many of them are descended from Unbounded for them to start murdering children who haven’t reached the age of Change. They’d have to kill all their own children just for the possibility. And the attack against Senator Burklap’s family was experienced. They were cut specifically in a way to sever focus points. No wasted strokes like you normally find with Hunters.”
I really didn’t want to see the image again, so I’d take his word for it.
Ava pondered a moment in silence before saying, “Ritter, I’d like you to contact Keene and have him get some feelers out to see what the official word is from the Hunters. He should have some insight into it. But I’m with you on this. I believe either Ropte or the Emporium, or both, are behind these murders. Unfortunately, it gets worse. When I talked to the president this afternoon, he told me four more supporters have indicated their intention to change their vote. Not just any men, but outspoken supporters like Burklap.”
Fury built in Ritter’s eyes. “Their families.”
I could barely breathe at the idea. “Like Burklap.”
Ava nodded. “We knew the fight was going to get worse. However, I’m still hoping we’re wrong. Stella’s been tracking the families of the four since the news came. We have to find them, even if we’re only making sure
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