Page 74 of Eternal Ruin

Kidan ripped out the page with June’s name on it.

No one in this world manipulated Kidan’s actions more than her own sister. When she thought of how many hours she’d spent just worrying about her, unspeakable anger flooded her veins.

How do I stop?she asked herself.How do I stop letting her control me?

The protesters downstairs began chanting louder and louder. The tinted glass seemed to shake. A frown met the professor’s eyes.

“Since Uxlay is providing a great example of power struggles, let’s discuss why there is friction between Founding Houses and Border Houses.”

Kidan felt herself shrink as their gazes flicked toward her.

“Most believe the Founding Houses can castanylaws. That would make them gods, wouldn’t it?”

Kidan blinked furiously. “But wecancast any law. The dean does.”

Professor Andreyas placed his hands in his coat pockets. “Think about it, actis. Houses were created to discipline and protect humans. Would they really grant such unchecked power?”

Dread coiled inside Kidan.

“A house law must always follow three criteria. Prepare to write this down. It will be our first lesson in Mastering Laws.” They got ready. “Criteria one, actis. A house law can only magnify, duplicate, or destroy what alreadyexistswithin its given boundaries.”

Finally, some solid information about the extents and limits of a house.

Slen was alert as well, writing it down.

Kidan thought about how this would relate to GK. Would the law she set “destroy” his vampirism or “magnify” his humanity? Destroying his immortality made more sense. But she had to be very careful with her language.

“Of course,” Slen said. “It would be the equivalent of having godly powers otherwise. That’s why there haven’t been outlandish laws.”

“Exactly, Qaros. What would be the consequences if you could set any law?”

“Catastrophic.”

“Beyond imagination. But first let’s discuss houses and their boundaries. A single house in the middle of nowhere has a very limited boundary to exercise its single law. This may include its porch, its garden, or perhaps a shed.” His eyes shifted to Kidan, and she felt quite cold, before it drifted to others. “However, what happens when there’s a house nearby? What becomes of that boundary?”

Unsurprisingly, Slen answered. “The masters of the two houses can agree to extend their boundaries, if they set the same exact law.”

“Source?”

“‘The Last Sage’s House Borders’ and Uxlay’s universal law.”

Kidan reminded herself to read up on that tonight.

“Correct.” He looked out the stained-glass window. “It is a very conscious decision the master of each house must make. Ten Border Houses encircle Uxlay. With each house addition, the boundary expands. It is with their duty and commitmentthat the universal law continues to protect us. Collective thinking, united thinking. Those are values the Last Sage upheld most.” A darkness possessed his tone. “Yet greed has fractured the acti houses. And only twelve out of the seventy-nine remaining houses make up Uxlay.”

Kidan mulled over the information. The more she thought of it, the more she was beginning to understand the 13th. Protecting Uxlay was quite unnatural, and riddled the houses with sacrifice.

She wondered why the Sages gave actis the ability to rule their own house, when it was clear they wanted them to abide by one law and exist as a community.

“Therefore, it can be said the Border Houses are stronger than the Founding Houses, by the sheer size of the amount of land they can cast a law over. So why do we have rogue houses? Why are we not seventy-nine acti houses strong? Powerful beyond belief?? And why do the protests below grow louder each day?”

Kidan stared at the crumpled paper, speaking in a low voice. Clarity was sour, trickling in like acidic rain. “Because each acti’s pillar of need is different. One house wants to protect, the other destroy. Some want to be loved, others want to rule.”

The ancient vampire’s cool gaze remained fixed on her. “Source?”

She didn’t want to sayAseracti. For some reason, she didn’t think the professor would agree with that philosophy.

So she cleared her throat and said, “The Psyche Command Theory.”