Page 85 of Eternal Ruin

ABYSS ORDER

BENEATH THE CAVES, THROUGH THE SUN AND NIGHT MOUNTAINS

Goro House | Adane House | Umil House | Faris House

BLUE STONE ORDER

HEART OF BEAUTY

Luroz House

PANTHER ORDER

STRENGTH ACROSS THE WILDERNESS

Temo House | Rojit House | Piran House

ORYX ORDER

MIGHTY THE DESERT

Qaros House

32.

KIDAN

The Arcane Societies intrigued Kidan.

The invitation to join was sent to outstanding Black students from every university institution around the world. These students had to have African ancestry and, most of all, a belief in the supernatural. Before admission, a deep search into their religious and political views was conducted so the prospect of one day living in a society of vampires would not make them run scared.

Susenyos drove, dressed in a sleek suit with his favorite whirling design of red and gold. He had to have those custom made. With the windows down, and the night breeze playing with Kidan’s red dress, the two felt oddly normal. A pair of college students going to a party instead of to an ancient building to find Kidan’s future husband.

More than once, Susenyos would glance at Kidan, taking in her dress, lingering on her red lips. Then darken on her neck—she’d chosen to wear his golden crown, which had been turned into a necklace. The beautiful ruby crosses lay cold against her throat like daggers, but it was his heated looks that made her feel like one of his prized treasures.

Outside of Adane House, her emotions were free and distracting. Kidan swallowed, fighting the urge to touch the necklace.

Susenyos was leaning his head out the window toward the sharp wind, as if he couldn’t get enough air. The rings in his twists flickered like spun silk. On his sleeve, the Adane House sigil of the mountains was secured. Silver for them both.Once Kidan mastered the house, they would both wear gold. The wind kept pushing her braids over her eye and she tucked them behind her ear.

“The orders are run by human influential families ranging from world trade to military,” he explained, voice a little rough. “They are assets Uxlay may call on one day. In turn they request dranaics be dispatched for certain issues. Turn the tide of a civil war, rescue a kidnapped politician… It is a balance as delicate as the one between dranaics and actis. Uxlay cannot exist without the orders. It cannot birth the next generation without them. Each Order recruits students from specific universities around the world. They have some sort of contract. For instance, the Abyss Order deals mostly with East African universities. Your father belonged to the Abyss, who fund the Axum excavations.”

“Would they tell me information about my father?” she asked.

“The orders like to keep information about their alums close to their chest but yes.”

She would have to pay the Abyss Order a visit, then. See what else she could find. Even if she was going to sever, an insight into what type of people her parents were would be necessary.

Susenyos continued giving her a breakdown. “The Eagle Order is filled with untrustworthy vipers. Make sure to avoid them.”

“Etete was a member.”

His eyes slanted. “She is a rarity. One in eternity.”

A ghost of a smile touched her face. She liked it when he spoke about Etete. It showed her a softer, human side of him. “Why didn’t you give me the Arcane letter last semester?”

It took him by surprise, which she enjoyed. He cleared his expression quickly and glanced to the road. “I receive many letters. Some are bound to get lost.”

“I know you threw it away.”