Page 27 of Solar Shadows

Woman: They’re back, aren’t they? The Aurora witches. That was The Sun. That man, that witchcop… He was The Sun?

Stefan tapped his phone, sliding it back into the pocket of his trousers. “This is all they’ve been talking about since we arrested them.” He stroked his chin while rocking on his heels. “We cannot risk this getting out into the public sphere, as you know. I did consider wiping their memories, but that isn’t a tenable course of action. Memory spells are unreliable.” He put his finger back on the window. “One must do what is necessary for the greater good. To protect public order, to protect the sacred house of Aurora.”

I swallowed a scoff. Protect them? What, he was back on our side now after his betrayal? Just like that?

The man needed several knuckle sandwiches to the face.

He faced us again. “I know I made a mistake before, but the elders understand my reasons. I always act with the best interests of everyone at heart. That is my job after all. And here I am again, making sure the greater good prevails.”

Neither me nor Jake said a word.

Stefan smiled at me. “Your mother will be pleased.”

He really knew how to antagonize me. Mum wouldn’t be pleased with this. She’d want to find an alternative route, not burn these people for discovering the truth.

Maybe it would be better to reintroduce House Aurora to the public again. After all, their return meant an apocalypse was on the horizon. Better to lay all the cards on the table than keep secrets. Things would be difficult for a while, but Riley and Isaac would prove themselves. We all would.

Hmmm. Was that too idealistic?

“Well, let’s begin,” Stefan said cheerfully.

Did we really have to watch this?

“I want you to see how serious I am,” he added.

Nothing worse than a dark soul illustrating a point.

He gave a thumbs up to the control room directly behind us.

There was a rumble beneath us, and flames ignited in the grate under the prisoners. The soundkicked in, their panic suddenly filling the air. They begged, they screamed, they tried to break free as the fire caught on the bottom of the poles.

“Please!” a man cried. “I’ve got kids! I’ve got kids!”

The woman who’d smashed the crystal was there, sobbing.

“I saw The Sun,” she whimpered. “I saw The Sun and The Sun condemned me.”

“He didn’t,” I mumbled, my insides churning.

Stefan’s eyes bore into me, his lips pressed into a tight line.

“But he didn’t,” I said, wishing my tongue would tie itself into a knot.

Slowly, the inquisitor nodded. “Indeed. Well, it won’t be long until their bodies burn.” His evil smile returned. “If I catch you looking away, I’ll have you disciplined. I’m giving you an order to watch every second of this.”

My hate reached new heights, disgust up there with it. But I obeyed the dickhead. I stood there in defeat, watching the flames spread up the poles, setting fire to clothing. Their screams tore through me, the endless barrage a sickening death song.

Hold it together, I told myself.

I couldn’t watch these people burn to death.

Only, I did. Long after their ashes and charred bones tumbled through the grates, plotting the downfall of Stefan Rushden.

He had to go.

He had to pay for this. Time to cut off the head of the beast before it grew into something worse.

It already has…