Chapter 7 · A Bargain Above the Smoke

"Don't open that—"

Too late. Elias already had his bleeding hand on the lock.

Nia grabbed his wrist. "He said don't."

"He also screamed first."

"I noticed."

The old registry office shook. Dust poured from the ceiling in gray sheets, sticking to the blood on Elias's shoulder. The bandage Nia had tied around him was soaked through. His right leg wasn't much better. Every time he shifted his weight, his jaw locked.

He kept his hand pressed over the Rook crest stamped into the door anyway.

The black glass under his palm lit up.

IDENTITY CONFIRMED.

ELIAS ROOK.

WELCOME HOME.

Nia stared at the last two words. "Home?"

"Family district."

"You said this route went above Archive Nine."

"It does."

"You didn't say it went through your mother's house."

"It's not a house."

The lock clunked.

The door slid open on polished white stone, warm gold light, and three enforcement rifles aimed straight at Nia's chest.

Elias sighed. "It's worse."

A woman in a gray uniform stepped forward. No helmet. Silver pins at her collar.