Tangled

Unshift 252

Unshift 252

252 Ava: We Need Information

"Perhaps that is true for some vampires, Magister Orion concedes. "But for most of us, it is because of freedom. We do not wish to be regulated and numbered, at the whim of human demands, simply for being different. Those who breach the peace between the human world and that of Dakota Sanctuary are punished. Depending on the severity of their actions, some lose their lives. We have had some vampires put to the guillotine for feeding on nearby human

cities.

Fascinating.

in with you Lo

"But what does that have to circling back to the main topic.

"I am one of the few who advocate for increased trade and visitation between our city and the human realm." Magister Orion waves a hand around the room. "Very few of us wish to live within the Fae realm, under the rule of our kings. There is little freedom to be had under their tyranny. Here, we have equality, votes, and laws to protect us from the overreach of our leaders. Vampires and gnomes are treated as equals. However, our reliance on the Fae realm for food and magical items means that we are at the mercy of the Fae kings. Our freedom here is little more than an illusion.”

He slams a fist against the table. "I say, if we truly wish for freedom, we should establish connects with the human realm. We have things you do not. We can barter for food, even more land. We can be equals in this world, instead of living half in, and half out."

He sighs. "But that is heresy to many."

"Then why do you hate wolves so much, if you're willing to work with humans?" Vanessa asks, and I glance at her in surprise.

She's fascinated by everything he's saying, and I'd already forgotten about how he treated. Vanessa and Marcus when we first got here. "Lycans," and his lip curls before he shakes his head and sighs. "Ancient history, but prejudice is passed down in our history books." "But what happened between wolves and Fae?"

Magister Orion waves a hand. "It is

or vampires willingly work with the import in this situation. Suffice to say, very few Fae

freedom to work as human dogs."

world, they're

glancing between Vanessa and Marcus. "No

the leaders of the city are all against

hands with a shrug. "However, to call them my enemies is a

to think. "Wouldn't they be the leaders of the city? If

252 Ava: V

We Need Information

that doesn't mean all of them. I

"I can contact Layla and see if she's heard.

and lists of victims. We must organize the information we have. And see what Florice has been working on lately."

puzzle without a reference picture. My head

me, and I have to grip the arms of

"Your fever's getting worse," she murmurs. "We need to get

an already impossible situation. I feel tears of frustration prick at

don't have the luxury

to contact the outside world safely? We need contact Sister Miriam and Selene, see what they know. With the city up in arms, coming back might not

frowns. "Usually, no. But with Sister Miriam, it's possible. I can't guarantee how quickly we will get a

"Indeed. He smiles. "How do you think we send messages without your,"

cell phones-outrageously expensive, easy to break, and needing to be upgraded every few years for fear of becoming obsolete in the

The Fac?

They have magic balls.

of a quack fortune teller

are actually

depths, and a ribbon of it reaches out to where her finger touches the glass.

it." She places her entire palm on it, and several arcs of lightning

Wo

+17

gray smoke. It's mesmerizing, like watching storm clouds gather in