Dark Descent: The Arondight Codex - Book One by R Nicole (best books to read all time TXT) 📗

see the grey London sky, brimming with ominous storm clouds. What a metaphor.

Climbing the wrought iron stairs that spiralled around the inner circle of the structure, I sensed a pulse of power emanating above. I doubted it was Greer, unless she was going to cast a spell on me the moment I walked in, and that’d be rather unfortunate.

When I reached the landing, I stopped in my tracks, not expecting to find a mostly empty room.

Before me there was a glass case, much like the ones museums’ used to house their most precious artefacts. Bulletproof, two inches thick, seamless, and clear it was made to house something priceless. A pedestal stood within and resting on top was a book that… shimmered.

Movement drew my attention, and my gaze met Greer’s. My heart leapt into my throat and my cheeks began to turn, what I assumed was a lovely shade of crimson. I’d been to the principal’s office more times than I cared to remember, and endured detention and suspension without a care in the world, but this was in another league. For what felt like the first time in my life, I didn’t want to be expelled because of my impatience or short temper.

“Scarlett,” Greer said, gesturing for me to come closer.

I swallowed the lump in my throat and shuffled across the maroon carpet, my boots springing on the plush pile. The Naturals sure knew their flooring.

“Is that the Codex?” Unable to meet her gaze, I stared at the book, trying to focus on the strange shimmer.

“Yes.”

“It’s very… shiny.”

“There are many copies of the Codex, but this,” Greer placed her palm on the glass, “this is the original. They say there are secrets within secrets amongst its pages, more than can ever be found. Scribes can copy its words, but not its Light.”

I knew this was going somewhere profound and not in my favour. The suspense was killing me. I wasn’t sure if having Greer rage at me would’ve been any better, but I just wanted the axe to fall.

“Greer… last night, I—”

“If you truly want to be a Natural, then you have to abide by the Codex,” she stated, cutting me off. “We’re not the military, we won’t conscript you into service, but the rules apply to everyone.”

She was testing my resolve. I could chuck in everything and walk away, or I could stand up and take responsibility for my actions. Leaving the Sanctum was a stupid idea, and I put Roxy and Martin in unnecessary danger. Lifting my hand, I poked at the scratches on my face. Where is Arondight?

“What happened to the Infernal Romy trapped?”

“The Infernal is secure,” she replied. “It will be studied and questioned.”

If it was questioned, then it was only a matter of time before my purple Light was common knowledge. Then there was the little thing known as Arondight, a.k.a the Indigo Flame. What would happen to me? I didn’t know squat about either of those things, but it wouldn’t stop Greer and Co. from dragging me in for more tests. Wilder said he believed I’d come into contact with the blade as a child, and if the head honchos suspected that too, then I was afraid of what they’d do to pry the information out of me. The words ‘withered husk’ came to mind.

The more I thought about it, the less sure I was that I could trust Greer with those things, even though my understanding was absolute zero.

“You endangered the lives of your fellow Naturals,” Greer said. “Any one of you could have been possessed. With the risk of mutation, it was reckless. To steal an arondight blade and leave the Sanctum…” She shook her head.

There was nothing to like about this situation, but I was better off here than out there without the proper training. It was glaringly obvious how green I was after facing off with the Infernal. I was an inch away from an eyeball licking after a single swipe of that arondight blade.

“What’s going to happen to me?” I whispered.

Damn Wilder for putting doubt into me. Maybe he was the one playing me, not Greer. I felt a pang in my heart and wished Jackson was here, but I knew he wouldn’t come back. I was on my own again and it sucked.

“Do you truly want to be a Natural, Scarlett?” Greer asked, watching me as I internally freaked out.

“Yes,” I replied without hesitation, “I do.”

“Then, let this be your punishment. You are bound to the Sanctum and confined to your training. No concessions will be available to you other than those Wilder deems necessary to your education.”

“So I can’t leave?”

“No. You cannot leave until your probation is over. Those are the conditions of remaining a Natural.”

“And how long is that?” I scowled and glanced up at the sky beyond.

“Until I say it’s over,” Greer declared, her tone clipped.

A wave of nausea prickled over my skin, and I turned to face the Codex. “What will happen to Jackson?”

“Jackson will be fine,” she replied. “Ramona halted the mutation and there’s nothing in her findings that suggest his mind is compromised.”

“His mind?”

“We believe the mutation was designed to turn him,” Greer explained. “Though, that is only speculation. We weren’t prepared to allow the sacrifice of an innocent to confirm.”

“That’s kind of you.” I made a face, her forthright explanation not entirely comforting. She’d shown a great deal of interest in my best friend, though right now it was hard to distinguish if it was her duty to the Codex, or something more personal.

“He is immune to alteration and other forms of Light manipulation,” she explained. “His senses are sharper, his body stronger, and his impaired eyesight has been repaired.”

The way she listed Jackson’s improvements made him sound like a super-soldier. I could see how that was a problem for the Naturals. If demons were out there altering human DNA through simple possession, then the balance could tip in their favor big time.

“What does this mean?” I asked. “If possession