Read Online 20 Years Later by Emma Newman - Free Book Online

“Mum, why would she want to see me? Is she going to mark me like she did with Dev?”
    Miri swallowed hard and tried her best to look brave. “I’m sure she won’t do that … why would she?”
    Zane shrugged uneasily.
    Miri glanced at the box and then said more confidently, “She won’t mark you, Zane, I’m sure of it.”
    He nodded with relief.
    â€œAnd whilst you’re there,” Miri continued, “don’t eat or drink anything. Not a thing.”
    â€œBut it’s nearly lunchtime!”
    â€œNot a thing, Zane. Promise me.”
    Zane searched her fearful eyes and nodded slowly. “I promise.”
    â€œI’ll make you your favourite mash to have when you get home, alright?” Miri drew him into a tight embrace. “Now wait here whilst I get the box ready.”
    She kissed his cheek and then scooped up the box and rushed into her bedroom. Zane listened to the sounds of drawers in her apothecary chest being hurriedly opened and closed.
    He shifted from one foot to the other until she called out, “Put on some clean clothes and wash your hands! And comb your hair too!”
    He obeyed, and by the time he re-emerged from his room, she was waiting by the door, the box tucked under her arm.
    â€œMum, what if I don’t want to go?”
    Miri sighed. “I don’t think that’s an option, Zane. The Red Lady is very powerful. Try not to annoy or upset her … just be lovely like you always are …. but less … chatty …” Miri frowned at herself and then leant forward to kiss his forehead tenderly. “I’ll be here waiting for you.”
    She unlocked the door to find Luthor waiting nearby. She gave him the box and he gave her his usual brisk nod in return. Then his attention shifted to Zane. He squeezed his mother’s hand briefly, stood as tall and straight as he could, and went to the Hunter’s side to walk with him out of the square.
    â€œUm … is it true that you’re the Red Lady’s Champion?” Zane took the first minutes of the journey to muster the courage to ask the question.
    Luthor glanced down at the youth and nodded.
    â€œWhat does that mean exactly?”
    Luthor’s face distorted into an unfamiliar smile. “It means I am the fastest, the strongest, the best Hunter, the one the Red Lady turns to first,” he announced proudly. Zane had the feeling that he was about to say more, but nothing followed.
    â€œOh. That must be … nice.”
    â€œNice?” Luthor scoffed. “Nice is how a woman would describe a dress. What I speak of is the highest honour.” He drew in a deep breath, expanding his chest so much that it blocked the sunlight falling onto Zane’s face. “No other man will ever take my place.”
    Zane remained silent, now too unsure of his choice of words to say anything more. He had to hurry to keep up with Luthor’s huge strides.
    It was the first time Zane had travelled so far from home in the daytime. Even though it was really only a short walk, this was a route that he had only dared once, that night with Dev. He had been taught from a very early age that anywhere except the garden and the Boys’ square was unsafe, and so walking between two territories in broad daylight was a very odd experience.
    The buildings lining the streets they walked through were similar to those in Miri’s square; built several storeys high with dark bricks and large sash windows. His mother said the houses used to be some of the smartest in London, but now they were grey and dilapidated, nature having found every crack and crevice through which it could reassert itself. London’s buildings were losing the quiet war with plants and he wondered if one day there would be any buildings left at all. As they walked past,Zane was particularly fascinated by the curious shapes of the rusting ventilation system that lay behind the hospital in