Sloane awakened with a gasp.
The bright rays of sunlight stung her eyes and she squinted, lifting a hand to shield them.
As her vision adjusted to the brightness, she slowly lowered her hand, to find a vast, sprawling courtyard.
A cold surface pressed against her back. She realised she'd lost consciousness leaning against a fountain.
But how exactly had she gotten here? What exactly happened to her?
The last thing Sloane remembered was waking up to find Isla's body gone. The pool of blood left behind was the only evidence that she'd ever existed.
And then...
Her mind grew fuzzy, an ache splitting her skull.
Sloane shook off her thoughts, deciding to focus on the present.
Far in the distance, a towering arched gate loomed, like a mysterious lone sentinel.
Sloane's brows furrowed.
Where was she?
She tilted her head back slightly, and the open sky stared right back.
It was the clearest expanse of blue she'd ever seen.
There was hardly a single visible cloud in the sky. And the sun shone brightly down on her, its warmth driving away the strange chill that clung to her bones.
This wasn't Evernight.
She distantly recalled she encountered the Bronte girl and her minions again at some point, and had gotten beaten to an inch of life.
Perhaps it was the excruciating ordeal, or that intense feeling of helplessness that curled in the pit of her stomach, but her memories had cut off at exactly that point.
Everything after that was a blur.
And now, she was here. At the forest's exit. With no recollection of how she made it through Evernight, but her scrambled memories.
Sloane!!!" A voice cried, "Guys! Look! It's Sloane!"
Sloane glanced up, and only then did she realize she wasn't alone.
There was a crowd of other girls gathered around. All tax brides.
The voice that had called out her name was familiar.
Sloane glanced up just as Alexis, Denna and Elise broke away from the crowd, hurrying over to Sloane.
"Oh my!" Elise cried, dropping to her knees and throwing her arms around Sloane's neck. "I thought you were dead!"
Sloane's eyes shifted between the three girls she'd shared a carriage with a few days earlier.
Alexis rolled her eyes at Elise's excitement, but waved reluctantly.
And Denna avoided Sloane's gaze, her eyes fixed on her boots.
They didn't look anything like they had barely a few days ago. Once elegantly dressed noble ladies, they were now battered, covered in mud, blood and grime, their robes torn in different places, with bruises and cuts littering their skin.
The look in their eyes had changed too. In a way that was difficult to describe.
Sloane was certain she looked much the same. If not worse.
Evernight hadn't been kind to anyone.
Sloane hesitated, but then returned the hug with an awkward pat to Elise's back. "Me too. Didn't expect to see you guys here..." She trailed off,
'Where exactly was, 'here'?' Sloane wondered, rising to her feet.
"We made it to Eclipsera!" Elise exclaimed, helping Sloane up. "Can you believe it?!"
Sloane's eyes widened as she took in her surroundings.
Now standing, she could see the gates clearly. They were as large as two mountains, pitch black, and imposing.
"This is... Eclipsera?" Sloane asked, uncertainly. "The Lycan Federation Academy?"
Elise nodded eagerly. "The most prestigious academy in the world. All former and present cadets directly serve the Crescent or Crimson courts, earning respect and noble titles."
Then quieter, she said, "The Red Cloaks from earlier all graduated from Eclipsera. It's a mandatory requirement to join their ranks."
"You know so much about the Federation, you should have been born a Lycan." Alexis muttered,
"Don't throw curses at me." Elise frowned. "Their women die at birth, you know."
"Exactly." Alexis grumbled, "And that's the only reason we're here. To bear their heirs and carry on their dwindling bloodlines."
"Maybe." Elise agreed reluctantly, "But Lord Boris protected me the whole way. Without him, I would already be dead."
"I already pledged myself to him." Her eyes were brighter now, almost dreamy. "And I don't regret it."
"Boris this... Boris that..." Alexis scoffed, "We get it, Elise. Unlike the rest of us that had to survive by any means possible, you found yourself a benefactor."
Elise flinched. "I didn't mean it like that..."
Alexis simply rolled her eyes and nodded towards the crowd. "We should get over there. Wouldn't want to miss out on whatever horror they have planned for us next."
Elise sighed heavily, clutching Sloane's hand as they made their way back to the crowd.
Vice-Chancellor Hannes stood atop a makeshift podium, and the girls crowded around to listen to his address.
"Welcome again, tax brides." He said, "Congratulations on completing the enrollment test. You are all one step away from becoming fully-fledged cadets of Eclipsera."
"One step away?" Alexis hissed lowly, "What more do they want from us? Our lives?!"
He paused briefly, his eyes shifting from one girl to the next. "Look around you. A lot has changed since we last met."
Sloane's eyes shifted slightly, roaming the crowd.
One difference stood out like a sore thumb.
A few days ago, over a hundred tax brides ventured into Evernight.
Now, they were just a few dozen. More than half of their initial numbers were gone.
Sloane winced. She didn't even want to think about what that meant.
"As you must have realised, there are more unsuccessful candidates than those of you who made it through." Vice-Chancellor Hannes continued, "While there were a few unfortunate...fates, a lot of your peers have been rescued from the woods."
"Given that they could not make the crossing in time, they have consequently failed the enrollment test and will be assigned to domestic service in the House of Commons."
Murmurs spread through the crowd of girls.
Denna frowned, "Domestic service? Do they mean...slaves?"
"Hear that, Elise?" Alexis muttered, "You should be even more grateful to Boris."
Elise winced, but stayed silent.
"Now, for those of you who stand before me, you have earned your place in Eclipsera." Vice Chancellor Hannes continued, "Your place in the academy, will either lie with the House of Crescent, or the House of Crimson."
"And that decision, will be made by the cadets of Eclipsera, at tonight's grand auction." He paused, as though allowing us a moment for his words to sink in.
"Whichever house places the highest bid for you, will cater to your affairs for the rest of your studies. And if you remain unbid for, you will be assigned to domestic service in the House of Commons." Vice Chancellor Hannes asserted,
Denna sighed. "So...we might still be made slaves? After everything?"
Alexis shook her head. "Let's hope you sunk your claws deeply enough into Lord Boris."
Elise whimpered, clutching Sloane tighter.
"Now, you must prepare to showcase your moon gifts to appeal to senior cadets, while hoping the bonds you have formed with the first year cadets you have already been acquainted with, will be sufficient to secure you a place in either of the two noble houses."
At the mention of moon gifts, Sloane's blood ran cold.
Hannes smiled curtly, "But first, you will be allowed the time to rest and tidy up in the temporary dormitories in the House of Commons."
"By morning, some of you will have attained a cadet badge in the academy."
"While others..." He trailed off, "Godspeed, brides."