Song of Shadows snippet

From the top of the highrise, looking down, the city was bright and noisy even now, halfway to dawn. They were good noises, though, healthy, living sounds. Here and there the jangle and dischord of a pack of supplicants disturbed the harmonics of the city, but they were far off and quiet. Nothing she need concern herself with tonight. Nocturne settled more comfortably into a half-state, keeping control but allowing Cata the use of her eyes and skin. Cata could feel the darkness wrapping around her, seeping into her skin. Nocturne's presence was always strangely warm; the shadow was the embodiment of cold, dead things, but to Cata she was like midday in summer.

The wind pulled at Nocturne's hair, playfully, bringing the scent of tears. A moment later, it was followed by the faintest whiff of sulphur; the circle filled itself in as the others arrived.

Von's bitterness was palpable beneath Umbra's cool disdain; Ari'i and Imbrium were humming with mischief.

"How fares the night, my Lady?" Moero crackled with contained energy, all the unpredictable power of his element brought to bear on their circle.

"The night is good." It always startled her to hear Nocturne's voice, like heavy velvet.

Moero leaned over to touch her hair, sparks flying from his fingertips. Nocturne leaned into the touch as she stretched into the sky and earth with limbs that were sometimes arms and legs and sometimes branches. Her shadows had come to her, surrounding her, and her city was alive and dancing below her.

"And now the night is even better." Cata lost track of where she began and ended, bleeding into the Shadow; the four quarters of her circle were complete, and the city was moving and singing, bringing with it that strange euphoria that came with the promise of blood and life and eternity.

Yes, the night was good.