There is silence for a very long time, and then Elite Cain speaks. “In the matter of Chase Lockwood’s death, does the Order find the Eurydice at fault?”

Everyone raises their hands, and my stomach falls straight to my toes.

Elite Cain says, “As far as I’m concerned, the Eurydice killed Chase Lockwood in self-defense. Her actions, while dangerous, were appropriate, and she used the only weapon she had against a nearly fully trained shadow knight. All in agreement of this statement…”

A little over half the Order raises their hands.

“With respect, Elite Cain,” says Roth. “Chase Lockwood swore an oath to the shadow knights and had authority to bring her in.”

“That would be correct if Chase had notified the Order once he discovered she was the Eurydice. As far as we understand, he was working alone,” Elite Cain states.

Roth crosses his arms. “What of Lily Martin, then?”

Hearing Lily’s name wasn’t easy before. It’s harder now.

“Eurydice, if you captured Vera’s soul, you were just doing your job,” Gwen says.

Her good cop routine will only go so far. There are people here who want me under their thumb, and admitting I got angry and captured Vera’s soul in a coin I subsequently lost will only give those in favor of my imprisonment fuel for their argument.

“I wasn’t doing my job,” I say. “Because I haven’t accepted your offer.”

Elite Ezekiel laughs. “This isn’t an offer of employment, Eurydice. You cannot refuse.”

“I am not Valryn. You can’t tell me what to do.”

“But you see the dead, you speak to them, and by all accounts, controlling the Thread of Fate can be considered death magic. By definition, you are a death-speaker and fall under our jurisdiction.”

“So you would treat me like an enemy?”

“Death-speakers are not our enemies, Eurydice, unless they are doing something wrong, like stealing souls.”

I glare at him. “I didn’t steal Lily’s soul, and I didn’t resurrect her.”

“We’re fully aware you didn’t resurrect her, Eurydice,” Elite Cain says.

“You are?” I ask, a little surprised.

“Yes, even you have limits. Giving life, no matter how crude, is not a power you possess. Charon forbids it. Whoever gave Lily’s corpse life did so with power from the occult. We believe whoever reanimated Lily was in possession of a resurrection coin you made.” He is quiet as he lets the information sink in, and then he asks, “Where are the coins, Eurydice?”

“What?”

“You captured Chase’s and Vera’s souls. Where are the coins?”

“Why do you want them?” I ask.

He ignores my question. “We know you haven’t opened the gates since your incarnation here on earth. Which means the coins are either in your possession or…”