Shine Light

About the Book

They smelled of her first days on Ixion; the strangeness, the exotic temptation. Would she ever have come had she known Ixion’s bitter secrets?

Ixion. The island of ever-night.

If she had a choice, Naif wouldn’t go back. But her friends will die if she doesn’t find a cure for the badges that are slowly killing them, and her brother is there, fighting against the Ripers who hold everyone in thrall. And Naif has knowledge that might save them all.

First she must solve the mystery of Ixion’s eternal night. Then she must convince everyone – rebels and revellers alike – to join her cause. And all the while, she must fight the urge to go to Lenoir – her greatest love, her mortal enemy.

The secrets of Ixion must be revealed. The evils must be stopped. A new dawn will come.

Contents

Cover

About the Book

Title

Dedication

Chapter 01

Chapter 02

Chapter 03

Chapter 04

Chapter 05

Chapter 06

Chapter 07

Chapter 08

Chapter 09

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

About the Author

Acknowledgements

Praise for the Night Creatures Trilogy

Copyright Notice

More at Random House Australia

For every young person who has battled with the ‘growing up’ demon.

And for Ivan, Marcus and Jules, who made being a mother so much fun.

Ruzalia’s airship swayed and shuddered through the night towards Ixion. In the main cabin, the pirate traced impatient laps; head down, wild red hair loose at her shoulders. Her breeches were crumpled and her white shirt marked by a stain of old blood. Mesree’s blood.

Had she slept in the few days since she’d dropped Naif and Markes on Grave?
It doesn’t seem so
, Naif thought. Ruzalia’s eyes were swollen with fatigue and her smooth white brow was creased with fury and frustration. And grief. She’d lost Mesree and her island, Sanctus, to a coup. All the young people she’d risked her life to save from Ixion had rebelled against her, frightened by the knowledge that they had only a short time left to live.

Naif exchanged concerned glances with Charlonge. Her friend had stayed behind with the pirate and had been the first to greet Naif and her allies when they were winched back into the body of the airship.

Though Char appeared less ravaged than Ruzalia, it seemed that even in a few days, her cheekbones had become more prominent in her face. They’d all suffered; too little food, too much worry.

‘Tell me what you know!’ Ruzalia demanded.

The pirate had allowed them a meagre meal, some bitter-tasting beer and a few hours of sleep before commanding them to come to the main cabin. Now they sat around the table: Markes, Emilia, Char, Jarrold, Liam and Naif.

‘We hid in the rafters above the Grave Elders’ meeting. They spoke of many things,’ Naif began.

‘I will know every single piece of it!’

Naif glanced at Jarrold and Liam, the two who had also listened in on the Elders on Grave. Neither knew Ruzalia, other than by reputation. Their nervousness now they were aboard the feared pirate’s ship was plain. Naif knew that neither would speak unless they had to. But while Jarrold couldn’t hide his curiosity, Liam stared at the floor, attempting to keep his disfigured arm from sight. So it fell to Naif to tell what had happened. Ruzalia wouldn’t wait any longer for their story. And Naif didn’t blame her. Too much hung on what they’d learned.

She kept her recount spare, asking Markes for his opinion once or twice. He was next to Emilia, who sat stiffly, terrified yet trying not to show it.

‘When the Ripers drain us on Ixion, they don’t just do it to help them evolve the Night Creatures. Part of our lifeblood is used to make a youth elixir for the Elders. The Elders and the Ripers have a pact and have been working together for a long time. The Elders
want
young people to go to Ixion so that they can steal their youth.’

‘Barbaric!’ said Ruzalia, pounding the table. ‘Sinful!’ She stared at Naif, eyes narrowed. ‘I had wondered if they’d sought to shed themselves of the young dissidents in your city – those who may cause trouble – by letting them run away, but this is . . . this is even worse.’ She slapped her hand against her forehead. ‘And what of the other places from which the young come to Ixion? Lidol-Push? Are they part of this?’

‘No!’ said Charlonge hotly. ‘Our leaders would not do such a thing.’

‘How can you know?’ said Ruzalia.

‘I did not hear of any other places mentioned, but we should be careful. Who knows how far the Ripers have reached. Returning to any of them might be dangerous,’ said Naif. She glanced from her friend back to the pirate. ‘They seek to undermine you, Ruzalia. The beads the young ones on Sanctus possessed were given to Jud by your merchant at Port of Patience. The Chief Elder paid him to do it.’

‘Faranzo sold them to Jud?’

‘If that is your chief merchant’s name, then yes.’

‘You have done well to learn this. Better than I expected,’ said Ruzalia.

Despite her meal and her nap, Naif felt weary enough to die. Their flight though Grave, and the discovery that the people who governed her world were no more than cannibals feeding off their young, was too horrible to believe; the ugliest of truths, which had left her drained. ‘Any news from Sanctus and Ixion?’

‘They continue to run riot on my island. And there is worse on Ixion.’

‘Worse?’ This came from Markes. ‘How can there be worse?’

‘It seems Lenoir has killed another of his own on Ixion and hides from Brand in the caves. And Dark Eve and Clash are collecting more followers.’

Naif felt a warm rush of relief to hear that her brother was still alive. Though he’d shunned her and not listened to her when first she’d found him on Ixion, he’d also risked his life to save the Peaks – those who had become too old for the island. Joel – Clash, as he was now known – was brave and determined and she loved him for it.

But what did Ruzalia mean that Dark Eve was
collecting followers
? Did the young ones on Ixion know what the Ripers were doing? Were they rebelling?

And Lenoir? Naif had tried to cut her connection with him in those last hours on Grave. What terrible things had happened to him in the silence?

‘Who has Lenoir killed?’ Naif asked quietly, trying not to appear worried.

‘Not Brand or Modai. Another,’ said Ruzalia.

‘But why?’

‘Why is unclear, but we do know one certain thing.’

‘What’s that?’ asked Jarrold, speaking for the first time. His ruddy face was still smudged with dirt but his eyes were bright and focused. Of all of them, Naif thought him the most resilient in mind and body.

Ruzalia pinned him with her glare. ‘Remind me of your name.’

‘Jarrold. Emilia’s brother.’

‘Aaaah, yes. Naif’s telling has shown you to be brave, Jarrold, Emilia’s brother. But are you brave enough for what comes next?’

‘What comes next?’ he asked.

‘It is hard to predict, but nothing on Ixion is ever as it seems. Whatever happens, you are not likely to be prepared for it.’

The young boy’s eyes began to gleam with excitement. ‘I can’t wait to get there.’

Ruzalia gave a dry laugh. ‘Brave
and
an adventurer, no less.’

‘A reckless one at times,’ said Markes, cuffing Jarrold lightly. ‘Ruzalia’s right, we shouldn’t underestimate the Ripers. I imagine they can do things we’ve not even seen.’

‘You imbue them with magical power!’ snorted the pirate.

‘Not magical,’ Naif said in support of Markes. ‘But not of this world.’

Ruzalia sat down abruptly at the head of the table and reached for her wooden cup. After a long swallow, she looked at each of them in turn, finally resting back on Naif. ‘What is it you suggest we do, then?’

‘One other thing we heard involves the uthers. The Ripers are holding their queen hostage –’