Page 1 of In Darkness We Claim

FIRST YEAR AT SHADOWMERE UNIVERSITY

“Welcome to Shadowmere University.”

As the Chancellor of Shadowmere, Vernon Calderbank, continues on with his speech, I look around at the Grand Hall where the Sorting Ceremony is being held.

Located on the outskirts of the Shadowmere campus, the Black Chapel conceals the Grand Hall within its walls. Most of the students on campus see an old chapel that should probably have been knocked down years ago, and they avoid it, since it offers nothing exciting. In reality, the gothic building is home to the Obsidian Order.

Its vaulted ceilings, marble walls, carved obsidian pillars, and decorative stained glass windows show off the opulence associated with a secret society that rules from within the shadows.

Most people will have never even heard the name, or be aware that the Order is everywhere, even within the highest levels of our government—just the way the Order prefers it.

Four different coloured banners hang from the ceiling in the large, church-like room, each representing the Houses you can be sorted into—the Crows, the Hawks, the Falcons, and the Eagles. Each House favours a unique skill set, so the Obsidian Council will place you in the one they believe will bring out your true potential.

Chancellor Calderbank is standing at the far end of the Hall, on a wide black marble dais, bathed in a rainbow of colours from the stained-glass window behind him. He’s raised slightly above the crowd of people who are sitting before him in pews, soaking up every word that passes his lips.

He’s cloaked in the full-length ceremonial black robes that all Order members wear on occasions like this, with the silver insignia of the Obsidian Order embroidered on the left side of his chest. Each member is wearing a decorative mask to hide their identity, with the colour signifying their hierarchy within the Order—silver being the most common.

The Hall is silent except for the shuffling feet of the men standing beside me, each with our heads bowed as a mark of respect. We’re all first-years, standing in front of the dais, with the pews at our back, waiting to discover our House assignment.

Chancellor Calderbeck clears his throat before projecting loudly enough for all to hear. “You stand here on the threshold of greatness. Shadowmere University is not merely an institution; it is a crucible. It is where the exceptional are forged into the unbreakable—where the worthy are shaped into the powerful. And for a chosen few, it is the first step towards becoming a member of the Obsidian Order.”

The silence is so thick, you could hear a pin drop. My breath hitches in my throat, a silent plea to the universe to hold still. The air feels heavy, charged with anticipation, and I daren’t even exhale, fearing the softest puff of air will shatter the fragile perfection of the moment.

Even though my father told me what to expect from the Sorting Ceremony, nothing prepares you for the weight of expectation that appears on your shoulders the minute you’re standing at the front of the Hall.

The Obsidian Order is an elite secret society that breeds the leaders of the future, though you may never know it as they rule from the shadows. Becoming a member is an honour that is earned, and only the strongest will survive their three years at Shadowmere.

I was raised knowing this was my future. My family has been part of the Obsidian Order for generations, and they drilled into me from a young age that I’m to follow in their footsteps—whether I want to or not.

Most of the men standing beside me come from Legacy families, invited to Pledge because our fathers once stood in the exact same place. But some have earned their invitation. It’s rare, but if someone displays the traits needed to become an Order member, the Council can extend them an invite to Pledge. But their journey to prove themselves will be so much harder.

“For some, the three years you spend at Shadowmere will be the best of your life. If you pass all of your assignments, you will graduate and be inducted into the Order—guaranteeing you a lifetime of influence, wealth, and power beyond your wildest imagination. But the path will be fraught with danger and challenges, and only the strongest will survive. If you fail even one assignment, you will be forced to leave.”

Some of the guys next to me start to mumble to each other, no doubt wondering if they really mean it when they say we’ll be kicked out for just one failure. They don’t realise that is the best possible outcome.

When you graduate and become a full member, there’s no way out. If you fail an assignment, you die. Once you’re in the Obsidian Order, they have you in their grasp for life.

“In a moment, each of you will be assigned to a House. Your Head of House will be responsible for training you, issuing you with assignments, and assessing your competency. Everything will be a competition, and we will rank you to see which of you is elite enough to join us.

“The ultimate goal is for you to receive your House ring. It is a symbol for all to see, letting everyone know you are an Order Pledge. But remember, you will not receive your ring, or become an official Pledge, until you’ve completed your first assignment—which you’ll have two weeks to do.

“If you want to be worthy of the ring, you’ll have to bleed for it.” As the words hang heavily in the air, Chancellor Calderback shuffles over to the large throne-like chair at the back of the dais and takes a seat. Once his arse is firmly planted on the chair, I can finally breathe normally.

Before I can relax too much, Alexander Chance, Head of Crowhurst House, steps to the front of the dais, and I pull my shoulders back to stand taller. Every generation of my family has been assigned to Crowhurst House, and I’m fully expecting to become a Crow.

The iridescent purple banner hanging above Xander’s head looks almost regal, with a black crow sitting proudly in the centre, surrounded by gold peonies. He nods towards it as a show of respect before turning to address the group of young men standing at the front of the Hall, waiting patiently to find out their assigned Houses.

Xander is in his early thirties, and even amongst us Pledges, his name is legendary. He was once one of the most deadly Pledges, not only graduating as High Crow, he also had one of the highest kill rates of any graduate. He rose through the Order ranks with force and determination, but rather than taking on a high-ranking role like everyone expected, he requested to be Head of the Crows, wanting to train the next generation.

There have always been whispers that something happened with his Prize, and it set him on a path of destruction, but whether that’s just rumour, I don’t know.

As he stares down each Pledge, it’s easy to see why people think he’s cold and calculating. His face is unreadable, all hard angles and tight lines. This just makes his dark, unruly hair seem out of place, as I’d expect it to be styled perfectly, like the rest of him.

When his cold blue eyes flick to me, I don’t look away. Instead, I hold my head high and let him see he doesn’t intimidate me. There’s a flicker of something in his eyes, but it’s gone before I can get a read on it. He takes a small step closer, and I pull in a quick breath, ignoring how my heart races with excitement.

Xander is only a couple of inches taller than me at six-foot-five, but with him standing on the dais, it gives him a height advantage that he’s happily using over us Pledges. It’s a pretty standard intimidation tactic, but it won’t work on me.

When he finally looks away, I still don’t allow myself to relax, as he clears his throat before addressing us. “I’m Xander Chance, Head of Crowhurst House, and to Pledge with the Crows is a great honour. We only take the clever, the cunning, the ones who see the entire board before any of the pieces are moved.