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He didn’t know. Nothing was supposed to intimidate a Light Phase, but in that moment Kahn was hopelessly, helplessly terrified. He just didn’t know what to do.

“Hello, Kahn.” A voice said in a disquietingly calm tone, given the madness engulfing the world. It cut through the spiraling turmoil in Kahn’s mind. “Not sick yet, I see.”

Kahn jolted back to reality and gave his head a quick shake. His dark gaze swung over to the man beside him. He had brown hair, aristocratic features, and stood with his hands in the pockets of his pale gray suit.

The face was unfamiliar, but there was a stark white streak at his left temple. All the Elementals had streaks in their hair that identified their House. The various colors signified which kingdom they belonged to. White meant Reflection House.

Reflection Phases could change their appearance to look like anyone, so sometimes they hid their streaks to assume other identities. Most times they didn’t bother. It was a part of their true self that they could hang on to, no matter who else they pretended to be. It had to be dizzying to never look in the mirror and see the same person twice.

“Yuan.” Kahn muttered distractedly, figuring out the man’s identity.

Yuan, of the Reflection House didn’t seem to mind Kahn’s clear lack of interest in conversation. Even on his best days, he only cared about what he had to say. There were a lot of egotistical assholes in the Elemental realm, but Yuan was one of the most powerful Phases alive. His ego and assholery were bigger than most.

He craned his neck to look down at Livinia and made a tsk sound. “Such a shame. She’s so lovely.”

“Freya will fix her.” Kahn insisted, wanting to believe it. “She’ll be alright.”

Yuan sighed, still gazing at Livinia’s face. “My kind values natural beauty. When we take on a face, we make it perfect. But it’s the tiny flaws that mark someone as truly special. The nose that’s just a bit crooked or the mole that’s placed just so. The small touches that keep you looking at a person, because they’re unplanned. Nothing can quite replicate it.”

Livinia was beautiful. Even as the sickness greyed her skin and hollowed her cheeks, there was no denying it. She’d always been a lovely, cheerful girl, who liked pretty things and playing jokes. It hurt him to see her so still, when he was used to seeing her smiling.

He might never see her smile again.

Kahn blinked back tears, clearing his throat. “I need to find Freya.” He choked out.

“It won’t do you any good, you know.”

He did know it. “Where’s Freya?” He snapped anyway.

“Around here someplace. You should find the girl a bed, before you go looking for her.” Yuan waded into the nearest row of cots, scanning the occupants. “Ah, here’s an empty one.”

It wasn’t empty. There was a dead Weather Phase on the mattress. Yuan tipped it to the side, so the corpse hit the dance floor. “Put her here.” He gestured to the space he’d created.

Bastard.

Kahn hesitated half a second and then laid his sister on the cot. The fallen Weather Phase was gone. Livinia still lived. “Can you watch over her, while I get the doctor? If she wakes up, tell her I’ll be right back.”

She won’t wake up, an insidious voice in his head whispered.

“Of course.” Yuan’s appearance shifted, and suddenly he looked like Kahn. Blond hair, muscular build, and black eyes. “It will be as if you never left.” He sat down on the edge of Livinia’s cot and ran a hand over her wavy tresses.

She made another fitful sound of distress.

“Sleep now.” Yuan sing-songed in Kahn’s voice and then glanced back in real-Kahn’s direction. “It really is a shame. Her face was so natural. So pretty and unique.”

“She’s still alive.” Kahn told him harshly.

Yuan got a pitying look; the expression made all the worse because it was delivered by Kahn’s own face.

Fucking bastard.

Kahn should have brought Mara with him, so he’d have someone he trusted to watch Livinia when he couldn’t. But his cousin was at Syllia and Aggie’s bedsides. They were almost as bad off as Livvy. And Tonia, Prinny, and Roma were sick, too. The Light House had been hit hard and fast with the disease. Still, he suddenly didn’t want to leave Yuan alone with his sister.

“Kahn!” Freya’s voice settled his internal debate.

She came striding over, her normally prim and proper exterior frayed at the edges. Her pale bun of hair was coming undone, and there were circles beneath her eyes. Like Kahn, she probably hadn’t slept in the last thirty hours.

“Oh God, don’t tell me it’s the girls.” Her eyes fell on Livinia and her shoulders sagged forward. “Oh God.” She repeated sorrowfully.