The Hidden City

The House War is the story of the battle to control the most powerful of the ruling houses in the Essalieyan Empire - House Terafin. But it is also the tale of a remarkable young woman, Jewel Markess (though she prefers to be called Jay by her friends). The Hidden City introduces us to the orphaned Jewel, who has somehow been managing to survive in the slums of Averalaan since her father's death left her completely on her own. She is unexpectedly rescued from this existence by Rath, a man who turned away from his own family long years ago when his sister left home to join House Terafin. Now his sister is The Terafin, head of House Terafin, while Rath has become a recluse, prowling the ruins of the undercity, finding relics of an earlier age and selling them to the highest bidder.
When Jay steals Rath's money, he seeks her out to reclaim what is his. Discovering her under a bridge and deathly ill, he does the unthinkable. He takes her in and nurses her back to health. Little does Rath realize how this completely uncharacteristic act of kindness will change his life. For once she has recovered, Jay insists she must repay her debt, and Rath finds that he cannot be rid of her. But even worse lies ahead. For, driven by visions over which she has no control, Jay begins to rescue other children and bring them into Rath's home. As Jay forms the group that will eventually be known as her den, the group that will eventually follow her to House Terafin, Rath is walking a far more dangerous path.
Though most in Averalaan seem unaware of it, the demons that once nearly destroyed the Essalieyan Empire are stirring again, reaching out to strike down any who can give warning against them. And soon, Rath, who treads the ancient ways hidden beneath the slums of Averalaan, and Jay, who is cursed with the untrained talent of a seer, will find themselves the targets of these unstoppable beings.