Chapter 34
Alex was standing at the door with8Please respect copyright.PENANA7DgsMGvmwc
a concerned, yet angry expression on his face. The relief he must have felt8Please respect copyright.PENANASOZj9ACbnB
when he saw Vander must have been enormous because he slumped against the door8Please respect copyright.PENANAW3hBqiF8Pi
frame as a breath, he likely didn’t know he had been holding, left his body.8Please respect copyright.PENANAQaK9KXIanC
Shea, in her excitement, jumped off the bed. She ran over to him and slammed8Please respect copyright.PENANAWRqDVqwXhE
her weight into his legs. If he had been leaning against the door, he probably8Please respect copyright.PENANA5o8BGbtHf4
would have fallen over.
“So, this is where you’ve been8Please respect copyright.PENANA0S3Q1y4bzn
hiding out.” Alex was rubbing between Shea’s ears as he stared at Vander.8Please respect copyright.PENANAiUIxLOqAoR
Sighing, he nodded then stepped back, motioning for his friend to get out of8Please respect copyright.PENANANuAo0QoigO
the hall.
“I know you have questions, and I8Please respect copyright.PENANAbnjBLqkJUO
will answer them.” Vander stopped as Alex took a step towards him. He flinched,8Please respect copyright.PENANAv28BDug8ph
but Alex just wrapped his arms around his friend pulling him into a hug.
“Not once for a second do I think8Please respect copyright.PENANATrraBJgbTy
you would have killed Malcolm.” Alex whispered. “None of us do, not even8Please respect copyright.PENANAVjUc9zcHBe
Cuvera.” Vander blinked back the tears he didn’t realize he had been holding.
“It was Peyton.” Vander stepped8Please respect copyright.PENANAO1EG630euN
back out of Alex’s embrace. He sighed, finally willing to tell his friend8Please respect copyright.PENANARssODNhjqq
everything, like he should have done in the beginning. Alex sat down on the bed8Please respect copyright.PENANAUwuEvMpYHs
before accepting a drink from Vander.
As his friend drank, Vander8Please respect copyright.PENANA5of0sw4tQg
started from his first meeting with Veyar before they had even left the forest8Please respect copyright.PENANASefOuMCFeu
where he had been told about the Darkness returning. From there, from other8Please respect copyright.PENANAkvr36K4XtH
visits with both Veyar and Unna hinting at his role of keeping the Darkness8Please respect copyright.PENANA2GriKvQcm7
sealed away. He explained his thoughts about the Serpents being behind8Please respect copyright.PENANAFAWhDvmy9H
everything, but the interview with the assassin shed some doubts of their8Please respect copyright.PENANAMxrUgj4iWh
involvement, even though Cuvera didn’t believe him.
After that he had been told to8Please respect copyright.PENANAgJh3P0GkxE
grab a book from the King’s study, one he had been shown one night that8Please respect copyright.PENANAeXJdT9r64z
depicted the Gods and their abilities. That was the book Peyton had been after8Please respect copyright.PENANADrY52adB6n
when he killed Malcolm and framed Vander for it. After that, Vander took the8Please respect copyright.PENANACfbeIcImtq
book and gone on the run. He explained that Jeffery Jilena had stopped him but8Please respect copyright.PENANAndV3gfqmbC
had let him go. Then he went to the only place he could stay safe, the Orange8Please respect copyright.PENANA4onveCMtSD
Fox.
“Wait,” Alex held up his hand.8Please respect copyright.PENANAGbdFTOiPMP
“Jeffery Jilena let you go? When we chased after you, we found him with his8Please respect copyright.PENANAQVUZsBjYci
body cut to pieces. His murder was blamed on you.”
“Murder?” Vander felt ill. “He let8Please respect copyright.PENANAAjbZgbH6kC
me knock him out so I could escape. He was alive when I left him.”
“Another piece to the puzzle.”8Please respect copyright.PENANAnDaOJOxfCe
Alex hadn’t thought that Vander was truly responsible for the murder, but it8Please respect copyright.PENANAu1PXJkuvUY
just added another question to the long line of them.
“That explains why those guards8Please respect copyright.PENANAwQ08G44K4C
were so adamant to kill me.” Vander sighed. “Anna must have put a bounty on my8Please respect copyright.PENANAkiVhQ7DOTj
head in the underground.”
“She had been ordered to cancel8Please respect copyright.PENANAGRpk3audh3
it, but it looks as though that hadn’t happened.” Alex growled. “So, what were8Please respect copyright.PENANAAXcTfGz1Z7
you doing at that house anyway?”
“That’s the other part of it.”8Please respect copyright.PENANATvqXf8Yq1Q
Vander explained that he had been under the impression that Peyton was working8Please respect copyright.PENANAoTVgz4EUtA
with the Serpents to take over Eluvia. So, he used Ross’s vast network to help8Please respect copyright.PENANAkDlkf24OtH
him find where they were hiding to discover their plan. That safe house was the8Please respect copyright.PENANAmofLQ3xHdI
latest clue, it was a meeting area where he also discovered someone else was8Please respect copyright.PENANAOsCq1ZpwVv
tracking him down, someone called Fang. He also told Alex that three people had8Please respect copyright.PENANAjShXvCnTJS
escaped before Vander arrived. They may have gone on a mission, or something8Please respect copyright.PENANAXCPZD1sUQN
spooked him, of which he wasn’t sure.
“It’s a good start.” Alex sighed.8Please respect copyright.PENANACuaUImIddk
“I met with the doctor who checked the bodies. Each one of them had a tattoo on8Please respect copyright.PENANAnzjIrIwiil
their wrist of a coiled snake. I went back to check on Ulysses and Nigel then8Please respect copyright.PENANAHuAJBiKAzW
found the same on them. Seems to be their mark.”
“It won’t matter unless we check8Please respect copyright.PENANANtvaCbk0rr
every single person’s wrist.” Vander shook his head. “We need a better way to8Please respect copyright.PENANAgyq4hfqC3I
check, but that’s something that won’t happen until I get to Cuvera.”
“Why not come back with me?” Alex8Please respect copyright.PENANAE28q4hWKv4
asked. The offer was tempting, but he couldn’t risk being thrown in the jail8Please respect copyright.PENANAky6Cnpwp5k
cells right now, not when he was so close to unearthing who else was behind the8Please respect copyright.PENANAWlYo3yg8Vo
conspiracy. He couldn’t risk it, not right now. And he told Alex as much.
“I understand.” He opened his8Please respect copyright.PENANAB7FVKAaJcd
mouth to say something else, but he was interrupted by a knock on the door.8Please respect copyright.PENANAoJEWYXwJDL
Both Left and Right were there. They had come to deliver a message. It was time8Please respect copyright.PENANA0dInD5UKmb
for Vander to chance then make his way down in the arena. Nodding his head,8Please respect copyright.PENANAtOCETci0v0
Vander accepted the package in their hands then closed the door.
“You’re fighting?” Alex’s jaw8Please respect copyright.PENANAHgz0nkXC79
dropped. He was setting himself up to be seen, for his enemies to know where he8Please respect copyright.PENANAz2Gtm8Q4tU
was. This was insane.
“It was Ross’s payment for letting8Please respect copyright.PENANAAMAifKcEWc
me stay here.” Vander walked into the bathroom to get changed. He had been8Please respect copyright.PENANAcuJo5qTKPg
given a white tank top, some raggedy brown pants and a mask to put over his8Please respect copyright.PENANAYslmBdyMoV
face.
Whoever crafted8Please respect copyright.PENANAh2DQOVGUlv
it was quite skilled: it was a white mask that had been painted to resemble a8Please respect copyright.PENANA8xSzULVech
wolf’s face. He knew that the clothing was made on purpose. It would make him8Please respect copyright.PENANAs9VuSUqwh2
look like someone who needed the money but would give to those watching a show.8Please respect copyright.PENANA2dBdviEpo7
With the white they would be able to see if he was injured and how badly. The8Please respect copyright.PENANAG0fhOGh9sF
crowds loved the sign of blood, they always did.
“Stay tonight.”8Please respect copyright.PENANAcvqldkYR8g
Vander said as he walked from the bathroom. “I have a feeling I may need you8Please respect copyright.PENANATwOL2asA6E
there.”
“I understand.”8Please respect copyright.PENANAQfnTb36zVD
He could sense his friend’s reservations about letting him fight, but there was8Please respect copyright.PENANAnJ3syhSbsu
no choice, and he knew that. Right and Left were still outside the door waiting8Please respect copyright.PENANAdVIoArpaYk
to escort him downstairs. Vander slipped the mask over his face then followed8Please respect copyright.PENANAiiJt2QDfV7
them down.
The crowd was8Please respect copyright.PENANAQWXEXU2G2o
already in full force, cheering for blood at the lower leveled bouts. The8Please respect copyright.PENANAWycpS7QCxi
drinks had already been flowing as some had passed out leaning up against the8Please respect copyright.PENANAHs2DkUGfIL
wall with a drink still in their hands. The two bodyguards were immovable8Please respect copyright.PENANAnZfnVFNnyZ
objects surrounding Vander as multiple people were trying to get their hands on8Please respect copyright.PENANATKIVifoKVg
him before his fight. Right pushed several people away then barked a warning to8Please respect copyright.PENANADXsPN6tTyQ
the others: Ross would skin them alive if anything happened to his fighter. A8Please respect copyright.PENANAR8aOWuXiNS
cold, calculated threat, but not one anyone would risk. So, they kept their8Please respect copyright.PENANAYip0xKVi0i
hands to themselves.
Suddenly a sudden8Please respect copyright.PENANAsZxxXNVGBp
scent of blood hit Vander’s nose then the crowd erupted into cheers. He saw8Please respect copyright.PENANAwgAVSG6cYS
Ross standing up from his podium throwing his hands up into the air. “And there8Please respect copyright.PENANAeNFlR4bmAK
you have it! You have your winner!” There was quite a bit of cheering, but8Please respect copyright.PENANA6xd6VnDeG0
there was a lot of cursing involved. Seems as though a lot of people gambled on8Please respect copyright.PENANA8cSKsgWiaj
the opponent to win. Looking over the edge, Vander saw a young kid standing8Please respect copyright.PENANA7lOtP1uWmy
over the body of an adult. The adult was breathing as the medical staff ran out8Please respect copyright.PENANAYgENDkINm2
to remove him, but Vander knew that man was likely going to die. The kid was8Please respect copyright.PENANAKhNxe5vxNS
led out by one of Ross’s servants.
“And now for your8Please respect copyright.PENANA8W3GdIFxIb
final bout of the night!” Ross motioned for Vander to get up next to him. The8Please respect copyright.PENANAuLmzK2jf12
crowd grew quiet as he walked up to stand next to his protector. “He is a new8Please respect copyright.PENANAKPnqzgDReW
fighter, but still skilled. I bring you, the Wolf.” No one cheered for him,8Please respect copyright.PENANATTDfSQZv3B
just gave him curious glances. Vander felt a little self-conscious standing8Please respect copyright.PENANAmvR1IqDPJj
there, but this was all part of the show, he just had to do his part. “Now his8Please respect copyright.PENANAuUqb7AEN9T
opponent has been thirsting for a worthy opponent and winning here would give8Please respect copyright.PENANAateL9yA4n9
him a chance to fight the bear, slaughterer of thousands. I bring you, the Sword!”
A door in the8Please respect copyright.PENANAThk260C8DL
arena was thrown open and a large shirtless man walked through holding his8Please respect copyright.PENANAvZ9tYLtGzy
massive sword above his head. The man was shirtless, wearing a similar ragged8Please respect copyright.PENANAl4bfR4bizF
pants, and a mask with a sword painted on it. The crowd erupted chanting his8Please respect copyright.PENANAntoHeYIIWM
name. Despite knowing that he would win, Vander couldn’t help but feel a little8Please respect copyright.PENANAblIDtJEaeQ
intimidated.
“This is a fight8Please respect copyright.PENANAOFEEN4gs8c
to the death!” Ross shouted. Vander spun around as if this hadn’t been part of8Please respect copyright.PENANAJLUZVqBcOQ
their arraignment, but all he got was an apologetic shrug and a smile. Vander8Please respect copyright.PENANAISMLKzhtqQ
vowed he would get Ross back for this, but for now he had to focus on the8Please respect copyright.PENANAHCWdIWajUl
challenge at hand. Without waiting for a prompt, Vander stepped off the podium8Please respect copyright.PENANAV5gi9Rffi2
then jumped down into the arena below. Sword tilted his head in8Please respect copyright.PENANAxiZMuNGJLS
acknowledgement. The crowd cheered as the two combatants circled each other8Please respect copyright.PENANALAzdLC18nc
warily.
“You don’t look8Please respect copyright.PENANAiGgpWYWqR3
strong.” Sword taunted. “In fact, you look like someone who prefers to lay on8Please respect copyright.PENANAe8Nmac4mSv
their back all night. What do you think? Should I fuck you before I kill you?”
“You must be8Please respect copyright.PENANArTnzbMRwGc
nervous if all you can do is talk.” Vander snorted. “Now let’s get this done,8Please respect copyright.PENANAHngNsJi26v
I’m getting bored.”
“You’ll regret8Please respect copyright.PENANAXpr7dhasKG
that runt.” The man shouted then charged towards him swinging his sword.
One of the8Please respect copyright.PENANALhO8DczPZn
instructions Vander had given before his bout was that he had to drag it out as8Please respect copyright.PENANAxl0FsqfdFH
much as possible. No one liked a quick fight. They wanted blood and a lot of8Please respect copyright.PENANANtHHsel5jk
it. He would have to hold himself back as this was a regular human. He would8Please respect copyright.PENANA48fAaOAj6f
fold like an omelet if Vander hit him with his powers. This would prove to be a8Please respect copyright.PENANAAlpeL8XUCO
challenge, which was why he found himself unarmed.
Vander ducked8Please respect copyright.PENANARveZzkWE70
under the sword swing, but the man’s knee came up catching him in the chin.8Please respect copyright.PENANAwIoHx62nZw
Vander stumbled backwards as the other foot caught him in the stomach knocking8Please respect copyright.PENANAAIaICfSjU8
him to the ground. He quickly rolled away as the sword pounded the ground where8Please respect copyright.PENANAWgX44xjkjj
he had just been. Vander got up, grabbed a fist full of dirt, then tossed it at8Please respect copyright.PENANATeiWDPm7VD
his opponent. As he struggled to remove the dirt, Vander tackled him around the8Please respect copyright.PENANAxMV7Ngp94w
stomach bringing them both to the ground. He began punching down at the face,8Please respect copyright.PENANAhkESMYmqEv
but he was purposely going slow. Sword was able to block most of them before8Please respect copyright.PENANAy2w1Tebuz8
bucking Vander off and into the ground.
“You’re good I’ll8Please respect copyright.PENANAugCPUYttJs
give you that, but this is where it ends.” The man lifted his sword and went to8Please respect copyright.PENANADM52PKTlh1
stab down at Vander, but before either of them could move, three daggers flew8Please respect copyright.PENANArx39EnF4yz
from the crowd and hit him in the chest. “What?” Blood spurted from his mouth8Please respect copyright.PENANAQmclWq2aqT
as he fell over backwards, dead. The crowd muttered to themselves wondering8Please respect copyright.PENANA0Gp8C1dIfD
what the hell had just happened. The smell of Applewood filled the arena, and8Please respect copyright.PENANAjvb0mUphRq
he knew what was going on.
“Ross, you need8Please respect copyright.PENANA6NtAjkgNgK
to get everyone out of here.” Vander shouted. He scrambled for the sword as8Please respect copyright.PENANAk7QqLnxN7X
three people jumped down in the arena with him. Each of them was heavily armed8Please respect copyright.PENANAbIZSjEzElj
and wearing leather armor. He didn’t recognize either of them, but if they were8Please respect copyright.PENANAhkzcO2uIss
here, they were probably Serpents.
“Vander, the8Please respect copyright.PENANAyR1aL5Puki
Blade Captain.” One of the Serpents said. They had hoods pulled over their8Please respect copyright.PENANAnv7QsCLgqm
heads, but it wouldn’t be enough to keep him from seeing their faces.8Please respect copyright.PENANAgBmGsge49l
Tragically he didn’t know any of them.
“You’ll pay for8Please respect copyright.PENANAvSMm8tEqG3
what you did to our comrades.” Said another. “Then our contract will be8Please respect copyright.PENANAMKossQKdTz
complete.”
“Who hired you?”8Please respect copyright.PENANA3wlALomIe9
Vander shouted. He eyed the sword his opponent had been wielding. He wouldn’t8Please respect copyright.PENANA7t5JsuzbRJ
be able to survive without it, but it was so far away. He would have to be8Please respect copyright.PENANAA2aAteoq8n
careful.
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“No reason to8Please respect copyright.PENANAIuSmGyt1xl
tell a dead man.” The Serpents drew their knives and lunged at him. Vander8Please respect copyright.PENANAj5j0sqak4f
brought his arms up to protect himself. This was going to be tough.