Checking to make sure safe houses for those targeted by the Dark Surge are still safe is a time-consuming job. Jace would normally trust this to Gray. However, after he’s been outed as a traitor it’s no longer sensible for him to be moving around.
All it takes is for someone to tail him and everything can go up in smoke.
Not that Jace would mind having to go in fists blazing to take care of things. That’s a simpler approach than what he’d prefer. Still, he’d make it work if it came down to that.
This last one he’s going to is where Gray and Yue will be staying if they aren’t already there. They’re two big targets. Yue is known to be close to Ilista and if anyone pieces things together they’ll realize Gray is his right hand. He can’t afford either of them to get captured or killed.
He refuses to lose another friend to this nonsense.
Not that the conviction does anything to wipe the exhaustion from his shoulders. With the area secured, Jace leans against the door in the entryway. No one should be entering here normally at the moment. He can spare a second to rest.
At least, he would if there wasn’t someone coming around the corner. She looks at him and when she realizes who he is, she turns into the small confines of the space. He’s stuck between her and the door out.
Jace stands upright, trying to hide the way he wants to sit down more than anything right now. Instead, he gives her a once-over. She does look a bit different now that she’s been stripped of her Keeper status and reborn as a simple Star. She’s changed her whole look.
Gone is her long, blue braid. The only blue left in her hair is the roots showing atop the shortly cropped, pale blond and the undercut beneath it. The hair barely comes down over and around her ears. Because of this, it shows off the earring and cuffed it’s linked to on her left.
Jace watches the way she saunters up with the pink dress billowing out about her thighs. The bottom half of it fades up into a sleeveless purple bodice with cutouts in the shoulders of the wide sleeves. Atop it is a brown belt cinched tight with purple cloth attached to it. It goes further down to her knees with a star adornment dangling from either corner.
Her hand settles on her hip, causing the bangle to shift on her wrist. “You’re a hard guy to track down.”
“I’ve been busy.”
“Busy playing all sides or just one?”
Her eyes narrow a bit, allowing the purple eyeshadow to become more prominent. Jace steps forward and she moves aside for him. He’s pleased when she follows without him having to ask. Through the house and to the sliding glass door, he takes them out into the backyard.
There he looks up at the moon before sitting in one of the chairs around a thick, white plastic table. Vespera moves around to stand behind one of the other chairs. Yet she doesn’t sit. She grabs onto the back of it instead.
“These are impressive places you’ve set up,” she starts.
“Some of us like to have lives in the worlds too. Others can’t afford to go back to Solis or Noctis at the moment.”
“I see. Is this because of the Dark Surge targeting them?”
Jace nods at that and leans back in his chair. God, he could use a nice relaxing day of nothing to do. Healing waters only do so much.
“Yes. By the way, how did you survive? If you need anything let me know.”
“No…No, I’m fine. Thanks to Zye. He stuck up for me.”
“That sounds like something he’d do.” A smile touches the corners of Jace’s lips as he drums his fingers on the arm of the chair.
“He was an idiot!” Vespera lets go of the chair, throwing her arms up in the air. “He probably reopened his wound. He shouldn’t have bothered, I was working on it.”
“That’s just who he is. He sticks up for people.”
“He’s stupid.”
“I’d say that’s a good quality.” Jace levels his eyes with hers. “Can you tell me anything?’
He doesn’t mean to come off as needy in asking. He’s simply dying to know something— anything. Hax’s ailing condition doesn’t give him as much relief as either of them would hope. Perhaps it’s a good thing Vespera is still around then.
She taps the toe of her purple slip-ons against the leg of the chair. “I would assume Celeste is tending to him personally. I’m sure they or anyone there will let him out of their sight. However,” she takes a deep, steadying breath, “I want to help you in any way I can.”
“If you’re looking for redemption, he probably already forgave you before you even did it.”
“No…this is for me.”
Jace smiles and sits up. “I appreciate the help. You’re strong and I could use a bodyguard.”
“You trust me just like that? Also, why would you need a bodyguard? Aren’t you the strongest Keeper? I mean…maybe aside from Ilista if she’d plan a bit more.”
“A horrible person wouldn’t have hunted me down.”
“And you don’t think I’m a double agent?”
“No. Not when you were willing to protect us back there.” Jace begins to stand. “It’s for a human girl. I can’t explain right now, but we can talk later when I introduce you. Until then stay safe.”
He holds out his hand and she’s quick to take it. Linking her energy with his, she knows she’s made the right choice.
“Are you sure? I can fight, too.”
“I don’t need you beside me,” he begins as he hits back down. “Besides, you haven’t earned my trust yet.”
Vespera refuses to let up. Not when she knows what’s at stake and what he’s against. “You can’t handle this alone. You’re only one person.”
“The only one that can get to Kerse. I’m not putting you near the Dark Surge again either. Take it as an order.”
At that, she pouts. “It’s not fair pulling rank, jerk.” She keeps her eyes on the glass door and the way the curtain shudders. Someone is unsure of her being here. The glimpse of purple and pink hair, however, tells her nothing. “And the people that hurt Celeste will be brought to justice?”
Jace cuts his eyes out to the back corner of the yard where a portal begins to rip into being. From it, comes Callua. He almost wants to ask what it is about these women and changing up their looks. Then again, Zye did as well. The only difference is Callua had warned him she would do it.
The long hair she was always so fond and protective of is gone. Waves and curls bunch up against her shoulders and dip around the soft curves of her face. They frame her eyes so perfectly.
Pale blue sleeves dip down to her elbows from her v-neck shirt. It ends just before the high-waisted skirt. Matching blue flowers are embroidered up the left side of the black material. A deep color that is broken up between skirt and knee-high boots by her pantyhose.
Jace keeps his eyes on her while speaking with Vespera. “I’ll deal with them personally. When I’m done, the Dark Surge won’t exist.”
“What’s going on?”
Vespera turns and Jace gestures between them. “A new friend of Zye’s. Vespera, this is his best friend, Callua. Callua, this is Vespera.”
“I know who she is, dummy!”
“Be nice, she’s been through a lot.”
“Uh…huh. You do know she’s the one that I gave that stupid thing to. She’s the one that—”
Vespera spins around to face Callua fully. She bows low at the waist at first. “Jace, Callua, I will work hard to earn your forgiveness. I won’t even dare think of asking for it. But please…”
There she pauses to lower herself to her knees. Her hands press to the concrete while dipping her head down rest between them on the ground.
“Please let me try to make things right. I want to make up for what I’ve done. I was stupid and blind and unwilling to ask for help. If it wasn’t for Zye I might not have this opportunity. I only ask that I’m allowed to return the favor to him.”
Callua stares down at her and then cuts her eyes over to Jace. She lifts her shoulders to which he shakes his head. This is Callua’s problem, she’s the one Vespera is bowing down before.
“Haa…okay, okay. I guess that’s more than we’ve gotten out of anyone else.” She smiles softly as she bends down. “Now come on, lift your head.”
Vespera does and at the sight of Callua’s smile, she nods. She doesn’t feel like she’s worthy of it. But she will be, she’ll make sure she works hard for the two of them and the entire cosmos. She’ll make sure no one gets taken advantage of under her watch.
While Vespera rises to her feet, Callua turns to Jace with a hand on her hip. “I have a lead on the girl. Her name is Sigil, by the way. Adrian should have the location to me soon.”
“And Soren doesn’t suspect you?”
Callua laughs at that. “You know I’d be dead if he did.”
Vespera interjects as she dusts off her dress. “I doubt that. You’re far stronger than he is I’m sure, you’ve been around longer and know far more.”
“Flattery only gets you this far,” Callua responds and holds up her fingers, pinching them together with a small space between them. “But thank you. I could probably take his ass down a peg or two before he took me out at least.”
“Focus.” Jace interrupts them as he stands. “I’ll return to Solis. Find her and take Vespera with you.”
Callua tilts her head toward Vespera, “Power?”
Vespera summons her sickles into her hands. At that, Callua lets out a high-pitched whistle.
“Alright Miss Bodyguard, let’s see if you have the guts for this. Jace doesn’t like me fighting the tainted people.”
“You…” Jace sighs and rubs at the back of his neck. “Just because she’s going with you doesn’t mean you need to pick a fight.”
“It’s insurance, Jay, chill. Us two girls can handle this. Now go before Kerse throws another tantrum.”
Jace doesn’t pay them any more attention. He’s glad they’re getting along if nothing else. He steps back into the house and slides the door shut. Readjusting the curtains to keep the moonlight out, he nearly jumps out of his skin when he turns around.
There before him is Yue.
She shouldn’t have startled him. He must be tired.
“I’m sorry to bother you. I know I’m not of much help but if there’s anything I can do, please let me know.”
“You’ve done more than you know.”
“I could tell Ilista about how you’ve helped all of these people. Perhaps, it could help.”
“I appreciate that, I do, I’m just not sure that’s the best move. I’m not saying you shouldn’t trust her. I simply don’t trust some others up there at the moment.”
Yue lowers her head. “I see. Then, maybe—”
“Please, Yue. You are the only thing Gray cares about. Without you, I’m not sure he’d be able to function. Protect him for me now that I can’t.”
She slowly nods and lifts her head. “Then please be safe. Let the light be with you.”
As he walks away and into a portal he summons, he wonders if he should take her up on that offer. Then again, the last thing he wants to do is put her in danger. She’s already in the Dark Surge’s sights because of Gray. No, he doesn’t want anyone else getting hurt.
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37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsHuXzDJriu
It must be a miracle today as he didn’t run into Kerse at Solis. He’s been able to slip in, gather up a jug of water from his cleansing pool, and hurry back out. Going to the location that Hax sent him is where the problem starts.
Out of sight and out of mind, it definitely is. The run-down motel is hardly populated and if it is, Jace can’t imagine it’s for anything good. It’s located in a rather seedy part of the city and crammed between what looks to be a restaurant and a small store of some sort.
That’s all Jace can see as he stands out on the small, cramped balcony to Hax’s room. He knocks softly on the sliding door. A second later and it opens.
“You’re quick.”
Jace hurries inside as Hax closes the door. He sets the jug down on the ground beside one of the two beds. “I have good news. Callua should be calling for me any time about the girl.”
Hax spins around. The cloth ends up over his shoulders versus his arms. “Take me with you.”
“No. You’ll only get in my way.”
“Jace, don’t make me beg. I will get on my knees and grovel if I have to. It’s the only thing I’ll ask of you until the end.”
He hesitates at that. Jace glances over his shoulder. That seems to have Hax a bit exasperated.
“Don’t tell me you’re actually considering it. Maybe the power has gone to your head.”
Jace spins around at that. “I can’t keep you safe. I have too many people on this already.”
“I’m not asking you to protect me. Nothing will happen to Zye if I die, he’d still be fine.”
“You don’t know that. I need you around.”
“Oh? That’s flattering, Jace, but that would be considered cheating if we got further than this.”
He knows exactly what Zye, Callua, or Shae would do in this situation. He knows how fed up they’d be and they’d let this man know it full well. Instead, he gives Hax his back and opens a portal.
“If you’re done playing around we can go. You’re to stay out of my way.”
“I knew you’d come around.”
“If it shuts you up, I don’t care. I’ll drag you back here by your hair if you mess this up.”
Jace goes through the portal first. He means every word. Hax is aware of that fact. He goes quiet and follows after. The stained hotel room is left behind as they come out on the outside of a wall.
A tree stretches up over where he comes out and drapes across the wall. The stone is slick from the rain. Stone that’s been forgotten with time and begun to show its age. Of course, the Dark Surge would never pick a place that’s populated in any sense of the word.
From what Jace can gather as he comes out, he’s been here before with Kerse. It’s a small shrine of some sort. Nothing fancy or over the top at all.
Before him, completely shadowed by the wall, are Vespera and Callua up against it. The second he’s out of it, Callua grabs at Jace’s arm and yanks him toward her. She leans up on her tiptoes yet she’s not making a move to whisper in the slightest.
“Jay, what the hell?”
“Please…just follow my lead and don’t say anything right now.”
Behind Callua, is Vespera with a mile-long stare and a million questions brimming at the edge of her mind. She’s so terribly confused and concerned. Even more so when Hax smiles and gives her a wave.
“Hello, Vespera. It’s nice to see you again. I like your new look. Very fierce.”
“I…uh, yeah…thank you…sir?”
Jace tugs away from Callua and glances between them all. “Just treat him like anyone else.”
Beside him, Callua mumbles under her breath, “Better yet that he’s not here.”
“Cal.”
“Fine. You know this place, lead the way to the back room that was used as storage.”
Jace jumps up and grabs onto the wall. Hoisting himself up is easy. Even more so when he flicks the diamond once he’s squatting on the top. There’s no one relatively close to where he is. The tree shades him from view where the diamond’s power can’t.
Two people are at the front entrance. One seems to be patrolling the wall. Not to mention, he has no idea how many would be stationed inside now that there’s someone to guard.
Vespera hops up next to him and keeps her voice low. “Patrol, you get them up and over.”
Jace nods. He watches her run along the wall. She’s quiet and stealthy, never making a noise as she goes after the one on patrol. Her goal is to wait for them to take that corner, then she can quietly knock them out.
On the other hand, Jace partially turns back to the two on the ground. Callua puffs her cheeks, gets a running start, and jumps. Fingers clutch at the edge before he begins to help her pull up. It takes a moment considering she’s shorter than he is
The tips of her boots scrape over the wall as Jace assists her. What she doesn’t expect is for Hax’s uninjured shoulder to slip beneath one of her feet. The extra boost has her sitting on the wall and feeling a bit sour that he helped.
It may be petty, but she keeps to herself. Jace is the one that reaches out to steady Hax as he gets onto the wall with a bit of trouble. Her eyes lock on the way he keeps one arm close to his side.
A glare is what she sends in Jace’s direction as well as a message just for him.
“He’s injured and you brought him with you?”
“It’ll be fine. She’ll be more likely to believe us if he’s here.”
Callua huffs and remains where she is. Jace moves first. He leaves the two of them sitting there and makes for the front entrance. The large open square leaves him little to move around. All he can do is hug the shadows of the wall until he’s closer.
Tainted stars.
He doesn’t want to. He loathes it.
Jace steps away and begins to walk up to them. His gaze flicks over to the other side of the building and then back to the two on guard. As he gets close, they shift to look as if they’ve been paying attention.
The one on the right gives Jace a nod and steps aside. Walking past them, he glances to Vespera one more time. Their eyes meet and it’s all it takes.
Spinning around, Jace locks his arm around the man’s neck and squeezes. It keeps him from screaming as Jace presses his other hand to the man’s back. Fire burns into him and through his core.
The man beside him is about to shout for backup when Vespera is on him. The blunt handle of one sickle slams into the side of his head. He collapses to the ground without a peep. The first guard vanishes into a mist of sparkles and an orb of light.
It sails up toward the sky while Jace reaches out for the other man. He crouches down and sets him aflame as well.
This has Vespera raising a brow.
“I wasn’t aware I could use lethal force.”
Jace gestures to the pale skin and bright, glowing blue veins through it. He stands up and meets her eyes. “If they look like that, yes. You’re doing them a favor. At least, these ones. I’m sure some could be convinced to turn tail and cleanse.”
“I see. Understood.”
From behind them, Callua and Hax are beginning to make their way over. As they do, the end of their conversation can be heard.
“Go. Home.”
“Ah, but home is where the heart is. At the moment it’s here with you all to retrieve Sigil.”
Callua glares at Jace when she stops before him. “This is ridiculous. Tell him to wait where we came in at.”
“Jace,” begins Hax, “let’s get this over with shall we? Lead the way.”
A feeling bubbles up inside of him. Something Shae said a few times; he’s not paid enough to deal with this.
Jace pivots on his heel and climbs the short, three steps to the door. Sliding the thin, wooden door aside gives him something to do. More so to follow the torches on the walls.
The rest saddle up behind him. They don’t say anything as he walks past a few hallways. They’re short and lead to dead ends thus no one is stationed down them. As they get closer to the end of the one they’re in, he sees someone.
They’re standing outside the door straight ahead.
If he can see them, they can see him.
Jace keeps his voice hushed, “This one next.”
Hax places a hand on Vespera’s shoulder at that as Jace continues forward. Callua hangs back a few steps, not eager to get up close and personal. As they do, Jace gets the man to look up and meet his gaze.
Behind them, Hax is summoning his power. The small purple rift stretches across the stone floor before him and Vespera. She doesn’t question— she’ll trust him because Jace brought him here. Before he ushers her to step into it, he points to the ceiling above the man where an identical rift is growing.
Stepping through it is easy if not a slight bit disorienting. She comes out of the ceiling and lands on the man. Knees knock against his shoulders and send him hurling forward to the ground.
He slams face-first against the stone, unable to right himself, while Vespera ducks and rolls. She rises right to her feet in front of Callua. The feat has Callua giving her a nod and a whisper in her head only she can hear, “Pretty cool.”
That has the corners of Vespera’s lips giving the tiniest quirk upward. She tries not to let it show while Jace takes care of cleansing this person as well. As they’re disappearing, their soul floating away to rejoin the cycle, Hax is getting closer.
Jace turns to ask him a question when he sees it.
Someone coming out from the hall. A tall figure with long hair tied to the side. They glance down at their group and the person panics.
“We have intruders!” they shout as loud as they can.
About to rush forward, Jace doesn’t get the chance. Hax swivels around and from thin air comes a slender dagger. It’s not very large, long enough to pierce through and hit a core if anything.
He slings it handle over tip. A rift appears in front of it and it sails right through.
The person is already turning to run away.
Right into the other end of the rift and the dagger that sinks into their chest.
Vespera sighs and steps forward. “I’ll take out as many as I can and hold them back. Hurry and get her, we can’t let anyone see you all.”
None of them are comfortable with being caught. Perhaps except for Jace. He’s the only one that can fight in closer quarters comfortably. As long as he can make sure no one squeals about him being here.
Hax hurries past both him and Callua to open the door. It’s locked and he huffs, “Jace?”
Hearing his name, Jace grabs the doorknob and heats it. By the time he lets go, it’s melted and the door creaks open. He gives one glance back at Vespera dashing toward her first fight before going inside.
The room is rather bleak. The single window is boarded up with a small table in the corner. Atop it is an oil lamp that casts enough dull, flickering light to touch the edge of a cot across the room. Sitting up on the bed, a young woman peers through the shadows.
“Who…who is it?”
Hax hurries up to her side while Jace produces a ball of flame in his hand. With it, he can give plenty of light to her dreary little cell.
The second he’s close, her arms wrap around his waist and yank him close. Her shoulders heave and shake for a moment. It’s too much emotion for her petite frame, yet she doesn’t make a sound. There are no hiccups or wails or sobs.
Only silence.
Vespera is making more noise than her. In the distance, Jace can hear the dull thuds and clattering of weapons.
Hax pats the top of Sigil’s head. “I’m sorry for leaving you alone with them.”
His hand cups at her cheek while brushing some hair behind her ear. She looks so filthy and disheveled. It upsets him that they have treated her as if she’s only a tool to be used. Still, he makes sure to look over the tattered coat, t-shirt, and ripped jeans.
For the most part, she doesn’t seem to be hurt. His only solace.
Callua diverts her gaze. She moves to look down the hall where they came from. “We don’t have time for this. We need to move, now.”
As Jace leaves the room he notices one important fact.
Vespera is nowhere to be seen. He can hear the distant sounds of fighting. For a moment, he’s more than just worried. Fear licks at his heels as he breaks off into a sprint down the hall.
Callua bites back the urge to yell after him. Instead, she follows with a short bite back toward Hax, “Come on.”
Jace can’t wait for her.
He can’t let Vespera get hurt. Not again. There are scrapes across the walls and stardust slowly dissipating from where it lies on the ground. Souls line his way out, souls he prays for as he runs.
Prays this doesn’t happen to them again.
Skidding to a stop at the doorway, he sees her and a chill runs up his spine.
She’s surrounded.
Seven people surround her with varying degrees of being tainted. Those that are Stars have weapons summoned while the Dark Stars are relying on their Nether qualities to keep her on the edge of her seat.
A never-ending game of dodge and parry.
Not on his watch.
The courtyard erupts in light as Jace jumps over the steps and races toward the two closest to him. A blast of fire sails up into the air as he punches one in the back and ducks down, sweeping his leg against the other’s feet.
The fire catches the second one as she falls.
Two down as he hurries to her side. The sight of him has her scoffing. “I said to leave.”
“I’m not leaving you behind.”
“I can handle this.”
“And I want to help.”
Vespera doesn’t argue further. If anything, she manages to keep the smile from her face as she lunges toward another Surge member.
One comes up behind her, machete drawn, when Jace punches him in the face. She stabs the man she’s fighting and twirls back around.
Jace catches her hand and he slings her in the direction of the next person. As he does, he’s flicking his wrist to send out a thin wave of fire into the woman racing towards him. It crashes into her chest and knocks her over.
Callua emerges from the doorway and shakes her head. “As if one Jace wasn’t bad enough.”
She watches as Vespera ducks a swipe of a broadsword only to kick at the woman’s knees. All before slicing up their chest and stabbing into their core.
Two see her as the prominent threat and rush at her.
A mistake on their part.
“Jay!” Callua calls out to him mentally.
It’s all he needs to shove the one he’s fighting away and dash to Vespera. He’s at her side with an arm around her waist. Vespera is hugged to his chest and lifted up off the ground, an easy feat considering the height difference between them.
As he spins her away, he kicks at the first of the two. Flames dance along the length of his leg. Slamming his foot against the stone sends up a spray of fire in their direction. It knocks into them and overwhelms them with ease.
Those afflicted by Soren’s project can’t shield themselves. They’ve lost the protection of the light. They’re defenseless in exchange for power.
They fold like paper cards while he lets her go. Vespera has a tinge of red across her cheeks as she pushes away, dismissing her sickles. Doing so immediately has her realizing something too late.
Even worse that Jace is tired. His reflexes are begging for rest. He doesn’t sense the Dark Star’s clouded presence.
The last Dark Surge member is standing right behind Jace. Her eyes go wide, her mouth opening and yet no sound can come out. Vespera grabs Jace’s wrist and yanks him toward her.
From a rift, Hax steps out from where he had been shielded behind Callua. The dagger he wields allows him to parry a similar type of blade.
Except the man brings it down with a backward swing, catching Hax in his side. Hax doesn’t skip a beat. His dagger slips into the man’s chest, forcing the threat to fade away.
Jace is upon him in the next instant. He grabs at Hax’s forearm. “I told you—”
“It’d make him sad if you were hurt.”
The statement has Jace wrestling with his emotions. He can’t handle this at the moment. Callua, however, can as she hurries to them with Sigil in tow. Her hand remains clasped with the human girl’s in case someone dares to whisk her away.
“Ves, anyone else?” she asks aloud.
“I don’t see anything. There were fifteen inside and then the seven here. I’ll do a perimeter run. Send me the location and I’ll meet you back there.”
Callua tightens her grip on the girl’s hand. She knows Sigil wants to rush to Hax’s side. She just can’t allow that. This girl is too important to Soren. At the same time, she’s not and Callua doesn’t want her hurt.
“Jace, portal. Now.”
He does as she instructs and they hurry through while Vespera begins to do a sweep of the property. Leaving the moonlight behind them, the four of them return to the hotel room that’s a little too warm.
Callua finally lets go of Sigil’s hand once the portal dissolves behind them. One glance at her surroundings has Callua shaking her head. “Seriously? Of all the places.”
Sigil, however, is running over to Hax as he drops to the edge of the bed. He doesn’t bother touching or looking at the wound. No sense in it. Sigil believes otherwise as worry and panic rush through her like a tidal wave up a shore.
Hax draws up a hand, urging her not to get close to the blood. “I’m fine little one. Go calm down, clean up, and get me a towel from the bathroom.”
Her head bobs up and down, unsure and concerned. She hurries to do as he asks. It gives Callua plenty of time to walk over to him. As she does, Jace raises a brow. He thinks she’s going to heal him.
Then again, that’d be a waste of her energy. Especially since she’ll have to report to Soren once word gets back to him.
“Cal, what are you—”
Jace wants to assume the noise hurts more than the collision of her hand across his cheek. The red streak across his pale skin is as obvious as the anger in her eyes as she glares down at him.
“You fucking idiot! What is wrong with you? Do you think you can just do what you want when you want? That you can play the villain and then the hero when it suits you? That you can screw up my friends’ lives, let Charm get killed, and still go after Zye like that?”
Her voice that’s raised with each question, grows small. Dangerously quiet.
“Do you think you’re a God?”
Hax, unable to stop himself from cupping the stinging in his cheek, stares up at her with wide eyes. “I…I’m sorry. No, I don’t.”
“I don’t want to hear it,” she snaps back at him.
A step closer and Jace has a hand on her wrist. A gentle touch of fingertips rubbing against the inside of her wrist and a thumb on the back of her hand. It does well to calm her, to have her look back at him for a moment.
“Cal, breathe. He’s bleeding and not healing— can’t heal. His power is going to Zye and I’m not sure what happens if he passes away from him. You can beat him up later when I don’t need any more information. How about that?”
Her bottom lip trembles. Slender, green brows draw up and pinch together over eyes torn asunder with grief.
“He deserves it!”
“Just let him try for right now so we can do what we need to do. So we can make sure he’s safe, right?”
“You…” She starts as she turns back to Hax. As she does, she pulls her arm away from Jace to show she’s fine. She can take the high road for now. “I hate you so much. This…we…haaa…”
Her words get lost in the tightness of her throat.
And yet, Hax never tries to look away from her— from what he’s wrought. The mess he’s made is something he thought he could run away from and leave to Zye. To have her shoving it in his face has that bitter pill of regret a bit harder to swallow.
“I swear I’ll help you fix things.” Hax takes a steadying breath as the pain continues to blossom through his side and stomach. “Charmilla was…I didn’t think that if they got into it that it would come to blows. This is my fault.”
The mask dares to slip. All of the walls he’s built dare to crumble until he makes sure they’re reinforced.
He has a part to play now.
“Kerse killed her, yes, but she’s not in her right mind. Wasn’t in her right mind. Charm was unbending and yet I never thought she’d go that far.”
Callua doesn’t give him a reply. Doesn’t dare clear him of the regret that she can see on his face. She does let the anger shake from her hands as she closes the distance between them. Kneeling before him, she shoos his hands away.
“And I thought Jay or Zye are a pain in the ass to deal with. You take the cake.”
She summons forth her power, an orb of water that rests comfortably in the palm of her hand. Even if he’s really doing what the journals say, she should still be able to heal him. He’s still tied to Solis for now.
“Than—”
“Don’t. I don’t want that.”
Jace watches her work the water over the cut. She’s a master at manipulating her ability to whatever shape or density that she needs. As well as keeping it from behaving as water should and not hold itself together.
From behind him, he hears the bathroom door open. Sigil slips out, not wanting to interrupt their conversation, with a towel in her hand. She looks a bit better with her face washed despite her teary eyes.
“Are…are you going to be okay?” she asks quietly to no one in particular.
Hax smiles at her over the top of Callua’s head. “Of course. Why don’t you hand that to Jace and then go get clean. My…we can get you some clothes so you can rest.”
She nods at that and Jace glances back at her, accepting the towel. Once she’s back inside the bathroom, he tosses it on the other bed. It looks just as uncomfortable as the one Hax sits on the end of.
The door clicks shut as Vespera appears in the room from a portal of purples and blues. She comes up beside Jace. “No one was left. As I was leaving someone arrived and saw me.”
“That’s alright. You’ll be sheltered here as well unless one of you needs something. And…Sorry, you had to do that.”
“I did worse when I was alive. Assassinations aren’t pretty or clean.” She gestures to where Callua is healing Hax’s wound. “Do I get to know?”
“You do. We’re all friends here.”
“Friends my ass,” she mutters under her breath. She’s definitely not friends with Hax in any way, shape, or form.
Jace ignores it and lets her have that one. He can hear the water in the shower turn on. They have some time before she’s done.
“I’ll brief you more later. Until then, could you get some clothes for the two of them? They’re who you’ll be babysitting.”
Vespera raises a brow at that. “I’m guarding an Infernal and a human?”
“In short, yes.”
Vespera rolls her shoulders and turns to Hax. “Any type of clothing you dislike.”
“No, surprise me.”
“Fine. I’ll be back.”
They all wait for her to leave. It’s not that he doesn’t trust her. It’s simply because he’d rather explain it to her when it’s the two or three of them later. Right now, he knows it’s important for Callua to work through her own thoughts and emotions.
Hax watches as Callua begins to pull away. The water melds back into her skin and vanishes as she does.
“Your skill is as impressive as ever,” he compliments.
“I don’t need your praise.”
“I think you deserve it, more than any of us.”
Callua’s gaze snaps up to meet his. “Being nice doesn’t change that I’m angry and I don’t like what you’ve done. Just because Jace isn’t screaming at you doesn’t mean I won’t.”
“If there’s anything—”
“Tell me why. What’s so important and what are you getting out of this?”
Giving them space, Jace steps over to the glass door. He tugs the cheap blinds to the side so that he can peak out. The sunlight looks so warm and inviting. It reminds him how weary he is. When was the last time he slept?
Hax doesn’t avoid her eyes. He stares into them as he answers, “A life.”
“What?”
Callua stands up and settles her hands on her hips.
“You have ten seconds to explain. If I don’t like your answer, I’m opening the wound back up.”
Jace sighs from where he leans against the door. “You’d better start talking to her. I won’t stop her.”
“This is all your fault.” She says glaring down at Hax with renewed vigor.
“Yes. You’re right. I’m waiting to meet with Zye so that I can die. It’d be faster that way. If I perish away from him it could delay my power getting to him. Or he might not be in the right state to accept it. There are too many variables I don’t know of.”
Callua hesitates at that. It’s not news about Zye that hits her so deeply. It’s that he wants to die. She hates it. They’re human. The one thing none of them ever truly want is death. Yet this man craves it?
Jace watches her stumble back a step or two.
It doesn’t help that Hax smiles up at her, the mask fitting so perfectly once again.
“So yes. I made a mess of things to get what I want whether it’s death or helping make this duty we’re bound to easier. But wasn’t it always a mess? None of us understood or truly cared about what or who.”
He shifts a bit, stretching through the pain to test her healing capabilities.
“I’m ready to run away from it. A sentiment I’m sure plenty of you mortals can understand.”
Callua shrinks away from him at that. It’s as if he’s slapped her with how she turns away completely. Jace knows about her past— mostly from what Charmilla let slip. It has him turning and crossing his arms over his chest after opening the balcony door.
“That’s enough, Hax.”
She’s moving toward Jace. Each step is quicker than the last. “I should go make myself available.”
“Cal—”
“I’m fine. See you later.”
Callua stops with her hand on Jace’s arm. She glances over her shoulder. “Hurt my friends any more than you have already and I’ll help you get what you want.”
The door shuts behind her just as a portal reappears with Vespera stepping out of it. She can see Callua hopping over the edge of the balcony and feel the tension in the air. Nonetheless, she tries to not let it bother her.
Vespera hands Hax a small stack of clothes. Once he takes it, she moves to the bathroom door and knocks. Sigil pokes her head out and Vespera gives her a stack as well.
Jace watches as Hax stands up and begins to undress. It’s almost comical how Vespera nearly jumps out of her skin when she turns back to them. Pivoting back around, she keeps her hands on the bathroom door. All in hopes that Hax finishes wiping away the blood and changing first.
Hax is quick about it. Out of his usual attire, he finds himself in a pair of dark brown slacks. They’re a bit large and hang on his hips. Due to this, the pastel yellow t-shirt doesn’t reach the waistband.
Inevitably, Jace can see the scar that the attack left behind. Callua couldn’t heal it any better than the waters at Solis. A fact that concerns him.
He sets aside a black jacket since he won’t be going anywhere. About the time he gets done, Sigil is trying to come out of the bathroom as well. Her clothes are much the same as his. The jeans are baggy and the pullover jacket seems to swallow up her delicate frame.
Vespera steps aside so that Sigil can rush over to Hax.
“Did it…is it okay?”
“I told you I’d be fine, child. Now get some rest and we’ll talk more when we get some food. We’ll get you home safe once this is all over.”
“It’s fine. There’s really…there’s nothing to go back to.”
Now that they’re taken care of, Jace pushes away from the door. He smiles gently at her as he comes to stand beside the two of them. “I’ll make sure you have somewhere to go back to. If you need anything, ask Vespera.” He gestures to her before extending his hand to Sigil. “My name is—”
“Jace. I, uh, I know already.”
The look he gives her has her getting a little shy. Not that it would surprise Jace that Hax might have mentioned him. It’s not until Sigil meets his eyes and shifts them away again that he suspects that’s not the reason.
“There’s, um…You have an energy around you.” Her hands begin to fiddle with the front pocket on her hoodie. “She wants me to tell you something. But, I…could you lean down?”
Jace isn’t sure what to do other than humor her. It doesn’t help that Hax gives him an encouraging smile.
“It’s not a trick,” he reassures. “She can speak with those that aren’t with us anymore. At least, not like this.”
This only confuses Jace further. Nonetheless, he decides to go along with it and bend down. Sigil cups her hand to his ear and whispers to him.
Gone is the mousy and timid voice. Suddenly there’s only strength and warmth that could block out any sadness one feels upon hearing it. An inflection that he used to know all too well.
“Please stop blaming yourself. Mama and Papa would want you to visit and let it go.” She starts earnestly before a smile can be heard in her words. “And bring him with you when you do, show him my favorite flowers. They’re still there.”
Jace isn’t looking down at Sigil. He’s staring straight at Hax.
“Is this a joke to you? Because it’s not funny.”
Sigil, feeling the tension, throws her arms around his shoulders before he has a chance to stand. She hugs tight onto him, keeping him there. She’s trying so hard to hang onto Jace and the connection she’s tapped into.
“She said she’ll move on when she knows you’re okay. Please don’t be angry at Hax for this. Terra loves you so much.”
It’s as if she burns him.
Jace pushes away from her as gently as he can. He goes straight for the sliding door and tugs it open enough for him to get out. Behind him, Vespera is hurrying after him with Sigil right next to her.
“And she’s sorry you got sick when she tried to cook that really pretty green fish.”
He grinds his teeth and leaves. He can’t do it, he can’t or it’ll all cave in and leave him unable to move. Jace jumps onto the railing and then off it, hitting the ground with a slight jolt going up through his legs.
The sidewalk doesn’t concern him. Nor do the people. He hurries around them and slips into an empty parking lot. A light flickers overhead what appears to be two vending machines despite it not being dark. Jace stays off to the side and leans against the chain-link fence.
“Jace, wait up!”
His back sinks against the metal, enjoying the rough bite it gives to his arms. It distracts him from how his thoughts are swirling. His eyes, however, remain locked onto the toes of his boots.
“Go back. You have your orders to guard them.”
“Not until I know you’re okay. What did she do? Should I be worried?”
Vespera’s words are hollow to him. His chest burns and aches. It’d feel better if someone had stabbed him instead of what she did. The tiniest glimpse of his sister wasn’t something he expected. Worse yet, he let them all see how bad it affected him.
He’s missed her, missed them all. Yet the regret and the guilt have him wishing he could sink through the ground into oblivion. The reminder that he failed is too heavy. The weight is crushing.
And he just wants her to leave him alone.
“I’m fine. She didn’t do anything but maybe don’t accept messages from her unless you can handle hearing from the dead.”
That has Vespera stepping back, “Then—”
“I’ll brief you more later. Don’t let either of them out of your sight. If Hax dies, I don’t know what happens to Zye until the transfer is complete.”
“What do you mean?”
“He’s trading place with Zye. It’s why Orion has him. He must be worried. I have documents you’re free to read once those two are safe.”
“And this was all planned?”
“Hax planned it. I found out recently.”
Finally, Jace lifts his eyes to meet hers. She watches him for a moment, waiting to see any chink in his body language. When she finds none, she moves closer to him.
“I could go back to Noctis and get him.”
“We have to be careful. I don’t know what happens when they trade places. Just remember, he’s weak and can’t help you fight. She can’t either.”
“I understand. I’ll risk my life to—”
“No. Don’t, please. Just do your best and run if it comes down to it.”
“Then you have to follow that rule, too.”
Vespera turns on her heel and rushes back to the hotel. He’s grateful she finally does. It allows him to sigh, something he finds he does more and more lately.
If he could sit down and cry he would. He’s torn between running away and going back to ask Sigil for more. Hax wouldn’t have known enough to feed her the information.
The name, yes. That she’s dead? Of course. That she nearly poisoned him with that fish? No.
From behind the vending machine, Callua makes herself known. She strides over to him. “Hey there, what’s wrong?”
“I thought you were going to see Soren.”
“And I’ve never seen you look like you want to cry and punch a tree since Zye technically died.”
Jace takes a deep breath and pushes away from the fence. He stares up at the sky. “Sigil, she can speak to the dead. If you can’t handle it, don’t go near her. Got it?”
“Is that what got you so worked up?”
“I could say the same to you. You let him get under your skin.”
“Hmph. He messed with my boys, I can’t just let him get away with that. Fine, I’m leaving to do my job.”
She’s about to turn when he stares at her back. “Cal?”
Callua knows that tone and she’d never deny him what he needs. Not when she could use some comfort right now, as well. She closes the distance between them and tugs him forward into a hug. A tight one that has her squeezing him tight.
“You’re a leader whether you like it or not. We can do it so stop being a dumbass. Get some rest, for me?”
“I can handle it.”
She looks up at him with her chin pressing against his chest. “You look exhausted. If you don’t, I’ll just go back and beat the crap out of him until you do.”
“Are you…threatening me?”
“Mmhm.”
He can’t stop the smile from showing as he pats the top of her head. “Fine. I will, I promise. As long as you stay safe.”
“Only if you promise not to listen to him anymore. There has to be a way to get this taken care of where they’ll help us.”
“I know. We can figure it out.”
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