Zye is quick about getting dressed. Into his tennis shoes, pull on the gloves Xerxes gave him, and make sure his pants are settled around his hips. He grabs the jacket with the dragon tail on the back as he makes for the door. All while he tugs at the shirt torn to be cropped just past his ribs.
He doesn’t want to keep her waiting too long after all. He’ll meet her halfway and shove the bad feelings behind him. Anything to ignore the voices and fight the monsters in the shadows of his mind.
Shrugging into the jacket as he comes down the stairs, he spots an older-looking man walking over to where she waits. His sharp green eyes glance between them as Zye comes to a stop. Zye nudges Kerse’s arm with his elbow.
“Go ahead and take care of it. I’ll message Jace and let him know I’m with you.”
“Incorrect, I actually wish to talk to you. Not the one that couldn’t handle the job. On that note, will she be staying on board?”
Zye watches Kerse grind her teeth. She steps off the stairs and away from the man. “If you’re lucky, I won’t see you ever again.”
“No, that’d make all of us the lucky ones. I think we’re better off with new blood.”
He turns to Zye who stands toe-to-toe with him. Glaring down at the man, Zye uses his height to his advantage. He doesn’t care if the man before him is older or has been around longer.
“You won’t speak to her, or anyone for that matter, that way or there will be consequences.”
“You’re going to defend someone who betrayed us?”
“You don’t have the full story, so take your assumptions elsewhere. Kerse does everything she can for all of us. So yeah, I am. You don’t know what she went through so show some sympathy or I’ll shove my foot so far up your ass it comes out your—”
The man shakes his hands defensively before him, shoulders hunching and eyes glancing around nervously. “I didn’t— I mean, I had a question is all.”
“Then ask it.”
“Are the new Infernals going to be training with us like they used to?”
Zye crosses his arms over his chest. “Kerse is in charge of training for now. Until things are back to normal be careful and watch out for each other. Then we will.”
The man glances over at Kerse before turning with a huff. As he does, Kerse steps over to Zye. In one fell swoop she punches his shoulder and grabs his wrist. She yanks him after her while opening a portal.
“Ass. I don’t need you to stand up for me.”
“Deal with it. That’s what friends do, right? By the way, does that happen a lot?”
“Yes and no. Most people don’t care, I guess.” Kerse grumbles. “You’re annoying and weird.”
“So are you. And wait, we can’t leave, Jace said—”
Kerse glances over her shoulder. “Pop in, pop out. No one will know we’re there. Besides, you’re safe with me. I’ll beat the shit out of whatever shows up.”
Not that he gets much of a choice with how Kerse tugs at his wrist. She urges him after her and through the swirling portal. The anxiety of going through it is dashed when he comes out on the other side. Kerse finally lets go of him and continues forward.
Zye doesn’t know where not to stare. It looks like a world pulled from a pastel watercolor painting. It’s beautiful. From the vast lavender sky to the dual moons that sit off to the edge of the horizon. The smaller orb hugs close to the larger one. Both give their bright gleam to the world and make the dew on the plants shimmer.
Tall trees bend and curve over each other with long foliage dangling down to the ground. Teal vines cascade to the similarly colored grass. The branches reach up and hug into the next tree to form the clearing they’ve exited out in.
There, he notices the way the grass has grown up halfway to his knees. All the way to the table that sits in the dead center. One chair is knocked over into the grass that’s grown along it. Another is leaning forward with two legs up in the air. The third sits normally as if nothing is amiss.
Zye follows Kerse as she strides over to the table. Once he’s close, he runs a hand over the surface. One that’s marred with a few scorch marks and cuts through the dark brown wood. There’s even a piece broken off one of the edges where it looks like claw marks drag toward it.
“What…is this place?”
“I didn’t think it’d still be here. Surprise it hasn’t needed a reset. Still,” she hesitates while dragging her foot through the grass, “seeing as things look the same maybe it won’t be much longer. I can feel it. It’s heavy.”
“Keke?”
Kerse moves around the side of the table. “I don’t know shit about a lot of things. They handled so much and left me to stay with the Dark Stars. But…they were made first, that’s just how it was.”
She picks up the chair that’s toppled over so that she can sit down on it. Seeing that she has, Zye mimics the motion. He glances between the two that are left only to take the one that’s leaning against the table. He puts all of the chair’s legs on the ground and sits.
“Figures you’d pick her chair,” Kerse chuckles.
“Oh, shit. I didn’t mean—”
“It’s fine. Sit.”
Zye fidgets in his seat before folding his arms atop the table. The very thing his mother always admonished him for. “Are you sure?”
“Mm.”
“And you meant that in a good way?”
Kerse smirks and leans back. It’s enough that she can kick her feet up and drop her heels onto the edge of the table. “Kinda. You both care a lot. Even if you have different ways of showing it. Bet you don’t take care of yourself either.”
“That’s… Fine.”
“Jace reminds me a lot of Hax. Silent, always thinking, watching, and playing his cards right.”
“I can see that. He’s so smart I feel like an idiot next to him sometimes.”
Kerse chuckles at that. “Hax might have been smart, but Charm still ran things. She was the ‘move and let me do it myself’ type. Hax did what he wanted. And I…”
The words die on her tongue as she struggles to continue. Zye watches the smile on her countenance begin to fade and her brows furrow. Creases form as she frowns down at the table.
“You wanted to be with them?”
Kerse lets out an amused huff. “To be good enough. It didn’t matter what I did. I felt like I’d never catch up.”
“You have things you’re good at.”
“I don’t want pity. I’m telling you I understand. You’ll catch up. Stop feeding your head.”
Zye glances away, staring out at the way a gentle breeze makes the grass wave back and forth. He does feel like that. She’s not wrong. Even so…
“I mean you run yourself ragged trying to be what you think you’re expected to be and forget what you actually want.”
“And? What else wise one?”
“And when you do that, other people can take advantage of that. You need to do what makes you happy.”
“Happy, huh?”
Zye leans forward further, his ankles crossing beneath the chair as he does. There’s a playful smile on his lips as he catches her gaze. “Come on, tell me one happy memory. I know even you have one.”
“Dick. Of course, I do.” She sweeps her legs off the table but remains leaning back in the chair, legs spread and arms crossed over her chest. “I’d sneak out to meet with Haru. He’d tell me things about worlds he went to and sing songs he learned. Other times, we trained till neither of us could move.”
“Really? What was his weapon?”
“A shield. He was good with it, too. I never could knock him down. After, he’d tell me all the good moves I did make. It helped me realize where the bad ones were without wanting to scream at Charm.”
“Sounds like he cared a lot about you,” he says with a soft smile.
Kerse immediately scoffs at him. “He was still too reckless. He thought because he had a shield as a weapon that meant he could put all his power into that. Wouldn’t use it to extend toward his own body, only for others.”
“Ah, yeah, they’ve mentioned that’s important to do.”
“Everyone can do it. Someone could stab you and it’d just cut instead if you focused well enough. He figured that was a waste. Knock them down before they could do that, he’d say. Protect others that can’t protect themselves.”
Zye nods along with her. He remembers the lessons Ilista would teach him. He tried to take them all to heart even if he didn’t think he’d last long here.
“Wish I’d met him. Sounds like a nice guy.”
“Annoying.”
“You think everyone is annoying.”
He watches Kerse’s lips part to retort only for her to move so fast it makes him dizzy. Her chair is kicked backward as skids to a stop next to him before he can take a breath. She grabs his forearm and yanks him up to his feet. Zye’s chair falls over as the portal fully forms where theirs had previously.
A sunrise color that casts a brilliant glimmer against the grass. The dark boots stepping out of it are the opposite. They crunch and smash without care until Ren is in full view with the portal fading behind him. He lifts a hand in a wave.
“Hey there, you two. Having fun on your little play date?”
Kerse keeps herself in front of Zye while summoning her armored gloves to cover her hands. From behind her, Zye rolls his eyes. He doesn’t think it’s funny in the slightest. Even so, Ren is alone.
“How the hell did you find us?”
Ren shrugs and shakes his head. “The same way I did last time. Okay, no, that’s a lie. The last time I followed Adrian’s trail and a little bit of yours. This time it was all you thanks to your blood.”
“What?”
“When I bit you. I can track someone with their blood. Although…it takes a lot of energy and resources, but I can manage. So don’t think I’m here to fight. I’m practically ready to fall over.”
“Sure you are.” Kerse scoffs at him.
“I mean it. Can you tell your dog to sit, hm?”
Kerse doesn’t flinch at the statement. She keeps her gaze on Ren while Zye leans his palm on the table. He’s not sure how to play this. In one respect, Ren does have a point.
“Tell me why you’re here first or I call everyone here.”
“I need a favor,” Ren sighs.
Kerse steps forward and grinds her heel against the grass. “No. Now leave.”
“Even if I can tell you what you need to know?”
Zye glances between them. He knows Kerse will fight alongside him should things go in that direction. In the same breath, part of him wants to know. He’s curious and they do need a lead even if it’s a bundle of lies to decode.
“Fine, what is it?”
Ren’s lips stretch into a thin curl of a smile. He keeps his hands up where they can see them as he begins to chuckle. “I knew you’d see reason. You see, Soren is getting a bit much and I’d really like not to die. I like what I have here.”
“You’ve helped and allowed Soren to hurt people.”
“Have I? I don’t recall condoning any of it.” Ren’s eyes narrow at him. “I followed him because I didn’t have a damn choice. Do you think I want to play bad boys with him and Ayre? No. I want to sample all of the blood around me and grow my collection.”
Kerse scoffs and it has Ren glaring at her before continuing.
“I’ve done overtime to make sure they know I’m on their side. Things I don’t care to do, I’ve done.”
“Prove it,” Kerse replies.
“You two are idiots… If only I had Jace’s blood I could have talked to someone with more than two thoughts to rub together. Oh, but don’t think about bringing anyone else here. I don’t have time.”
Yet, despite his words, Ren begins to strip off his coat. He drops it in front of him and begins to undo the belts across his hips as well. Once they’re all in a pile he moves to the side away from them.
“There. If I want to attack you I’d have to summon something and that’s not my style. I like the tools I have. And before you dare, if my plan was to bring them with me, I already would have and you two would be on your knees.”
Kerse steps forward with a growl reverberating in her throat. “You piece of—”
Ren ignores her. He begins gesturing with his hands as he speaks, clearly not bothered by the way Kerse clenches her fist tighter.
“Being undercover, as deep as I was, I’m not sure Charmilla ever talked about me or my position. It wasn’t easy. I didn’t even get to meet the ones she trusted the most. Oh, right, I suppose you won’t believe me. Ask Adrian. He’s the only one that knows the truth. I told him not to blow my cover or I’d drain him dry.”
Zye doesn’t get a chance to say a word before he can hear Kerse in his head.
“Thoughts?”
“I wish Jace was here.”
“I second that. Don’t call for him in case this is a trap.”
Zye steps around Kerse to stand beside her versus behind her. That way he can see Ren without having to look over her. “Get to the point, Ren, or we’re leaving.”
“I admired Charmilla. I looked up to her. Loved her power. She could do so much with her magic. All I wanted was to harness my potential and do the same. But then she died and Soren tows in little lost sheep Kerse. I tried slipping her blessed water at times. Anything to screw with his plans. That and if she woke up out of the mess in her head it’d be fun to see if she broke.”
His thoughts are spinning as he listens to Ren talk. The man must love to talk. Or just hear his own voice. Beside him, Kerse clicks her tongue.
“What’s wrong?” Zye asks.
“I did take it once. The water.”
Ren’s glare hardens as he stares her down. “And you knocked me on my ass for it because he noticed.”
“You laughed it off as a joke. I’m not sorry for hitting you if that’s the lows you take.”
“Aw, doll, you got to learn to play a little tricky to get done with your tasks. Besides, I healed. I have plenty of stocks of different powers. Of course, If Callua would let me—”
“You touch her and I’ll skin you,” Zye states loudly, not realizing how his voice raised.
The reaction has Ren grinning. “Oh? My we’re a little touchy today. Are you two really that close?”
“Get to the point or I’m leaving.” Zye’s threat is punctuated by his hand lifting, a portal beginning to curl up from the ground as he focuses on it.
“That’s so boring. But if I asked for Kerse’s blood, that’d be okay?”
“She can skin you herself without my help.”
“Mm…tempting. Come check out the hideout, please? Capture me and I’ll take you to where he’s moving everyone to.”
Zye tries to watch for any shifts in the lithe man’s posture. There’s nothing to read. He wonders if Jace would do any better in this situation. Surely he would, right? Biting at the inside of his cheek, Zye keeps his gaze leveled with Ren’s.
“And I can’t drag your ass back to Solis now because?”
“Because he hasn’t taken me to the new hideout yet. We’re going tonight now that it’s ready. Of course, I’m sure he’s already shown Ayre. The ever-loyal dog at his feet.” Ren pauses, tapping a finger to his chin. “Wait, no, he’d probably be on his knees for her in that situation instead.”
Zye can feel his eye twitching. It’s made worse by how Kerse leans over to whisper to him. A surprising action considering she could ask in his head.
“What’s he talking about?”
“I’ll tell you later.”
“Can you two stay focused?” Ren asks, exasperated. “Anyway, the castle is a trap. I need you fools to watch your step. Do you know how to be stealthy? Seeing how tall you are, I’d say you’re as clumsy as they come.”
“Asshole, I will walk.”
Kerse glances over to him. “Are you?”
“Screw you, too. Can you be sneaky?”
“Don’t know. Maybe.”
Ren rolls his eyes and claps his hands together to get their attention once more. “I need an answer, kitten. Is it a deal? I want away from this freak and my mission labeled a success already.”
Beside him, Kerse bristles. She takes a single step forward with her chin held high. “Why? Charm is dead. She won’t know if you run away.”
“Shut your ugly face!” Ren shouts. He stomps his foot against the ground. “I’m well aware the reward I’d get is gone.”
A thought occurs to Zye and he jumps for it. “I can assure you’re telling the truth if I can give you a reward equal to what she would, right? Incentive to not fuck us over.”
“Really? Charmilla promised to train me and show me the depth of my power. More than I could imagine.”
“What about I do that and give you some of my blood. I bet she didn’t go that far.”
Kerse digs her elbow into Zye’s side. “You idiot, don’t do that.”
Nonetheless, the bait has been cast and Ren’s eyes widen at the prospect. “You’d give me some? No questions asked? I can do with it what I wish?”
“Kerse, Jace, and Callua know Charm’s training. They can handle that. As for the blood, you can sip on it by the fire when we’re done for all I care. But if it’s a lie? You’ll have to kill me to get any.”
Ren shakes his head. “Oh, no, no, no. Near-death blood only gives terrible quality. And that’s a good point… Soren would never let me keep you long enough to get any. I’d go to quite great lengths to get a better sample from you…”
“Then do I have a deal?”
“Hmm…oh my, how can I put a number on it.”
“One vial.”
“Six,” Ren counters.
“Three and they can be at least this big,” Zye replies while measuring it out between his fingers. No different than the length of the ones the nurses would use on him. That much he can handle.
“Deal. If you want to verify all of this, again, talk to Adrian and tell him the keyword. It’s cinnamon lollipop. I’ll be waiting.”
Ren strides over to his things and begins scooping them up. As he does, Zye closes the distance between them.
“Wait, how will I know if you have the location?”
Huffing as he stands, Ren shakes his head. “Fine. One last piece of security. It’ll be fun to see how much you all trust Adrian. I’ll send him a message when I have it. But I won’t tell him the location otherwise you’ll leave me in that den of jabberwocks. Ayre won’t let me out of her sight once I know. She doesn’t trust me.”
“I can see why.”
“Careful, I find that attitude cute.”
“Sorry, taken.”
Ren laughs as he begins to conjure his own portal. “Oh, that’s adorable. That means little to me.”
Staring after him, neither of them say a word until Ren has walked through the portal and the magic has dissipated. At the same time, they turn to look at one another. Zye lets out a long sigh and shoves his hands into his pockets.
“What the fuck was that?”
“You agreeing to be poked by that freak.”
“Please don’t phrase it like that. I’ll go dig a hole and die in it if you do.”
Kerse, seeing that Zye has let go of the portal he was forming, creates her own. “Are you sure about this?”
“No. Let’s get back and let them know what we found out.”
Before he steps through, Kerse offers him one glimmer of hope that Ren is telling the truth.
“Charmilla did have plans for everything. Tools and people for every problem. She’d never send Jace or Callua into the lion’s den like that. Some unhinged brat obsessed with her? In a heartbeat.”
ns 15.158.61.20da2
