Chapter 49

Cracklen was terrifying the first time I arrived, an underground city being so strange and unknown. It hasn't changed, only I've changed. My confidence ensures a smoother transition into the shadows of this rouge city. It's still filled with the same scoundrel company.

One thing I failed to garner last time was the state of these people.

They're all intoxicated.

At least, most of them are.

These hordes of people are degenerate and unwelcome to Dominions.

I know why now. In Wolf Dominion there was order – a sense of safety for those loyal. Out here it was eat or be eaten.

This all-round freedom came at a price, a heavy price. I guess because a rouge freedom involved the freedom of every outcome.

My own freedom was earned.

I now had a home, albeit with the enemy.

But could there be a better place?

Safety wasn't running or hiding. Safety was facing the fear every day head on.

Until there was nothing to fear.

Except, perhaps – my reflection?

I've made it to Cracklen's centre, where the markets are open at night and the crowds fill this area heavily. I'm wearing a stolen robe to fit in, covering my armour, with a hood over my face. I'm taking a moment to stare into something called an oil drum, reflecting my face back at me.

It's not a mirror. It's a black hole. I look shiny and metallic – it's like a substance that is thicker and blacker than blood.

It sells at a high price. Almost equal to Solividan.

"You buying that?" The young man selling barks at me, so I look up and hold his stare.

"What does it do?" I ask.

"It burns," he looks at me like I'm an idiot.

"Where did you collect this, from the ground?"

"From the Acklen– you're not from here, are you… what do you want, spy?" he is young and reckless and accuses me without fear.

"I'm just here on business," I explain calmly, "Where is Veva and Verren?"

"What the fuck? Those two died… a long way back, at least a half year back… why do you want to know?" he reads the very deep disappointment in my gaze.

"How?" I ask, with a monotone.

"Murder."

"But how?"

"Is there something wrong with you?" he really thinks I'm insane.

"How," it's not a question anymore, as I snarl the question, "Who killed them?"

"How the fuck would I know –?"

The conversation has reached it's end.

I twist away. But –

"Wait," I stop myself before I walk off, as I steady my breathing and face him again, "…where can I find any members of the Residue?"

"…are you serious… they're all dead…" he whispers at me, his cheeks flushing, "Humans are extinct. They're gone. Have you been living under a rock for a whole fucking moon?"

"What do you mean they're all dead?" I ask it seriously, no longer playing around.

"Well they were all butchered by the Cat Dominion who came through, sniffing out the ones that hide – they're allied with Wolf. Who would have fucking guessed, right?" the young man gulps, seemingly haunted by memories of such a massacre.

If this was all true… well, it seemed a lot of events transpired without my input.

Anyway, I have an idea.

"Young man. My name is Ryder and I am Luna to Wolf Dominion," I state this loud and fierce, cutting him off from swearing once more. I watch his eyes sink in and his mouth shut, as he considers my words, "Do me a favour, look at me properly," he stares silently, perhaps thinking I'm still crazy, "Remember me. Tell everyone who I am. What I look like. I am Luna to Skye. Know this. Genesis are human. I…" I have gone through modifications, but it did not change the core of me, "…and I am human. A human Luna."

"Girl… what drugs did you take…" the young man gets his voice back, trying to chuckle, but I swipe my robe off the ground and stalk off.

Before he can continue, I make my way out of there.

It was time to return to Wolf Dominion.

My fresh air was all I needed.

A moment to me.

Now I had a heading.

It wasn't planned.

It was felt out.

I was meant to stay quiet.

I knew it would hurt Skye when news did spread.

But I wasn't trying to hurt Skye.

I wanted people to know my name – our son's name.

The more importance he had, the better chance he had at survival.

I couldn't hide it anymore.

I had to rise up to protect my own blood – beyond my body.

****

Before I make it to the last stretch of walking into Wolf Dominion's territory, I'm met with a shadow in the corridor.

Hades has been waiting for me against orange dusty rock.

He's clean shaven – his long mangy hair is cut. His emerald reptilian eyes remain savage, though the rest of him is dressed in metallic robes.

My goodness he looks so out of place.

Hades, giant as ever despite his reformation, watches me so intently as I approach, robe discarded, my shoulder and breast plate armour shine without a scratch, so he will know I experienced no conflict.

I aim to walk past him.

I have no need to speak to him.

"Ryder," Hades is shocked I'd completely bypass him. On a growl of annoyance, he steps in front of my strides and I back up a quick step, slowly meeting his eyes and giving him a warning with my glare not to waste my time, "Slow down, fuck me, why rush?" he hasn't lost his sly tone, nor his giant presence.

"…I never guessed you'd reform…" I don't like to speak too much to people I don't trust, but I have to take this snide remark, "You were the very Shade everyone feared… now you bow…?"

"I followed you, dipshit," Hades shakes his head as he leans back and looks me over, scoffing, "Fuck me," I wait silently as he waits for me to speak. I have nothing to say, "Fuck… you're so different, eerily so," I still say nothing, "Ryder… so… I hear you're a Messier –?"

I turn to go and Hades reaches for my arm.

Big mistake.

I don't just avoid his touch or step aside.

I swing around and my foot slashes up, pressing into his jugular, I push back until his chin is shoved up and his head is pushed back into rock, as my toe nails are ready to cut his throat, digging in at just the right pressure point to start cutting.

Hades is impressed by my move, probably a little sore with the kick, but now he's silent as he waits for my words.

"You're weak," I whisper to him, "And the weak don't survive on Genesis," I drop my toes, gracefully, "They're the words I heard before a group of people I didn't know, sawed off my left foot. A group of people… that you left me with in Cracklen," Hades slowly licks his dry lips, and raises his hand to wipe off non-existent sweat from his cheek as he hears me out, "…do you really want to follow me…"

"Shades are weak, you're correct," Hades chooses his words far too carefully.

When he lies he lets people know.

He doesn't care.

He's reckless.

"You're weak."

"You've said that already," Hades' lip almost snarls, but he's clearly been practicing manners and tries to hide the barbarian inside.

"One can be weak and also intelligent," I quote Jawkin to Hades, "…you're intelligent… but you're weak… why are you loyal to the greatest Dominion?" Hades just smiles.

"What the fuck did they do to you, brain wash you – you stupid cunt? I actually believed they wouldn't break you, funny that. I guess anyone can be broken, huh," his disgust comes out husky.

I look down the last stretch of this carved out corridor in the rock, leading to Wolf Dominion, and I surmise we are alone.

I step closer to Hades and he is curious as I slowly lift myself to my tippy toes to whisper in his ear.

"I'm pretending all the time," I lean back and smile, charismatically, before diminishing it immediately.

Hade's green eyes flicker with pride.

"…good girl …" Hades changes tone, now relaxing, his eyes sparkling, "You know what I want."

"No, I know what I want."

"You act as a Shade now," Hades tries not to smirk.

"I'm angry," my only warning.

"I'm here for gold, nothing more," Hades shrugs, "You?"

"Blood."

Hades is loving this.

But he doesn't see it coming.

Apart of my sharp and spiked shoulder armour, are pieces of metal I can detach to use as weapons of death if need be.

One slither of silver runs over my finger like a blade as I step forward to slit his throat and slam my fist into his face simultaneously.

His head crunches back into the rock again, much harder this time as he falls hard forward, hands immediately over his shallow neck wound.

I snarl out, "This is what traitors get. You're weak. And the weak don't survive on Genesis. You don't survive. You don't… fucking… survive, you die, and this is what traitors get. Weak. Weakness. Should have chosen a side. Loners don't rule Genesis – the pack achieves total Dominion –"

I watch Hades fall back to his side – and I see his pulse is still beating as he's bleeding.

I wanted to make it somewhat slow.

But he's out.

Because he's Transcending away from me.

Oh, for fucks sake.

And now I have company.

I hear the boots of Wolf Dominion before I see them approach.

"RYDER," I look up to see Skye snarling my name. He's sprinted down the corridor and he's flanked with a guard and Raygar by his shoulder, "Idiot, Hades is our ally, he's not an enemy!" Helpers rush forward to help Hades – to try and save him. I stand with my bored eyes on Skye… who's barely calm. And Raygar in particular, who's far too happy for my bad behaviour, "Explain your actions," Skye uses his death drawl on me.

"Allies don't smell like him. Lies and deception. Alpha. Hades is a danger to Wolf Dominion –"

"Enough, you're causing unforeseen trouble," Skye starts to growl so loud, I can hear him about to snap completely with his held back fury. Raygar steps forward just in time to hold Skye's shoulder, keeping him calm, while he takes over.

"Ryder, come with me," Raygar speaks coolly.

"You must understand, don't you –? He's the one who took Lemeri after all."

Raygar closes his eyes for a second too long before opening them to glare me down.

"Worm… the truth is pretty obvious – Hades is and always was a spy. For Wolf Dominion. Always has been. He's not a fucking reptile, he's an Omega Wolf. They're ultra rare, baby. And very deceiving. That's what you smell. Clever idiot," Raygar tries not to insult me further, "You almost murdered one of our best."

"No. Hades is a Shade – in the Ward you bargained against him," I snarl at Skye and Raygar, "He's not a spy – don't fool me."

"You're right. But it's only because we thought Hades double crossed us at that time, he was in this game very deep," Skye finally admits to me, shrugging off Raygar's hand, "We were fooled, Hades has never been against us – he has always been with us. He's meant to be obscure – he achieves it well."

"He'll be fine if we move quickly!" one Helper yells out, as Hades is bandaged together and lifted by five to be taken to a hospital bed.

I try not to roll my eyes at how damn heavy he is to carry.

"Can you talk to her – and convince Ryder to reign in her killer instincts around family?" Skye murmurs to Raygar, then Skye abruptly leaves with the others.

What the fuck does he mean… family…

Pfft.

As the majority leave, I am, indeed, left with Raygar.

I am truly speechless.

"It's always a deep pleasure educating you," Raygar drawls, blinking slow and lovingly almost as he swipes his robe to the side and waits to usher me by him.

"Hades is a fucking reptile," and I won't let it go.

"That's what you're meant to believe," Raygar shoves me forward as I walk by, "Stand tall soldier."

I do stand tall – used to obeying commands. Even though my spine crawls with Raygar's particular tone. He's so mischievous and vicious.

I look over my shoulder as he walks close behind me.

"The charcoal doesn't suit your eyes," I snap.

"Neither does loneliness," Raygar admits, "My heart is broken," he says it so seriously. I don't expect it and it makes me extremely uncomfortable as I turn to keep walking ahead, "Are you surprised to learn you're not the only one with feelings here?"

"I'm just surprised you admitted to being broken."

"Shut the fuck up. A broken heart doesn't mean I'm broken, worm. It just messes me up. You feel… huh, kind of like you'll never be the same again… or something like that…"

I don't look back at Raygar again, afraid he'll see the look in my eyes.

I know that feeling too.

Far too well.