Chapter 203
They know what you did, during the transposition.
You thought no one saw. That youd just get away with it.
But now its over.
You think theyll take you prisoner? No. Maybe in the old days, but we dont live in the old days anymore.Follow current novels on novelb((in).(com)
And nowthe fuck?
With the elevator still suspended twenty feet above the ground, the rogue hauled ass, vaulting the guard railing and landing hard. She took less than a second to recover before she set off running at an absurdly fast clip despite the limp, arms pumping, pushing people out of her way, moving like hell itself was chasing her.
I stared after her, gobsmacked along with the rest of the elevators population.
Id clocked her gear and presence, guessed she was a rogue type and that her gear looked too expensive to be a new Users, and made the connection from personal experience that most sneaky-rogue types probably hadnt gotten out of the event clean. She also had some Int, which made reading her harder.
So mostly, I was throwing darts blindfolded.
The rogue bowled over Hawkins, flipping over her and dead legging her on the way down. Every present member of the Adventurers Guild converged, far more than I realized. While their armor and robes were still wildly varied depending on class, there were small colored patches on their shoulders that varied. Probably indicating squad and rank.
Smart.
Theyd figured out that something screwy was going on during our previous encounter and planned accordingly. Organized better. Having this intel helped. I needed to keep in mind I wouldnt be able to run circles around them like last time.
They quickly hemmed the rogue in. She drew twin pearlescent daggers, but as soon as she stopped moving, there was an explosion of sound and a net entrapped her from the knees up, sending her tumbling to the ground. Id meant to make her nervous in hopes shed crack and act more suspicious. Not this.
What the hell had she done during the transposition?
Many Users and Tower employees alike gathered around the display at a distant circumference, rubber-necking. That was a mixed bag. It meant more visual interference closer to the chaos, but also left the path from here to the fast-pass elevator as bare and open as a wholesale store after a fire sale.
Lance-guy gave the pandemonium a quick scan, apparently deciding that getting a closer look was less important than his come-to-greatsword moment, and took long lumbering steps towards the store, clinking as he walked.
No, wait
I met immediate, mind-numbing resistance. He was dead-set on visiting the store. So much so that I wasnt sure I could have talked him out of it with hours to do so.
Swearing under my breath, I kept pace behind him, angling myself so he blocked me from view, slowly increasing the distance between us. My heart pounded in my throat. The further I grew from him, the less coverage he provided. All it would take was one savvy person at the far edges to turn around and spot me, and things would get a lot more complicated.
After what felt like an eternity, I reached the fast-pass elevator. The attendant was up on his toes, trying to get a look at what was happening between the gawking crowd.
I grabbed his arm and forced the card into his hand. He jumped and looked at me with a foggy expression anyone whos worked a twelve-hour shift would recognize. Sorry. Um, floor?
Twenty-eight.
A conflicted look came over him, his attention split between me and the chaos. Oh, uh, be careful, fair hero, vampires
I drink vampire blood for breakfast, let me pass, I snarled.
Kay. The attendant swiped the card and stepped aside, his warning and my presence as good as forgotten. Jesus, whats with the vampire craze all of a sudden?
I was so fixated on getting onto the elevator clear of the lobby that the last muttering didnt sink in until the elevator was already moving. Wait. How many people are on the twenty-eighth floor?
Good luck vanquishing the Dark Lord, hero. He gave me a wave without looking back.
Then cut your losses and abandon this foolishness. Talia rounded on me, her muzzle inches from my face.
Big meat. Audrey said.
You wanted to be partners. I said. If youre regretting it, take the elevator back down.
Im worried about you! Talia shook her head. About us. That youre about to throw everything away to put a sword in your enemys hand
Big meat. Audrey said again, more insistently. She reached out with her vines and snagged Talias tail.
Release me, you simpleton!
But Audrey didnt let go, just hung on stubbornly maintaining her grip as the other summon spun in a circle, trying to throw her off.
Big meat.
Shes right. I realized.
Talia slowed, looking at me like Id lost my mind.
Miles hunts necromancers. And by doing so, probably saves hundreds, maybe even thousands of lives those necromancers would take when they come to power. But its not just that. Its easy to forget with all the noise that Miles isnt the enemy. Or the Adventurers Guild, or the Order, or anyone else. The enemy gave me a class that made me public enemy number one. Created a situation tailor made to turn everyone in fucking Dallas against each other. Killed a hundred thousand during the transposition event.
Revenge is a distraction, Talia said slowly. It was becoming our mantra.
Yes.
Her hackles were still raised, but eventually she backed down with a huff. Its getting increasingly harder to keep sight of the whole.
Youre not alone in that. I admitted. Im struggling. Which is why I need to deal Nick in, consequences be damned.
And if he sells you out? Or gets compromised?
We run. I said. Use Kinsleys abilities to get the innocents out and lay low. Its not ideal. I wanted to wait until we had a definitive solution for the geas, so the chances of him getting compromised were smaller, but I dont think hes gonna last if I do.
He was an admirable member of our pack, but Ill admit, I dont understand why youre willing to go so far for him. The path youve taken to get here was not an easy one. Talia said. She cocked her head. Why is that?
I answered honestly. I dont know.
Talia circled around and plopped down next to me. So. We gamble.
I mean, we might not even have to. I chuckled. If we stumble across a Crimson Nosferatu on our way to Miles, its probably all over.
Talias lips pulled back, revealing her teeth. If we find such an enemy, I have no intention of slipping quietly into the aether.
Same. I held a fist out towards her. No guarantee it will, but if it comes to that? Well put on one hell of a show.
Instead of pawing my fist, as she had before, Talia placed her head underneath it and left it there. As I stroked her coarse fur, a wave of calm washed over me, all the fears and unknowns slipping away.
For some reason, I thought of Jinnys title.
Half as long.
Twice as bright.
