A long, measured breath escaped Kai. He was lucky summoning his wraith didn’t use any essence.
Dakas’s Gift was one of the worst they could face - the ability to counter anything. How was that even allowed? Where was Balance God when you needed him?
But his Gift had a weakness. The sound of glass cracking in the Dusk house surfaced. Successful counters likely triggered brief openings. They had a chance.
But there were other problems - Dakas was a monster. How did that affect his Gift? How could Renzo control him?
Each revelation painted a dire picture. He’d underestimated Renzo’s power. His Gift had to be extraordinary to control a monster. Or he had tools Kai hadn’t even dreamt of.
Revenge was within reach, but chances of success were slim. If he abandoned the village, Alira would charge in recklessly and die. Renzo would achieve whatever despicable scheme he’d concocted. No choice. The only path was forward.
He’d come too far to retreat. No.
Renzo and Dakas weren’t invulnerable. Even the strongest armour had weak spots.
Alira continued her battle with the flaming wraith. Her movements slower than before, her injuries unknowable. Silas continued his onslaught without pause or caution. Her sword cut the wraith but couldn’t stop him.
He had to hurry.
The prisoner grimaced, tears leaking from his eyes. But Kai wasn’t done with him yet. Interrogation continued. The prisoner revealed enemy Gifts without hesitation.
None of the Serpent Mob’s lieutenants joined this expedition. Renzo had left them behind on Earth. But the Carver Mob’s Marked were intriguing.
Sybil controlled plants. Dangerous in a forest, but not so powerful in a village - with sufficient preparation.
Vincent controlled fear. He could manifest his victim’s deepest fear. Unpleasant.
Lilith controlled bones. Wasn’t she trespassing into Death God’s domain? On Kai’s domain? She could command armies of skeletons. Unfair. Blasphemy.
Kai was Death God’s heir and could barely raise one wraith. Lilith had controlled at least fifty skeletons if the prisoner was truthful in his estimate. And he probably was - he knew the consequences of lying.
Then there was Dakas and Renzo. Dakas’s counter Gift was the worst threat. A counter to anything was a one-size-beats-all Gift. The prisoner didn’t know Renzo’s Gift. Losing two fingers hadn’t made him any more forthcoming, though it brought a smile to Levi’s bloody lips.
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Two final questions. “Why the Ashvale armour?”
The prisoner croaked a response. “Renzo wanted to conceal his moves.”
It made sense if Renzo aimed for noble status, like most mobsters. Massacring villages wouldn’t win him many allies. The Ashvales had offered the Nivisaras an ultimatum - according to Alira. Perfect scapegoat.
But Renzo’s reasoning remained unclear. He operated with calculated cruelty, not sadism. Had to be more to this than simple culling.
“Last question. Why didn’t you recognise me?”
The prisoner’s eyes widened. “Recognise you?”
Kai suppressed a laugh. Had he overestimated his importance? He’d assumed the Serpent Mob would know his face, but why would they? His only notable trait was being weak.
Another forgettable orphan.
He leaned closer. “Still don’t recognise me?”
The prisoner squinted, his eyes widened, but he hesitated to speak. Kai turned to Rusk, and the prisoner’s hesitation vanished.
“I—I thought you’d be an easy kill. Didn’t focus on your face.” He looked down as if expecting punishment. “And even if I did, I thought you were dead. How could I know you’d be here, in the Darklands?”
Kai’s Curse proved a useful mask. Weakness made people overlook things. Would Renzo overlook him? Unlikely. He wouldn’t let anything pass his gaze unexamined.
The prisoner had nothing left to give - he’d outlived his usefulness. Alira still defended herself - no closer to winning. But holding off an undead fire wraith for this long was impressive.
The corner of his mouth lifted a little. He commanded his wraith through their bond:
Return.
The wraith collapsed into mist and surged toward him. Alira dropped to one knee. The dark mist slammed into Kai’s chest, returning to his Soul Palace.
“Is that all?” Rusk said, disappointment flickering across his face.
Kai nodded. “He’s given us everything useful.” Crunching and slurping sounds continued from Levi’s direction.
Alira climbed to her feet and strode toward them. Kai had no desire to make her suffer unnecessarily. Once she entered his range, he bent space and appeared beside her. Her blade arced toward him.
Fair, but futile. Kai dodged the blade with little effort and materialised on her opposite side. He’d need more blood to refill his essence soon.
“No need for that,” he said.
“My blade needs your blood,” Alira said.
Kai scoffed. “You couldn’t beat my wraith. What makes you think you can beat me?”
“I beat you yesterday. I can beat you now.”
Her eyes met his, burning with determination. But she didn’t swing her blade.
He smiled. “A lot can change in a day.”
She exhaled, rubbing her forehead. “Why shouldn’t I cut you down?”
A good sign - asking for an excuse not to kill him. They were as good as made up.
“Because I saved your life,” Kai said.
Alira narrowed her eyes. Minor burns marred her face. Scorch marks decorated her armour. “That’s what you call trying to kill me?”
“You’re alive. Did you forget my lineage? If I wanted to kill you, you’d be dead.”
She looked away, then fixed her icy glare on him. “Is this what they call tough love?”
Thoughts swirled. His heart raced. He hadn’t expected to hear the L word.
He maintained a calm mask. “That village is more dangerous than we thought.”
She raised an eyebrow. “More dangerous than Ashvale soldiers slaughtering villagers and burning everything?”
His expression darkened. “Much more.”
Her eyes widened. “Take me back then. That’s what you’re here for, right?”
He reached toward her shoulder; she flinched. Then she let out a sigh and stood firm. He reached again, grabbed her shoulder, and moved through space. They reappeared near the rest of the crew and their prisoner.
Her gaze still held hostility when it landed on Kai.
He focused soul essence into her shoulder. The burns vanished. Her gaze softened. The prisoner - missing his arm, foot and many fingers - viewed the spectacle with bright hope in his eyes.
Hope was a vicious poison.
Kai unsheathed his black blade. Darkness erupted. The red sun dimmed. The malevolent blade rose, prepared to deliver righteous justice to the child-hunting prisoner.
Kharon’s voice cut through his mind.
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