Chapter 6: Guardian Angel

A chill runs down my spine, bringing about a cold sweat that heightens my agonizing regrets. My hands are clammy. My chest is tight. And like the mounting guilt weighing on me, it comes in waves. I can barely muster a single word of rebuttal against the princess and the mayor, leaving his secretary to argue for my sake.

Their conversation sounds like distant chatter, as if it were coming from a huge crowd. Their voices are loud yet indistinct. I’m not trying to ignore them, but I also don’t exactly want to hear them either. None of what they’ve been discussing has registered thus far, but even if it did, it wouldn’t change what happened.

Yiiiiiiiinick!!

In pursuit of him, my body moved on its own. The anger I felt fueled me, but no matter how close I was to catching him in that hallway, he found a way to maneuver around me. Even with my claws inches away from his neck, he still managed to scurry away from my grasp. All while tipping his hat with a sly grin.

Stop Sintobi, we need to get him medical attention!

Mikels warning stopped me in my tracks. Ava had stemmed the bleeding, but it was just a small amount of first aid. Donavan had already lost so much blood, and there was his mothers corpse. There was so much to do, so much to consider, and we were on borrowed time. But instead of deciding, I stood there. Paralyzed by fear and indecision, which allowed Yinick to make his escape while Donavan gurgled his last breath.

Even now, my hands feel tied. Tied by the guilt that’s eating away at me this very moment. It was my responsibility to protect him, but I couldn’t. I couldn’t muster the courage when it mattered the most, and because of that…

“... He failed.” Ariani declares from atop her high set at the bench.

“What a disappointment…” Mayor Greene says from the right side of the stand, as kicks his feet up. “You couldn’t even keep him safe. A single child!”

“Mayor Greene, please!” Ava shouts from the left side of the stand. “None of us could have known this would happen…”

“So you mean to tell me that he was so slippery, so unpredictable, that he managed to evade the three of you? I honestly doubt that. This reads more like negligence to me!” Greece insists with a shake of head while waving his hands.

“Well, yes…All of us tried catching him but he was too fast.” Ava says with a glance towards us. She’s only making it worse.

“Too fast? You mean to tell me that some good cardio was enough?”

“No, it was-”

“Ava please!” Ariani interrupts, her voice echoing throughout the assembly hall. “You fulfilled your responsibility as their navigator, it was his job to keep him safe. But to think Sally was already dead…”

Greene sighs. “So, Mr.Temory, what do you have to say for yourself?”

I can feel their gazes beaming down on me, wearing me down at the seams as I look up at them. I know keeping quiet will only make things worse, so I take a deep breath. But as I’m about to stand, Mikel shoots up from his seat.

“Hello Ms.Houndrex and Mayor Greene! I know we haven't properly spoken, but I hope you will allow me to speak.” Mikel says with a bow, placing his hand over his heart.

Ariani shoots him a piercing glare. “Mikel, right? Sintobi requested that you accompany him on the mission. Was it for the purpose of making excuses on his behalf?”

“Not at all, Ms.Hound-”

“Ms.Houndrex is my mother. Call me Ariani.” She insists with a tinge of disdain.

Mikel nods. “Miss Ariani, I admit that given how willing he was to escort us through The Underground, we should have known something was amiss. But he was the contact you provided.”

“Indeed he was.” Ariani admits with a nod. “Yinick Villgrey has many long standing debts he must repay, which is why he was the easiest to get in contact with at such notice. However, whether or not he was a shady character, it was his job to keep the boy safe.”

“So you’re saying that even you didn’t trust him?”

“There are countless bottomfeeders that reside in The Underground, and there are very few that manage to clean themselves up.” Ariani explains with a glance towards Mayor Greene, prompting him to nod as well. “Those that live there go by a different set of rules, which is why we can never fully trust them. So we tolerate their company in exchange for resources.”

Mayor Greene clears his throat. “While I haven’t been there myself, I hear The Underground is a rather unforgiving place. In fact, I hear it isn’t much different from the way your kind operates on the surface. Surely you saw this coming from a mile away?”

Mikel laughs. “I don’t understand what you mean by that. We are incapable of betraying one another given our bond of brotherhood.”

“Well that just makes matters worse.” Ariani says, closing her eyes. “Not only were two incompetent, but you were also ignorant of the notion that such a betrayal was even possible.”

“Oh goodness, I was thinking the same thing.” Mayor Greene laments with a shake of his head.

“That is not what I said…” Mikel says before taking a deep breath. “What I’m saying is that given the fact that you guys provided the contact in the first place, some, if not most of the blame is on you.”

The assembly hall falls silent, leaving the four of us to wait for Ariani’s response.

She opens her eyes. “I suppose you make a good point.”

“Exactly, so-”

“But is this the path you intended to carve out, Sintobi? One where you allow your subordinate cover for your mistakes, while you sit there silently in your chair.”

“Miss Ariani please, dont-” Ava says, in an attempt to get in the way of her words, but Ariani stands up.

“Even if the circumstances weren’t favorable, I thought you were at the very least prepared to tackle any obstacle. You spoke with such conviction earlier, yet you couldn’t even protect a single child.” Ariani explains, further agonizing my thoughts like salt on a wound. “I was wrong to believe you were a fool, no, you are worse than that. You are woefully naive, that kind that would unknowingly shepherd his lambs to the slaughter.”

“No, I would never do such a thing…” I say while standing up from my seat, finally mustering up the courage to say something. “They trust me to lead them. They believe in me!”

“I’m sure little Donavan did too…” Ariani spits back, melting away my courage with her venomous words. “Tell me Sintobi. Are you a strong leader, or are you only as strong as the creatures you lead?”

“I…I don’t…” I mumble, before falling back onto my chair.

I don’t know.

If my existence is a blessing, why can’t I protect anyone? Not only did I remain unscathed by that explosion, but I couldn’t keep Donavan safe. He could have lived a great life despite his mothers death, but I failed to give him that. How can I expect to bring about peace if I can’t even protect those closest to me?

“Enough!” Mikel shouts with a stomp of his foot, his red eyes now glowing. “Why does it have to be one or the other, huh? All of us share a dream and we trust Sintobi to lead us. It’s as simple as that!”

“And why is that? Surely there are others amongst you?” Ariani presses, glaring at Mikel clenching his fist.

“No, it cannot be anyone else, because Sintobi is Sintobi! He is the pride and joy of our clan, but he is most importantly our friend! And as his friends, we know he is capable of miracles!”

Mikel is left with bated breath as silence fills the room. Ariani looks at Ava for a moment with a sigh, seeming almost fed up with this conversation. Mayor Greene laughs.

“So now he’s a miracle worker!?” He cackles, his belly challenging the seams of his dress shirt as it jiggles. “Well if that’s true, I for one would love to see him perform one for us!”

“Excuse me?” Mikel says, baring his fangs with a sneer towards him.

“Yes, I would like to see you punished for your insolence.” Mayor Greene says, pointing his finger towards Mikel. “Not only have you been speaking out of turn, but you’re also giving me the evil eye. Is that anyway to look at a potential ally?”

“Punish him?” I say with a glance at Mikel, with his fists still clenched. “There’s no reason to punish him.”

“Oh, is that so? Well as a potential ally to your cause, I fear you lack the ability to reign in your own. Why else would you allow him to speak out of turn?”

“We’re having a simple disagreement, this isn’t worth punishing anyone over. Beside, punishing him is-”

“Something you’ve never done? Honestly, is there not an ounce of discipline amongst you…” Mayor Greene says while raising his hands in the air. “Or perhaps, is it something you simply can’t do?”

“Enough of this! I will not stand here and listen to you mock him any longer!” Mikel shouts, causing the mayor to yelp and cover his head in fear. “Breaking the bond of brotherhood is something even he can’t do!”

Mikel is correct. While I do wish this discussion would have gone smoother, a demand such as that is a tall order. No, it’s impossible. And even if I could, I can’t harm him. He’s my friend, we share the same past, the same present, the same dream for the future. If I were to sacrifice him, or everyone else for the sake of that dream, it wouldn’t even be the same dream.

But how can I fix this situation?

Everyone else is still recovering from their injuries, so any altercation or further disagreement could be fatal. And even if it doesn’t, this could be our last opportunity for negotiations. Just like before, there is so much to consider in such a small amount of time, but this time it really is impossible. That bond is the source of our strength and it’s the reason why vampires are incapable of killing one another, yet now it is our greatest weakness.

“I see you’re deep in thought.” says a voice close to my ear. It’s The Man.

“What do you want?” I mumble with a glance, while Mikel argues with Greene.

“Oh nothing, I just got the sense that this conversation was getting a bit tense…” The Man says with a yawn, as he sits down on the floor with his legs crossed. “But don’t worry, I’ll be here when you decide to make the obvious decision.”

“And what decision might that be?” I mutter.

“Come on, it should be obvious. A decision similar to the one you made before.” The Man says with a smirk. “At this rate, upholding all these principles will only hamper your goals, so why not just etch them out.”

While he’s trying to sound clever, what he’s getting at is quite simple. When I took his hand during that explosion and accepted his offer, I could have wished for anything. I could have wished for something as trivial as to live another night. But that’s when I thought.

Another night…no.

We have long abandoned the light of day in favor of the dead of night, but if our hope is for peace, the night leaves us with little time to act. And in realizing that, I made a decision. If the explosion was mimicking the sun, I needed only to change the sun itself.

I knew that the ramifications for such a huge change wouldn’t go unnoticed, yet I still requested inconspicuous clothing for Mikel and I. Avoiding Ava’s suspicions made things a lot easier, but even if she did notice, there isn’t much anyone can do about it, because that sun longer exists.

But that was then and this is now. With The Man’s words swirling around in my head, indecision takes hold of my body, anchoring me in place. The solution is simple, but I can’t bring myself to do it. But I remember.

“...And as his friends, we know he is capable of miracles!”

Like always, Mikels words bring me a moment of clarity. The kind that compels me to reach out towards him.

A miracle…Yes, Mikel is right, I must perform a miracle.

“Sintobi, what are you-”

Absolute Force, the Instinct that allows one to bend nature to one's will. Very few can wield it since it takes a significant amount of Influence, as it allows the user to manipulate the world around them to varying degrees. Normally, one would develop their own Instinct, but this was granted to me as a result of my wish.

“The bond of brotherhood…” Mikel struggles to say as blood fills his throat and tears well up from his red eyes.

As I grip his heart, there isn’t a shred of anger or malice in his voice. Perhaps he understands the cost as well? The cost of trying to achieve our lofty goal. The cost of creating miracles.

Staring into his eyes, I am reminded of the moment during that explosion. Yes, this Instinct was granted to me then, and just like back then, I am using it to make a wish. However, like the stories of the genie rubbed from a lamp, The Man imposed restrictions.

Since such an Instinct holds limitless potential, I am limited to just three wishes. I assume it’s because he doesn’t trust me, but that doesn’t concern me now, nor did it concern me back then. When someone asks if you want absolute control over your dream, even if the ability to do so is borrowed, you don’t question it.

In my heart of hearts, I wanted to wish for peace, but I couldn't. Such a sweeping change would be challenging forces beyond The Man’s Instinct. Though it would have been a dream come true…

But yet again, I have broken another principle that binds us. I never thought such a thing would be possible, and it’s thanks to him that I can do it. That I could perform this miracle.

“Astonishing! He really managed to do it. See, girls, you should have had more faith in the boy. He really is something special!” The Mayor applauds.

“Hmph, so this is the extent you’re willing to go for your dream…” Ariani says with a scowl, seeming a bit on the fence.

Unlike those two, Ava is left speechless. It’s as if her entire world has been blown apart, and I don’t blame her. A vampire killing another one of his kind isn’t just unheard of, but was an impossibility. But thanks to this Absolute Force, it is now possible.

No longer are we at the sun’s mercy, or beholden to the collective bond that bound us. Soon, many of us will turn against each other, against our own brethren. But such a miracle needed to occur, and it needed to happen before their eyes.

Even if it means our enemies are also our own brothers and sisters, this consequence will allow us to further our goal of peace. Even if it means we can kill each other. Etching out the bond of brotherhood, along with the collectivist mindset that comes with it, should be proof enough that we are different. Such a feat should be considered a miracle…right?

“How did you…” Mikel asks with ragged breath. “No, I shouldn’t be surprised; you are different after all. You were always capable of creating miracles.”

“A miracle…” I mutter, letting the words dance across my tongue. “Yes, this is a miracle.”

“But even so…this feeling of self-preservation…Why is this feeling directed towards you, my friend?” Mikel utters between long breaths as he looks at the palm of his hand.

“It’s because…the bond is gone… for all of us.”

“Is… that so? You really are amazing.” Mikel mumbles, his voice sounding more ragged. “For some reason, I want to harm you in return… Is this how I’m supposed to feel?”

“Since the bond is gone…yes.” I explain as each word forms a lump in my throat.

“Oh…Sintobi.” he mutters.

“Yes, Mikel.”

Mikel opens his mouth, but his voice cracks.“...Is this really a miracle?”

Watching the blood trickle from the corners of his mouth, I’m knocked out of this haze. The impulse that led me here, the feeling that compelled me to make that second wish. I believed it was for our sake. that appeasing the mayor would bring us closer to our dream, but why does it feel like a misstep? Like I’ve made a mistake. This is a miracle…right?

“Sintobi, you’re trembling…is something wrong?” Mikel asks almost above a whisper, his heart still in my hand. Wait, there’s still time. I can’t just-

“Excuse me, what’s the hold-up?” Greene questions, leaning over the stand above us. “I thought you were going to enact punishment.”

“P-p-punishment… No, I can’t. I can’t-” I stammer before he interrupts me with the click of his tongue.

“Oh well, that’s a shame, and here I thought that I could trust you.” Greene says with a shake of his head while looking at his claws. “For someone with such lofty goals, you really know how to disappoint your potential clients. Isn’t that right, Ariani?”

“Ew, refrain from using my name so comfortably…” Ariani hisses as if spitting out a bitter taste in her mouth. “But I suppose you are right.”

With the three of them staring down at me, my heartbeat quickens. Even though I’ve gone this far, I can still save him. But if I do, they’ll think all of this was a hoax. That it was staged from the beginning. And if that were the case, what would happen to everyone else?

As I’m racking my brain looking for an out, Mikel places his hand on my shoulder.

“Sintobi… if this is your miracle, we must see it through. Otherwise…all of it would have been for nothing.” Mikel urges me with wispy breaths as his arms give way to his sides. “Though I admit…I did want to see our dream come true.”

“...But there’s still time.” I mutter, forcing back the lump in my throat in an attempt to show no remorse. They’re still watching…

“No, Sintobi…Do not lose sight…control your temper…everyone is relying on you.” Mikel pleads with a slight chuckle. “Achieving peace isn’t supposed to be easy when doing it the right way.”

“How right you are…old pal.”

Mikel flashes a smile with his blood-stained teeth as I twist my grip on his heart. Using my blood manipulation, I constrict the flow of blood to his brain, causing him to faint. He deserves a peaceful death, at the very least…

Letting my ivory-colored Influence well up inside me, I push it forwards. The blood that once coursed through his veins is brought to a bubble. The bulbous pockets forming underneath his pale skin protrude outwards, like blistering boils ready to pop. And with another surge of Influence through my forearm, the boils sporadically begin to burst, forming large spikes.

When dropping Mikel to the floor in his mummified state, I stand there. I could have just crushed his heart, but using the Reverse Iron Maiden is much more terrifying. That mayor wouldn’t be satisfied otherwise.

“Oh my, how ghastly! A show of strength would have sufficed, but you really sought out to put on quite the display, didn’t you?” Mayor Greene utters before breaking the silence in the assembly hall with a standing applause.

I bite my lip. “Enough with your incessant chatter, now hold up your end of the bargain!”

“Whoa now, mind your temper.” He warms with a wave of his hands. “You wouldn’t want his dying wish to be in vain, right?”

“Sir!” Ava shouts.

“She’s right Greene, leave him be…” Ariani insists while getting up from her seat. “He’s already done more than enough to prove himself.”

“Alright you two, perhaps that was going a bit too far.”

A bit too far, huh?

Ariani sighs. “This meeting is dismissed. I think it’s safe to say that Sintobi isn’t all talk.”

“Yes, of course…” Ava agrees, looking hesitant while standing up from her seat.

“Sintobi.” Ariani says.

“...Yes.”

“For someone who spoke so highly of themselves and their ideals, I couldn’t stand seeing you cower in fear. But to go to such lengths to prove your commitment…” Ariani says while crossing her arm. “I only hope you can live with this decision.”

As Ariani turns to exit the bench, the scent of vanilla and lavender fills the air. Not only is she being honest, but she is also disappointed. I thought Ariani was cruel and unfeeling, but despite her efforts to hide it, the scent of lavender emanates a distinct sadness. I wanted to show them a miracle, but I…

“Sintobi!” Ava shouts, running up to me with a hug. “I’m sorry you had to go through that. I can’t imagine how hard that was for you…”

Was it? I don’t know if it was or wasn’t, but things are supposed to get easier from now on. The next round of negotiations will be easier because I proved myself, right Mikel?

Greene clears his throat.

“Well, I suppose we’ll discuss the next steps later.” Greene says while stepping down from the stand, his belly bouncing with each step. “Why don’t you get some rest boy, you look rough.”

Looking down at Ava, her arms still wrapped around me, I’m basked in her lavender scent. It’s far more potent, given how close we are, but I already know how she feels even without her embrace.Since the beginning, Ava has listened to me. She gave me a chance to tell my story, and even believes in our dream. She put a great amount of trust in us, the kind that I’d only expect from my kind. She’s shown us nothing but kindness since we got here...unlike Greene.

I was sure I couldn’t discern his scent because it was hidden amongst those in the lobby, but now I’m sure that wasn’t the case. As he walks out of this assembly hall, I still can’t. And while it would be easy to say that my nose isn’t as keen as I thought it was, It’s more likely that Greene is just heartless.

A week has passed. I’ve been stuck in my room ever since, ruminating over what I’d done. I haven’t even visited the others either, but I know they’re doing okay. While I haven’t seen Ava in a while, I’m sure she’s making sure everything is running as smoothly as possible, but then there’s Greene. Despite his promise of negotiations, I have yet to receive a confirmation of when it will happen. So far, I’ve managed to get in the good graces of Houndrex’s princess, but that fat cats cooperation is ever elusive. Does he not want an alliance to happen?

“Suffering one loss after the other, it’s no surprise you’re still reeling.” The Man remarks, standing at the wine cabinet. “Why not take a few sips of wine? That should take your mind off things.”

“You sure have a knack for showing up unannounced…But yes.” I say while laying back on my bed, fiddling with streams of my blood. “First the group, then little Donavan, and now Mikel…”

“At least one of those has a silver lining.” he says while taking a bottle of red wine from the cabinet. “The rest of your comrades are still recovering.”

“The rest, huh?” I say, while staring at the hand that held his heart. “I wonder, is it the same dream?”

“I believe so. So long as you don’t lose sight of the initial goal along with everyone else.”

“That doesn’t sit right with…”

“Is that so…” The Man says while still eyeing the wine cabinet. “They have champagne also.”

“I find it inappropriate that you’re making light of my position as leader.” I say, looking at him with a glare.

“My apologies, though I am of the mindset that a leader needs to relax sometimes. And it was your choice after all.”

“And that choice caused his death! All because I was trying to curry favor with that Mayor.”

“Are you sure that was the only thing that led you to that point?” The Man asks, caressing the lone bottle in his hands. “Did the boy's death not factor into your judgment?”

“Of course it did…” I urge while sitting up on my bed. “Donavan’s death was a mistake, I should have known something was up but I let my guard down. A good leader doesn’t let his guard down.”

“All this talk of being ‘a good leader’, it seems to be causing you more trouble than it’s worth. Why not crush everyone in your path?” He asks with a tilt of his head. “It should be no problem for someone like you.”

“We can’t use violence to get what we want, that will only breed more hate. The reason they’re even helping us is because we didn’t come out swinging.” I explain while spiraling thick serpent-like strands with my fingertips. “No one wants to help out the bad guys.”

“Interesting…Is that what you really think?”

“…I think it’s what’s best for everyone as a whole.” I say before clenching my fist, reabsorbing my blood through my thumbs fingernail. “But now we’re down one.”

There’s a knock on the door. It’s been awhile since I had company.

“Morning Sintobi. How have you been?” Ava greets me while letting herself in with two hot cups of coffee in her hands. She passes me one as she sits beside me at the edge of my bed.

“I admit, I feel a bit better seeing your face.” I say with a slight chuckle, before taking a sip from the steaming mug. “I almost thought you’d forgotten about your humble guest.”

Ava laughs. “I apologize, it’s just that I’ve been really busy this past week.”

“Never a moment of peace around here, huh?”

“In more ways than one. Speaking of which, have you been enjoying your stay?” she says while taking a sip, only to then recoil as the hot mug touches her lips.

“It’s been…pleasant.” I explain with a nod. “I’ve had a lot of time to think about what happened.”

“Right, I see…” She mutters, cooling down her drink with a few breaths before taking a sip.

The lightheartedness between us is sucked away in a vacuum, leaving behind an awkward silence. And as a seconds pass, I notice her tapping the side of her mug resting in her lap.

“I’m sensing she’s a bit conflicted.” The Man mutters from the corner of the room, stating the obvious.

“Um, about the other day…”

“What about it?” I ask, noticing the downcast shadow over her otherwise sparkling green eyes.

“I’m sorry you were pushed into making that decision. Mayor Greene and Miss Ariani are very intense, the mayor even more so. He tends to prioritize our safety over, you know, outsiders.”

“Don’t worry, all of us were aware of the risks when entering this city… and I chose to do what I did.”

Ava purses her lips, still fidgeting with her mug. I suppose that wasn’t convincing enough.

“All of you have known each other for a long time…”

“That's why they put their trust in me.” I say with a sigh before taking another sip of my coffee.

“Ya know, I don’t think I mentioned it, but I’ve never had friends like that.”

“Really?” I turn to her with a raise of my brow.

“Yeah.” Ava says with a nod. “All of you seem to really care about each other, it must be nice. In fact, the friendship between you guys almost sounds-”

“Human?” I ask, giving her the side-eye.

Her eyes widened in shock, before looking down at her mug. Seeming almost reluctant to speak out of turn.

“...Well, yes actually. Everyone else see’s you guys in a bad light, but amongst each other, you seem just as like-minded as the old humans.”

“Well those days are done…”

Ava purses her lips and sits there while taking further sips of her coffee. But it’s true, while we can now roam the earth during the day, without the bond of brotherhood, we’re no different from wild beasts. The coordination and proficiency we are known for will soon break down, if it hasn’t started already.

When a Hunt is successful, that is a real victory. A victory that allows us to live another night. But after killing Mikel, I earned nothing. I have nothing to feast upon. I have nothing to show for it. There’s just this guilt. And sure, I could have wished for Ariani and Greene’s trust, but that wouldn’t have been a real victory either. Nor would that have been true peace.

Wasn’t etching out those principles supposed to make things easier?

A loud ringing barrels through the silence, prompting Ava to answer the call on her device.

“Yes, Mayor…Yes, I’m with him…Understood…” She says before hanging up and shoving the phone into her pocket with a darkened expression. Speaking to that fat cat is difficult enough, so I can only imagine that working with him is even more taxing.

She fixes the hem of her skirt while standing up from my bedside. “I’m afraid we must cut our conversation short, Mayor Greene would like to speak with you.”

“Finally, I’ve been waiting for him to contact me. Hopefully we can get these negotiations up and…” I say in jest, but pause when noticing the sudden change in her entire mood. “Is something wrong?”

Ava shakes her head. “No, not at all. It’s as you expected, he wants to discuss the future of our relationship, as well as the possibility of an alliance.”

“Glad to hear…” I respond with a nod, noticing The Man’s glances from the corner, giving me the sense that some is amiss. “...Lead the way then.”

As we follow behind Ava into the hall, I notice that all of the black curtains have been taken down. And while I want to ask, it might spark her suspicions.

“Since you were inside, we removed the curtains in the hall. Many of the refugees were complaining about the lack of sunlight, it made them feel uneasy.” Ava explains while continuing down the hall.

“I could imagine that being a problem…” I say with a nod.

As The Man and I look at each, I help but think of him as some sort of guardian angel. While he does tend to show up out of nowhere sometimes, during these last couple of weeks, he really is starting to grow on me. As we’ve spoken to each other, my reluctance towards him has almost diminished. It’s a bit strange, but it’s starting to feel like we’ve known each other for forever.

“Well, here comes your chance. Time to show that fat cat you mean business!” The Man shouts, sounding a bit facetious. “Besides, you’ve come this far.”

“That I have…” I mutter, as I’m reminded of what has happened thus far.

Gazing out the windows of the hall, noticing the orangish sphere depleting behind Domesticatia’s dilapidated skyline, that’s when it sinks in. If it were bright yellow, this gentle warmth on my skin would have long begun to wither me; scouring my entire being until there is nothing left. While the effect is already in place, it seems it will take some time for it to change into the deep vermillion color I desired.

However, my group still suffers from the light of the last. My hope is that despite my discussion with the Mayor, everyone will still be given the time to recover. Ariani may be more…outspoken than I would like, but her family's continued support is what allows us to stay here. Which is why it hurts to know that I let her and Donavan down.

Like Mikel, Donavan didn’t deserve to die the way he did. If someone like Yinick is an indicator of the type of creatures who live in The Underground, then I can only imagine the things he went through. Even now, my blood starts to boil as I remember that cheeky smile on his face. How could he do that to him? Donavan depended on us, yet he still did the ultimate betrayal. How could that feel good?

“It’s strange isn’t it?” Ava blurts out while looking over her shoulder, still walking down through the hall.

“What is?”

“The sun has been changing color ever since you guys arrived. There seems to be something new happening everyday.” Ava says with a giggle while shaking her head.

“I guess you can say that…” I respond, feigning ignorance with a shrug. “Is the sun supposed to look different?”

Ava raises her brow. “You mean to tell me you haven’t seen the sun, even by accident?”

“Well, yeah, but it’s usually for longer than a couple of seconds. It really starts to hurt otherwise, ya know?”

“I see…” Ava says with a nod while appraising me. “I know you said it was because you were special, but don’t you think you’re a bit too exposed right now?”

Looking down at the back of my hand, as well as feeling the warmth on the side of my face, I realize I’m caught.

“She’s sharp.” The Man chuckles at my expense.

“Uh, well, it’s because it’s getting late. With the passage of the day, the sun’s power goes away!” I explain.

“Is that so?” Ava remarks in earnest. “You know Sintobi, I know I said to humor me, but I’m a bit disappointed you didn’t tell me about this before.”

“Well, it’s not like I didn’t want to, it’s just that-”

Ava laughs. “Oh, I’m only kidding, I know you were just eager to tell me all the exciting stuff. You really do have a unique upbringing.”

“Thank you.” I chuckle while rubbing the back of my neck.

“As you've already noticed, Mayor Greene has a rather abrasive personality. He tends to abide by a strict hierarchy, with the Houndrex household at the top and everyone else lower than his own position at the bottom. That includes me of course.” She explains as if it were a matter of fact. “But once in a while, he ends up actually taking my opinion into consideration. So while you may not have told me everything, I’m glad you told me what you did. Even if it was in hopes that I would help to convince him of your cause.”

“No, that wasn’t my intention. Honest.”

“Really now?” she says with a giggle. “Well, even if it wasn’t, you convinced me either way!”

As we approach the two large white doors at the end of the hall, I take a deep breath. While I do expect Greene to cooperate after what I did, Ava has a point. Considering his attitude afterwards, I suspect that convincing him of anything will still be dreadful. Which again, causes my chest to tighten. Why have I lost more than I’ve gained?

With Ava grabbing hold of the two handles, she pushes open the doors, causing the hinges to shriek as if they’re in pain. Though to my surprise, the room is empty. With just a tall window sitting opposite from the entrance, casting the reddish light of the setting sun into it’s spacious interior before us.

Where’s Greene? I wouldn’t have expected him to be late, given that it was his request to see me. As I stand here looking around, the door behind us closes shut. Looking back at it’s closure echoes through this empty space, an unease sets in.

“Sintobi!” The Man shouts.

Turning back around, I’m met with the soles of two sneakers heading towards my face. The assailant strikes me with a swift kick to the chest, before kicking me midair while using the resulting force to kick flip backwards off my chest, allowing them to make a graceful landing on their feet like a gymnast in routine.

With my back against the wall, I hold my chest. Despite their overall speed, the pain has already subsided. Though what’s most shocking is realizing that the creature responsible is the earnest secretary that brought me here.