Chapter 10
The slums.
The most dangerous place in122Please respect copyright.PENANAgVmUmvGIBQ
Eluvia, especially if you had no place to go. At least, that’s how it was five122Please respect copyright.PENANAHjQ1hrsckA
years ago. Before then it was lawless; deaths were common from drug overdoses122Please respect copyright.PENANAyxSkFGaChN
or suicides. Crimes such as rape, theft, or murder were daily occurrences. It122Please respect copyright.PENANAnTheTuEuQV
was treated as a cesspool and soldiers were afraid of going in there and being122Please respect copyright.PENANAQq9H06oD4R
torn to shreds. Not even the King’s power could influence what was happening122Please respect copyright.PENANA2gKc1jVLTW
there, no matter how many times they had sent the Blades in to try and clean122Please respect copyright.PENANAJPiN746YH5
up, more would seep out from the cracks. It was a never-ending battle.
That all changed with the sudden122Please respect copyright.PENANAmEr6wkuYqB
appearance of Ross, the undisputed King of Lower Eluvia. No one knew where he122Please respect copyright.PENANArNx7qGtd9d
came from, but he brought all the crime under one umbrella and monopolized it122Please respect copyright.PENANAfSy0vQVJwp
so he would have control. He set up shop in an old storage warehouse and122Please respect copyright.PENANAmqCZvVwHve
outfitted it with tables, chairs and a bar. He hired people from off the122Please respect copyright.PENANAqJ3Vcm9l9U
streets, got many of them clean, then put them to work gathering one of the122Please respect copyright.PENANAi6SqzPeTXI
most powerful forms of currency: intelligence. Some believe that they have122Please respect copyright.PENANA0KK9SDjGJx
something on the King which was why they received funding for his122Please respect copyright.PENANA8WRpUOOOOW
establishment.
Not to say all122Please respect copyright.PENANAzL7Wnl2FAu
the crimes have completely gone away, no matter how much the noblemen pretend. It122Please respect copyright.PENANA5KJj3TTGAE
was just handled by Ross, usually on the down low. But within the most recent122Please respect copyright.PENANAbkDQ0nLCca
year, his authority has been challenged with the introduction of a new player,122Please respect copyright.PENANA4WwKjp7SJA
a master behind the scenes with his own small army now patrolling the mean122Please respect copyright.PENANAfBf9vaMXOj
streets of the slums. Not much is known about them other than they dress in all122Please respect copyright.PENANAHTIOBfbNjm
black, carrying blunt instruments and they have solid white masks covering122Please respect copyright.PENANAvjaqEoDseZ
their faces with holes for the eyes. They had the mark of Humjir carved into122Please respect copyright.PENANAZcewd6Vh65
their forehead, but many doubted that they were instruments of Humjir. No one122Please respect copyright.PENANA4wNsFslkTW
knew where they came from or what their goals were. People who came across them122Please respect copyright.PENANAzuoWZRAja0
just disappeared.
Alexander seemed122Please respect copyright.PENANAw4GCnZb1iW
tense as they went from the Eastern District into the Southern District. The122Please respect copyright.PENANADBib3VeSIv
guards stationed at the gate didn’t even acknowledge them as they walked past.122Please respect copyright.PENANABddBSGdwvi
Seeing well-dressed people heading inside wasn’t uncommon on this kind of night122Please respect copyright.PENANAx7kuJnwrUf
and they knew better than to open their mouths. Shea looked around nervously122Please respect copyright.PENANA9E6I2coNyD
with her hackles raised. This area put everyone of edge as if they122Please respect copyright.PENANABHbChvjVVA
instinctually knew they shouldn’t be here.
The three of them122Please respect copyright.PENANAy5mQSn1Up0
stayed along the well-lit streets, Shea warned off anyone who wanted to try122Please respect copyright.PENANAoPXtdWa0RD
their luck, but for the most part their trip towards the warehouse went122Please respect copyright.PENANACrpW1mNmim
unabated. The warehouse they were headed towards was called the Orange Fox Inn,122Please respect copyright.PENANAZcJZsdSGFa
Ross’s moniker. Vander could hear the music blasting from all the way out here,122Please respect copyright.PENANALN8YUhpZXH
a good sign. There were two guards blocking the door. Huge men that knew their122Please respect copyright.PENANALut1KgBio4
way around their weapons, the only ones allowed to carry weapons anywhere near122Please respect copyright.PENANANcORWz2pXj
this establishment. Vander could never remember their names, so he just called122Please respect copyright.PENANANpfmt0fRLk
them Right and Left.
Right was the122Please respect copyright.PENANAyM5prDAX16
taller of the two with short brown hair and brown eyes. Even at night he wore122Please respect copyright.PENANAVJLFjc8NVN
shades to cover his eyes. Left was short with a bald head and blue eyes. He did122Please respect copyright.PENANAEdfHxmQFV9
a lot of the talking for the two of them and he never much cared for Vander,122Please respect copyright.PENANAIJII6PYK0s
which was apparent the way he eyed him as the group walked up.
“No dogs122Please respect copyright.PENANAt4twPiTcX9
allowed.” Right said. Shea bared her teeth.
“Come on Right.”122Please respect copyright.PENANAAFSIAtTmTY
Vander rolled his eyes. “You remember what happened last time you disrespected122Please respect copyright.PENANAF230vT9ggg
Shea? I heard they needed forty-three stitches to make sure your testicles were122Please respect copyright.PENANAVc0rHlVdtE
still functional.” Anger blared in his eyes as Right stared at Vander.
“What do you122Please respect copyright.PENANA69pWOalJcl
want, Blade?” he hissed.
“Drink, party,122Please respect copyright.PENANAC1Cc2V1RgB
have a little bit of fun.” Vander grinned. “Why else would anyone come to this122Please respect copyright.PENANAhbGdW6vCZs
dump?”
“Last time you122Please respect copyright.PENANAn2Yrp5kuKp
came here for ‘fun’,” He clenched his teeth. “Two of our women couldn’t work122Please respect copyright.PENANAzEY3He7aoq
for days you sick fuck.” Alex looked over to him with a concerned expression on122Please respect copyright.PENANAigFWxILW9C
his face.
“This was before122Please respect copyright.PENANATY9xH87A7h
we left for the bunker.” Vander hurriedly explained. “After Bree…you know.” He122Please respect copyright.PENANAQPogjQ4DVb
turned back to the two guards. “You do realize that they are there for pleasure122Please respect copyright.PENANAUwr0OaJL8c
and that’s what they got. They were just a little sore after, but otherwise perfectly122Please respect copyright.PENANAzoJ10ETnvp
healthy.”
“We know.” Right122Please respect copyright.PENANA1HwttyPBht
growled. “You just made them unable to work with anyone else. They now serve122Please respect copyright.PENANA5yn0Lfsgza
the bar you bastard.” Alex raised an eyebrow, but he was ignored.
“Just let us in.”122Please respect copyright.PENANAPIrFeczNwQ
Vander rolled his eyes. “You know Ross wouldn’t like it if you kept me out.”
“The door charge122Please respect copyright.PENANAQzihUrcCvc
is two gold coins.” Left placed his hand on Right’s shoulder to keep him from122Please respect copyright.PENANAvBGF6Azumo
arguing further. Vander reached into his pocket for the money. “Each.” Grinning122Please respect copyright.PENANAsa2qoaQkpr
from ear to ear, both guards held out their hands. Clenching his teeth, Vander placed122Please respect copyright.PENANAD7AhA7q45G
two coins in each of their hands. The two men pocketed it then stepped aside.122Please respect copyright.PENANA5AMGjeFzrl
“Enjoy your stay.” Vander went through, but they blocked Alex from entering.
“Entry fee.”122Please respect copyright.PENANA4QxpfLOWfy
Right held out his hand.
“You can’t be122Please respect copyright.PENANAONYTZxZZNL
serious.” Alex stared at the bouncer. He wiggled his fingers in response. Alex122Please respect copyright.PENANAGD7vh3R8Rs
grabbed his hand then squeezed. Right’s eyes bugged out of his head as he was122Please respect copyright.PENANAz1Es0pykOQ
brought to his knees by Alex’s crushing grip. Left stepped forward towards122Please respect copyright.PENANAPNw4su06hs
Alex, but Vander placed his hand on the man’s shoulder.
“You already got122Please respect copyright.PENANAzSgXVVeVq1
double the door charge, taking the win or take a trip to the doctors.” He said.122Please respect copyright.PENANAOJD4BJZXzq
“Your move.”
“Fine.” Left122Please respect copyright.PENANA5mYabx1m4g
ripped his shoulder from Vander’s grip. “Welcome to the Orange Fox gentlemen.”
The Orange Fox122Please respect copyright.PENANAqkLLHtLVKG
looked large from the inside, but it was nothing compared to the true size of122Please respect copyright.PENANAXrX7Cjrc6D
the establishment. There were two floors: one for the festivities and the other122Please respect copyright.PENANAjvCrkC1Xrg
for the after parties. Inside everything was bustling. Waitresses wearing122Please respect copyright.PENANAbBa4kakxUA
barely any clothing were walking around the tables taking drink orders and122Please respect copyright.PENANARw2T179Wmg
flirting with men. Dealers were at the head of each table, some dealt dice122Please respect copyright.PENANA2qPPiiAvj0
while others oversaw the card games. They wore white shirts with orange122Please respect copyright.PENANAjIvBWx8czB
bowties. Men and women from all walks of life frequented this place, some tried122Please respect copyright.PENANAZ55xGSSyKI
to make their fortune while others came to spend a fortune. Here nothing was122Please respect copyright.PENANAJPfx0aExuo
off the table provided you were willing to pay the price.
Normally Vander122Please respect copyright.PENANAAoEe38xiJf
would spend some time checking out the women and ordering drinks, but today the122Please respect copyright.PENANAaW2lOydy0u
two of them were here on a mission that couldn’t be stopped, not even for the122Please respect copyright.PENANAPrBQXQrnWP
attractive blonde bartender.
“You again?” she122Please respect copyright.PENANA0maM7fpmwC
smiled coyly at him. “And you brought an attractive friend, you want the same122Please respect copyright.PENANAXcbbuaTaI0
as last time?”
“I’m not here for122Please respect copyright.PENANAbHNmzS0IMS
pleasure this time.” Vander shook his head then took a seat across from her.122Please respect copyright.PENANAh0sGq7ie4P
“And this guy is here as my bodyguard. I’ll have a shot of whiskey please, make122Please respect copyright.PENANA9H6uixvqy3
it strong.”
“Of course.” She122Please respect copyright.PENANABdsqAo3RIr
sounded disappointed but did as she was asked. She came back a second later122Please respect copyright.PENANAdFfL8dhxO7
carrying a bottle of Redrum Whiskey and two shot glasses. She carefully poured122Please respect copyright.PENANAHhBXlouaXm
them before sliding them over. “That’ll be a gold coin for the bottle.”
“Just a gold?”122Please respect copyright.PENANApNp99EXKgN
Alex frowned. “We paid the two men outside four just to come in.”
“Vander.” The122Please respect copyright.PENANAVz0CpHAolo
blonde sighed. “You know you don’t have to pay those two idiots of entry. Why122Please respect copyright.PENANAJYACfqhcEp
did you?”
“He seemed real122Please respect copyright.PENANA3UbSDfnZ3r
upset that I ruined you for other men.” Vander chuckled. “So, I threw him a122Please respect copyright.PENANArVvkBL2vj6
bone.”
“Ruined me?” she122Please respect copyright.PENANAqunjAFDwAJ
laughed. “Hardly. You were good, but you were a crying mess that night. I just122Please respect copyright.PENANA9ce63I619Z
decided that I didn’t want to sell my body anymore. Plus, he’s just upset122Please respect copyright.PENANA85Zyot5q5d
because I wouldn’t sleep with him for free.”
“I thought you122Please respect copyright.PENANA3tOjLzq0Di
had to pay for it here?” Alex asked.
“You do.” Vander122Please respect copyright.PENANAmWns3HISPk
and the blonde said in unison. They clinked their glasses together then tossed122Please respect copyright.PENANAVZo3ip0iX8
back the drink. Vander placed two more gold coins on the table. “Now, where can122Please respect copyright.PENANAEnxILu9KrU
I find Ross?”
“Downstairs.” She122Please respect copyright.PENANAWJ1jdhCCzw
said. “The main attraction is about to begin; you don’t want to miss it.” She122Please respect copyright.PENANAln5ik7xo7h
got a sad look on her face, but that was to be expected. Like everything, this122Please respect copyright.PENANAnZ5ovMo7ba
place had its dark side.
“Alex, bring the122Please respect copyright.PENANA67Z43cKD1w
whiskey with you.” Vander got up from the bar. “We might need it.” Alex did as122Please respect copyright.PENANAaES4eKwf7u
he was asked. He didn’t ask any questions as the two of them walked towards the122Please respect copyright.PENANAfGbr1sVe83
back corner of the warehouse. Vander did the secret knock then the door slowly122Please respect copyright.PENANAmtrvf6IkCb
opened. Upon recognizing him, the man stepped aside and bade them entry.
The two of them122Please respect copyright.PENANAmPw9BQzCwa
were quiet as they walked down the hall. At the end of the area was a flight of122Please respect copyright.PENANAKtpQc360W4
stairs that walked down into darkness. Vander grabbed a torch from the wall and122Please respect copyright.PENANAdYKr0EpzIc
lit it. It would get dark from this point forward and while he would be able to122Please respect copyright.PENANAVgkprwCRdZ
see without issues, Alex wouldn’t be able to. The area became damp and cold as122Please respect copyright.PENANAWpmv4SScuw
they traveled deeper below the surface. It was hard to tell, but the stagnant122Please respect copyright.PENANAxI8ZD4AqDa
smell of blood lingered in the air.
“Alex.” Vander122Please respect copyright.PENANAu1EBtdHGMN
stopped and turned to look at his friend. “What you are about to see you cannot122Please respect copyright.PENANAKx7A6DzaT5
tell anyone about. Do you understand?”
“What’s going on122Please respect copyright.PENANAOEHnV9cs96
Vander?” he asked.
“I will explain122Please respect copyright.PENANAGf76kbBa93
it all in due time, but do you trust me?”
“With my life.”122Please respect copyright.PENANAvxBjaY9E7y
Alex nodded.
“Then stick close122Please respect copyright.PENANASolHSTs2Co
and follow me.”
It took them a122Please respect copyright.PENANANYT1lNiwjD
few more minutes of walking before they started to hear the deafening cheer122Please respect copyright.PENANA8cH5VtJNeV
coming from ahead. The sound always chilled Vander, but he knew what they were122Please respect copyright.PENANAcd8iGkgAhh
cheering for, and it made him sick to his stomach. He put on a brave face and122Please respect copyright.PENANA51TiJ8ar2C
stepped through the small doorway and into the large subterranean cavern122Please respect copyright.PENANALFAU0vVf35
underneath the city. There was a massive pit in the center with a large122Please respect copyright.PENANA68wNAqJsVH
concrete wall surrounding the top for spectators to see what was going on122Please respect copyright.PENANANDXt9sZTKV
below. Hundreds of people were peering below shouting either words of122Please respect copyright.PENANASieLY5hHVz
encouragement or curses to those below. One man, who worked for Ross, was set122Please respect copyright.PENANAikVDEJt4jq
up in the corner with a large board behind him shouting odds as people thrust122Please respect copyright.PENANAypRtmYIgR1
money at him to bet on the match.
“What is this122Please respect copyright.PENANAszqgaNFvoL
place?” Alex whispered to Vander.
“It’s called the122Please respect copyright.PENANAeI7lQMc7hy
Pits.” He whispered back. “Stay close, you don’t want to get lost in here.” At122Please respect copyright.PENANAPUe8OF2fMy
first you couldn’t see it through the thick crowd trying to get their bets in,122Please respect copyright.PENANAqN0F6GUFsU
but as he masterly maneuvered through the crowd, the true horror of the Pits122Please respect copyright.PENANACei7JSYgki
came into light.
In the center of122Please respect copyright.PENANAGOYV4ldiN0
the room was a massive hole in the ground. There were study railings in place122Please respect copyright.PENANAvYk3US34RP
to keep over eager patrons from getting too close to the edge, but accidents122Please respect copyright.PENANAIqpk2YlRbS
sometimes happened. However, that was the only way to truly witness the blood122Please respect copyright.PENANAnbmZKiu7xw
bath happening below. Even though Vander couldn’t see what was happening, he122Please respect copyright.PENANA672SxeD5zB
both heard and smelled what was going on.
Two people were122Please respect copyright.PENANAq1nAtQtzTK
fighting to the death, one male, one female. Based on the sounds, they were122Please respect copyright.PENANA6eCcdXkGPV
only using their weapons to fight one another. He could hear the sounds of122Please respect copyright.PENANAfkAqxRpiQQ
flesh striking flesh and the pained cry of the man as the female drove her knee122Please respect copyright.PENANAv8ny4RxiQ9
into his crotch. He smelled the irony tang of blood followed by a feminine122Please respect copyright.PENANAF5Sui7mcBQ
scream as the male got his revenge against her. The crowd roared their approval122Please respect copyright.PENANAt1CXwcPtte
and chanted for him to end her. It ended a moment later. People jostled him to122Please respect copyright.PENANAGQJsgDxfTv
collect their winnings while the losers shuffled out cursing their luck under122Please respect copyright.PENANAn0GDPYfvRp
their breaths.
Vander ignored122Please respect copyright.PENANAxtxiWZwBbV
Alex’s questions as he headed towards the VIP area where he knew the person he122Please respect copyright.PENANAcWt3tjsSXO
was looking for was sitting. He was wearing his traditional long black cloak122Please respect copyright.PENANALslQLa6vgK
and mask to cover his face. Only a select few were allowed to know what the122Please respect copyright.PENANAieSdv1nh0f
Lower King looked like. For his protection more than anything else. There were122Please respect copyright.PENANAe5LDM7NsGn
three guards on each side of a raised platform, the best seat in the house to122Please respect copyright.PENANA2Pyaz3fpb6
see what was going on below. The orange hair looked blood red underneath the122Please respect copyright.PENANAp9Op5jNDkR
torches above.
“He’s been122Please respect copyright.PENANA7WvR8NOmTO
expecting you.” One of the guards stepped up and slightly lowered his head in122Please respect copyright.PENANARpPWXvxSYn
difference to Vander. “Who have you brought with you?” He turned to face Alex.
“A friend.”122Please respect copyright.PENANABafXHHT6pc
Vander stared the guard down. “He knows to keep his mouth shut about what122Please respect copyright.PENANAB0hdTXvh0V
happens down here.”
“He better, you122Please respect copyright.PENANAFvOMHp83Vi
know what happens if they don’t,” Vander nodded. The guard took a step back to122Please respect copyright.PENANA6UpEaRb85X
whisper something in his King’s ear. He returned a moment later. “He will see122Please respect copyright.PENANArSlrYDoO9E
you, but you must wait until the end of the next fight before he will discuss122Please respect copyright.PENANAVzTf1F3S4x
business.”
“I understand.”122Please respect copyright.PENANAiXfDAGMxWL
The guard stepped aside motioning for the two of them to step forward. Vander122Please respect copyright.PENANAO7KSfu9Izo
took the spot next to the King while Alex stood behind him. The King didn’t122Please respect copyright.PENANAsmobovLQ3y
acknowledge him but stood up to address the crowd.
“Now for the main122Please respect copyright.PENANAsG9y0SA6ty
event.” His voice boomed. “We have a treat for you, a specimen that had been122Please respect copyright.PENANAavs887Pnss
captured several days ago, a large brown bear.” The crowd cheered. “We starved122Please respect copyright.PENANAUHJZ7vIKA1
it just for you. And now, the challenger wanting to make his fortune is ready122Please respect copyright.PENANA1UVd8z8Wkt
to stake his life.” A louder cheer erupted as a young man, no more than122Please respect copyright.PENANAR4HbQQIaIz
sixteen, walked out carrying a large axe and wearing no armor, just tattered122Please respect copyright.PENANAv45qfPHytD
clothing.
“What’s going122Please respect copyright.PENANAvUgrpbL3Cr
on?” Alex leaned over to whisper into Vander’s ear.
“Don’t say a122Please respect copyright.PENANAhcxqyTn0OE
thing.” Vander whispered back. “I’ll explain later.”
“You know the122Please respect copyright.PENANAOR8sehV0DT
rules?” The teenager nodded his head. “If he wins, he gets all the money from122Please respect copyright.PENANAGU5bO15eLF
those who bet against him, however if he loses, his life belongs to the gods.”122Please respect copyright.PENANArBExVTHbwm
He turned towards the teen for the last time. “Are you sure you want to do122Please respect copyright.PENANAWvBhZxEpE3
this?”
“I do.”
“Then let’s get122Please respect copyright.PENANA4g9NSLK3Ov
on with it!” The crowd cheered as the boy was led away from the podium. He122Please respect copyright.PENANANWb0XKZl1U
didn’t make an appearance again until he reached the bottom of the pit. The122Please respect copyright.PENANAbyaqpppDpz
crowd cheered again, placing their bets against the boy while he walked around122Please respect copyright.PENANAukcF7QXZRS
the edge attempting to hype them up. They fell silent as the King stood once122Please respect copyright.PENANA5TCKJlHmfU
again.
“Release the122Please respect copyright.PENANAQtvo2MxEAo
bear!” The crown cheered as the massive gates holding the ravenous bear back122Please respect copyright.PENANA7Ifquylg3y
open and with a snarl, the creature lunged forward.
From his vantage122Please respect copyright.PENANAQVGufaOB4b
point, Vander and Alex could see the entire fight unfold the way they expected.122Please respect copyright.PENANAisTj293VMB
There was no way an inexperienced fighter could take on a full-grown brown122Please respect copyright.PENANA5x2SdQOR9O
bear, especially not one that hasn’t fed in days, but he did put up a good122Please respect copyright.PENANAH30ctloZjH
fight.
When the bear122Please respect copyright.PENANAapUoErZ6X7
charged him, he rolled to dodge the massive strike from the bear’s claws and122Please respect copyright.PENANAjCs83zi28g
got in a strike of his own raking the creature’s side with his axe. The bear122Please respect copyright.PENANAH6B9PUPSgW
bellowed in rage then got up on its hind legs and tried to intimidate the boy.122Please respect copyright.PENANAovpotBWJ2r
He swatted at the axe but was met with the blade. Blood sprayed from the122Please respect copyright.PENANAuLv3KIbeD1
creature’s paw causing him to roar out in pain. It was at that moment the kid122Please respect copyright.PENANAOFzoDpXPob
got overeager. He rushed forward, the sight of the kill fresh in his mind, but122Please respect copyright.PENANA3ZuWw7J7wA
one strike from the other paw was enough to send the boy spinning. He got to122Please respect copyright.PENANAIRRoJ78cfg
his feet, his head whirling. Half his cheek was torn, and his eye was dangling122Please respect copyright.PENANAC2CWx6x315
from the socket. He was too stunned to scream as the bear tore out the kid’s122Please respect copyright.PENANAkjw4AJe2dO
throat.
“And there we122Please respect copyright.PENANAHjEyIikg62
have it!” The King stood ignoring the sound of the bear gorging itself on the122Please respect copyright.PENANAbeKMIzlWNj
kid’s body. “Everyone, make sure you collect your winnings. My bar is open to122Please respect copyright.PENANABtMMs1TtBa
you all night long.” The crowd cheered as the King stepped down waving for122Please respect copyright.PENANATZFOBvFD5x
Vander to follow him. Without a word, Vander got up and followed the cloaked122Please respect copyright.PENANAfSXp9GwtEl
figure with Alex behind him. The guards took up position on both sides122Please respect copyright.PENANA2VGVwbba3g
escorting them away.
They walked down122Please respect copyright.PENANAOT9uCtxlv3
a long hallway the slope upwards leading back into the warehouse. Vander only122Please respect copyright.PENANAGE1bKUyMKM
knew where he was going because he had been there before. The hallway became122Please respect copyright.PENANAUpKfdmOEhE
lighter, and they came to a metal door. The King removed a key from around his122Please respect copyright.PENANA2PMQQ6a08e
neck then opened it, ushering the group inside. On the other side of the door122Please respect copyright.PENANADJIOYgDZ2k
was another hallway that led to the rooms where the patrons of the Orange Fox122Please respect copyright.PENANAKIe55RnMmb
would be well taken care of tonight.
“This way.” Ross122Please respect copyright.PENANAN9yF7jHWrW
said. He walked a couple of doors down, removed another key, then ushered them122Please respect copyright.PENANAq4HFGcEOg1
into his room. The guards took up position inside and outside as Ross moved122Please respect copyright.PENANA9t9A0UCHP7
towards his bedroom shedding his cloak and mask as he went. “Help yourself122Please respect copyright.PENANAviPElBAV2R
while I freshen up.” Ross shouted over his shoulder. “You wouldn’t believe how122Please respect copyright.PENANAvhcnl4cMTY
hot it gets under that get up.” The door closed leaving Vander and Alex alone.
The room wasn’t122Please respect copyright.PENANA53fyxxvxDS
much compared to the King’s estate, but for a man living in the slums, it was a122Please respect copyright.PENANAQpwk4OSkrg
palace. There were three rooms, a living space, bathroom, and bedroom. The122Please respect copyright.PENANASZTa240emP
living space had a full kitchen, was fully adorned with bookshelves, a desk,122Please respect copyright.PENANA2o5KTj9BIr
several couches and chairs, along with several alcohol cabinets. This was home122Please respect copyright.PENANAbrLnIb5Sah
to hundreds of parties a year and people from all walks of life was invited,122Please respect copyright.PENANAa2mfjzglSX
including the noble families.
Alex spun on122Please respect copyright.PENANARdKtf503mD
Vander, grabbing him by his collar and shoving him against the wall. “What the122Please respect copyright.PENANAo2nIgLOlYs
hell was that?” He spat. Vander waved the guards away as they made their way122Please respect copyright.PENANAuVRcM5mKLx
over.
“You know we122Please respect copyright.PENANA5gOgF3hs4M
couldn’t get involved to save that boy.” Vander growled. “He made his choice122Please respect copyright.PENANApG7hLjz83q
and tonight we aren’t agents of the king or Blades, we are people looking for122Please respect copyright.PENANAwmwKgGttHt
information and in this area, Ross is King. You know this Alex.” Alex stared at122Please respect copyright.PENANApyMJryXEz8
him for a moment before shoving Vander against the wall and letting him go.
“I hate making a122Please respect copyright.PENANACTuXyVUUGI
deal with the devil.” He grumbled.
“Deal with the122Please respect copyright.PENANAXZT6ZMrB2L
devil?” Both looked up to see Ross standing there. He shed his old clothing and122Please respect copyright.PENANAVTi1GGR3Sz
wore a collared white shirt, unbuttoned on the top to show off his gold122Please respect copyright.PENANAVlMtSqWiOK
necklace, and black pants. He put on122Please respect copyright.PENANAmIv4SM3I1K
some tall boots and many bracelets adorned his wrists. “Alex, I am much worse122Please respect copyright.PENANAPXbEVRyb6L
than Unna.” Vander snorted, but Ross chose to ignore him.
“How do you know122Please respect copyright.PENANAVt6yvW1HNb
my name?” Alex growled. Ross poured himself a glass of booze before walking122Please respect copyright.PENANAZyRvOdUtcb
proudly over to the other couch. He sat down across from the two of them giving122Please respect copyright.PENANAPRG9ENCihD
both a wide grin.
“Who doesn’t know122Please respect copyright.PENANAiI7sxLJilf
Vander’s Shield?” He asked. “The one man who would risk his life for his122Please respect copyright.PENANA8dnmDzuh5D
friend. You’re a legend.”
“I hate that122Please respect copyright.PENANAtbD7bHiYlv
nickname.” He snapped. Ross raised his hand peacefully.
“Noted.” He took122Please respect copyright.PENANAkRLiA5KX7r
a sip from his glass then turned to look at Vander. “What can I help you with122Please respect copyright.PENANAEgbLxswHFY
Vander?”
“I need122Please respect copyright.PENANA5uIPBcQh43
information.” Vander said.
“Information122Please respect copyright.PENANACaHclUk6uA
isn’t cheap.” Ross smirked. “Are you prepared to pay the price?” Vander removed122Please respect copyright.PENANA00KncgTuVZ
a sack of gold from his pocket dropping it on the table in front of him. “You122Please respect copyright.PENANAuV7qqGkcKv
came to play.” Ross laughed. “How can I help you.”
“I want to know122Please respect copyright.PENANAljS66H5uqy
what you know about the King’s poisoning.” Ross didn’t even flinch at the news.
“How did you know122Please respect copyright.PENANAw1dkpAqWdB
I knew?”
“Because you know122Please respect copyright.PENANAvPKK81fUKv
just about everything that happens.” Vander rolled his eyes. “I’m not an122Please respect copyright.PENANAXjzNAcVU2T
idiot.”
“Fair enough.” He122Please respect copyright.PENANA6Gr8DpXBPc
smiled. “This is just enough for me to tell you who they are.” Within one swift122Please respect copyright.PENANAF0bwDDXUaU
movement, the coins disappeared. “The Green Serpents were the ones who poisoned122Please respect copyright.PENANA6UURCtg7ln
the King.”
“A mercenary122Please respect copyright.PENANALMUtXWcbxm
group?” Alex asked. “Who paid them?”
“That’s not122Please respect copyright.PENANAvh32EFNIdE
something known to me.” Ross shook his head. “Even if it was, you’d have to pay122Please respect copyright.PENANAvFe4YKbzYJ
me more to know that.”
“You bastard.”122Please respect copyright.PENANAsX3CiyjE3q
Alex snapped.
“It’s the price122Please respect copyright.PENANAscmGH7MxZp
of business.” Ross shrugged. “But I can find their hideout for you.” He took122Please respect copyright.PENANA93vvKEaH9D
another sip of alcohol.
“What would it122Please respect copyright.PENANAHeTx7ZK8el
cost me?” Vander asked.
“You know what I122Please respect copyright.PENANAq73tl08FjQ
want.” Ross rolled his eyes. “I want you to fight, in the pit. Against a122Please respect copyright.PENANAuPto0pmHdd
creature of my choice.”
“No,” Alex folded122Please respect copyright.PENANA5v0mg1qGUN
his arms over his chest. “It’s too dangerous. We can send our own spies to locate122Please respect copyright.PENANA6l3B4r6mjb
them, we don’t need you.”
“You might want122Please respect copyright.PENANAT13T5Wwpor
to reconsider.” Ross sighed. “But that’s for you to find out on your own.”
“Vander, let’s122Please respect copyright.PENANAnmzZfTsOVN
go.” Vander saw the rage burning in his friend’s face and he knew there was no122Please respect copyright.PENANACC46lX3mNE
time to argue with him. Defeated, he got to his feet to walk towards the door.
“Before you go.”122Please respect copyright.PENANAoyo0rBEl7n
Ross spoke up. Vander turned to see him staring up at him. “I will give you122Please respect copyright.PENANAwb4RgDngF5
some information for free: don’t trust those you claim to be your friends. You122Please respect copyright.PENANAm2JvL4TK9M
have a spy within your organization, Vander.”
“Come on, let’s122Please respect copyright.PENANAlSipWqZxcj
go.” Alex spun Vander around.
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“Don’t say I122Please respect copyright.PENANApTTu4WIS3k
didn’t warn you!” Ross shouted as the door closed behind them.