Kai locked onto his bond with Shadow. They emerged among a crop of decimated buildings, a short distance from the wolf. Shadow surged forward, continuing the hunt.

  Ash coated everything - ground, air, lungs. Like home. Or whatever Earth was to him now.

  Kai swept the area with his spatial senses - nothing. The range of Lilith’s Gift was impressive.

  Her Gift was blasphemous, but she wasn’t stupid. She’d buried her soldiers and maintained distance. Staying hidden, giving herself an exit if things went south.

  Professional work, he’d give her that much.

  But her plan had a hole you could drive a truck through. What kinda fool sends weaponless skeletons to the ash pile? She wasted her Gift. As Death God’s heir, the dead were his to command, not hers.

  Smart money said she’d retreat to the main village, write off the outskirts. They couldn’t hit the main village without backup. Too dangerous. Best move: sweep the outskirts, then regroup.

  Not ideal. Eliminating one of Renzo’s Marked before the assault was tempting but unlikely.

  Alira’s eyes swept the ruins.

  “She’s not here,” Kai said.

  The main village sat just beyond his range. Two more teleports would cover the outskirts, but that was wasteful. Conserving essence beat speed.

  Kai released Alira and walked toward the main village. Alira followed, sword ready. Kai drew his dark blade. They moved in silence, keeping their approach quiet.

  But that was pointless.

  A slender woman blocked their path, standing among the corpses of ruined houses. Her hair split down the middle - white on the left, black on the right. Her eyes matched the asymmetry - one blue, the other red.

  A black corset hugged her frame. Black gloves reached her elbows. Human finger bones adorned the backs of each glove. A grey satchel hung at her waist. Her hands rested on her hips like she was waiting for someone. Black tights covered her legs.

  The woman smiled as they levelled their swords and advanced. She raised her hand. Kai prepared to tear through space and take her head - until she waved.

  He squinted at her.

  “What’s she up to?” Alira said.

  “Won’t take long to find out,” Kai said.

  The woman - likely Lilith - had revealed herself, waved at them, and practically surrendered.

  Suspicious.

  “Took you long enough,” the woman said. Soft voice. Warm.

  “Expecting us?” Kai asked, scanning for hidden threats. Nothing but her.

  She scoffed. “Why else would I be standing here?”

  “Maybe you thought your welcoming party succeeded,” Kai said.

  “What are you doing?” Alira hissed. “We came to kill her, not make conversation.”

  Kai sighed. “She’s alone. Can’t outrun me. Might as well get information.”

  Alira frowned. “What if she’s lying?”

  “Then we’ll kill her,” Kai said loud enough for Lilith to hear.

  “No need for that, I won’t lie,” she said.

  Kai pressed. “Why?”

  She chuckled. “Because I want to join you, silly.”

  Kai blinked.

  “Is it that surprising?” she asked.

  “You’re Lilith?” Kai said.

  “What gave me away?”

  “The bones.”

  She wiggled her glove, making the bone decorations dance. His sword stayed ready.

  “Why do you wanna join us?” he asked.

  “Why wouldn’t I?” Lilith said. “We didn’t get a vote when that creepy dude took over. Then he brought us here to set a trap for you. This isn’t mob business!”

  So Renzo knew he was here, set a trap. Bad news.

  He studied her. “How do you know the trap’s for me?”

  She twirled her hair around a finger. “I make it my business to know things.”

  His grip tightened on his sword.

  “And I’ll tell you everything,” Lilith said. “I promise.”

  “Enough,” Alira said, levelling her blade at Lilith. “You killed innocents. Now you want us to spare you?”

  This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

  Lilith raised her hands, shaking her head. “No, you got it wrong. Sibyl and Vincent did all that.” She shifted her weight. “They were already dead when I got to them. I just…recycled their bones.”

  She shrugged, looking sheepish. “It’s not like they were using them.”

  Kai sensed Shadow behind her. He sent a command through their bond:

  Wait.

  “Why send the skeletons if you wanted to join us?” Kai asked.

  “Had to make it look real. Renzo has eyes everywhere,” Lilith said.

  Kai didn’t doubt that. Renzo’s intelligence network was immense and frightening.

  “But I made it easy for you, didn’t I?”

  “You call fifty skeletons easy?” Alira said.

  Lilith shook her head. “Your boss looked weak, but I knew you could handle them together. I didn’t even give them weapons. If I wanted you dead, would I be so careless?”

  She had a point. Those skeletons could’ve massacred a lesser crew, but posed no real threat to his.

  “A test?” Kai asked.

  “Bingo,” Lilith said. “Had to know if you were worth joining. If you couldn’t handle my weakest skeletons, then…” She shrugged. “I’d have to try Plan C.”

  They were Plan B? How dare this blasphemer…

  Kai bit back his indignation. “What was plan A?”

  “The obvious choice,” Lilith replied. “Killing the new boss.”

  Her expression soured. “But he’s harder to kill than I thought. Never lets his guard down. Always two steps ahead. Like he knows what’s coming.”

  “Why didn’t you run?”

  “Because I’m not stupid. Where can I go? Renzo has the Serpent and Carver mobs under his thumb. The others would kill me before helping me.” She shook her head. “And who wants to live in the Darklands?”

  Alira tensed. Nobles raised their children in the Darklands, thinking it made them better warriors. Preparation for the inevitable - humanity’s final retreat to the Darklands. The logic held. The implementation didn’t.

  Privilege bred weakness. Their kids had everything, earned nothing, feared less. Recipe for getting killed.

  Ice daggers materialised behind Alira.

  “Wait, Alira,” he said, raising his hand. “The enemy of my enemy.”

  “Is a temporary friend,” Alira said through gritted teeth.

  He nodded at Lilith. “We both want Renzo dead. But why do we need you?”

  Lilith gaped. Her brows furrowed. “I know things. I can help you reach him. And my Gift’s useful - a workforce that never tires. Think what we can build together.” She smiled, pleased with her pitch.

  “We can reach Renzo without you,” Kai said, gesturing towards the village. “He only has a few Marked with him. Your skeletons are ash. Your offer is…” He raised his sword slightly. “Unconvincing.”

  Lilith’s smile widened. “Wait. You don’t know?”

  “Know what?” Alira said.

  “Renzo isn’t here,” Lilith said.

  Kai frowned. “When did he leave?”

  Lilith shook her head. “He was never here. Didn’t step foot in the Darklands. He sent a puppet.”

  Kai’s eyes widened. “A puppet?”

  “I thought you knew each other? That’s one of his Gifts.”

  “One of his Gifts?”

  Lilith tilted her head. “Do you know anything? His Gift creates puppets. Takes over Marked and controls their Gifts. He probably has other tricks up his sleeve.”

  Kai’s jaw tightened. His prey was out of reach. Safe on Earth while his puppet took the risks.

  Sneaky bastard.

  Even worse, this pretender to Death’s throne had figured out Renzo’s Gift before him. His stomach clenched, nausea rising.

  He took a deep breath, forcing calm. At least he knew Renzo’s Gift now - a win among losses.

  Alira’s eyes narrowed. “Why didn’t he turn you into a puppet?”

  Lilith met her gaze. “I dunno. He must have a limit - can’t control everyone. Probably thought killing the boss would keep us in line.” She huffed. “Most got the message.”

  “But not you?”

  “Not me.”

  He couldn’t sense anything strange about her. That didn’t prove she wasn’t a puppet. But revealing Renzo’s puppet Gift made little sense if she were one.

  Kai nodded toward the destroyed village. “What was the point of all this?”

  Lilith glanced at the village, then back at Kai. “He said he couldn’t let you have a power base. Something about becoming a steward.”

  His voice sharpened. “How did he find out?”

  She shrugged. “How would I know? He only tells us the basics.”

  Was she lying? He had to know for certain.

  He ripped through space, blade at her neck before she could react. He stared into her mismatched eyes. “Are you lying to me?” He searched for tells.

  What he found surprised him. He expected fear, but there was more.

  Sweat covered her face. Her body shook like a leaf. He pulled his blade back. She trembled hard enough to open her throat on the edge.

  Her words came out unsteady. “N-no, I’m not lying. I came to join you, give you everything you need. Help you kill that creepy snake.” She swallowed.

  “No plans to backstab me and take over?”

  “Who needs all that responsibility?”

  A nervous smile emerged, but terror hit her again. The trembling grew violent. “I wanted…maybe a lieutenant position? But I-I know you’ll kill me. I deserve it. No other way.”

  No, not terror. Despair.

  Was this the attribute Despair God gave him? Not bad. The pervert was a useful ally after all.

  Piercing agony forced his eyes shut. The pain vanished after a second. Inconvenient.

  But he hadn’t lost any soul essence. Brief pain was acceptable, if annoying.

  He opened his eyes as information flooded his mind.

  —

  Attribute:

  [Despairing Gaze]

  Rarity: Divine

  Description: Despair God appreciates your work.

  Eye contact with hostile intent inflicts despair and mental suffering on your target. Single target only. Repeated use may drive the target insane.

  Despair God peers through your eyes for one second per use.

  —

  That damned pervert! She’s using this ‘boon’ to satisfy her urges.

  Kai sighed. He stepped back, lowering his blade. “Good.”

  He nodded at the space behind Lilith. Shadow emerged from the ground, padding towards her.

  “Watch her,” Kai instructed.

  Shadow’s head bobbed in acknowledgment.

  Lilith regained her composure. She tried clearing her head with a shake. Pointless, but instinctive. She recovered fast. Not a stranger to psychological warfare. She straightened, chin lifting. “What now?”

  “Follow the wolf,” Kai said. “Stay with him. Don’t run. Or…” He raised his blade. “I don’t need to explain, do I?”

  She nodded.

  “We’ll eliminate Renzo’s people here. Then hunt him on Earth. Be ready.”

  She smiled. “Sounds like a plan…Boss?”

  Kai smiled back. “You’ll fit right in.”

  He looked at Shadow. “Take her to the boy and the horses.”

  Shadow looked up at Lilith, watching her hand. She reached into her satchel. Kai studied her, ready to react. Her hand emerged with a large bone. She tossed it to Shadow. He caught it in his mouth, then set off toward the others.

  Lilith and Kai trailed behind Shadow. Alira sighed and fell in line.

  “If she tries anything, I’ll kill her,” Alira said. Her ice daggers shattered, fragments raining down as powder.

  “And I’ll command her corpse,” Kai replied.

  Minutes later, they reached Silas standing in a field of ashes. He’d reverted to his normal form. Levi and Rusk waited nearby, both frowning deeply.

  “No blood,” Levi complained.

  “Nothing for me to do,” Rusk said.

  Kai approached them. Lilith flashed them a smile but kept moving with Shadow. The wolf and Dark Horses would be enough to keep her in check.

  “Having fun?” Kai asked.

  Rusk looked up. His usual excitement had vanished. “No.”

  Levi licked his lips, tracking Lilith as she passed. “Who’s that charming lady?”

  Kai shook his head. “Not food.”

  The vampire deflated. His gaze dropped. “I don’t know how much longer I can go on like this.”

  Kai examined the dramatic vampire. He looked healthier than when they’d left the cave. He’d survive.

  “Then you’ll be happy to hear the good news,” Kai said. “The path ahead is clear. Time to hit the bastards in the village.”

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