Chapter 10
The slums.
The most dangerous place in116Please respect copyright.PENANAD8UkU0MtWO
Eluvia, especially if you had no place to go. At least, that’s how it was five116Please respect copyright.PENANAs0FoKZSNzQ
years ago. Before then it was lawless; deaths were common from drug overdoses116Please respect copyright.PENANA234eXbUbyO
or suicides. Crimes such as rape, theft, or murder were daily occurrences. It116Please respect copyright.PENANAIGaCS2YH26
was treated as a cesspool and soldiers were afraid of going in there and being116Please respect copyright.PENANAtkCYkr3jOE
torn to shreds. Not even the King’s power could influence what was happening116Please respect copyright.PENANA7LQZ7BY4cx
there, no matter how many times they had sent the Blades in to try and clean116Please respect copyright.PENANAxKabXQKwYn
up, more would seep out from the cracks. It was a never-ending battle.
That all changed with the sudden116Please respect copyright.PENANA5GHzYp1q1R
appearance of Ross, the undisputed King of Lower Eluvia. No one knew where he116Please respect copyright.PENANAvlc4YSeYfm
came from, but he brought all the crime under one umbrella and monopolized it116Please respect copyright.PENANAe9fBLY1dlo
so he would have control. He set up shop in an old storage warehouse and116Please respect copyright.PENANAN1PcwvZyvo
outfitted it with tables, chairs and a bar. He hired people from off the116Please respect copyright.PENANAkN4j1A8EfS
streets, got many of them clean, then put them to work gathering one of the116Please respect copyright.PENANAKN9LZkE7Zl
most powerful forms of currency: intelligence. Some believe that they have116Please respect copyright.PENANA3cegl0R7g8
something on the King which was why they received funding for his116Please respect copyright.PENANA4m0eotVxCo
establishment.
Not to say all116Please respect copyright.PENANAexpAHcoHhs
the crimes have completely gone away, no matter how much the noblemen pretend. It116Please respect copyright.PENANA962WHZGeok
was just handled by Ross, usually on the down low. But within the most recent116Please respect copyright.PENANA4rVwzbgKip
year, his authority has been challenged with the introduction of a new player,116Please respect copyright.PENANAoA3nvetirg
a master behind the scenes with his own small army now patrolling the mean116Please respect copyright.PENANAwO6zd2Muau
streets of the slums. Not much is known about them other than they dress in all116Please respect copyright.PENANA2R38Nkgyfi
black, carrying blunt instruments and they have solid white masks covering116Please respect copyright.PENANAeExOkELJOx
their faces with holes for the eyes. They had the mark of Humjir carved into116Please respect copyright.PENANAPCMFZEWaln
their forehead, but many doubted that they were instruments of Humjir. No one116Please respect copyright.PENANALeQFyVG4es
knew where they came from or what their goals were. People who came across them116Please respect copyright.PENANApWiG6qagCM
just disappeared.
Alexander seemed116Please respect copyright.PENANAADPUVDzHbJ
tense as they went from the Eastern District into the Southern District. The116Please respect copyright.PENANAa1OO0kBhGm
guards stationed at the gate didn’t even acknowledge them as they walked past.116Please respect copyright.PENANADIDJnFZz9Y
Seeing well-dressed people heading inside wasn’t uncommon on this kind of night116Please respect copyright.PENANAA9P1P5J689
and they knew better than to open their mouths. Shea looked around nervously116Please respect copyright.PENANAPFVDBimFEL
with her hackles raised. This area put everyone of edge as if they116Please respect copyright.PENANAsQlGsJobsB
instinctually knew they shouldn’t be here.
The three of them116Please respect copyright.PENANA7xrLirJ5mw
stayed along the well-lit streets, Shea warned off anyone who wanted to try116Please respect copyright.PENANATxVhpgXC3T
their luck, but for the most part their trip towards the warehouse went116Please respect copyright.PENANArH4vwXDXVt
unabated. The warehouse they were headed towards was called the Orange Fox Inn,116Please respect copyright.PENANA8Prs5nuQBp
Ross’s moniker. Vander could hear the music blasting from all the way out here,116Please respect copyright.PENANAbh1jWjl70N
a good sign. There were two guards blocking the door. Huge men that knew their116Please respect copyright.PENANAEYdwCthm1E
way around their weapons, the only ones allowed to carry weapons anywhere near116Please respect copyright.PENANAJ9qPMLYO3r
this establishment. Vander could never remember their names, so he just called116Please respect copyright.PENANALfqev0HRUt
them Right and Left.
Right was the116Please respect copyright.PENANAP6Xankz7Wt
taller of the two with short brown hair and brown eyes. Even at night he wore116Please respect copyright.PENANAAD6bUHNPEl
shades to cover his eyes. Left was short with a bald head and blue eyes. He did116Please respect copyright.PENANAl6AP7YJWkE
a lot of the talking for the two of them and he never much cared for Vander,116Please respect copyright.PENANAqy1CaYMKVt
which was apparent the way he eyed him as the group walked up.
“No dogs116Please respect copyright.PENANAUjbry9wyQE
allowed.” Right said. Shea bared her teeth.
“Come on Right.”116Please respect copyright.PENANAsucssEkQy8
Vander rolled his eyes. “You remember what happened last time you disrespected116Please respect copyright.PENANAtqmyztioKH
Shea? I heard they needed forty-three stitches to make sure your testicles were116Please respect copyright.PENANAywRKJmmBi0
still functional.” Anger blared in his eyes as Right stared at Vander.
“What do you116Please respect copyright.PENANAKRiM2KtyiR
want, Blade?” he hissed.
“Drink, party,116Please respect copyright.PENANAOhFTYuiAnb
have a little bit of fun.” Vander grinned. “Why else would anyone come to this116Please respect copyright.PENANAtK3SZ2Awf8
dump?”
“Last time you116Please respect copyright.PENANABMYWruWMnf
came here for ‘fun’,” He clenched his teeth. “Two of our women couldn’t work116Please respect copyright.PENANAdkQvtRI76a
for days you sick fuck.” Alex looked over to him with a concerned expression on116Please respect copyright.PENANAhqkhfI1rfD
his face.
“This was before116Please respect copyright.PENANAKayFyCj9zd
we left for the bunker.” Vander hurriedly explained. “After Bree…you know.” He116Please respect copyright.PENANAH18o6jQ2BD
turned back to the two guards. “You do realize that they are there for pleasure116Please respect copyright.PENANADuo9EYiXIR
and that’s what they got. They were just a little sore after, but otherwise perfectly116Please respect copyright.PENANAHdxFwHJNxC
healthy.”
“We know.” Right116Please respect copyright.PENANAXKGZxTkmwP
growled. “You just made them unable to work with anyone else. They now serve116Please respect copyright.PENANAPLuvSQn4Ji
the bar you bastard.” Alex raised an eyebrow, but he was ignored.
“Just let us in.”116Please respect copyright.PENANAMr3tl7VejC
Vander rolled his eyes. “You know Ross wouldn’t like it if you kept me out.”
“The door charge116Please respect copyright.PENANAMKBe9v8bAJ
is two gold coins.” Left placed his hand on Right’s shoulder to keep him from116Please respect copyright.PENANAFw7l1dziGO
arguing further. Vander reached into his pocket for the money. “Each.” Grinning116Please respect copyright.PENANABrt9gDHUCz
from ear to ear, both guards held out their hands. Clenching his teeth, Vander placed116Please respect copyright.PENANAmVhEifqozJ
two coins in each of their hands. The two men pocketed it then stepped aside.116Please respect copyright.PENANAJ2tB2Opv1L
“Enjoy your stay.” Vander went through, but they blocked Alex from entering.
“Entry fee.”116Please respect copyright.PENANA4oXPBwONh4
Right held out his hand.
“You can’t be116Please respect copyright.PENANAm0ZfWYKh1F
serious.” Alex stared at the bouncer. He wiggled his fingers in response. Alex116Please respect copyright.PENANAUYzqbwWSRN
grabbed his hand then squeezed. Right’s eyes bugged out of his head as he was116Please respect copyright.PENANAkjpfc1YFqH
brought to his knees by Alex’s crushing grip. Left stepped forward towards116Please respect copyright.PENANAQy1KF8vX5V
Alex, but Vander placed his hand on the man’s shoulder.
“You already got116Please respect copyright.PENANA9kgNAbtMxm
double the door charge, taking the win or take a trip to the doctors.” He said.116Please respect copyright.PENANA0hNqYp1DI7
“Your move.”
“Fine.” Left116Please respect copyright.PENANAuVR6ZL4rX5
ripped his shoulder from Vander’s grip. “Welcome to the Orange Fox gentlemen.”
The Orange Fox116Please respect copyright.PENANAb60HlvVAi0
looked large from the inside, but it was nothing compared to the true size of116Please respect copyright.PENANAZ2C0SNovt7
the establishment. There were two floors: one for the festivities and the other116Please respect copyright.PENANA0FHDYJD1o3
for the after parties. Inside everything was bustling. Waitresses wearing116Please respect copyright.PENANAPI5363JGAU
barely any clothing were walking around the tables taking drink orders and116Please respect copyright.PENANARJLBjud2Fb
flirting with men. Dealers were at the head of each table, some dealt dice116Please respect copyright.PENANAlfC5e3tFlW
while others oversaw the card games. They wore white shirts with orange116Please respect copyright.PENANACurCJFu3Qm
bowties. Men and women from all walks of life frequented this place, some tried116Please respect copyright.PENANAY22iiI4vjC
to make their fortune while others came to spend a fortune. Here nothing was116Please respect copyright.PENANAyGcclsbW2r
off the table provided you were willing to pay the price.
Normally Vander116Please respect copyright.PENANAe7DYnmK1K7
would spend some time checking out the women and ordering drinks, but today the116Please respect copyright.PENANAXQXQgmiZHX
two of them were here on a mission that couldn’t be stopped, not even for the116Please respect copyright.PENANADu9INBIKYh
attractive blonde bartender.
“You again?” she116Please respect copyright.PENANAqRVcqRDzg8
smiled coyly at him. “And you brought an attractive friend, you want the same116Please respect copyright.PENANA33r5f7tge5
as last time?”
“I’m not here for116Please respect copyright.PENANAXri1S5DTFd
pleasure this time.” Vander shook his head then took a seat across from her.116Please respect copyright.PENANAISWdcpYYnI
“And this guy is here as my bodyguard. I’ll have a shot of whiskey please, make116Please respect copyright.PENANAXFajPgtR4E
it strong.”
“Of course.” She116Please respect copyright.PENANALMyINV4oCH
sounded disappointed but did as she was asked. She came back a second later116Please respect copyright.PENANAh1xAAeKCDM
carrying a bottle of Redrum Whiskey and two shot glasses. She carefully poured116Please respect copyright.PENANAfKMFMfSTqQ
them before sliding them over. “That’ll be a gold coin for the bottle.”
“Just a gold?”116Please respect copyright.PENANAtyXZ88D1wl
Alex frowned. “We paid the two men outside four just to come in.”
“Vander.” The116Please respect copyright.PENANAsVBOT27gWj
blonde sighed. “You know you don’t have to pay those two idiots of entry. Why116Please respect copyright.PENANAkxMvKO0nar
did you?”
“He seemed real116Please respect copyright.PENANAcQOnUywzn1
upset that I ruined you for other men.” Vander chuckled. “So, I threw him a116Please respect copyright.PENANA7Htmz6wb7H
bone.”
“Ruined me?” she116Please respect copyright.PENANAtw8cXGXkXH
laughed. “Hardly. You were good, but you were a crying mess that night. I just116Please respect copyright.PENANAKOtkSU67qv
decided that I didn’t want to sell my body anymore. Plus, he’s just upset116Please respect copyright.PENANAK1fqZCUy7A
because I wouldn’t sleep with him for free.”
“I thought you116Please respect copyright.PENANAemNlYrHby9
had to pay for it here?” Alex asked.
“You do.” Vander116Please respect copyright.PENANAlKDyctzeob
and the blonde said in unison. They clinked their glasses together then tossed116Please respect copyright.PENANAXeNT430ZuF
back the drink. Vander placed two more gold coins on the table. “Now, where can116Please respect copyright.PENANAg135GvhWHJ
I find Ross?”
“Downstairs.” She116Please respect copyright.PENANAm9KniNYLEC
said. “The main attraction is about to begin; you don’t want to miss it.” She116Please respect copyright.PENANAHeS4iT6c0Q
got a sad look on her face, but that was to be expected. Like everything, this116Please respect copyright.PENANA1iVcHQMv04
place had its dark side.
“Alex, bring the116Please respect copyright.PENANA3Jz7M5Uas7
whiskey with you.” Vander got up from the bar. “We might need it.” Alex did as116Please respect copyright.PENANA2qCAkDpnoa
he was asked. He didn’t ask any questions as the two of them walked towards the116Please respect copyright.PENANAp09dkcA1SE
back corner of the warehouse. Vander did the secret knock then the door slowly116Please respect copyright.PENANAJdT6uJeWpF
opened. Upon recognizing him, the man stepped aside and bade them entry.
The two of them116Please respect copyright.PENANAQKcsetAnVo
were quiet as they walked down the hall. At the end of the area was a flight of116Please respect copyright.PENANAypT1RQQuoW
stairs that walked down into darkness. Vander grabbed a torch from the wall and116Please respect copyright.PENANAMRm7VmTZnX
lit it. It would get dark from this point forward and while he would be able to116Please respect copyright.PENANAvKomA2o1VX
see without issues, Alex wouldn’t be able to. The area became damp and cold as116Please respect copyright.PENANAqg5PJachLu
they traveled deeper below the surface. It was hard to tell, but the stagnant116Please respect copyright.PENANAk1onR4e4Cn
smell of blood lingered in the air.
“Alex.” Vander116Please respect copyright.PENANAK1z3WA4h8D
stopped and turned to look at his friend. “What you are about to see you cannot116Please respect copyright.PENANAKYhcQYgfL6
tell anyone about. Do you understand?”
“What’s going on116Please respect copyright.PENANAj2fQ128fxt
Vander?” he asked.
“I will explain116Please respect copyright.PENANAaHckunea3A
it all in due time, but do you trust me?”
“With my life.”116Please respect copyright.PENANACt8Aq74rKh
Alex nodded.
“Then stick close116Please respect copyright.PENANAA50o3d9umw
and follow me.”
It took them a116Please respect copyright.PENANAvbiirTgXAp
few more minutes of walking before they started to hear the deafening cheer116Please respect copyright.PENANA8gnP8sP77T
coming from ahead. The sound always chilled Vander, but he knew what they were116Please respect copyright.PENANAXXmussdhJg
cheering for, and it made him sick to his stomach. He put on a brave face and116Please respect copyright.PENANAzfSSdQ599h
stepped through the small doorway and into the large subterranean cavern116Please respect copyright.PENANAER0WUlDHLe
underneath the city. There was a massive pit in the center with a large116Please respect copyright.PENANAsLu1OiZYVE
concrete wall surrounding the top for spectators to see what was going on116Please respect copyright.PENANAyy1Vi7Wa56
below. Hundreds of people were peering below shouting either words of116Please respect copyright.PENANAJlzwV3J8Um
encouragement or curses to those below. One man, who worked for Ross, was set116Please respect copyright.PENANAwijF5MsKSU
up in the corner with a large board behind him shouting odds as people thrust116Please respect copyright.PENANAEGimO5gO7R
money at him to bet on the match.
“What is this116Please respect copyright.PENANAYzxCUQIa8G
place?” Alex whispered to Vander.
“It’s called the116Please respect copyright.PENANAF2LuSBmj7Y
Pits.” He whispered back. “Stay close, you don’t want to get lost in here.” At116Please respect copyright.PENANA3Vcn8tWdv1
first you couldn’t see it through the thick crowd trying to get their bets in,116Please respect copyright.PENANADTR1OwfGqc
but as he masterly maneuvered through the crowd, the true horror of the Pits116Please respect copyright.PENANAR233tgA5mF
came into light.
In the center of116Please respect copyright.PENANAsEvepbCaBH
the room was a massive hole in the ground. There were study railings in place116Please respect copyright.PENANAqmkMQyatOe
to keep over eager patrons from getting too close to the edge, but accidents116Please respect copyright.PENANA4xEe9j77Yo
sometimes happened. However, that was the only way to truly witness the blood116Please respect copyright.PENANAq9hKddNgkL
bath happening below. Even though Vander couldn’t see what was happening, he116Please respect copyright.PENANAyVRxv3B2n5
both heard and smelled what was going on.
Two people were116Please respect copyright.PENANAxIBiYg9N4E
fighting to the death, one male, one female. Based on the sounds, they were116Please respect copyright.PENANAQeWrQ6Mj4z
only using their weapons to fight one another. He could hear the sounds of116Please respect copyright.PENANAOQDezdgzl4
flesh striking flesh and the pained cry of the man as the female drove her knee116Please respect copyright.PENANAiZYc0SXDiW
into his crotch. He smelled the irony tang of blood followed by a feminine116Please respect copyright.PENANA02p1UBtQ58
scream as the male got his revenge against her. The crowd roared their approval116Please respect copyright.PENANAmFyI2cPiAO
and chanted for him to end her. It ended a moment later. People jostled him to116Please respect copyright.PENANAP3bJMm5znt
collect their winnings while the losers shuffled out cursing their luck under116Please respect copyright.PENANAv5V9cB8qUp
their breaths.
Vander ignored116Please respect copyright.PENANABGcwFeoe4N
Alex’s questions as he headed towards the VIP area where he knew the person he116Please respect copyright.PENANAS16189RspX
was looking for was sitting. He was wearing his traditional long black cloak116Please respect copyright.PENANAMlSDYDHWEC
and mask to cover his face. Only a select few were allowed to know what the116Please respect copyright.PENANAIcli2GDRio
Lower King looked like. For his protection more than anything else. There were116Please respect copyright.PENANAwx1jfdXCBK
three guards on each side of a raised platform, the best seat in the house to116Please respect copyright.PENANAuY76yRYcqc
see what was going on below. The orange hair looked blood red underneath the116Please respect copyright.PENANARkIzTopTnN
torches above.
“He’s been116Please respect copyright.PENANAb0koovlE3F
expecting you.” One of the guards stepped up and slightly lowered his head in116Please respect copyright.PENANAVx3Jgx19RG
difference to Vander. “Who have you brought with you?” He turned to face Alex.
“A friend.”116Please respect copyright.PENANA0ahxB3Bxr5
Vander stared the guard down. “He knows to keep his mouth shut about what116Please respect copyright.PENANA8vdA4H9CQC
happens down here.”
“He better, you116Please respect copyright.PENANAHYhL4Y0RAY
know what happens if they don’t,” Vander nodded. The guard took a step back to116Please respect copyright.PENANAmBqpNIgnEA
whisper something in his King’s ear. He returned a moment later. “He will see116Please respect copyright.PENANAfzy3SBTnyI
you, but you must wait until the end of the next fight before he will discuss116Please respect copyright.PENANAenmOy8760I
business.”
“I understand.”116Please respect copyright.PENANAj4cengtoWy
The guard stepped aside motioning for the two of them to step forward. Vander116Please respect copyright.PENANAM6y8QynbVk
took the spot next to the King while Alex stood behind him. The King didn’t116Please respect copyright.PENANAV1lKHZ7QWy
acknowledge him but stood up to address the crowd.
“Now for the main116Please respect copyright.PENANAA8wVnLkWcV
event.” His voice boomed. “We have a treat for you, a specimen that had been116Please respect copyright.PENANAXFKRB6l22g
captured several days ago, a large brown bear.” The crowd cheered. “We starved116Please respect copyright.PENANAo31mkBlG09
it just for you. And now, the challenger wanting to make his fortune is ready116Please respect copyright.PENANA0TTCuwR5vK
to stake his life.” A louder cheer erupted as a young man, no more than116Please respect copyright.PENANAfHwuuYdiEL
sixteen, walked out carrying a large axe and wearing no armor, just tattered116Please respect copyright.PENANA5o3Zve7nLN
clothing.
“What’s going116Please respect copyright.PENANAS9EDfCwDwm
on?” Alex leaned over to whisper into Vander’s ear.
“Don’t say a116Please respect copyright.PENANA1ogUHAvDXo
thing.” Vander whispered back. “I’ll explain later.”
“You know the116Please respect copyright.PENANA6P4Tgys5QN
rules?” The teenager nodded his head. “If he wins, he gets all the money from116Please respect copyright.PENANAKfWhCJPWXK
those who bet against him, however if he loses, his life belongs to the gods.”116Please respect copyright.PENANAUZBCN73raT
He turned towards the teen for the last time. “Are you sure you want to do116Please respect copyright.PENANA7hcOAWZH4O
this?”
“I do.”
“Then let’s get116Please respect copyright.PENANAQ4CQuk89ab
on with it!” The crowd cheered as the boy was led away from the podium. He116Please respect copyright.PENANAG8dYZT183f
didn’t make an appearance again until he reached the bottom of the pit. The116Please respect copyright.PENANAL4romRVlmz
crowd cheered again, placing their bets against the boy while he walked around116Please respect copyright.PENANAirJtzibqq7
the edge attempting to hype them up. They fell silent as the King stood once116Please respect copyright.PENANAfODdRf44Tx
again.
“Release the116Please respect copyright.PENANArkyXQUJOLv
bear!” The crown cheered as the massive gates holding the ravenous bear back116Please respect copyright.PENANAkPdPtedd7b
open and with a snarl, the creature lunged forward.
From his vantage116Please respect copyright.PENANADJJg7K4M2x
point, Vander and Alex could see the entire fight unfold the way they expected.116Please respect copyright.PENANAXyoF4rY4kT
There was no way an inexperienced fighter could take on a full-grown brown116Please respect copyright.PENANAYGB5HBHmAW
bear, especially not one that hasn’t fed in days, but he did put up a good116Please respect copyright.PENANAdXyycrhnzu
fight.
When the bear116Please respect copyright.PENANA0OHa8yZFwR
charged him, he rolled to dodge the massive strike from the bear’s claws and116Please respect copyright.PENANAqeje63RWv0
got in a strike of his own raking the creature’s side with his axe. The bear116Please respect copyright.PENANA9MVbhLuqQ4
bellowed in rage then got up on its hind legs and tried to intimidate the boy.116Please respect copyright.PENANAP3mYGF9r42
He swatted at the axe but was met with the blade. Blood sprayed from the116Please respect copyright.PENANA3S9kuVQnXi
creature’s paw causing him to roar out in pain. It was at that moment the kid116Please respect copyright.PENANAdAOT68JGbW
got overeager. He rushed forward, the sight of the kill fresh in his mind, but116Please respect copyright.PENANAbjOJXMmUcd
one strike from the other paw was enough to send the boy spinning. He got to116Please respect copyright.PENANABIQRmTcgCc
his feet, his head whirling. Half his cheek was torn, and his eye was dangling116Please respect copyright.PENANARIQlQs500M
from the socket. He was too stunned to scream as the bear tore out the kid’s116Please respect copyright.PENANA7FPDVAvqd6
throat.
“And there we116Please respect copyright.PENANABmY0aDUbzI
have it!” The King stood ignoring the sound of the bear gorging itself on the116Please respect copyright.PENANAADd2ruWVh9
kid’s body. “Everyone, make sure you collect your winnings. My bar is open to116Please respect copyright.PENANACb6mc0LLTd
you all night long.” The crowd cheered as the King stepped down waving for116Please respect copyright.PENANA6ug653Rioh
Vander to follow him. Without a word, Vander got up and followed the cloaked116Please respect copyright.PENANAHugyVxCWrF
figure with Alex behind him. The guards took up position on both sides116Please respect copyright.PENANAUoTeXbfq8U
escorting them away.
They walked down116Please respect copyright.PENANAewckGBduEv
a long hallway the slope upwards leading back into the warehouse. Vander only116Please respect copyright.PENANArBs1ShING7
knew where he was going because he had been there before. The hallway became116Please respect copyright.PENANARp0zBqOl9q
lighter, and they came to a metal door. The King removed a key from around his116Please respect copyright.PENANAisWHONzl1a
neck then opened it, ushering the group inside. On the other side of the door116Please respect copyright.PENANAoOwGfR5xUO
was another hallway that led to the rooms where the patrons of the Orange Fox116Please respect copyright.PENANAJMVfYWK6Uv
would be well taken care of tonight.
“This way.” Ross116Please respect copyright.PENANAh82y2KyTs3
said. He walked a couple of doors down, removed another key, then ushered them116Please respect copyright.PENANAmBpfwqIFMq
into his room. The guards took up position inside and outside as Ross moved116Please respect copyright.PENANAGP1NVguz1u
towards his bedroom shedding his cloak and mask as he went. “Help yourself116Please respect copyright.PENANAgo4o6c6SrR
while I freshen up.” Ross shouted over his shoulder. “You wouldn’t believe how116Please respect copyright.PENANAkzzYWLXDIp
hot it gets under that get up.” The door closed leaving Vander and Alex alone.
The room wasn’t116Please respect copyright.PENANAIvk1zc4LVZ
much compared to the King’s estate, but for a man living in the slums, it was a116Please respect copyright.PENANAsuloi4qYhn
palace. There were three rooms, a living space, bathroom, and bedroom. The116Please respect copyright.PENANALdeAH8lUZn
living space had a full kitchen, was fully adorned with bookshelves, a desk,116Please respect copyright.PENANAGjvHHngQ6S
several couches and chairs, along with several alcohol cabinets. This was home116Please respect copyright.PENANAypAlGBGCgj
to hundreds of parties a year and people from all walks of life was invited,116Please respect copyright.PENANAfrww9jVbbi
including the noble families.
Alex spun on116Please respect copyright.PENANAMB3PtdX4ZH
Vander, grabbing him by his collar and shoving him against the wall. “What the116Please respect copyright.PENANAcaQch1uXXk
hell was that?” He spat. Vander waved the guards away as they made their way116Please respect copyright.PENANA7VDtrN4eTq
over.
“You know we116Please respect copyright.PENANAIhVMykUWHn
couldn’t get involved to save that boy.” Vander growled. “He made his choice116Please respect copyright.PENANA48xPex7hHC
and tonight we aren’t agents of the king or Blades, we are people looking for116Please respect copyright.PENANA3CU1UOpxYP
information and in this area, Ross is King. You know this Alex.” Alex stared at116Please respect copyright.PENANAG8R8IVM4Wp
him for a moment before shoving Vander against the wall and letting him go.
“I hate making a116Please respect copyright.PENANAnWfbdWJUCa
deal with the devil.” He grumbled.
“Deal with the116Please respect copyright.PENANAn3sonI5m0X
devil?” Both looked up to see Ross standing there. He shed his old clothing and116Please respect copyright.PENANA3BcSHSgMLl
wore a collared white shirt, unbuttoned on the top to show off his gold116Please respect copyright.PENANAqtVB7aav4o
necklace, and black pants. He put on116Please respect copyright.PENANAnc1q6YMlg6
some tall boots and many bracelets adorned his wrists. “Alex, I am much worse116Please respect copyright.PENANA6JtpnwUCn8
than Unna.” Vander snorted, but Ross chose to ignore him.
“How do you know116Please respect copyright.PENANAoGxlM1vHbs
my name?” Alex growled. Ross poured himself a glass of booze before walking116Please respect copyright.PENANABDVl1B6FS7
proudly over to the other couch. He sat down across from the two of them giving116Please respect copyright.PENANAhn0lSX5Fqt
both a wide grin.
“Who doesn’t know116Please respect copyright.PENANAS5krHerceU
Vander’s Shield?” He asked. “The one man who would risk his life for his116Please respect copyright.PENANAs3SfD9ylaC
friend. You’re a legend.”
“I hate that116Please respect copyright.PENANArmFBPrxcQ9
nickname.” He snapped. Ross raised his hand peacefully.
“Noted.” He took116Please respect copyright.PENANAeIoldMlyes
a sip from his glass then turned to look at Vander. “What can I help you with116Please respect copyright.PENANApvVEv9SlOm
Vander?”
“I need116Please respect copyright.PENANAc3OnxjDZPZ
information.” Vander said.
“Information116Please respect copyright.PENANAm4Gg2Betve
isn’t cheap.” Ross smirked. “Are you prepared to pay the price?” Vander removed116Please respect copyright.PENANAU2MoGOrDgs
a sack of gold from his pocket dropping it on the table in front of him. “You116Please respect copyright.PENANAvZkAPdpD7v
came to play.” Ross laughed. “How can I help you.”
“I want to know116Please respect copyright.PENANA80SPRUwIkd
what you know about the King’s poisoning.” Ross didn’t even flinch at the news.
“How did you know116Please respect copyright.PENANAxozZnwdYHw
I knew?”
“Because you know116Please respect copyright.PENANAc6TeX7ZkZ9
just about everything that happens.” Vander rolled his eyes. “I’m not an116Please respect copyright.PENANAYqwWpWM4xR
idiot.”
“Fair enough.” He116Please respect copyright.PENANAMjs8VokUNF
smiled. “This is just enough for me to tell you who they are.” Within one swift116Please respect copyright.PENANAhYZu2uePXu
movement, the coins disappeared. “The Green Serpents were the ones who poisoned116Please respect copyright.PENANAWTsNALdlNH
the King.”
“A mercenary116Please respect copyright.PENANACs4D1giyEJ
group?” Alex asked. “Who paid them?”
“That’s not116Please respect copyright.PENANAT1AaIgph02
something known to me.” Ross shook his head. “Even if it was, you’d have to pay116Please respect copyright.PENANAbttn8Nj0VA
me more to know that.”
“You bastard.”116Please respect copyright.PENANAx4iBpkbTtl
Alex snapped.
“It’s the price116Please respect copyright.PENANAa28Ps5IHZz
of business.” Ross shrugged. “But I can find their hideout for you.” He took116Please respect copyright.PENANAoWCe0XiWUm
another sip of alcohol.
“What would it116Please respect copyright.PENANApBzKECddyb
cost me?” Vander asked.
“You know what I116Please respect copyright.PENANANilQFzkVxG
want.” Ross rolled his eyes. “I want you to fight, in the pit. Against a116Please respect copyright.PENANAfogC9iuZCV
creature of my choice.”
“No,” Alex folded116Please respect copyright.PENANAX55EGm81PI
his arms over his chest. “It’s too dangerous. We can send our own spies to locate116Please respect copyright.PENANAgI6RPzC6cy
them, we don’t need you.”
“You might want116Please respect copyright.PENANAts40yB2rb8
to reconsider.” Ross sighed. “But that’s for you to find out on your own.”
“Vander, let’s116Please respect copyright.PENANAmKg6Pdnu6M
go.” Vander saw the rage burning in his friend’s face and he knew there was no116Please respect copyright.PENANAYuoDZPb7MF
time to argue with him. Defeated, he got to his feet to walk towards the door.
“Before you go.”116Please respect copyright.PENANAfGBgnRDqg7
Ross spoke up. Vander turned to see him staring up at him. “I will give you116Please respect copyright.PENANAeBcBManbLs
some information for free: don’t trust those you claim to be your friends. You116Please respect copyright.PENANA4glimava9x
have a spy within your organization, Vander.”
“Come on, let’s116Please respect copyright.PENANAnQxdaP8IAL
go.” Alex spun Vander around.
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“Don’t say I116Please respect copyright.PENANA5s9tGC6IJN
didn’t warn you!” Ross shouted as the door closed behind them.