Chapter 34
Alex was standing at the door with65Please respect copyright.PENANAG8GjiVeBBz
a concerned, yet angry expression on his face. The relief he must have felt65Please respect copyright.PENANA27W4aZld98
when he saw Vander must have been enormous because he slumped against the door65Please respect copyright.PENANAmSVTEjX3in
frame as a breath, he likely didn’t know he had been holding, left his body.65Please respect copyright.PENANAdlttnOEHiT
Shea, in her excitement, jumped off the bed. She ran over to him and slammed65Please respect copyright.PENANARq0aoprh57
her weight into his legs. If he had been leaning against the door, he probably65Please respect copyright.PENANAw9QtbVs1Pw
would have fallen over.
“So, this is where you’ve been65Please respect copyright.PENANA2u5Rwo7Xlx
hiding out.” Alex was rubbing between Shea’s ears as he stared at Vander.65Please respect copyright.PENANAdFqMlav2To
Sighing, he nodded then stepped back, motioning for his friend to get out of65Please respect copyright.PENANAOLHQGMz99i
the hall.
“I know you have questions, and I65Please respect copyright.PENANAMezGvMGyVv
will answer them.” Vander stopped as Alex took a step towards him. He flinched,65Please respect copyright.PENANAK24hQiIrDm
but Alex just wrapped his arms around his friend pulling him into a hug.
“Not once for a second do I think65Please respect copyright.PENANASsXdAiEbCj
you would have killed Malcolm.” Alex whispered. “None of us do, not even65Please respect copyright.PENANApyN4rfaGfl
Cuvera.” Vander blinked back the tears he didn’t realize he had been holding.
“It was Peyton.” Vander stepped65Please respect copyright.PENANA0Sb7PraN24
back out of Alex’s embrace. He sighed, finally willing to tell his friend65Please respect copyright.PENANAiP2rhzfyyb
everything, like he should have done in the beginning. Alex sat down on the bed65Please respect copyright.PENANAPD0mdiUBLW
before accepting a drink from Vander.
As his friend drank, Vander65Please respect copyright.PENANAiMBOdQXfPe
started from his first meeting with Veyar before they had even left the forest65Please respect copyright.PENANAzyjdmHsrgl
where he had been told about the Darkness returning. From there, from other65Please respect copyright.PENANAi9zpokttMI
visits with both Veyar and Unna hinting at his role of keeping the Darkness65Please respect copyright.PENANAq44fO67kbo
sealed away. He explained his thoughts about the Serpents being behind65Please respect copyright.PENANAP886TydDbe
everything, but the interview with the assassin shed some doubts of their65Please respect copyright.PENANA5v7n6wsQst
involvement, even though Cuvera didn’t believe him.
After that he had been told to65Please respect copyright.PENANAA73NMc6fzP
grab a book from the King’s study, one he had been shown one night that65Please respect copyright.PENANAPHrr6n5t9C
depicted the Gods and their abilities. That was the book Peyton had been after65Please respect copyright.PENANAeFzXFdIpyy
when he killed Malcolm and framed Vander for it. After that, Vander took the65Please respect copyright.PENANAAxmV3FTmnc
book and gone on the run. He explained that Jeffery Jilena had stopped him but65Please respect copyright.PENANAeEaYBu8aTP
had let him go. Then he went to the only place he could stay safe, the Orange65Please respect copyright.PENANAJd32pclaJe
Fox.
“Wait,” Alex held up his hand.65Please respect copyright.PENANA7OELguz88p
“Jeffery Jilena let you go? When we chased after you, we found him with his65Please respect copyright.PENANAHDZM4vZLPQ
body cut to pieces. His murder was blamed on you.”
“Murder?” Vander felt ill. “He let65Please respect copyright.PENANA7FCU3sapKL
me knock him out so I could escape. He was alive when I left him.”
“Another piece to the puzzle.”65Please respect copyright.PENANADhJ1AE2RBS
Alex hadn’t thought that Vander was truly responsible for the murder, but it65Please respect copyright.PENANAP0bg9g0uik
just added another question to the long line of them.
“That explains why those guards65Please respect copyright.PENANAxO3ecEDe7x
were so adamant to kill me.” Vander sighed. “Anna must have put a bounty on my65Please respect copyright.PENANA3byZitkKaT
head in the underground.”
“She had been ordered to cancel65Please respect copyright.PENANA7h8ACPnJw5
it, but it looks as though that hadn’t happened.” Alex growled. “So, what were65Please respect copyright.PENANAn4CORMpv0H
you doing at that house anyway?”
“That’s the other part of it.”65Please respect copyright.PENANAHzMVoa80DT
Vander explained that he had been under the impression that Peyton was working65Please respect copyright.PENANA7peyNxpJr3
with the Serpents to take over Eluvia. So, he used Ross’s vast network to help65Please respect copyright.PENANAVdIY2wqsEa
him find where they were hiding to discover their plan. That safe house was the65Please respect copyright.PENANAChIcFFuQ2j
latest clue, it was a meeting area where he also discovered someone else was65Please respect copyright.PENANAYp2eKfCc54
tracking him down, someone called Fang. He also told Alex that three people had65Please respect copyright.PENANA0ARsooQqbj
escaped before Vander arrived. They may have gone on a mission, or something65Please respect copyright.PENANAirQAZNPjwJ
spooked him, of which he wasn’t sure.
“It’s a good start.” Alex sighed.65Please respect copyright.PENANANCqxAfvde9
“I met with the doctor who checked the bodies. Each one of them had a tattoo on65Please respect copyright.PENANAS2bFE8uxKM
their wrist of a coiled snake. I went back to check on Ulysses and Nigel then65Please respect copyright.PENANAfgh0zEODtf
found the same on them. Seems to be their mark.”
“It won’t matter unless we check65Please respect copyright.PENANASREEXNK1QE
every single person’s wrist.” Vander shook his head. “We need a better way to65Please respect copyright.PENANAIW763DsHmm
check, but that’s something that won’t happen until I get to Cuvera.”
“Why not come back with me?” Alex65Please respect copyright.PENANAN2VhwrH1Oi
asked. The offer was tempting, but he couldn’t risk being thrown in the jail65Please respect copyright.PENANAenmdKrqu0Y
cells right now, not when he was so close to unearthing who else was behind the65Please respect copyright.PENANAjd7CU1NDnK
conspiracy. He couldn’t risk it, not right now. And he told Alex as much.
“I understand.” He opened his65Please respect copyright.PENANALF9jVicR1G
mouth to say something else, but he was interrupted by a knock on the door.65Please respect copyright.PENANAYwZfN9blsZ
Both Left and Right were there. They had come to deliver a message. It was time65Please respect copyright.PENANAbQZeqcaNLh
for Vander to chance then make his way down in the arena. Nodding his head,65Please respect copyright.PENANAqW77V2fyzb
Vander accepted the package in their hands then closed the door.
“You’re fighting?” Alex’s jaw65Please respect copyright.PENANAH1cGQAoMEr
dropped. He was setting himself up to be seen, for his enemies to know where he65Please respect copyright.PENANAzFlt5yLfSp
was. This was insane.
“It was Ross’s payment for letting65Please respect copyright.PENANAFfsSrdQMaK
me stay here.” Vander walked into the bathroom to get changed. He had been65Please respect copyright.PENANAdQDxiVyDr0
given a white tank top, some raggedy brown pants and a mask to put over his65Please respect copyright.PENANAan1VIxJWR5
face.
Whoever crafted65Please respect copyright.PENANAVqd5O4UFUV
it was quite skilled: it was a white mask that had been painted to resemble a65Please respect copyright.PENANAB87tsqhUmD
wolf’s face. He knew that the clothing was made on purpose. It would make him65Please respect copyright.PENANANNo6Fdb09d
look like someone who needed the money but would give to those watching a show.65Please respect copyright.PENANAuXv3oq6XAx
With the white they would be able to see if he was injured and how badly. The65Please respect copyright.PENANA22fxfJY375
crowds loved the sign of blood, they always did.
“Stay tonight.”65Please respect copyright.PENANAzwA5BKnKNo
Vander said as he walked from the bathroom. “I have a feeling I may need you65Please respect copyright.PENANAxBXctXC1nC
there.”
“I understand.”65Please respect copyright.PENANAd8hqeJl9Dt
He could sense his friend’s reservations about letting him fight, but there was65Please respect copyright.PENANAjFNSfbn6zl
no choice, and he knew that. Right and Left were still outside the door waiting65Please respect copyright.PENANAEWkbUAdRCo
to escort him downstairs. Vander slipped the mask over his face then followed65Please respect copyright.PENANAgu8lVfbK8a
them down.
The crowd was65Please respect copyright.PENANAg7SmcBQbeD
already in full force, cheering for blood at the lower leveled bouts. The65Please respect copyright.PENANAbnQT0aCTfR
drinks had already been flowing as some had passed out leaning up against the65Please respect copyright.PENANAwMLo0YATmT
wall with a drink still in their hands. The two bodyguards were immovable65Please respect copyright.PENANA8t3XmLWAKL
objects surrounding Vander as multiple people were trying to get their hands on65Please respect copyright.PENANAT82r435jhj
him before his fight. Right pushed several people away then barked a warning to65Please respect copyright.PENANA9TauqepAwx
the others: Ross would skin them alive if anything happened to his fighter. A65Please respect copyright.PENANA5tBXWLKy4P
cold, calculated threat, but not one anyone would risk. So, they kept their65Please respect copyright.PENANAoUZEOMvrIt
hands to themselves.
Suddenly a sudden65Please respect copyright.PENANAakb3PI6Iiu
scent of blood hit Vander’s nose then the crowd erupted into cheers. He saw65Please respect copyright.PENANAjH4ltX90ud
Ross standing up from his podium throwing his hands up into the air. “And there65Please respect copyright.PENANAwzemizI753
you have it! You have your winner!” There was quite a bit of cheering, but65Please respect copyright.PENANAdXzr1vhriS
there was a lot of cursing involved. Seems as though a lot of people gambled on65Please respect copyright.PENANA3LUTxtbRYn
the opponent to win. Looking over the edge, Vander saw a young kid standing65Please respect copyright.PENANAgHe1XoFMJa
over the body of an adult. The adult was breathing as the medical staff ran out65Please respect copyright.PENANA3GvlTXwIl8
to remove him, but Vander knew that man was likely going to die. The kid was65Please respect copyright.PENANA9oUxQd6sGW
led out by one of Ross’s servants.
“And now for your65Please respect copyright.PENANAA029RbYUBi
final bout of the night!” Ross motioned for Vander to get up next to him. The65Please respect copyright.PENANARXFr0VPFmO
crowd grew quiet as he walked up to stand next to his protector. “He is a new65Please respect copyright.PENANAe2NQjyAq05
fighter, but still skilled. I bring you, the Wolf.” No one cheered for him,65Please respect copyright.PENANAnehEa8LYF3
just gave him curious glances. Vander felt a little self-conscious standing65Please respect copyright.PENANAUlIXRCbtby
there, but this was all part of the show, he just had to do his part. “Now his65Please respect copyright.PENANAki6pSponzF
opponent has been thirsting for a worthy opponent and winning here would give65Please respect copyright.PENANAXirQuubIdm
him a chance to fight the bear, slaughterer of thousands. I bring you, the Sword!”
A door in the65Please respect copyright.PENANAt58Y97dMpf
arena was thrown open and a large shirtless man walked through holding his65Please respect copyright.PENANAIPt1IqsBMo
massive sword above his head. The man was shirtless, wearing a similar ragged65Please respect copyright.PENANAr1MnJmKDti
pants, and a mask with a sword painted on it. The crowd erupted chanting his65Please respect copyright.PENANARiw06eNUl9
name. Despite knowing that he would win, Vander couldn’t help but feel a little65Please respect copyright.PENANASdfyIL2dh8
intimidated.
“This is a fight65Please respect copyright.PENANAKwo8rvABdd
to the death!” Ross shouted. Vander spun around as if this hadn’t been part of65Please respect copyright.PENANAymAHuVPea4
their arraignment, but all he got was an apologetic shrug and a smile. Vander65Please respect copyright.PENANA0jQsGKHHWw
vowed he would get Ross back for this, but for now he had to focus on the65Please respect copyright.PENANAVYs9huEker
challenge at hand. Without waiting for a prompt, Vander stepped off the podium65Please respect copyright.PENANA4104oMn5YG
then jumped down into the arena below. Sword tilted his head in65Please respect copyright.PENANAFigmq42BRe
acknowledgement. The crowd cheered as the two combatants circled each other65Please respect copyright.PENANA2a6Wek1GkO
warily.
“You don’t look65Please respect copyright.PENANApp01vhatqZ
strong.” Sword taunted. “In fact, you look like someone who prefers to lay on65Please respect copyright.PENANAm5TkKzVZqR
their back all night. What do you think? Should I fuck you before I kill you?”
“You must be65Please respect copyright.PENANAiHL2KmPR8s
nervous if all you can do is talk.” Vander snorted. “Now let’s get this done,65Please respect copyright.PENANAzEL055Cg9A
I’m getting bored.”
“You’ll regret65Please respect copyright.PENANAfV0TZQgIxE
that runt.” The man shouted then charged towards him swinging his sword.
One of the65Please respect copyright.PENANAEfeE8WPVtn
instructions Vander had given before his bout was that he had to drag it out as65Please respect copyright.PENANAffHGwJNDnI
much as possible. No one liked a quick fight. They wanted blood and a lot of65Please respect copyright.PENANAbk85sNgWFz
it. He would have to hold himself back as this was a regular human. He would65Please respect copyright.PENANAF5kYwMaZ4b
fold like an omelet if Vander hit him with his powers. This would prove to be a65Please respect copyright.PENANAkr8iSFWcLp
challenge, which was why he found himself unarmed.
Vander ducked65Please respect copyright.PENANADVTt1miM4i
under the sword swing, but the man’s knee came up catching him in the chin.65Please respect copyright.PENANAPSCTlUoRGI
Vander stumbled backwards as the other foot caught him in the stomach knocking65Please respect copyright.PENANAKUVKzVvcvt
him to the ground. He quickly rolled away as the sword pounded the ground where65Please respect copyright.PENANAN4B8OuKNjm
he had just been. Vander got up, grabbed a fist full of dirt, then tossed it at65Please respect copyright.PENANAKV7S0jVKII
his opponent. As he struggled to remove the dirt, Vander tackled him around the65Please respect copyright.PENANAePJc3AI71W
stomach bringing them both to the ground. He began punching down at the face,65Please respect copyright.PENANABgVX9Zl8ut
but he was purposely going slow. Sword was able to block most of them before65Please respect copyright.PENANAXu72YYANWX
bucking Vander off and into the ground.
“You’re good I’ll65Please respect copyright.PENANArrS3vybGVr
give you that, but this is where it ends.” The man lifted his sword and went to65Please respect copyright.PENANAYezWbLapr9
stab down at Vander, but before either of them could move, three daggers flew65Please respect copyright.PENANA8eJLO9tzEo
from the crowd and hit him in the chest. “What?” Blood spurted from his mouth65Please respect copyright.PENANA5jfwxbGUBC
as he fell over backwards, dead. The crowd muttered to themselves wondering65Please respect copyright.PENANA7GuAWQbVQW
what the hell had just happened. The smell of Applewood filled the arena, and65Please respect copyright.PENANA7sPwZL0Pp1
he knew what was going on.
“Ross, you need65Please respect copyright.PENANAbJVpKcfSC4
to get everyone out of here.” Vander shouted. He scrambled for the sword as65Please respect copyright.PENANAwT7BJMqvLL
three people jumped down in the arena with him. Each of them was heavily armed65Please respect copyright.PENANA05hK7gUT7s
and wearing leather armor. He didn’t recognize either of them, but if they were65Please respect copyright.PENANAEqhoX2OhY1
here, they were probably Serpents.
“Vander, the65Please respect copyright.PENANAD0WmWC11ru
Blade Captain.” One of the Serpents said. They had hoods pulled over their65Please respect copyright.PENANAsZDjcYyPI3
heads, but it wouldn’t be enough to keep him from seeing their faces.65Please respect copyright.PENANAll7EPx2j2o
Tragically he didn’t know any of them.
“You’ll pay for65Please respect copyright.PENANA8xmi5syRtS
what you did to our comrades.” Said another. “Then our contract will be65Please respect copyright.PENANAGnwyLcaVeW
complete.”
“Who hired you?”65Please respect copyright.PENANAGhqpkMqQgV
Vander shouted. He eyed the sword his opponent had been wielding. He wouldn’t65Please respect copyright.PENANAluJH24y8J2
be able to survive without it, but it was so far away. He would have to be65Please respect copyright.PENANAG6IVGaP6sH
careful.
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“No reason to65Please respect copyright.PENANAqrIDk7USTp
tell a dead man.” The Serpents drew their knives and lunged at him. Vander65Please respect copyright.PENANAhXTnuM2tyh
brought his arms up to protect himself. This was going to be tough.