I didn’t fold the shadows around me. It was pointless, and this was a show of good faith.
Clay cast a grin my way before he pushed the door open. I tried to freeze that grin in my mind. Clay always shot grins my way. But there were different types of grins. Happy ones, and sad ones, too. This was a definite mix.
I followed Clay up the stairs to the weird office space. The tall blonde woman looked ecstatic to see him. I stayed back, not folding the shadows on me, but definitely staying near them, my hood still up.
“How are you alive?” the pale man asked, grasping hands with Clay. “I told you you shouldn’t have registered for death fights so early on!”
Clay looked embarrassed. “Ya, I shoulda listened,” he said, then glanced my way. “This is my friend, Tira. She saved me.” That wasn’t completely true, but I stepped out into the light and pulled down my hood.
I held my breath, but nobody screamed. I guess they’d already seen me, but I still expected a negative reaction. The blonde woman crossed the floor.
“Do you hug?” she asked.
“I, um, I guess?” She gathered me in her arms and hugged me fiercely, like I was her best friend. It was nice, if a bit uncomfortable. I was just glad she wasn’t running away screaming.
She broke her embrace, her hands still on my shoulders. “Thank you. We like Clay.”
“I like him, too,” I agreed, and she gave me a knowing smile. I blushed. Clay chatted with the two men at the back. She glanced back at me. “He really wants you to join,” she said. “He’s been talking about it for years.”
“You’ve known him for years,” I didn’t ask, more like stated, as I wrapped my heart around the secrets my best friend had been keeping from me. All those heists, his “contacts,” his enthusiasm for battles. It had all been to feed his entry into this league.
No wonder he seemed so at home here. More than that. He seemed happy in a way I’d rarely seen.
“He’ll be okay here,” I said, not meaning to voice the words. But the woman nodded.
“He will be, sugar,” she said kindly. “We’ll keep an eye out for him.”
“No more death fights?” I held her eyes, to see if I could spot a lie there. But I couldn’t, the gold flecks at their center unguarded.
“No more death fights,” she said. “At least, not for a while yet.”
“Fair enough,” I whispered, and broke away from the woman to join Clay. He’d already been tested for years. They knew he belonged, that he had the grit to succeed and was a good fit.
As I watched him wave goodbye to the three frontline workers, or guards, probably, my heart felt free for him, and heavier for myself.
He was with his people.
We crossed the cubicles, the carpet and walls still as ugly. People were genuinely happy to see him. A few thanked me for saving him, and they seemed genuine. The old woman stepped out of her office and nodded at me. I nodded back, not sure what we’d shared. But she stepped back and closed her door, as though she didn’t intend to mingle.
Or interfere.
As she turned, a dark shape caught my eye - a barrette holding up her hair in a proper updo. It didn’t reflect the light, though she was too far from me to see if it bore an infinity symbol.
The Guild of Shadows. Maintaining the balance. Infiltrating leagues and Traded organizations, to ensure everything continued in safety. Like Clay’s league. And Clay’s obvious dreams. Before we reached the boss’ door, he took my hand and pulled me to the side, into an empty office.
He closed the door. No one followed or questioned him. They trusted him. They cared for him and respected him. My heart ached, and I couldn’t quite tell why anymore.
“Look, I’ve been looking into this Guild of Shadows,” Clay said, looking concerned and uncomfortable.
“Oh?” I said, feeling numb, “and what did you find out?”
“They sound real bad, Tira,” he closed the gap between us. “Look, I know the fighter’s league ain’t all that great, I mean, a lot of people die here, and it’s all for gambling and sport. But the Guild of Shadows? Nobody really knows much, except to fear them. They kill people. It’s not entertainment-based, it’s some real screwed-up stuff they do. I think you should stay here. Stay with the fighter’s league, with me.”
“You know I can’t,” I whispered. “I have to go to the Guild of Shadows. That’s my guild. Look, I’ll make this work!” I added when he looked so stricken. “I swear, I won’t kill anyone unless they deserve it.”
“You won’t have a choice,” he said. “I mean, I know that their whole goal is to kill people who’ve stepped out of line or are too dangerous, but the stories are that they pretty much kill anyone who gets in their way.”
“Well, I’ll be the exception,” I said. “I have my own code. You know that. I can make it work.”
“You think they’ll leave you that choice?” he said.
“I’ll make sure they do. Just like you have a choice not to fight in death battles,” he looked embarrassed again. “Besides,” I added softly, “you found your people here, Clay. It’s time for me to try to find mine. I’m a demon, aren’t I?” I gave a short laugh. “I might as well go find some other demons in the shadows.”
He didn’t join me in the laugh like he usually would. His eyes grew more serious, deep, dark pools without a ripple, all of the weight of the world contained within them. He leaned closer.
“You’re the least demonic person I know,” he whispered, and his lips met mine, sending an electric jolt through my entire body. I allowed myself to become lost in that kiss for a few moments before breaking free. We both struggled to catch our breath.
“We’ll still be friends,” I whispered. And then I reached up and kissed him gently again.
“Always,” he said, the sorrow in his eyes palpable. Before I could hesitate, I broke from him and opened the door.
If I’d learned one thing as a Traded, it was that choice might not be yours, but the expectations certainly were. We both couldn’t afford to fail on those expectations, even though I wished for nothing more than to stay here, with him, forever.
“How do we do this?” he asked as we stood before the boss’ door.
“I have a plan,” I grinned his way, the same grin he usually used on me. “You’ll just have to trust me.” For a second, I saw hesitation in his eyes, and then he nodded.
This time, I would take the lead. I’d make sure he was fine, and that I would be fine, too. I indicated that he should go in. As he walked in, I wrapped the shadows around me and pulled the barrette free from my hair, unclicking the needle.
Ian wouldn’t have lied about a sleeping agent. He’d let me know to test me.
Another test.
But one I had to pass. Betraying my oldest friend. Choosing the Guild over Clay. Not that it felt much like a choice, all roads leading to this moment. And, all this time, I’d been worried about Clay betraying me.
I took a deep breath as Clay greeted the boss, who had clearly been informed of his survival. She seemed pleased and not at all surprised to see him.
I wondered if the fighter’s league had been working with the Guild of Shadows all along.
Probably. More than likely. I hesitated, my anger rising at the thought that we’d been manipulated so effectively. But I didn’t fool myself into thinking we weren’t being watched and judged at this very moment. And our lives were on the line.
I reached out and pricked Clay in the upper arm. He felt the slight sting, the poison acting immediately. He turned and looked at me for a second, hurt in his eyes.
It cut my soul, but I backed away as he toppled down, holding the shadows around me as the boss and her goons headed toward the fallen fighter. I felt better, seeing that they cared. Well, most of them cared. The boss looked around with suspicion. I slipped behind them all, sight unseen, grabbing the canister from behind her desk.
I glanced Clay’s way one more time, just in case I never saw him again, and swallowed h
ard.
Stay safe, a silent wish.
Then I stepped out, folded deep in the shadows, finally accepting that the shadows would be the only place where I truly belonged.
Epilogue
Sonsil regarded the canister, looking pleased. I stood in front of him, not feeling all that pleased. I mean, I’d accomplished what I’d set out to do. Clay was safe, and would be happy in the fighter’s league.
But I’d betrayed him, too. And I knew I had. He’d expected us to talk our way through it, or fight. Those were his two modes of operation. Not me. I stuck to the shadows. It’s what I was good at. This guild obviously knew it.
“Well done,” Sonsil said. “the Guild is pleased with how you handled the mission.”
“This entire thing was a pain,” I said. He looked surprised, but didn’t stop me. “I expect a bit more information next time, and better weapons. Maybe ones that can’t be so easily taken from me.”
He nodded, as though those were the simplest requests in the world. “I think you’ll fit in here, Ms. Misu.”
“I hope so,” I said. I wanted to ask if I would see Clay again, but held my peace. I vowed that I would. I’d find a way to him, regularly, and we would still have fun together. Most of this life was out of my control, sure, but I could still have fun wading through it.
I’d make sure of it.
Ian stepped into the room, nodded at me, looking displeased. I wondered if he’d changed into an animal since yesterday. From his grumpy demeanor, I imagined he hadn’t.
“You’ve met my second, I understand?”
The second of the Guild of Shadows. That’s what Ian was. Had been all along. And here I thought he’d basically lived in the bush and was an unwilling operative.
I was such a fool. I really had to learn how to pick my friends better. As did Clay, apparently.
“You trust that she’ll be good for the guild?” The leader asked Ian. Ian looked me in the eye, but then glanced away again.
“I do,” he said without hesitation.
“Then welcome to the Guild of Shadows, Ms. Misu. There will be a lot of work here, but I think you’ll find it quite rewarding.”
And just like that, I was dismissed. I stepped outside, where someone waited for me, not to throw me in jail or beat me, but to show me to the room where I’d be staying with other new trainees of the Guild.
I was home. They wanted me here. They’d chosen me. And they’d done a piss poor job of validating the entire experience.
But still, this was home, now. As much as it could be without Clay.
I vowed to find a way to make this work. I would find a way to belong, and to do what needed to be done. And to keep my word to Clay. To always remain true to myself. I had to make sure of that. Come hell or high water.
I grinned. I’d definitely make this work. But I’d have to find a way to make it work my way.
After all, there was no point in being a demon unless you raised a little hell.
-The End-
Don’t miss Tira’s next adventure, Hell Bent, coming February 2020!
Now available for pre-order on Amazon.
Hell Born Page 18