by David Petrie
Nix hesitated for a moment, looking back up at the ceiling. “Well, you’re certainly one hell of a douche, aren’t you?”
Berwyn stopped short, forcing her to stop so that she didn’t run into him. “Nix, you are one of the best mercenaries I’ve found, and I consider you a valuable piece on the board.”
“Aww, thanks, boss.” She smiled with feigned modesty, throwing her hands behind her back.
“But,” he turned to look down on her, “don’t think for a second that you are in a position to speak to me with disrespect. I know how much Ripper would love to get his Death Grip around your throat.”
Nix rubbed one hand around her neck and swallowed. “Okay, point taken.”
Berwyn started walking again. “Great, I’m glad we had this talk then.”
Chapter Forty-Two
Max checked over his shoulder for the fourth time. The alleyway was just as dark and empty as it was the last time he checked.
Kira waved at him, clearly noticing how uneasy he was.
He attempted to ignore her, but a small smile worked its way through his facade of tactical awareness. She was surprisingly calm despite the weight that had been dropped on her shoulders. Especially with Berwyn walking beside her.
Max checked over his shoulder again.
Of course, he wasn’t worried for his own safety. Berwyn, on the other hand, well, more than a few players would’ve been glad to see the man’s rule ended with extreme prejudice. With that on his mind, Max found himself on edge.
He didn’t like it.
Berwyn had brought Nix and Ripper along for added protection, and he was still technically unkillable, thanks to his crown. Although, that didn’t mean it would be out of the realm of possibilities for someone to try something. That was all Max needed, some random house making a move and ruining things when they were so close.
He clenched his fist. Why Berwyn had chosen now to leave the palace was beyond him. Honestly, he wasn’t sure what made the Catacombs so special. Certainly not worth taking such a risk. Berwyn’s priorities seemed out of order.
Max brushed off the thought. Worrying wasn't going to help now. They were already in way over their head. Besides, maybe he could figure out a way to make the situation work in Lockheart’s favor.
He pulled out his journal and sent a quick message, then flipped to his map before anyone noticed.
At least the Lord of Serpents had the sense to map out the city’s back alleys so that they would have an undisturbed path to their destination. Apparently, it was a necessity for all royalty. It was best to keep off the main streets as much as possible.
Nix lead the way, playing some kind of word game with herself as she walked. It seemed like it was as much for entertainment as it was to annoy Ripper who walked beside her. Behind them, Kira made small talk with Berwyn while Farn stayed nearby. Ginger kept close to Max.
There was a palpable tension in the air as they turned down a side street and into a small nondescript door. Inside was just a storeroom of barrels and bins filled with coconuts. It smelled sweet, like one of those tropical drinks served in a hollowed-out pineapple.
According to Berwyn, there were numerous entrances to the Catacombs, some of which were quite secret. It was to the point that players had to spend hours searching message boards just for their locations, only to have them change a few days later. Being the ruler of Reliqua, Berwyn had them all marked automatically on his map as a perk of his position. It was a point that he happily mentioned as they walked down a row of barrels, only to stop at a solid brick wall.
He touched one of the bricks three times. It responded by glowing a gentle blue, like the water of a swimming pool as if lit from below. He tapped four more so that five glowed in a pattern like a star. Then the whole wall slid backward, revealing a narrow, spiral staircase twisting down into the dark.
Kira glanced back to Ginger before being urged forward into the lead. Snapping her casters open, she called up a low-level light spell to help the others see. She also materialized her wings for added light to help her navigate the narrow stairs. Under the moon, it wasn’t that noticeable how brightly the fairy glowed, but here in near darkness she shined like a glittering beacon.
She swallowed once, then descended to a landing where a hallway stretched into the distance. The sound of rushing water reached back to meet Max’s ears. It grew louder as they walked until he realized that it was mixed with something else from beyond. Something even louder.
He fought the urge to hold his breath.
Ahead, a curtain of water fell across their path from an opening in the ceiling. It flowed seamlessly into a second matching hole in the floor so that the water passed straight through the subterranean corridor without so much as splashing back at their feet.
Berwyn didn’t stop. Instead, he walked straight toward the curtain of falling liquid as if it wasn’t there.
Max flinched, expecting the man to be thrashed into the floor as soon as he came into contact with the torrent. Suddenly, a stone moved above, as if locking on to his movement like the automatic doors of a convenience store. It cut through the water, splitting it so that it fell to either side to make an opening wide enough for him to step through, remaining completely dry.
Berwyn looked back. “You coming?”
Kira took a step back before forcing herself to hop through the opening like she was exiting an elevator that she feared might fall.
From there, the group passed through several more walls of rushing water that parted in the same manner. The noise beyond grew, almost rhythmically as it became less distorted with each barrier they breached. Dim light shined ahead, a welcomed sight after making do with only a fairy’s glow to guide them. Finally, the hall widened as one last waterfall barred their entrance. Far larger than the rest, it parted wide enough for the whole party and, in turn, revealed their destination.
The beat surged into Max’s ears as vibrations reverberated in his chest.
He didn’t like what he saw.
A massive underground space lay exposed, its walls decorated with figures carved into the rough stone. Water flowed from openings everywhere, even from the carvings themselves. It poured from the carved mouths of snakes and wolves. A trickle fell from the eyes of a beautiful woman clothed in only palm leaves of chilled rock. All of it flowed into a reservoir below that rivaled the pyramid’s private beach.
Dozens of stone slabs balanced impossibly, held up by only a few narrow pillars to form a networking of levels connected by bridges and stairways. Some were filled with high-top tables and chairs. Others were more private spaces, cordoned off by golden chains.
The rest were packed with players.
Their bodies writhed and swayed with the sound of a heavy, electronic beat that came from a stage near the back. Most were dressed in either gear that could also double as club-wear or non-game clothing designed to be provocative.
One platform, far larger than the rest, sat at the center, featuring the most spectacular bar that Max had ever seen. It stretched across the edge at least the length of a basketball court. A dance floor covered the rest.
There were no railings or barriers of any kind on the platforms or stairways, making the place the most dangerous nightclub ever conceived. Some patrons even dove off the edge into the water below where they swam and splashed about. Most of which wore swimsuits, though some could be described as being less prepared. Near the edges of the water, couples joined hands and led each other into the mouths of dozens of half-submerged caves, whose shadows provided an element of privacy.
Max shuddered at the idea of diving into the human soup below. It might have all been virtual, but that didn’t make him feel better about it. I should give Kira a heads up before she dives in without noticing. It seemed like something she would do.
Max followed Berwyn and Nix up to a platform near the one wall with a view of the bar and dance floor. It was one of the quieter spaces reserved for VIP’s, which made sense considering the
y were traveling with an emperor.
Kira settled into a velvet sofa next to Berwyn as Farn took up a position close by. Ginger pulled up close to Max and spoke a drink order into his ear so that he could hear her over the music. He pulled back, confused, unsure if he had heard her right.
“You want how many shots?”
She responded with a simple nod.
“Alright, it's your funeral.”
“Put everything on my tab.” Berwyn reached his arm across the back of Kira’s seat.
Nix fell in at Max’s side with a bounce in her step. She had an order from her boss as well, so together, they made their way down to the bar. Ripper sneered at them as they passed him on the stairs.
There were several bartenders below, and as Nix approached, one of them ignored the other patrons as to give her their undivided attention. Berwyn must bring the mercenary here a lot, Max assumed from the preferential treatment. Nix seemed to be important, and by extension, so was Max. It wasn’t something he was used to. In the real world, he was always the guy hovering at the end of the bar struggling desperately to get the bartender's attention. It was a refreshing change of pace for him. He could get used to being important.
Max leaned one elbow on the counter like the VIP he was. “Twelve shots of vodka.” He started to hold up his fingers to indicate the number but stopped as he realized he didn’t have that many. The bartender, an elven man in a silver waistcoat, eyed him as if he saw right through him but presented him with a tray of small glasses nonetheless.
Moments later, Max returned to his party just in time to catch Kira’s idea of date conversation.
“…and so the termite asked, is the bar tender here?” She sat with her mouth open as if proud of herself.
Berwyn smiled politely.
Farn covered her mouth to hold in a laugh, reminding Max why her and the fairy worked so well together. It took a special kind of bond to laugh at Kira’s puns.
“Thank god, the drinks are here.” Ginger hopped up.
Nix set down a tray with a couple girly looking drinks and a glass of brown liquid. She also got three waters for herself, Max, and Farn. She got nothing for Ripper. He didn’t seem to care, resigned to watch from the stairs alone.
Max set down the tray he carried, containing twelve one-ounce glasses, each filled to the brim. He wondered who the hell they were for, considering only Ginger, Kira, and Berwyn would be drinking. Four shots each seemed like a lot.
Ginger immediately picked up one for herself and handed another to Kira. Then when Berwyn wasn’t looking, the Coin set a second one in front of the fairy.
Kira sipped her first with an incredulous look.
Ginger simply nodded and pushed the fairy’s glass up with the tip of her finger.
Eventually, Berwyn apologized and stepped away to handle something he’d heard over the Serpent’s house line. He insisted that he wouldn’t be long before running down the stairs and taking Nix and Ripper with him.
That was when Ginger began shoving shots into Kira like they were going out of style. The fairy shrugged and obeyed.
Farn spoke up after four, “Umm, why are we pouring shots into a girl that weighs less than fifty pounds?”
Ginger passed Kira a fifth glass. “Alcohol works off memory here, not body weight. Her tolerance is going to match her real body. I’m just trying to get her a little tipsy, so Berwyn will think he has a shot at getting her to his room tonight. Plus, she’ll be a little more fun, and hopefully, she’ll stop with the puns.”
“Like that’s gonna happen.” Kira laughed. Then she laughed again.
That was when Max chimed in. “She’s kind of a lightweight in the real world so that might be plenty. And if anything, she’s going to make more puns.”
“Oh.” Ginger took a shot out of the fairy’s hand as she was trying to drink it.
“And what happens when he tries to get her to his room later?” Farn leaned over Kira’s seat like a loyal guard.
“Not a problem.” Ginger grinned. “He won’t get the chance.”
“Why not?”
“Because then we’re just going to pour the rest of these shots in her and get her completely wasted.”
“Won’t that just make it easier for him?”
“Nope, thanks to Checkpoint’s forethought in building this world,” she gestured around them, “you can’t give consent if you’re tanked. So the system will just activate her cage while her judgment is impaired. Berwyn won't even able to touch her with the system protecting her. So that option will be off the table.”
“Oh.” Farn’s voice wavered a little.
Kira grabbed the girly drink in front of her that Ginger hadn’t taken away. “Don’t worry. Alcohol is a solution,” she took a sip, “chemically speaking.”
Max immediately slapped his hand against his head. “And it starts.”
Suddenly, Kira froze, her eyes darting around as if searching. “I think there might be a ghost in here.”
“Why?” Farn leaned closer.
Max glowered at her for falling into the trap.
Kira smiled wide in a way that made her violet eyes sparkle. Then she hopped up on to her knees and turned so that she could face the Shield. “Because of all the boooooooze.” She made a point of wiggling her fingers like a spooky ghost.
Farn laughed.
Ginger groaned. “Don’t encourage her.”
“It’s best if you don’t respond. She’ll get bored eventually.” Max rubbed at his eyes.
The string of bad jokes ended when Berwyn returned. At that point, it became clear that four drink Kira was actually a decent flirt. She sat close, leaning into the Lord of Serpents, even touching his leg in a way that clearly gave him ideas. Not that he didn’t already have ideas in the first place. Even more surprising was the fact that she’d actually stopped chattering, letting him talk about himself for most of the night. She only asked questions to keep him engaged.
Eventually, Berwyn brought her to the dance floor. Four drink Kira wasn’t as graceful as she had been a few nights before, but Berwyn seemed to be having a good time regardless.
Max couldn’t help but feel bad for his partner. Clearly, she was trying her best to play her role, not that she had a choice with everything on the line. He’d known her a long time, and if there was one thing he understood, she would put herself through anything if it would help her friends.
He sipped his water to wash away the tasted in his mouth. It didn’t help.
I just hope she doesn’t have to do much more.
Finally, Max leaned to Ginger and suggested that it was time to move on to phase two of her plan to put the fairy out of commission. She agreed and took her first opportunity to pour another five shots into the little mage, who was pretty cooperative now that she was already half gone.
With Kira trashed and safe from the Lord of Serpents’ advances for the night. Max checked the time on his stat-sleeve. It was getting late. He decided to take a patrol around the platform, walking its perimeter and exploring the stairs that led to the connecting areas. He spent a few moments looking around at the carvings on the walls, smiling when he saw one of a skeleton throwing back a mug of ale. Water poured out of its mug and into its bony jaws, only to flow out from its ribcage and down the wall. He chuckled at the use of the environment.
That was when a familiar face waved to him from a platform not far from his. A predatory mouth grinned wide enough to show teeth. Excitement danced in her eyes.
Max’s heart sped up as he popped off the leather strap that secured his guns into his shoulder holsters. Then he watched, as Lady Amelia turned and disappeared into the crowd.
House Winter Moon had arrived.
Chapter Forty-Three
“Damn, that girl's messed up.” Nix leaned over to Max, her hand held in front of her mouth as if she didn’t want anyone else to hear while also speaking at full volume.
Max tore his attention away from the platform where he’d seen Amelia just
a moment before and glanced back to find twelve-drink Kira. The fairy was dancing on a table and singing along with the club’s music despite there being no lyrics. She was going to be pretty embarrassed about it when she sobered up. He chuckled.
“At least she’s having fun.”
“Huh?” Nix stared off to the side, clearly not paying attention to the conversation that she had started only seconds before.
“I said. At least she’s having fun.”
The mercenary looked back to the hot mess on the table. “There are worse things to do while you’re drunk.” Her attention drifted away again, almost immediately.
Max followed her line of sight as she settled her gaze on a group of players sitting down at a nearby table.
Like most of the club’s patrons, they were dressed in lighter gear that passed for something appropriate for the club. Hmm, Max raised an eyebrow. They were armed. Not with anything heavy, but still, it was strange if all they were looking for was a night out.
It probably wasn’t a coincidence that they were seated few tables over from Berwyn, who was enthralled by Kira’s antics. His charming smile shined up at her. Albeit, a slightly disappointed smile since it was clear she was in no condition for any other activities.
Nix nudged Max with her elbow and gestured back to the armed group at the table. “You notice anything about those guys over there.”
“They just sat down a few minutes ago,” Max responded, being intentionally vague in the hope she might provide some more insight into how she thought.
“And?” She seemed to be playing the same game.
“And they sat at a table between Berwyn and the stairs that lead toward the nearest exit.” He shoved his hands into his pockets like he didn’t consider them a threat. “It’s what I would do if I wanted to stop someone from escaping.”
She grinned at his answer, adding another, “And?”
“And they all have their house rings turned inward so we can’t see their crests.” He frowned, knowing it couldn’t be a coincidence. Not with Amelia lurking somewhere in the club. He folded his arms across his chest and added, “Pretty sure they’re members of Winter Moon.”