by Sam Ryder
“What were the names?” Gehn asked.
“Lustak and Belogon,” I replied. “Ever heard of them?”
She squinted one eye, then turned to face forward again. “No clue. We’ll have to ask around.”
I stopped dead in my tracks. “Ladies,” I said, a note of warning in my voice. They froze, staring at my face. “Move behind me.”
Belenie made a soft sound as she inhaled sharply.
Hannah cursed under her breath.
Gehn bared her teeth, her horns beginning to glow atop her head.
Directly in front of us, two men stood about fifty yards away. They were males, but not Enders. Human. And, by the looks of the bling glittering on their bracelets, they were from the Wanderer’s Guild. Awesome. They finally caught up to us. “I guess the Guild hasn’t been disbanded yet,” I said.
“Maybe they got themselves a new leader?” Belenie suggested.
“No,” Hannah said, certainty in her tone. “I’d put money on them working for Atticus now. He probably just absorbed the entire Guild into the Rising. Like his own personal hit squad.”
It made sense. Leaderless, the Guild members would want to get paid. Atticus had resources. Great.
The men just stood there, staring in our direction, as if trying to be intimidating. Douchebags, I thought. They probably expected us to run. They probably were excited at the prospect of a chase.
“Sorry to disappoint,” I said, marching forward, directly at them. Two could play the intimidation game. I stared them down as I approached, inspecting their condition. Though they puffed out their chests, I could see the toll the journey to reach Paris had taken on them. One wore a long, dark brown beard. His once-white tank top was stained and filthy. The other had a five o’clock shadow and wore a brown leather jacket that I was certain he’d stolen from a dead man.
Stubble Man pulled out his gun, but I saw him reaching for it long before it had been drawn. I drew faster, firing a shot from Alpha with a particular intention. The bullet clipped the weapon, stinging his hand and forcing him to drop it.
The bearded man fumbled for his own gun. I fired again, this time with a bit more anger. I was willing to have a conversation, but perhaps that could only happen if I spoke the language of pain first. I hit his arm, the bullet penetrating flesh and bone. He, too, dropped his weapon, howling as blood leaked down his arm and splattered on the ground.
Of all things, Stubble Man turned tail and ran.
Wow, I thought, in awe. I could’ve just left him to his own devices. Hell, some of the male Enders might’ve finished him off for me. But where was the fun in that?
I took off at a sprint, feeling like I was back in high school playing football. He wasn’t slow, but I was faster and I hadn’t just had my hand stung. I locked him in my sights, closing in. I could’ve easily caught him and grabbed him, but that wouldn’t make for much of a highlight reel. Instead, when I was a few feet away, I dove, my arms closing around him as I dragged him to the dirt, slamming the side of his head to the ground.
My fingers threaded through his greasy hair, and I pulled his head back to look at him. My other hand had drawn my knife and now I pressed it to his throat. I didn’t need to worry about my back—the others would secure the man I’d shot in the arm.
“Don’t kill me, man,” he pleaded.
“I won’t if you play your cards right,” I said.
“I’ll do anything. What do you want to know?” he stammered.
“Did Atticus send you?”
“We just...they gave us a job,” he said. “With Elias dead, we just wanted to work. To make some coin.”
“By killing me.”
“Atticus wants you alive. He’s offering a major reward. And he wants them, too.” The man motioned with his head to the women behind me.
“Shut your pie hole,” the bearded man hollered, gritting his teeth through the pain
I turned, still holding the knife to this man’s throat while aiming Alpha at the bearded guy, who was surrounded by Gehn, Hannah and Belenie. Gehn beat me to it, drawing her sword from her scabbard and thrusting it through his throat. There was a gurgling sound as his lungs and windpipe filled with blood, which dribbled from his lips as he clutched at himself. He was dead a minute later.
“Aw, man...” Stubble Man said while he watched his partner fall dead. “I thought you said you weren’t going to kill us.”
“I’m not going to kill you,” I clarified. “Plus, I can only speak for myself. These three are half-crazy. If you do something dumb, I can’t control what they might do to you, especially the Enders. They have a taste for blood.” It was sort of fun to see his face go pale white.
He kicked his limbs around, trying to break free.
“Give it a rest,” I said. “You’re caught. There’s no place to go. You can live or die—it’s up to you. Is Atticus controlling the Guild now?”
He shook his head. “No, he’s just paying us to do jobs. The Guild is still intact.”
Seriously? These guys are like cockroaches. “Who’s the new boss?”
“Guy calls himself Beast. He’s different than Elias was. Elias ruled with brains and coin. Beast is a scary dude.”
“Okay,” I said.
“Okay? Can I go now?”
“Yeah,” I said. “You can go to hell.”
“Wait,” he said, understanding causing his voice to rise with fear. “I thought you said—”
I shot him in the face, point blank. In hindsight, I should’ve moved back a bit, on account of the brain and blood spatter. I needed a bath something fierce.
The women looked at me curiously. “What?” I asked. “I didn’t want Gehn to beat me to it again.”
“You’re a mess,” Hannah pointed out.
“Don’t worry. I clean up well.”
Gehn’s eyes were roaming the surrounding area. Our activities had drawn Ender attention. Though none of them approached us, many were watching from doorways. I ignored them, rummaging through the dead guys’ pockets. I came up with some decent coin, a full $2.80. “Looks like this Beast guy is paying his members pretty well.”
“Are you okay?” Belenie asked. “Any injuries?”
“I’m good,” I said. I was a little stiff from the tackle, but nothing serious. “Let’s get that drink.”
Chapter 11
Rest and respite
We walked into Medusa’s, our heads on a swivel to get a lay of the land. The small bar was overloaded with female Enders. In every direction I turned, I saw a woman sporting horns or a tail or both. Some had visible fangs, others claws. A number of them shot glances our way, eyes flitting between me and my companions. Some appeared intrigued. Others suspicious. A few looked unimpressed. But they all looked.
“Not that I’m complaining, but where are all the men?” I asked Gehn.
“I told you before, they’ll be out working. They like to keep busy. The women enjoy social interaction.”
The bar area was full, so I scanned the room for seating. Along the far wall stood an empty table. “I’m going to grab that table in the back,” I said. “I’m the only dude in here, so maybe it’s better if you procure the drinks? Hannah can join me.” I handed over the looted coin to Gehn.
I threaded through the room, meeting every stare that came my way. The eyes of these Ender women were alluring, intense, full of unspent violence and a sharpness that felt like I was being undressed by them. I plopped down in a creaky wooden chair, and Hannah pulled up a seat next to me.
I leaned back in the chair, listening to the wood creak as I put pressure on it. I groaned, letting my muscles stretch out a little.
Anxious for that drink, I scanned the room again. The two Ender women were waiting their turn at the crowded bar. Everything was relatively calm and relaxed in here, despite our presence. Jarro’s advice about this place had been good. If there were any Ender men in here, a fight probably would have broken out by now. Until the Queen issued her decree tomorrow, none of them wo
uld trust me.
The women, however, looked at me differently. I wouldn’t say they appeared to trust me, because that certainly wasn’t true. But at least they weren’t itching for a fight. There was a certain vibe in here. It wasn’t fear or anger. More like an intense interest.
As I scanned the room, I spotted a familiar face only a table over.
“Adi?” I said, genuinely surprised. The beautiful but shy woman who’d bathed my feet looked up from her drink and met my gaze before quickly looking back down, her face flushing. “It’s Cutter,” I said, pointing to myself. “Do you remember?”
Smooth, Cutter.
She smiled, still not meeting my eyes. “Yes, I remember you. Did your meeting with the Queen go well?”
“Fantastic,” I said, propping my foot up on the edge of the chair next to me. I pushed it outward in her direction. “Why don’t you join us? Are you here all by yourself?”
She nodded. “My shift at the Queen’s chambers is finished. But I’m not sure I should…”
“I insist. You’re cool with it, right Hannah?”
Hannah was watching the exchange with interest. “Of course. How do you two know each other?” There was a hint of something in her tone.
“Adi was responsible for ‘preparing me’ to meet the Queen,” I said. “Some sort of ritual thing that involved washing my feet. It was really just a distraction though, I think. So the Queen could chat you all up.”
Adi flushed deeper. “The ritual wasn’t a distraction, though it may have served a dual purpose,” she admitted. “I will join you.” She rose to her feet, and I got my first real view of her. In the Queen’s chambers, she wore a long robe that billowed and hid her body as much as possible. It was a modest outfit, perfect for a maidservant, intended to make her blend in with her surroundings.
Out of uniform she was a different story. She wore a pair of tight black pants and a black tank top with a deep neckline revealing just how well-endowed she was. Her body was an hourglass, her waist narrowing before flaring out into nice hips.
She sat in the offered chair and slid her drink in front of her. “Adi,” she said to Hannah. They shook hands politely, then Adi tilted her head. “You’re not an Ender,” she said.
Hannah ran her fingers through her hair, brushing it away from her face while simultaneously demonstrating that no horns sat on her head. “Is that a problem?”
Adi quickly shook her head. “Sorry, I just meant, it’s unusual. But you are traveling with Enders.” She looked in the direction of Gehn and Belenie, who were finally in a position to order at the bar.
“Look,” Hannah said in that tone that brooked no argument. Adi stared at her. “My sister is an Ender. I am your ally, understood?”
She nodded. “Thank you. We need allies.”
I changed the subject, trying to learn some things about the city. “This place is packed. None of you go home after working?”
Adi shrugged. “What else is there to do in the Ends?” she asked. “It’s not like there’s TV.”
I laughed at the notion. “TV would feel like a revolution all over again,” I said. “God, it’s been a long time since I watched TV.”
Adi managed a small smile, but clutched her drink with both hands, trying to avoid eye contact while she shifted in her seat. I couldn’t quite place her body language—was she nervous or just shy? Was there something she wasn’t telling us? I wasn’t certain, but I had the urge to reveal more to her in the hopes she might become an ally.
“Listen, Adi, we’re here to recruit,” I said. I lowered my voice and explained what our objectives were. I opened up to her about Gehn’s dream and gave a few high points as to what had transpired since I met Hannah and Gehn.
She didn’t say anything when I’d finished.
Hannah touched her arm and she flinched. “Adi? Are you okay?”
She looked up. “Yes, sorry. Thank you for trying to help us.” Was that all she had to say?
“It’s okay,” I said. “We’re on your side. I know humans aren’t trusted here. But we’re not going to hurt you.”
“I’m not worried about that,” she replied quickly. “Forgive me for being a little nervous around you.” Before I could wonder what that meant, Gehn and Belenie arrived at the table armed with a round of drinks.
“Hot damn,” I said upon view of the scotch waiting for me. “Thanks.” Gehn set it down on the table in front of me, and I didn’t hesitate to take a swig before they even sat down. The comforting burn down my throat put me at ease. The Ender women introduced themselves to Adi, then took their seats around the table.
“Women,” Hannah said, “Adi is a little nervous because of a certain large human man at the table. You can vouch for Cutter, right?”
“I wouldn’t go that far…” Belenie joked, but then roped an arm around my shoulders. “But I will say, he looks tough, but he’s really a big ol’ teddy bear.”
Gehn didn’t offer her own words, just staring at Adi, who met her gaze. For a moment, we watched as the two of them looked at each other in silence. “You trust Cutter, too,” Gehn finally said. “It’s not fear that’s making you nervous.”
Adi blushed again. The pink on her cheeks suited her. “You’re right,” she said. “How do you know that?”
“It’s my Gift,” Gehn said. It was the first time she’d used that term to describe what she could do. “A sort of intuition.”
“Cutter told me about your dream.”
“That’s good,” Gehn said, and I was glad she was cool with me having revealed it to the newcomer. It must mean Gehn had a good sense about her.
“So what is making you nervous?” Gehn asked. “Do you get feelings too?”
Adi shook her head. “I’d rather not say.”
“Fair enough,” I said. “Let’s change the subject.” I wanted her to feel as comfortable as possible. “Adi, what do you do when you’re not drinking at Medusa’s?”
Adi raised both her eyebrows. “I work.”
“That’s it?” Belenie asked. “There’s nothing else to do in Paris?”
“Not really,” Adi replied. “The males are preoccupied with beating their chests. I come here to drink and exist. The female Enders here are all right, but most of them are just starved for companionship. They pair up, go home. Women have needs, you know?”
On that last line, she shot a glance out of the corner of her eye at me before quickly looking at Gehn and Belenie. I think they all missed it, but I was watching intently.
“I do know,” Gehn said. “And maybe some of us turn to each other for companionship, but if we can bring peace to the Ends, maybe there are men out there who can give you the company you’re looking for. In the meantime, we just have to take care of each other.”
As Gehn spoke, I thought of the conversations we had about Ender men and why she was so eager to fuck me. Ender women ached for physical satisfaction, maybe to quell the darkness they felt inside them, but were starved of it because of the inability of Ender men to empathize with them. Ender men didn’t need sex, but Ender women did. It was a major problem, especially given most human men would rather shoot themselves in the face than be caught with an Ender.
“Do you want to come with us?” Hannah asked, which was music to my ears. “The more allies we can make here in Paris, the better.”
“I shouldn’t,” she replied. “I can’t leave my post with the Queen. She relies on me to prepare her visitors. It doesn’t seem like much, but it’s an important job in her eyes, which means it’s an important job for me.”
I disagreed with the whole point of this ritualistic nonsense, but I respected her sense of honor. There weren’t too many like that out in the Ends.
“So, what’s your ability?” Gehn asked. “Belenie here can heal. I can sense danger. When you mutated, what did you get?”
Adi looked down, her tongue between her teeth for a moment, and took a breath. “I can read minds.”
“Really?” Hannah said. “So you
know what I’m thinking right now?”
“Yes,” Adi answered. “You’re thinking about your old boyfriend from before the Blast. He took you to dive bars like this one when you were dating because he didn’t have a lot of money. You still wonder if he’s out there somewhere, wondering where you are. Sometimes you think he died in the Blast. Sometimes you wonder if he mutated into an Ender. But you don’t stop thinking about him.”
Hannah’s jaw dropped. “That’s right,” she said in almost a whisper.
My face flushed as blood rushed to my cheeks. I had spent a fair bit of my time around Adi thinking about her beauty and other attributes. Now I understood. She was awkward around me because of what I was thinking.
“So, you know what I’ve been thinking about, too, then?” I asked.
She smiled shyly. “Yes, I know what you’ve been thinking.”
“Sorry. I didn’t mean to...”
She raised a hand. “No apologies. The last few hours have been the first in a long time that I’ve felt more…”
“More what?” I asked, trying to understand how someone as incredible as her would have the need to feel more anything.
“Just more,” she said.
On that note, she lifted her drink for another swig, and we all bathed in the awkward silence for a moment while we drank.
Chapter 12
Lustak
The sunlight streamed through the open window, bathing my body in warmth.
I blinked my eyes open. My limbs sprawled out in all directions as I lay on top of the blanket. After spending the last couple weeks sharing space with Gehn and Hannah—and later Belenie—sleeping in a bed by myself was a revelation.
The previous evening, Adi suggested we ask the Queen for a place to stay to ensure our safety. Surprisingly, the Queen acquiesced, though she hadn’t bothered to come see us herself. Not that we cared. Our quarters were fucking awesome.
The guest house was positioned on the west side of the Queen’s palace. It was a small building, and yet larger than anything a single person would usually be able to own—simple, clean, and private. With four bedrooms, the guest house was spacious enough for us all to have our own rooms, which felt like we were in heaven. The beds were more comfortable than sleeping on the ground. I almost felt pampered in my upstairs room, completely private, with a nice window overlooking the street below. I missed the women’s warmth beside me, but not enough that I couldn’t enjoy stretching out.