“That's enough, Sierra!” Skye snapped, leaping in between her and Tango.
“Tell your friend to stay away from me,” she said calmly. “I'm going to the woods to train by myself.” As they were located in the industrial district, the woods were almost always deserted, making it an ideal place for Sierra to train without any civilians noticing her abnormal speed.
“Fine,” Skye breathed, glad to have a spare moment when she would not be pestering him. In the blink of an eye, she was gone.
Tango stood up and wiped the blood from his forehead. “Can we please get rid of her? Every day with her is agony.”
Skye removed his mask, his face refreshed by the warm air. “I think 'agony' is a little dramatic. I'll admit she seems to only think about herself, but she's a great asset.”
Tango stared back at him, aghast. “Asset? Did you not just witness her attack on me?” He placed his hand on his head again and wiped away another trickle of blood. “If you ask me, I think she's getting impatient with Tahlia, and now she's taking it out on us.”
Skye shrugged. “Maybe. But we need her.” He knew that Tango had a point, but his mind was far too distracted by their impending mission to care about his friend's trivial complaints.
“Skye,” Tango said seriously, “do you really think that she is going to help us? As soon as she kills Tahlia she'll run off and we'll never see her again. She doesn't care about us.”
Skye smirked and placed his hand on Tango's shoulder. “Of course she doesn't care about us—you don't make her feel welcome.”
“But she's not welcome here. She could kill us all in an instant.”
“She won't. She wants our help, which is why she agreed to stay here. This vendetta is all she lives for, so we should use that to our advantage when we start searching for Black Dawn again.”
Tango gasped loudly. Skye turned around and saw Sierra standing behind him.
“Why do you want to use me to your advantage?” she asked, having heard the conversation. “I have no intention of killing your president.”
Skye thought about his words carefully. Sierra had never once agreed to assist White Shadow with any matter aside from the execution of Tahlia, but Skye remained hopeful that she would help them kill the nation's new leader.
“You're one of us now,” he said. “I told you that we'd help stop Tahlia if you joined us, so maybe you'll help us stop Archie.”
“No.” She didn't even consider the offer. “I'm only here to kill Tahlia. And anyone else who gets in my way.”
Tango grimaced, hoping that the second statement was not directed at him. He turned around and retreated back inside the warehouse. Skye attempted to follow, but Sierra appeared in front of him and blocked his path.
“On second thought, let's keep training,” she suggested.
Skye stared down into her cold eyes. He choked back his apprehension to resume placing his life on the line for her unconventional training workouts. “Fine.”
Four
Outside the cafe Nikolai sat poised, like a warrior waiting to slay his opponent from the shadows. Next to him sat a woman with short black hair. Her lipstick and eye shadow were as dark as her shirt, and her trousers were torn at the knee, exposing colourful tattoos.
“How long do we need to wait here?” Tahlia asked.
Nikolai smiled. “Patience, my friend. The boy will come eventually.”
She slumped back into her chair roughly.
“If you're bored, let us discuss life,” he suggested.
“No, thank you,” she said, afraid of having another meaningless discussion with her leader. She had endured listening to his inane philosophical banter during their time together and had grown quite proficient at smiling and nodding while not paying attention at all. Most topics were of no interest to her, while others were simply incomprehensible.
“Then quit acting like a child and sit still.”
As the morning passed, more businessmen and women flooded the promenade of the district. Nikolai watched them intently, wondering how they could live such a lifestyle, something that he pondered often.
Another man slowly crept along and sat at the table next to Tahlia. He wore a dirty tuxedo and top hat. His thin moustache was dark against his pale skin, and his cheeks were smeared with streaks of dried mud. Several civilians stared curiously at the strangely dressed man.
Tahlia's face twisted with horror. “What is that disgusting smell?” she shrieked.
Nikolai glared at the man. “Night, have you been digging up those things again?”
A disturbing expression spread across Night's face as he smiled with enthusiasm.
“I told you not to do that!” Nikolai's voice boomed. “Those things are absolutely vile.”
“You said you wanted me to train,” he defended.
“Yes, on the living.”
Night's body crunched as he lifted one leg and rested it awkwardly on the other. “Do you want me to leave?”
Nikolai let out a loud and disappointed moan. “No, I need you here. But you smell terrible.”
The trio sat in silence at the table. Ying emerged from the cafe when she saw the newcomer, but turned and retreated upon stumbling into the decaying odour. A businesswoman nearby groaned with disgust as she walked past.
Nikolai gritted his teeth. “On second thought, this is absurd. You're drawing attention to us. Go and sit in the limousine until I come for you.”
The odd man stood up and left without saying a word, hobbling back down the promenade. Tahlia giggled to herself.
“And just what do you find so amusing?” her superior demanded.
“You said that he's drawing attention to us because he smells bad. But the three of us sitting here, dressed like this, is not ... conspicuous.”
“Inconspicuous,” he corrected. “Your Alexan needs work.”
Tahlia rolled her eyes, although unsurprised by yet another correction.
“Don't be like that,” Nikolai said, catching sight of her expression. “I honestly don't know how you're not fluent in Alexan given your country's proximity.”
“I am fluent,” she muttered. “Forgive me if I don't know every word in your language. I don't suppose you're fluent in Rouvian?”
Nikolai grimaced, reluctant to admit defeat. He waited for several seconds before eventually breaking into a smile. “Very well. You make a fair point. I know some Rouvian, but hardly enough to hold a conversation.”
Tahlia folded her arms smugly and relaxed in her chair. “Thank you.”
“Not that you can blame me though,” he continued. “Alexans needn't learn any other language. We have the strongest economy in the world.”
Tahlia sniggered quietly. “Sounds like a typical, arrogant response from an Alexan.”
“Perhaps. Although I doubt it will be long before the Union surpasses us.” Nikolai watched as Night retreated further down the promenade, eventually climbing into the front seat of the limousine in the distance. “On that note, have you been practising your Xiayu?”
“No. I don't have time.”
“No time?” Nikolai scoffed. “My friend, you have all the time in the world!”
Tahlia rolled her eyes again. “Fine, then I don't want to do it. Most people speak Alexan here.”
“Yes, they do. But that's not to suggest that the language won't prove useful to you in the near future.”
She slowly turned her head in his direction. “Is that a hint? Are you suggesting what I think you are?” Clues from Nikolai were a rare gift. She often didn't know her orders until the beginning of each day. The lifestyle was, in its own bizarre way, relaxing in that it offered the freedom of truly living in the moment. But it also seemingly meant that each and every day would become boring and repetitive. Tahlia felt as though she had lived the same day for three months straight now.
Nikolai held his hands up. “I'm not suggesting anything. Not that my master-plan is hardly a secret. Besides ...” He looked at her with a smirk. “..
. I bet your friend Marion has no problem learning Xiayu.”
Tahlia's shoulders tensed. “Don't mention that name.”
“You possess a grand gift, being an elite,” he continued, “yet you choose to squander it. People would kill to do what we do. You could master hundreds of languages if you committed to it.”
“Just leave me alone,” she pleaded, already exhausted by the debate. “I might be working for you, but that still doesn't mean you're the boss of me.”
Nikolai laughed, first softly, then loudly. Tahlia stared at him, perplexed.
“You would laugh too,” he said, “if you knew what true power was.”
She ignored his confusing statement and continued to stare across the street at the restaurant.
When Tahlia did not pry further into his statement, Nikolai began speaking again. “You claim that I'm not your boss, yet here you are, serving me. I could give you a myriad of orders, and you would follow them without question. Is that not what a boss is?”
“I like your cause. That's why I'm helping you.”
“Indeed. You like my cause, as well as the fact that you're enticed by a lifestyle offering asylum and stability, and protection from your friend Marion. Nevertheless, I am your boss.”
Tahlia decided to save her strength, not bothering to argue back.
The two sat in silence once again. Several minutes passed. Nikolai's gaze wandered back and forth from the restaurant to the corporate personnel surrounding him. The business district was seldom quiet during the day.
“Skye earlier informed me that he wants the president killed today,” Nikolai said. “I certainly admire his ambition, but you and I both know he'll never succeed.”
“What if Ren finds him?” Tahlia asked.
Nikolai scoffed. “I have no doubt that Ren is fully aware the president is sitting inside Government House as we speak, but she'll never find a way to end his life.”
Tahlia closed her eyes and basked in the tropical sun. “Maybe she's stupid enough to break inside.”
Nikolai turned his head and frowned at her from beneath his sunglasses. “Please don't refer to Ren as stupid. She's perhaps the most intelligent person I've ever met in my life. But to answer your question; no, she'd never consider such a bold move. No one is getting inside Government House. It would be a massacre, and I wouldn't be able to live with myself if any harm were to befall Ren or Skye.”
He turned his attention back to the promenade and watched the sea of employees and entrepreneurs. “Although,” he continued, “I do admit it would be handy if the others were eliminated. They're certain to get in my way this weekend.”
Tahlia shook her head at her superior. Nikolai always talked about ways of killing the remainder of White Shadow, yet he never took any action. The two warring factions seemed to be caught in the middle of an unspoken ceasefire.
Nikolai leaned forward in his chair, his jaw slowly dropping. He turned his gaze back to his lieutenant, a delighted smile emerging across his face. “I just had a wonderful idea.”
He had finally succeeded in piquing Tahlia's interest. “What?”
Nikolai rose from his chair and pondered for a moment, lost in his obscure thoughts. “Skye wants to kill Archibald today, and I would like a way to take out White Shadow.” He stared down at the ground, his mind placing the final pieces to his idea in place. He sniggered to himself quietly when he was certain that his plan would work.
“If you want them dead, go and kill them right now,” Tahlia hissed impatiently with her distinguishable Rouvian accent. “You're strong enough to kill them.”
He held a hand up, dismissing her idea. “It matters not how strong I am. Killing them right now would be pointless.”
Tahlia buried her head in her hands and gave up on the conversation. While Nikolai justified killing, he was not one to order an execution if he believed it lacked merit. His planning was always meticulous, much to the dismay of the woman in black; as long as Marion lived, Tahlia would be in danger. She had requested numerous times for Nikolai to deliver on his promise and kill Marion, but he never seemed to show any interest in doing so.
“Nikolai,” Tahlia suddenly said, interrupting the silence, “he's back.”
He turned and faced her as he sat back down. “Who? The boy?”
She shook her head. Her face was grave. “No. One of the Tianzu. We haven't sensed him since ...”
Nikolai's lips turned upwards, pleased with the sudden development. “Where is he?”
“Approaching from the southwest,” she said, pointing a finger to her left.
The pair sat patiently. Nikolai's ability to sense others was not as developed as Tahlia's, which made her a valuable addition to Black Dawn.
Several more moments passed before Nikolai was able to detect the man too. A strange, yet somewhat familiar sensation enveloped his body as he finally felt the presence of another. “You're right; he's back.”
It had been three months since the man's presence was felt in Athenia. Nikolai had never personally met him, yet he knew exactly who he was.
More minutes passed before a man in a blue shirt slowly peered out from the roof of a nearby office building. He stared down at Nikolai and Tahlia, his face calm and composed.
“Why would he be here?” Tahlia asked as she studied the man. It was the first time she'd actually seen him. “Are they going to attack?”
“Maybe,” Nikolai said with a grin, barely able to contain his excitement. “How intriguing that he's decided to return, and during such an important time. It's clearly no coincidence.” He started to laugh to himself. “This day has just gotten even better.”
Tahlia frowned, perplexed by her superior's outlandish enthusiasm. “What are we going to do about him?”
Nikolai's smile broadened even further as he stared up at the timid man. “Absolutely nothing. We'll leave him for the time being.”
Tahlia looked up nervously. She was powerful, but the constant stress of being hunted by Marion had taken its toll on her. The last thing she wanted was another foe on their growing list. She sometimes wondered if she would've been safer if she never joined Black Dawn.
Nikolai finally turned his attention back to the restaurant opposite. “I've got all day,” he muttered to himself with a smirk, waiting for a certain young man to appear. “But for now, I should call the president and tell him my new plan for tonight.”
Five
Tango climbed the spiral staircase to the catwalk above. He stepped outside onto the steel balcony and saw Juliet sitting with her legs crossed. Her mind was in a deep trance, but she turned around as soon as she heard Tango's footsteps.
“Sorry,” he said, “I didn't mean to disturb you.”
“That's alright,” she said happily. A young and vibrant woman of eighteen, she was always full of energy.
“Have you found anything?” he asked with curiosity.
“I'm not too sure. I think Nikolai is still in Shangwu, but it's hard to locate him. Tahlia might be there too, but their energy keeps fading. I'm doing my best, but it's difficult.”
“I can imagine,” Tango said, impressed with her telepathic abilities. “Don't push yourself too hard. You've come up here every morning lately.”
“It's okay, I like sitting here. It's relaxing, and I think I'm getting stronger each week.”
He smiled. “That's good to hear. You've come a long way. Just keep at it and you'll be as powerful as Skye and Sierra.”
“How about you? Are you training this morning?”
Tango stretched his arms upwards and let out a soft yawn. “Maybe.” He'd lost all enthusiasm since the death of his comrade three months earlier, usually spending his time lazing outside.
“You really should train,” she said.
Tango shook his head upon hearing the suggestion. “Not you too. Everyone keeps insisting that I train today.”
“Ren said that we all have to train.”
“Yet Ren herself never trains. She wastes her
time on her computer.” He threw his hands up and turned around. “I'll train when I'm ready,” he groaned, and walked back down the stairs.
Juliet sat, wondering why he was so easily offended. A caring individual, she only ever wished to help the others in White Shadow. She didn't appreciate being spoken to in such an irritable manner, especially when she only meant well.
“Juliet,” Tango said, reappearing in the doorway, “I'm sorry. I'm just ...” he trailed off, unsure how to express himself.
She turned back around, giving him her attention. “What is it?” She was curious to know what was on his mind, despite already sensing his sadness.
“It's everything,” he admitted. “Ever since Foxtrot was killed I've felt like a different person. I want to kill those who took my friend's life, but I sometimes wonder if I'll ever find them.”
Juliet offered a soft smile, trying to empathise with him. “Is that why you don't want to train?”
“Partly. It's partly because I wonder if there's any use in training, and partly because I just don't know what's right anymore.” He retreated down the stairs, the fatigue and defeat in his voice evident.
Juliet sat alone, concerned. Tango's words stayed with her. He spoke of revenge, much like Sierra, Ren, Skye, and Echo. Their group was one of righteousness, but their strange infatuation with killing in the name of peace made her wonder if she too would inevitably become more cold and heartless. Skye had warned her on several occasions that she needs to be careful in setting out her path in life; it did not seem to take much to become lost and soulless, like those who worked for Black Dawn.
She pushed the thought out of her mind, focussing outwards toward the city centre once again.
Skye walked in through the back door of the warehouse, staring down at the long scratch on his mask. “That was too close. You need to be more careful.”
“This is how we need to train,” Sierra said as she walked in behind him. “We need to train intensively, or not at all.”
“You're forgetting that you're the strongest one here. We can't train as intensively as you can.”
Skye looked across to Ren, hoping that the assumed leader would share her input on the matter, but she was far too invested in her computer monitors. He decided against distracting her and turned away. Finding Archie was a far more pressing matter.
Eternity's War (Books 1-3) (Eternity's War Boxsets) Page 3