Page 45 of Stalker

The safety lights pulse their steady red rhythm, marking the tower's height for passing ships. No divine revelation. No ghostly whispers of wisdom.

But a melody stirs in my memory. Mother's favorite song, the one she hummed while working the docks. The Song of the Wanderer.

The first notes catch in my throat, rough with disuse. But as the familiar rhythm takes hold, my voice strengthens.

"Through darkness deep and endless night,

I wander far from home.

Yet in my heart burns still the light,

Of love that bids me roam."

The safety lights flare brighter with each verse, their glow shifting from red to brilliant gold. My voice soars over the wind, carrying the ancient words of hope and redemption.

"For though the path be stained with tears,

And every step brings pain,

The joy that waits beyond our fears,

Makes whole our hearts again."

The song fills me, resonating through my bone spurs until they hum in harmony. Below, people stop their hurried paths. Faces turn upward, touched by the golden light.

I feel their heartaches, their struggles, their own battles between duty and desire. We're all trapped in webs of our own making, seeking a way through the darkness.

Mother's voice joins mine in memory for the final verse:

"So sing, my child, when hope seems lost,

And light has turned to shade.

For love's worth any pain it costs,

And joy will never fade."

The last notes fade into the wind, but the warmth in my chest remains. Mother's song speaks truth - love is worth any cost. My bone spurs vibrate with lingering resonance as clarity washes over me.

I've been a fool, letting ancient traditions and outdated vengeance cloud what matters. Maryse. Her smile. Her touch. The way she sees past my Reaper nature to who I really am.

The dagger slides back into its sheath. Death is the coward's way out. My mother taught me to face challenges head-on, not run from them.

A plan begins to form. Not one of blood and revenge, but of justice and truth. Daniels must answer for his crimes, yes - but through proper channels. With evidence. With witnesses.

Vorpa can help. She has connections, resources. Together we can expose Daniels's corruption without violence. Without making Maryse suffer.

The wind whips my jacket as I stand. Far below, the station hums with life and possibility. My path forward crystallizes with each breath.

First, I need to win back Maryse's trust. Show her that my love for her outweighs everything else. Then together we can face whatever comes.

"I'm coming back to you, Maryse," The words carry on the wind. "Wait for me, my love."

CHAPTER 18

MARYSE

"Excuse me. Coming through." I squeeze between a hulking vakutan and his equally massive mate. The crowd presses in from all sides, their excitement about the upcoming race creating a suffocating wall of body heat and chatter.

---