Page 16 of Blinding Light

“He is a narcissistic person. He craves attention. His methods are horrifying. The victims are chased and tortured before being killed. I suspect him being close, watching when we are called to a scene. He needs to see us caring for his ‘work’.”

Moargan whistled lowly. “And they call me cruel.”

“Yeah,” Helianth snorted. “Well, we both know you are. But this killer is begging to be unleashed. I bet he can’t wait for the media to leak.”

“Which is why Kylix wants to keep it quiet.”

“Yup.” Helianth looked up, and their eyes met. “But I feel like he’s slipping away. His murders become crueler. It’s like we’re getting caught in this game of cat and mouse. We’re there to clean up the destruction but can’t get ahead of him. We need to prevent this from happening.”

Moargan stared absentmindedly at the spot that had just been occupied by Xander.

“So, what is it you need from me?”

“Father.”

“Father?” Understanding dawned.

Helianth looked away. His brother was like that. Complicated.

Emotional.

“We need more people to work on the case,” Helianth explained. “Classes are about to start, and though we agreed for Kylix to train me and all, we didn’t anticipatethis. We can’t do it alone.”

“I thought Father already gave Kylix a few guys to help him with the case?”

“Two Luminary,” Helianth spat. “As if that will do the trick. These guys are students, they haven’t even finished their training. We need people, brother. More experts. Profilers and AI specialists who can search on deep space for any clues. Who will he kill next? Why? Where? We are grasping in the dark.”

“What about the police? Surely, they have resources?”

Helianth snorted and stuck his nose in the air. “We don’t want to work with those fools. Let them focus on parking tickets and litter on the streets.”

Moargan grinned. “Arrogance, I see. And now you need my help to talk Father into giving you more brains, hmm?”

Helianth’s stare turned pleading. Like this, there was nothing in the world Moargan wouldn’t give his younger brother, and they both knew it. “We all know that he’s preparing you for leadership. If he listens to anyone, it’s you.”

“That’s because I’m such an intelligent species.” Moargan puffed up his chest dramatically.

Helianth rolled his eyes, chuckling.

“Seriously, you’re making me feel important here, little brother. Not even the big, important Kylix can fix this for you. Remember how you used to look up to him?”

“Oh, stop it,” Helianth huffed.

“It’s true. Think I didn’t know about the image of him you had in your bookcase? You didn’t even want his black cape! If I get Father to agree with me, I expect my photo there.”

“Your photo in my bookcase?” Helianth snorted. He grabbed his umbrella and jabbed it at Moargan, who dodged him on an amused howl.

“Alright, alright.” He held up his hands. “I’ll talk to him. Since you put all this trust in me, I won’t let you down. Luminary. Anyone!” He turned over his shoulder. “Send my brother a photo of me. He wants to have one framed in his living room.”

“You really are the worst.” But Helianth smiled, and the tension vanished from his handsome face.

“I know.” Moargan’s eyes glittered with satisfaction. “Give me some time tonight with him. Alone.”

Their father, Milanov Zephyranth, was known to be a tough leader. Aloof, stoic, and quiet, character traits Moargan hadinherited. Helianth, however, was quite the opposite. They clashed. A lot.

“Thanks, I appreciate it.” Helianth pointed to the exit of the canteen. “So, this yellow-eyed guy…who is he?”

Moargan eyed the empty door thoughtfully. “He says his name is Xander.”

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