Page 63 of Shadow's Chosen

Twenty-one

That cold knot tightened further around Nezka's heart and throat, making it hard to speak. "I don't know you," he whispered.

The woman's eyes widened. "Oh? I think you do. Though you were but a child last we saw each other." She gave her mask over to the Red Blade beside her and stepped closer. "Right before my brother exiled me from his city."

Nezka grew still as he stared at the woman, turning over each memory of his youth until he remembered a woman who had come to meet with Vesra on one of Nezka's first training days. A vain woman who cared not that she was disturbing Vesra's work or disrupting Nezka's training.

"Pyra." Nezka's voice cracked.

"Good, see?" she said sweetly. "You do remember." She came closer, ignoring Elise's gun on her, looking only at him. "When I learned that you were in the city, I admit I was...ecstatic." She smiled. "And when I learned that you were coming here, it felt personal. Like a friend coming to visit. How is Vesra, by the way? I keep up on his dealings in Xolis, but I don't ask my little spies about his health." She took a step back and tilted her head, regarding him. "You should know better than anyone, after all."

Nezka glared back at her.No, he thought,not this way.

"Hm?" Pyra tilted her head more. "You are still working for him, aren't you? Haven't gone rogue on him?" She giggled, her laughter piercing in his ears. "It's all right if you have." She approached him again, this time placing her hand on his chest. "Because I was hoping you could work for me now? Seeing that me and my brother have the same goal in mind."

"Like hell he would," Elise said from beside him. Pyra looked to Elise, and Nezka had to stifle a growl. Pyra dropped her hand from him to study her closer.

"My spies were right. You really are good, Nezka. You didn't even have to drag this one all the way here." She giggled again softly. "You've somehow convinced her that you're on her side."

Elise shifted behind him. "What is she talking about, Nezka?"

"Oh, let me save her from her confusion, Nezka, please," Pyra said. "And you don't know either, do you? About my little business here. Why I have been collecting the humans too." She grinned, showing pearly, silver teeth. "It's for the same reason my brother wants them. When I learned he was going to sell them off to the nillium, I desired to find them first. But I didn't have to look far. As fate would have it, they came to me. I wished to collect them and sell them myself, either to Vesra in hopes that he would consider a partnership and trade of resources or to the nillium themselves for a high price. I knew you were coming to take them to my brother but," she stepped back and gestured around her, "as you can see now, you needn't bother. We are on the same side, you and I. We can bring them to Xolis together."

"You're wrong," Elise snapped before Nezka could respond. "Nezka was hired to take you out and bring your head to the drogin officials. And now he's helping me save my team."

Pyra's hairless brow rose. She looked to Nezka with a curious, unblinking stare. Her hand slowly lifted, and her men aimed their gun's higher, toward Nezka and Elise's head. "Am I wrong, Nezka?" she said in a sweet yet venomous voice.

Nezka dared not unlatch his gaze from hers, keeping his expression cold and indifferent. If she believed him turned, she might very well kill him where he stood. She would take Elise regardless, but if he convinced her he was still Vesra's most loyal servant, she would allow him to live, giving him more time...

Such a plan, however, meant the inevitable betrayal he had so wanted to avoid.

"No," he said without wavering, his body turning cold, heart turning to ice. "You're not wrong."

He could feel Elise growing still beside him. "What?" she said in an exhale of breath. Pyra's grin widened, and she lowered her arm. Her men lowered their guns.

"I'm so very glad to hear it," Pyra said. "Like your corax friend, you've made a wise decision. Come, we have much to discuss."

"Nezka?" Elise said.

Nezka dared not look back at her, unable to meet her eyes. He sheathed his blades and stepped away from her, toward Pyra. Elise let out a cry of shock. "Nezka!"

He stopped and forced himself to look around, seeing past her. "You were a fool to trust me."

She lowered her gun in surprise. Then lifted it back up and aimed toward Pyra. She fired off but the bullets missed their mark as one of the Red Blades got in her way, taking the brunt of the shots then swiping an arm out and throwing her to the ground. Nezka forced himself not to move as they ripped the gun from her hands and locked her arms behind her back.

"No!" she screamed, struggling against them. "No!" She kicked and fought as they brought her with them, Nezka following Pyra past the warehouse doors and on through a large passage going deeper into the deposit. As he listened to Elise's cries and shouts behind him, he made himself absolutely calm as Pyra walked at his side.

"I know you are most loyal to my brother, but I think we can come to an arrangement. I've been waiting for more humans to come. But it might be some time before that happens. This could be the first batch, then others can follow. I have no doubts that you can persuade Vesra to my favor."

"Perhaps," Nezka said indifferently. Vijnn came to walk close to him with his head bowed low.

"Your corax friend took some convincing," Pyra said, eyeing him. "But he came around in the end, didn't you, Vijnn? He really didn't like the idea of bringing you to me, but he saw my way in the end. The other hunters are welcome to join too if Ryxok hasn't killed them already for attacking us." She laughed. "I probably should have mentioned to him to go easy. Ah. well. You are all I will need."

They came to the end of the passage, and Pyra went on through into the room beyond. They entered into what looked to be a large, central control room. She stopped beside a circular terminal displaying holographic maps of the city while her men dragged Elise past, taking her through another set of doors on the opposite side of the room. Nezka watched them go until the doors shut, cutting him off from Elise.

Shoving his need to tear the men apart and bring her back to him, he turned slowly to Pyra, who smiled. "I don't think you will regret your decision, Nezka. Vesra has a tendency to betray his closest allies. Look what he did to me, after all. But I can give you so much more than him. I don't expect you to fall completely to my will right away. Once we have a little chat with Vesra, you will see. I have so much planned for this city. Vesra has been losing his grip on his own. Especially since the death of the nillium prince. Things are chaotic in Xolis. But here, we can start anew." She looked to the rest of her men, who waited for her orders. "Back to your stations, the lot of you. I trust my shadowy friend well enough."

The men reluctantly relaxed their guns. Some slipped back through the passageways while others positioned themselves by the doorways. One door to the back opened, and Nezka tensed, baring his teeth in a half-snarl.

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