“I expected better from you, Abir.” Kai winced and tried to maintain eye contact with his father but it wasn’t easy. “Even with your sister's interference, you should have been able to get the tracker onto her.”

“But father I-”

“I don't want to hear excuses!” Azaran yelled, marching across his temporary study room toward his son. “I wanted results. A simple task, no more than a single act. All you had to do was a single thing, and you couldn't get it right the first time, nor the second!”

Kai flinched at every word as though they were physical blows. He blinked, forcing the tears back. “Father, I tired and—”

“I don’t care, and you will not be getting a third chance.” Azaran glared dwon at Kai. “I was willing to give you a chance and try a more relaxed approach, but now, I have lost my patience. I will show you, son… how it is done.” His father walked back to his desk, and took a seat, pulling up the desk phone and punching in a number. He looked to Kai as he put the phone to his ear. “Go, and make yourself scarce. Think on your mistake and foolishness. Go!”

Kai quickly fled, and the moment he was out the door and away from the guards, tears formed in his eyes. He ran for his mother's room, bursting in. The maid who’d been pouring tea jumped, and dropped the pot. It halted in mid-air as did the liquid. Jade’s eyes were on the floating objects, but Kai didn't care.

He was over to his mother in a heartbeat, and he couldn't thank her enough that she didn’t say anything, but instead just wrapped her arms around him. He let the tears fall.

****

Zaria tried and failed to calm herself as she held her son. Her too innocent and fragile son. Unlike Jade of his other siblings, he had been far too sheltered, and despite not wanting to think about it, he was rather mentally weak. He had little fortitude or courage. She had been helping him far more recently since his father was taking more of an interest, and she was waiting to move in when her ‘husband’ broke their son.

Because Kai was not Azaran, in fact, he didn't have a bone of the foul elf in his body. She sighed. She’d been so happy for him and Jade, hearing that things had gone well, though it had started off a bit shaky. But in the end, Jade had made a good impression, and even Kai seemed to have ended the night well.

But oh no, of course, her husband had to ruin it, as he always did. Always there to take and ruin all she loved. Starting with the man, the only man, she had loved, and two of her children. Now, he would break Kai. She wasn’t going to let that happen.

“Kai, dear, what happened?”

“I failed,” He said, his voice muffled. “Father won’t let me try again.”

Which meant he was going to take things into his own hands. That didn't bode well. Azaran was not the subtle type. He was more the ‘throw my weight about and hope it works’ type. He did often enough back at court, and it worked most of the time. Not due to him, but his parents and ties.

Zaria met her daughter's eyes. “Give us some time alone, dear. We’ll talk later.”

Jade nodded, moving over to give Kai a gentle pat on the back before leaving. Jade and Kai weren’t close, but compared to their other siblings they were practically best friends. Ianthe and Kasanir were not pleasant, especially not her oldest daughter. Her greatest failure.

As she focused on comforting her son, Zaria hoped her fool of a husband didn't try anything stupid.

****

Atop a tall skyscraper within the city of Portland, stood a hooded figure with crimson hands behind his back, and his gaze locked onto the lively city. Even at this hour, so many people were out and about. Although, it was not like back home. No, back home was one of a kind. He missed it. The flashing lights, the smell, and The Strip. But he had a job to do here, and as far as he was aware, it was going well. The moment it was done, he would head home. Hopefully with the prize in hand.

With all the efforts of the underground together, they were reaching what he needed fast. He was glad for it, and in the end, he hadn't needed to take a more direct hand in things. He liked relaxing and watching more than participating, at least when it came to work like this. The Gilden fool had taken a more hands-on approach to things and it had gotten him killed.

A sudden breeze blew past and at first, he ignored it, but then a shiver ran down his spine, and a feeling of dread crept up. His instincts cried out, but he didn't turn. He froze and cast his senses out. They didn't need to go far, and what he sensed, set his heart racing.

“Well, how can I help you… Lady ender.”

There came no response for a long moment, then a soft feminine voice spoke. It sounded cold, robotic, and lacking any emotions whatsoever. It made the coldest of fae look like nothing. It was the voice of a machine. One designed for killing. To end. “You are not of this world.”

“No, but I have permission to be here,” He said, keeping his voice steady, though it could probably sense his fear in a dozen different ways.

“Why are you here?”

“That's my one b-business,” he said. “I’ve committed no crimes.”

“Incorrect,” she said, and he flinched. “You are responsible for the increased activity of the city’s criminal element. You have hired many to look for an object you seek, which was recorded as missing by an information broker by the name of Adam Teller. It was kept to a single man, a lesser demon, but his capture and the death of one Gilden Orc, former head of Gilden operations within the city, led you to reveal yourself and seek help. What is the object you seek, and for what purpose?

Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation.

Everyone knew about enders, and there were a thousand stories out there, most untrue. But he knew most undersold the enders. It knew everything, but so what? Nothing he was doing was particularly bad. “It’s a magical artifact that one of my bosses wants. That's all I know.”

“Truth,” It said. “You are aware of my purpose within the city.”

It wasn’t a question, but he nodded anyways. “Yes, the robbery of the auction.”

“I am having trouble locating any solid leads.”

“And… you want my help?”

“No, but you will tell me anything which can be of some benefit. Speak… Now!”

“Well, I haven't looked into it much, but it seems to be an isolated incident, not connected to any group or faction within the city. Whoever took, went in, then out, and that was that. No one had been contacted for the sale of the stolen items. That’s all I know.”

“Correct, and what of the block of certain magics?”

The demon frowned, confused until he realized what it meant. “Oh, I have no clue about that.” For some reason, certain types of magic had been behaving oddly as of late. Mainly seer spells, divination, and magic used by precogs. “Is… that why you haven't found them yet.”

“Correct, but they will be found.”

Oh, he didn't doubt that. If they sent an ender after you and you weren't powerful enough, you only had two ways out. Actually three. Being powerful enough that it didn't matter, running far enough away, and death. Although if they got your soul, then you were screwed. “If that's all?”

“It is, but be aware, I am keeping an eye on the criminal element. If things get too out of hand, we will see each other again, understand?”

“I understand.” There was another breeze, and when he spun, it was gone. He sighed and fell to his knees. He was used to being in the presence of stronger beings than himself, but this had been something else. It had been a knife at his neck, a gun to the back of his head. No emotion, no feeling.

He looked back to the city below. “Find it fast.” He didn't want to be in a city where an ender knew of him. Back home, he would have protection, though he didn't think his master would risk messing with an ender just for him, not as he was and not considering what was being planned. But if he proved himself more useful, then maybe.

****

“So… how did it go?” Nadia asked as Brooke stormed into the room.

The future chieftess slowly turned her head to meet her friend's gaze. Her eyes were cold, angry, and tired. “What do you think?”

“Good?”

Brooke glowered at her and removed her jacket, and stupid high-heeled shoes before storming back out and down the compound. Orcs took one look at her and moved out of the way. She asked a few where her parents were, and they quickly pointed her to one of the meeting rooms. Both of them, which she would have been happy about. Them spending more time together again, but she was far too annoyed.

Things hadn't just gone to bed. It has been a travesty. It had started off well enough. They’d gone to a shooting range, and unsurprisingly Nick had been taught to shoot a gun. She had thought things would be ok. Right until they reached the restaurant, and Nick turned into one of the most annoying people ever. From taking half an hour to decide what to eat, sending the food back twice, complaining as he ate, and going on and on about video games, and things she had clue about. She listened as politely as she could, but when she spoke, he pulled out his phone.

When she made it took the room, she kicked the door open. A few orcs, including her father and mother were standing around one of their digital tables. All eyes shot to her, and she gave both her parents a frosty look. Her father took one look at her and to her annoyance smirked before waving the other orcs out of the room.

“I take it things didn't go well?” her mom said.

Brooke just stared at her for a long moment. “No.”

“Speak up, daughter,” Her father said.

“I am not marrying him, ever. No, it’s not happening.”

“Ok,” her father said.

“No, I won’t father, I… Wait, ok? That’s it?”

“This was never something we were going to force onto you,” Her mother said. “We just wanted you to try. Nick’s parents expected it to go as poorly as I’m assuming it did from the way you look. They were hoping someone like you could get him to be more… orcish as they told us.”

“Well, good,” Brooke said, folding her arms. “But what about the union?”

“Oh, even before talks of marriage, we were talking about working closely together, and while it won’t be as an untied clan, it will still happen. The Nylas are the closest clan that we could work with.”

Her mother nodded in agreement. “They are most like us. Now, why don’t you get out of that dress. It doesn't suit you.”

“You told me to wear it!” Brooke shouted.

“Yes, but I take it back.”

Brooke shook her head and walked out of the room, ignoring her father and mother's chuckles “What append to heals, darling?” Her mother called out.

“I burned them.” That was a lie, at least for now. How the hell did people walk in high heels? She’d seen Zara wear them before, and she seemed to do just fine, but she had almost fallen over half a dozen times.

Stupid shoes. Stupid clothes. Stupid idea.

Nick wasn’t her type. She preferred someone more active, ever moving forward, and phishing. A fighter. Someone strong in spirit, body, and mind. Someone like… She didn’t finish the thought. It could never happen. With a scowl on her face, and in an awful mood, Brooke headed to a training room to let off some steam.