CHAPTER 49

The guards didn’t know what to do.

Val picked up the Bokor blade, which shone purple as soon as it touched her hand. There was something about them being in the hands of a master that called the blade to life.

There was something fitting about Max’s sword being in her hands, like it was accepting her as its new owner. That was something I’d have to talk to her about later. For right now we had other problems.

I could see the guards trying to decide what to do, so I focused on the old guard. I hoped he would at least be reasonable.

“Jax.” I put my hand on the hilt of my stolen weapon, “Darren tried to kill two Bokor and killed another.” I nodded at Val, who looked absolutely terrifying at the moment. “What do you think is going to happen to the city now?”

“She’s…” The old guard shook his head as he stared at Val. “How did you become this, Valerie?”

Val wasn’t wanting a conversation. “Where is the mayor?” I was surprised the words made it past her gritted teeth.

“I would get out of her way.” I had an idea, “Unless you’re part of this rebellion.”

“Rebellion?” Jax’s eyes got wide. “There isn’t a rebellion! We’d never…” He realized what I was saying. He saluted, “We are loyal allies of the Bokor.” He looked at the other guards. “Aren’t we?”

They looked as confused as he had at first.

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“And we’re very thankful that they’re going to help us put down the rebellion that Dillar started..?” Jax tried to prompt them.

Most of them seemed to recognize what he was saying and they moved to the side of the wall.

“YES SIR!” they all saluted.

“I’ll escort you.” Jax went and opened the door leading to the ground floor.

Val grabbed his keys and took off, prompting the two of us to have to run after her.

Jax was wheezing as he tried to keep up. “You know…” He took a deep breath, “I would have tried to stop it.”

“Really?” I wanted to think he wasn’t rotten, but I couldn’t understand how he hadn’t known what was going on. “You would have stopped them from killing my partner?”

He leaned against the wall to a large house that Val had run in to. After a moment to catch his breath, the old man looked up at me, “I said try.” He shook his head, “Dillar and Darren have this city in a stranglehold and too many people are too scared of being the next sacrifice that they won’t say anything.” He nodded at the house, “I’ve been talking Dillar out of offing Val for a few years.” Jax shook his head, “Last night was the last straw. I thought I’d gotten through to him, but then…” There was a tear in his eye. “I did try.”

I wanted to scream at him. I was ashamed that I hadn’t been able to do more. But in a way that meant that I understood where he was coming from.

“There’s a lot to make up for.” I started walking towards the house. “But we have other problems to deal with tonight.”

Val met me at the door and handed me my sword and dagger. She looked over at Jax. “Tell your boys that this place has been infected and it has to be cleansed!

Jax nodded slowly.

“Did you..?” I tried to look around her inside, but she shut the door.

“There’s nothing to see in there.” The redhead started walking away.

I thought about going back in, but I felt like she needed me more, even if I had no idea what to say.

“Val!” I ran after her. Jax was gone, off to inform the guards of the change in leadership, I supposed. “Wait up!”