We are all children of blood and bone. All instruments of vengeance and virtue. This truth holds me close, rocking me like a child in a mother’s arms. It binds me in its love as death swallows me in its grasp. - Tomi Adeyemi (Children of Blood and Bone)
* * * *
Needless to say, that when the rest of Aegis caught wind of what’s going on from a short phone call by Sera, they aren’t exactly pleased when they learned, once again, that Sera had left them out of something as important as this.
The ones more experienced and familiar with the underground like Raul, Letha and Laura however could understand why Sera did what she did, and the reasoning behind it. Not to mention too that two out of three of them actually knew Sera for years even prior to Aegis.
“There are times when I really feel like throttling her.” Claudia grumbled as she opened her soda can with a light pop, taking her usual place on the couch on the first storey of the boathouse, with the rest of Aegis around her. “What part of ‘ask for help’ is so difficult to understand?”
Next to Raul on one of the side couches, Lucie only giggled nervously. Whereas Raul is half hunched over his portable computer as usual, only giving out light grunts to show that he’s listening.
“Well, we did find the lack of information about this ‘request’ suspicious to begin with.” Raul pointed out without looking up. “I’m honestly not surprised that Sera went looking into it.”
There were several moments of silence as everyone pondered on the how and why, and even the fact that Sera walked right into an ambush by nearly thirty hunters. Sure, they have no doubts that Sera probably could have taken them on, but she wouldn’t be able to walk out of it entirely unscathed.
“If the hunters have set this trap for Sera, without a doubt, they likely know that she’s alive.” Letha pointed out grimly, and there were nods from around the room. “This is going to get complicated for us moving forward. No doubt they would have suspected that Sera is the leader of Aegis. It started up not long after Blade’s demise, after all.” She pointed out. “And there are only a handful of people who could pull off what Aegis is able to do. The hunters aren’t stupid. This will probably just be the first of several attempts to lure her out.”
“We’ll discuss this with Sera when she returns.” Neil remarked from his place at the kitchen area, and there were nods from all around. “Though what is this ‘Pit’ that Sera had challenged the hunter to?” He asked, directing this question towards Letha, Laura, and Raul—arguably the three who understood the underground’s ways better than anyone else at present.
Raul finally looked up from his computer at the question, exchanging looks with Letha and Laura who both looked concerned. The others meanwhile only looked puzzled or confused.
“The Pit is the underground’s answer of deciding justice.” Raul was the one to answer after several long moments passed. His tone was sombre. “Two goes in. Only one comes out alive.”
Eyes widened with shock at the answer.
“That’s barbaric!” Kailey spluttered.
“No, it isn’t.” Letha shook her head, putting up a hand to stop the protests that she knew is soon to come. “It’s part of the underground law system. Granted, the Pit hasn’t been in use for years, if not decades, but it is still part of the underground law system, and still valid.”
“Why would Sera—”
“She might not have much choice.” Raul interrupted, rubbing his temples. “The legal system won’t, or rather, can’t deal with Ebis Ivanor. Not with the influence that the hunters have over the legal system. How many times was a case thrown out before it’s even taken to the High Court, or a hunter was let off with just a slap on the wrist or even let off entirely without punishment?” He nearly challenged, and there was silence. It is after all, true. “It’s even worse if a Gifted is involved. There’s a reason why so many of us were involved in the underground, you know? It’s the only place we can call home. With a hunter being involved in this entire situation, and not to mention Sera’s own position, this might just be the only way. The only way to seek justice—especially if it’s true that the hunter is involved in the attack on Blade, is through the Pit system.”
Ness who had remained silent whilst listening to them speak, could only nod with agreement. “Couldn’t have put it better myself.”
“Honestly, I thought that Sera would go for a quick execution or something.” Laura commented, twirling her hair in between her fingers. “That she’s going for something as public as the Pit only proved how furious she was, and probably still is. It’s a message for the hunters too, I bet. And for anyone stupid enough to go up against her.”
“The Pit is a remnant from the old system of the underground.” Letha pointed out grimly. “During a time when the underground has no laws, and everyone was fighting to be top dog. When we became more…civilised, you can say, the Pit is just a leftover from that old system that is still in use today. And if it is of any indication, then you can imagine just how cruel and lawless the old system was. Even the underground needs rules. That’s why we have the Enforcers. And even why the street gang leaders and even the informants tend to drop by the Abyss once every few months to report on things. It’s to keep things under control.”
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Silence fell amongst them once more, with the only sounds being that of the waves lapping against the sides of the boathouse.
“There is one universal rule amongst the Abyss and the underground that is still followed today. A remnant of the old system, like the Pit is.” Letha spoke up, her expression grim, even as she curled her fingers together with each other, looking from face to face. “Survival of the fittest.” She spoke. “You need power to back up your own words. Heck, I bet that Sera had been through Hell herself back when she was establishing Blade in Zephys before they became the top dog. She earned her reputation for a reason. Like how Klein did. And even Yusa of Dragonfly.” Raul nodded with agreement. “And as much as we are at loggerheads with the hunters, even they understood this universal truth. As does the ESA. It’s one of many reasons why the hunters never attempted to try to pull anything with the Abyss, and why the ESA always tried to form a somewhat tentative working relationship with the underground. They know that the Premier will eat them alive if they do otherwise.”
“Though I was always under the impression that it was the ESA that attacked Blade and Zephys.” Kailey looked at her twin for support, with Neil nodding with a frown.
The twins were at Zephys during the days after the attack on Blade, and the memory was still fresh. Even they’ve heard the news, and even the rumours after that. That is how they’ve met Sera after all.
“Yeah, so did I.” Letha admitted. “I think almost everyone in the underground believes that. Though from my impression, it seems like none of the Blade members believed that. They likely knew that it was the hunters, and not the ESA, but never spoke about it for reasons known only to them.”
“Sera’s really been keeping a lot of things from us, huh?” Lucie sighed, disheartened. “I mean, I understood her reasons why. But I’ll be lying if I said it doesn’t hurt, you know?”
“Considering both the hunters and the ESA are after her, I’m honestly not surprised.” Ness remarked. “She’s been on her own for a long time. We just need to let her know she can trust and rely on us. That is all. Though with everything that we have been up to as Aegis, I’m honestly not surprised that the hunters are on the move.”
“They’ve infiltrated the ESA and even Eldario’s legal system.” Raul sighed, closing the top of his portable computer. “I’m not surprised that they’re attempting the same thing with the Abyss. From what I heard; Hayder is going to put the Abyss under a full lockdown after this. He’s going to do some major house cleaning to ensure that there will be no hunter influence within the underground and the Abyss.”
“If that happens, there’ll be nowhere for the Gifted to turn to.” Claudia concluded grimly, and there were nods from all around. “Whatever happens at the Pit two days from now, Sera better make it memorable.”
There were snorts from those surrounding Claudia.
“I’m going to bet that none of you have seen Sera in a real battle before.” Letha had a grin on her face, and Raul seems to be trying to hide a smirk. “The underground call her the Death Reaper for a reason. Trust me, if Sera challenged this hunter to a battle in the Pit, the hunter wouldn’t be leaving alive. And whoever Sera’s second is won’t even be showing their face in the Pit.”
Lucie tilted her head to one side, confused. “What’s this about a second?”
Letha blinked. “Oh, you caught that, huh?” She exchanged looks with Laura. “It’s part of the Pit rules. A second is there to take over should the challenger dies.” Cue pale faces. “Nothing to worry about. I doubt Sera will need hers to take over. You don’t know her the way Raul and I does. Blade is the top dog for a reason. I have never seen Sera lose a fight before.”
Neil frowned. “Where is she by the way?” He wanted to know.
* * * *
When Hayder had first made a request via Alexis for Sera to take on a request, that understandably, had him concerned due to the ‘rumours’ and news that Ebis had brought him, he sure wasn’t expecting for it to blow up an entire can of worms the way it did.
“The Pit, huh?” Larissa had a smoking pipe in between her fingers even as Hayder, and even Alisa and Leroy made themselves comfortable in her office. “The last thing I was expecting is for Sera to challenge her to the Pit. Ebis wouldn’t be leaving alive or in one piece, if I know Sera at all.”
That is true, and everyone in the underground knows it. One doesn’t gain a moniker like the ‘Death Reaper’ for being soft.
“I know that Sera is ruthless, and rightfully, might I add, upset over what had happened in Zephys and Blade.” Hayder remarked. “But I didn’t think that she’ll challenge Ebis to the Pit. I thought she would demand for an execution or something. Not the Pit. It hasn’t been in use for decades.”
“It’s a message to the hunters.” Larissa concluded. “And speaking of hunters…” As one, Larissa and Hayder looked at Alisa and Leroy who were seated side-by-side, looking wholly innocent. “I was under the impression that it was ESA agents that wiped out Blade, not hunters. Did you know from the beginning?”
“Yes.” Leroy was the one to answer. Seeing the unasked question, he sighed, raking a hand through his hair. Well, there’s really no point in keeping quiet anymore, either way. “If it ever got out that it was hunters that wiped out Blade, what do you think would happen?” He almost challenged. “The relationship or lack thereof between the hunters and the underground is nearly non-existent as it is. To be blunt, we hate each other’s guts.” He pointed out. “If it got out that it was actually hunters that attacked us, what do you think would happen?”
Hayder sighed. He understood why the Blade members have kept the truth of the attack quiet now.
“The underground and the street gangs will want vengeance.” Larissa concluded grimly, curling her fingers together beneath her chin. “Blood will run in the streets of Eldario. Worst case scenario: a civil war will break out. There’ll be a bloody massacre.”
It was bad enough when word got out about the attack on Whirlwind and Zalfari by hunters. If not for the situation with the underground as it is, Larissa has no illusions that the underground will want revenge. As it is, Larissa is well aware of the fact how certain members of the underground—particularly the informants, have been subtly sabotaging the ESA in the ways that they could.
“Exactly.” Alisa agreed. “It’s why we kept quiet about it. Better that people think it’s the ESA who attacked us than hunters. At least with the ESA, they still had some protection, considering they’re an official arm of the ruling council.”
Due to the ‘lie’ however, it also can’t be denied that they’ve also made things very difficult for the ESA when it comes to the informants. After the attack on Blade, majority of the informants have pulled out of their dealings with the ESA.
“The hunters are on the move.” Larissa concluded, her quick mind working furiously. “There was what happened with Blade, Whirlwind and Dragonfly. Everything that happened since. This entire situation with the Abyss caused by Ebis. And now this. They must suspect or know that Sera is alive, and more than likely, Aegis’ leader.”
“Considering how much Aegis had been fucking their plans up, I’m honestly not surprised.” Leroy made a roll of his eyes. “But Aegis or not, the hunters will want Sera dead. They know what she can do. They know how much influence Sera has over the underground scene. And I think that’s what scares them.”
“Not to mention the increasing number of Gifted that has been appearing in recent years.” Hayder pointed out. “More and more Gifted have been appearing for the past decade than they have in years. It probably means something. Like a sign that something is going to happen soon.”