{Cinder}

Bones stepped out of the scorched forest and into the modest village. Several servant caste Icari waited outside their rock dwellings. They loaded up packs and carts with all their possessions. So few compared to the humans of Earth. They peered at him with wide, hopeful eyes. A little confused. A little concerned.

But that would change. He asked, confident in their answer, “Everyone ready to go?”

With one firm nod from their local leader, they followed Bones onto the road. He never noticed how much his homeworld smelled of soot and death. The air on Earth was so much fresher. Even in the desert. Life waited for them, there.

Mute. Silenced. The people behind him were so far behind on nacre upgrades that they couldn’t even speak.

He shook his head. It was criminal. But even though they were several thousand in number, they probably ate less than one human. This level of nacre subdued their needs. Prevented starvation. But also prevented intellectual progression and reproduction. That double-edged sword was sharp.

They would fix it. The Progeny would make it right.

After hours of trekking the dusty road, they made it to the main thoroughfare where his team waited. He turned back to the villagers, “Follow them to the conduit. You’ll be safe.”

The leader, a wizened Icarus, gripped Bones’ shoulder. His eyes filled with the words he couldn’t speak.

Returning the gratitude with a gentle pat, Bones encouraged him to take his people to paradise.

His comms device chirped, prompting him to fly to a nearby mountaintop for privacy. Into it, he said, “Go ahead.”

Story Taker ran a tight ship overseeing the migration. The news about the amnesia victim hit the crew pretty hard. Breaking nacre glass? Unheard of. The Progeny memory reader prioritized this blunder with some urgency. Possibly because of rumors of his earlier transgressions against the Shadow.

Kyle asked every hour now, “Any sign of her?”

Bones sighed. “No. I don’t believe she’d return to Cinder.”

After a long exhale, the other man agreed, “She came to Earth for a reason. I’m just not sure what.”

The Icarus gazed across the horizon toward Nox’s castle. “Does the King sleep peacefully?”

“Yea, I’m watching her with Para.”

Bones opened his wings. “I’ll be there within an hour. We can think tank a solution together.”

“Thanks, man.”

Not only did the Progeny trust Bones, they made him an official member of the Shadow. A family of sorts. After losing his brother-in-arms during the war, belonging somewhere mattered to Bones. And these people overwhelmed him with how much they cared for each other. For him.

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That’s why they wore these chains around their necks. Bound by family.

The uneventful flight to the castle ended sooner than expected as Bones plummeted into the perfectly square rock tower. Inside the black castle, their King slept in a pit. Surrounded by a lake. In a glass coffin filled with her own blood.

“Hey, thanks for stopping by.” Story Taker approached with a clasp of their hands and a tap of their shoulders.

Bones avoided the Martyr Complex. He regarded the King’s temperament, “The weather’s been nice lately.”

Kyle looked over at Rayne and took a hit on his blunt before nodding his agreement. “She’s smiling a lot, too. She’s happy.”

“Hi, Bones.” Para smiled from the ramp with an arm full of snacks. She recently colored her short hair a bright blue. The shortest Valkyrie at five foot nine inches, she could easily wipe the floor with him. “Come to join us for guard duty?”

The male Icarus rushed to help her carry the goods.

With her load relieved, she smiled. “Cold. Thanks.”

Kyle’s rich laughter snapped them both around. “It’s ‘cool.’ Just when I think you’ve got the slang thing down, you slip up. And it. Is. Amazing.” He snatched a snack sized bag of Cheetos as she walked by and offered, “It’s part of your charm.”

Bones unloaded and organized the food as Para dumped them on the counter that lined one corner of the pit. It was a small kitchen. There were couches and palettes. A major stereo system. A huge Enki projector screen along one wall. These amenities provided some comfort for the grim task.

Shaking her head, Para shared, “I’ve got more than plenty charm. You want some, Bones? I can’t keep the Earth boys off of me.” She finished the statement with her hands on full hips, barely covered in a worn leather skirt.

Bones barked out a laugh. How could this woman hope to avoid male attention? “No, thank you. My hands are full.”

“What do you mean ‘Earth boys?’ I never did anything to you,” Kyle scoffed.

Para gestured at the Progeny. “Exactly. That’s why I’m here. I’m completely safe with you. You are as harmless as they come.”

Kyle frowned as if he calculated how much Para meant for that compliment to backhand him.

Bones chuckled into his work of sorting the snacks into the fridge and pantry. The two went at it for another fifteen minutes. When the space suddenly fell quiet, he turned.

Both Para and Story Taker stared at the Martyr Complex as if startled by it. Bones hated his own cowardice for not wanting to investigate. Some part of him couldn’t stand that Rayne—the woman that ended Nox’s tyranny—spent her days submerged in her own blood. Aware.

“Is everything all right?” His voice cut through the silence, startling both the Valkyrie and the Progeny.

They heaved a terrified gulp of air, and Para gave a little laugh. “Sometimes it’s spooky down here.”

Kyle didn’t laugh. Green eyes hard, jaw set, and shoulders straight, he confessed, “Every mistake I make hurts Rayne. I have to find that woman. I can’t let someone strong enough to break nacre cuffs go untracked without learning her intentions.”

Bones nodded. “We’ll find her.” He turned to Para. “Were any of the Valkyrie strong enough to do that?”

Para shook her head and shoved a hand in her hair. Her “thinking” gesture. “She doesn’t sound like any Icarus I’ve ever met. Or even heard about.”

“Is there a trap we can set? Guys, I don’t know enough about Icari for baiting them out.” Kyle went over to the counter and rolled another one. He never stopped. Everyone acclimated to the habit after Volcano Day.

“Warrior Icari need blood, sex, and food,” Bones started.

Using the joint, Kyle toasted to him approvingly.

Para continued, “Lots of it. You gave her blood. The kind that would satisfy her for a few weeks at least. Sex and food is next.”

“She will not have a problem finding the former. The woman’s stacked and not wearing any clothes.”

Para glared at Kyle with her arms folded and an eyebrow raised.

He spread his hands, defensively. “What?! I was a gentleman. But it was kinda hard not to notice.” He lowered his hands and grew serious. Frowning and shaking his head, he explained, “I kept getting this trace off of her memory, but it made no sense. It was the only word I picked up clearly.”

Bones glanced at Para, and they exchanged a look before simultaneously asking, “What was it?”

“Silence.”