All of Red’s Einherjar group sat around the group table in the living room of the Einherjar private room. I shuffled in my seat as several people made looks between Red and myself. I myself looked completely fine while Red still had some bite marks around her neck. Some people were in shock and others were concerned about Red as if the thought of her sleeping with me was some sort of sign of a mental breakdown.
“Oh my, Red are you okay? You look like you’ve been attacked by a Seraphim.” Hygiea teased looking at the marks I left last night. They should have seen me before I healed. I looked like a group of ravenous cats attacked me, my whole body was covered in scratches, bites and bruises.
“At least Canis was in your room to get you off the Seraphim. Well, Canis? Did you get Red off?” Janus smirked at me.
“You two are trying too hard.” I glared, they had been at this for the last thirty minutes.
“Who do you think was on top?” Janus asked Hygiea completely ignoring me. What was worse everyone else at the table was thrilled to be part of the conversation,
“Are you kidding? Canis is the biggest bottom I’ve ever seen,”
“I don’t know he might be a hidden dom.”
“Against Red? No way.”
I looked desperately over to Red who despite having her sex life become an open discussion amongst her group didn’t seem to mind. In fact every comment about her dominating me she gave me a sly look and a wink. I would have thought her persistent hold on power and authority would stop this kind of discussion but apparently, she hated me more than she liked her power.
Even Red has her limits though as after a few really gross comments from Janus she stood up terrifying the room into silence.
“As much as I love hearing about my sex life from others I really must suggest we get into the real topic at hand. The next event.”
That caught everyone's attention. The next event. For non-Einherjar knowing the next event details meant life and death, for Einherjar it meant being able to prepare the most and get the best rewards. In other words, the ichor.
“My source tells me it's a scavenger hunt of sorts.” She continued. “The day of the event we will be sent over to the coast. The fourth-years will be sent out to cull the Seraphim but have been given the instruction to get lazier the further inland they travel. While they do this they will be dropping receivers that have trackers attached. This event is supposed to simulate recovery missions. The further the receivers inland the more points it’s worth, though the more dangerous the Seraphim.”
“So what’s the plan? Stick near the mid-levels and get more and more receivers.” Pallas asked.
“No, it won’t be revealed but the points given are exponential. Better to get one really far away than multiple close ones.” Red explained.
“How exactly did you get this information?” I asked, the last time I got the information I got it from Elara. I still technically owe six favours to the second-year Einherjar. Six favours I would not be honouring, she had a problem she could deal with Red.
“I asked a second-year, well. Lied. I promised him first pick of anything we win.” She laughed. “I will not be keeping that deal.”
“You did what?!” I stood up slamming my hands into the desk. “Are you insane or just suicidal!”
“Canis,” Pallas growled at me but Red silenced him.
“No, he has a right to ask questions. This is a group effort after all.” Bullshit.
“The second years might not kill us but they can leave us hospitalised. What were you thinking asking them for help?”
“I was thinking of the long term. If we don’t get ahead of the competition then we will lose our lives.”
“Better now than later.”
“We’ll be fine. I found a second-year who won’t make it past another three months. His last ally died three weeks ago, he’s barely hanging on. He was so desperate that he agreed to the deal without any insurance. Besides, who cares?”
“Who cares?” I raised a brow.
“Yeah, a first-year Einherjar is more lethal than a good amount of second-years. Remember those are the people who got lucky and barely coasted by. What is some loser who is barely going to last going to do against an Einherjar, even if they are a year below.”
I, rather begrudgingly sat down crossing my arms in defiance. It unfortunately the only thing I could really do against Red.
“Now onto our strategy. The problem with us going as deep as we can then there is nothing really assuring our victory. We can try our best but so will the other squads. Our actions don’t really have an impact.” I wanted to point out that to win we don’t need to beat anyone. We just need to do our personal best but I held my tongue. The way this was going could benefit me.
“I suggest we have a small group act as a suppressor. Hit-and-run tactics on the other Einherjar, are just enough to hamstring them to the point they can’t get as far.” Perfect.
“And who exactly would this attack squad consist of?” I asked too eagerly. Red narrowed her eyes immediately catching on to my attention.
“Well, Canis.” She levelled her glare at me. “Ideally I would like someone who could fight Einherjar on an even level, better yet, someone who can heal quickly and de repeat hit and runs.”
“I think I know someone who fits that description.”
“I think I do too. But, I’m worried that this person might get what I want confused with what he wants. I do not want him to hunt down his personal vendettas, I want someone with a clear head who targets whoever is the biggest threat to winning and not himself.”
“Can we not do this third-person stuff and pretend to be coy? It’s all very confusing.” Janus brought up.
“Canis will abandon the mission and just target Solaris dooming us and himself for his rage boner,” Pallas explained
“Oh, fuck yeah. Let’s do it.” Janus held up his hand for a high-five which I gladly accepted.
“See, Janus gets it,” I said pointing to him.
“No, he doesn’t he’s an idiot.” Janus dipped his head in embarrassment at Red’s insult. “And so are you Canis if you think for a moment I’ll trust you.”
“I’ll behave,” I swallowed the venom in my throat that was threatening to come out. “I hate Solaris but I want to destroy his whole team. Everyone. I need you to do that.”
“Say he’s stronger than you.” What?
“What?”
“Admit that if you were to fight Solaris you would lose.”
“Well… that’s debatable.”
“Admit it or you won’t leave my side during the event.”
“I suppose… from a certain point of view… it is in the realm of possibility… that I could potentially lose to Solaris.”
“And Wasp.”
“And Wasp.”
“And Fox.”
“What?! No way!”
“Swear it or I swear I will kick your ass.”
“And Fox.” I huffed annoyed. Fox! No way would I lose to him.
“Fine, you can be our attack force. Anyone else want to volunteer?”
Unsurprisingly Janus’ hand shot up in a second. When he noticed he was the only one he cheered to himself, a pleased smile on his face. I appreciated his loyalty to me but wouldn’t mind some more help.
“So just Janus and I.” I raised a brow, many people refused to look me in the eye. I wasn’t surprised, they weren’t like me. They couldn’t recover from a fight with an Einherjar and in a Seraphim-filled battle zone being seriously injured is a death sentence.
“We need more people to join the attack force. Grow up.” Red scowled at her team. It wouldn’t take long for the teams to be sorted under Red’s glare. I could just wait and have a full team of capable fighters.
“What if I found some non-Einherjar to join us?” I asked.
“Pardon?” Red asked, well, she didn’t so much as ask but gave an annoyed growl. Shit, she knew exactly what I was planning. “You want to form your own team? I love it!”
What? That was… unexpected.
“Go ahead you have my permission. I suppose that’s everything sorted. Let’s get started training, before we all go Canis can I speak to you in private?”
“Yeah.” I lowered my head in defeat.
The two of us stayed back. Several of our teams gave me a pat on the back wishing me luck, some gave me a thumbs up and others gave me a nod in respect for my soon-to-be dead body. Despite her words, Red did not look happy.
“Do you think I’m an idiot?”
“I think everyone is an idiot.”
“You’re not nearly as smart as you think you are. For example, this whole personal team. It’s clear you are planning your separation, how could you? Even after the night we shared together.” She covered her heart in fake pain.
“You can’t expect me to fight well with people who won’t follow me. I’ll build my own little sub-section to fight with me. To serve you.”
“Oh don’t give me this ‘to serve you’ bullshit. You are planning to leave me, you have been since the beginning… but fine.”
“Really?”
“You can have your personal group. However, I get the ichors.” It would be a sacrifice I’d have to take.
“Fine. However, I still get some of the weapon modifications.”
“You will get what you are given. Additionally, you will stay with me till we deal with Solaris. Second, your personal group will not be sleeping in my room. They are considered spare members of my squad. If someone dies then they can officially join.”
“Fine.”
“Good. You can leave now. Don’t try to be an Einherjar Canis, you aren’t good at it and I’d hate to see my favourite toy die.”
“Fuck you Red.”
“Tonight?”
I left the room angrily my scowl apparent on my face as Janus and I walked down the halls. He as usual followed a few steps behind me despite my insistence that he just walked next to me. Janus was admitant that since I was technically second in demand I must hold a position of authority while in public. No doubt something Red had ordered him to do behind my back.
If I was going to find someone to join my own personal team I needed to look for them. Red had quite a few backup candidates but she was probably hoping I would use them. They were more loyal to her than me. No, I needed people whom Red hadn’t paid any attention to. The individual groups. There were fewer of them after initiation but there was still plenty.
I walked into the cafeteria head held up high, my presence quickly attracting the attention of the non-Einherjars. Not surprisingly, even Janus himself as just being part of Red’s squad could probably order most people around.
I was even more known. Janus was just ‘Red’s Follower’ but I was ‘Red’s bitch’, ‘The Ichor Thief’ and my personal favourite, ‘The Mutt’. People actually knew my name and if they didn’t they at least knew one of my titles.
It was weird going from an independent to an Einherjar status. I felt powerful, better. I have actually forgotten what it was like when it was just Fox and I. When we were attacked daily by Seraphim and pushed around by anyone in a group of three or higher. Do those people even remember me? Did the people that kicked us out of the training rooms cause they needed more space to regret it? Or do they just not even know the weak kid they bullied had risen. I wouldn’t blame them, I now had confidence and power. While my appearance hadn’t changed I was now actually worth remembering.
Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.
“They all look pathetic,” Janus grumbled. “All the good fighters are already with an Einherjar.”
“The only reason they are good fighters is cause they are with an Einherjar. Remember how I was when I first joined.”
“Yeesh, yeah. I miss those days.”
The first weeks I was with Red she had forbade me from leaving the combat room. I stayed in there now cause I enjoyed it but before it was a punishment, close to actual torture as I spent all day on a mat bleeding or recovering broken bones. When I thought no one was looking I’d weep, my tears mixing into the blood.
“We will train people up to compete with us. We only need three or four.”
“So what? Hold auditions.”
“Honestly, maybe?” It certainly wasn’t the worst idea. Besides just closing my eyes and randomly pointing there was no reasoning to it really.
But before choosing anyone Janus and I sat down. Well, really I just sat down while Janus despite my cries got my food for me risking his fingers at the buffet for me using the excuse ‘You are the second in command, it wouldn’t look right for you to risk yourself for such menial things’.
So while I waited for Janus to return I toyed with my knife flicking the blade between my fingers. I had started getting into it after discovering there wasn’t anything else to do. There was a library somewhere in Maryterdom but I hadn’t found it nor did I care, from what I’ve heard it was just filled with patriotic garbage. If we were going to waste time with not training I suppose it made sense for New Brisbane to try to deepen the mind control.
Eventually, Janus did come back after collecting food for the both of us. I was sure to thank him which the boy beamed at. It was hard to believe we were the same age, his smaller stature and attitude made him feel like a little brother, or at least I assume a little brother considering we were born in vats. I put a piece of bacon on toast and started to much away while Janus mixed apple with orange juice to create a foul sweet concoction.
The two of us while we ate examined everyone in the cafeteria. If there was anyone noticeable or someone who we remembered did anything special, nothing really came to mind. What was the main issue though was that we couldn’t genuinely analyse someone.
It was the Hawthorne effect currently in play.
The Hawthorne effect was when people who are aware they are being judged will change their behaviour. Let’s say you were undergoing performance reviews because people were about to get fired, then obviously people would pretend to be more hard-working than they actually are. Maybe some people perform better under being watched and some worse than they actually do. It’s why you can’t tell someone you are judging their normal behaviour cause if they know suddenly their behaviour is no longer ‘normal’.
Janus openly laughed as a girl tried to show her bravery to us by going to the buffet alone and got her scalp burned off by some small fire-breathing Seraphim. Her friends had to rush in to put out the fire much to the bystander’s amusement.
The others weren’t better. Some openly bragged loudly about personal kills and much to my embarrassment how good they were in bed. I suppose they would try anything to get my attention, I certainly get it. If it meant having sex with an Einherjar for guaranteed protection I would have. They weren’t the worst though. No, the worst were the people who actively approached you.
“You need me.” No, I don’t.
“I would be a great addition to Red.” No, he wouldn’t.
The guy in front of me looked tired. He probably hasn’t showered for a month, being a little unhygienic is worth not dying after all. The fact that he was alone probably meant he didn’t have any friends, either they died or he was just extremely lucky. Was I like this? This was just annoying. I felt bad for the guy but we were all in this shit hole, his problems weren’t mine… Fuck, this is what Elara must have felt like talking to Fox and I.
“Look, no offence mate but…” I struggled to find the words I needed.
“But you aren’t worth our time,” Janus said. “Why should we risk our lives to save someone who even if they risked their lives for us wouldn’t be able to do jack shit.”
I glared at Janus for his rather mean words. He wasn’t wrong but I was in the same place as the guy, it isn’t easy. The guy lowered his head in shame. There was no shame in trying though, especially when your life is on the line. He wasn’t someone who deserved to be humiliated by Janus, but at the same time Janus wasn’t wrong.
“No, sorry. If I accept you because you came to me then everyone will come to me. I will come to you if I need you, otherwise… I would aim for Bennu’s group or one of the failing Einherjar. They won’t be Einherjar but they still are superior to most groups. They will be kicked out of their dorms, wouldn’t hurt to have someone save a few of the empty bunks in reserve.”
I saw the guys eyes open wide. Shock, he had probably done this bit quite a few times but been rejected rather harshly every time. He looked exhausted, and hungry.
“Now Janus and I have important details to discuss, could you do me a favour and put the plate away? I’m full, you can have the rest.” I tried to sound nonchalant when I slid my plate to him. His eyes lit up in delight. He hadn’t been eating, not surprising. I didn’t for numerous days.
“Of course! Thank you, thank you!” He greedily picked up the plate and took it to his own separate table tearing into the food as if it was a holy gift. I did feel a small flutter in my chest seeing the man’s smile. I couldn’t give him what he wanted but I could do this at least.
“That wasn’t smart, now several people will talk to you intentionally annoying you so you will give them your food for them to leave.” Janus pointed out with a grape between his teeth.
“Then I’ll tell them off.”
Janus merely shrugged before going back to his food. Janus would only eat something after he played with it whether it was looping grapes into his mouth or making toast into the shape of ninja stars. He was remarkable childish but when a grape tried biting him he backhanded it into a wall. Childish but capable.
“I like you Canis. I would follow you even if you were to rebel against Red.” Janus suddenly said out of the blue.
“I would never.” I eyed him, did Red ask him to do this? Find my loyalty.
“You would and you want to. And that’s okay, you probably think I’m just some idiotic moron who only follows the people who I think are strong,” I did, Janus was fun to hang around but I’m not surprised that he chose the person who just happened to have an ichor. “But that’s not why I follow you, no offence but you are not the strongest nor I do follow you cause you to pretend to be some good person.
“I don’t pretend.”
“You do, I see it. And please Canis, don’t confuse me as someone who wants to do the right thing. That’s not why I respect you. Why I follow you.”
“And why do you?”
“Because, I like it when I see the real you. The Hound.”
“The Hound?” I stifled a laugh.
“Please don’t interrupt. We live in a shit world, we will all die to the hands of a Seraphim some time in our life even if it isn’t in this school. Therefore we should live our shitty life to the fullest. When I see you, I see pure selfishness. You want it all, friends, power, respect. You’re feral for it. I see that look in your eye when you get angry, when someone takes away what you deem is yours. That’s why you hate Solaris, cause he took Wasp and Fox from you.”
“I hate Solaris cause he tried to kill me.”
“No, you don’t. The Seraphim try to kill you daily, Red told me how the non-Einherjar beat you in the dorms the night she recruited you. Yet, they aren’t the people that keep you up at night. I see when you think no one is looking you go into a murder trance, a look of pure unadulterated loathing. People think the Einherjar are selfish, they are. But that just stems from their competitiveness. You however would take any insult, be branded a whore or do any depraved shit for if it meant you got what you wanted.
“I want to save everyone. These people are our allies, I am not selfish for trying to save them!”
“Sure sure sure. But, can I ask you a question?”
“This is clearly a trap.”
“If someone was in trouble, would you risk you expect me to die to save them because that’s what you want? Do you expect me to die for your ideals?”
“You don’t have to follow me.”
“But I do, so answer the question.”
“If you followed me… then yes, but that’s your choice.” Janus let out a laugh.
“You expect me to die because you want everyone to live!” Janus lowered his gaze, his smile wolfish. “How fucking selfish of you.”
“You done?”
“Of course, don’t worry. I love your selfishness. Which is why I know would want to know this. When Fox and a few others from Solaris’ gang show up to the cafeteria they often get people desperate to join them to fetch their food. I even know the people they get to do it.”
“Why?”
“Because my selfish bastard. I know you want Fox to know he made the wrong choice, take what’s his. You get your scouts, you make Red look good, Fox can suck it and most importantly I get to be part of it.”
Janus was… not what I expected. I thought he followed me 'cause he had some sense of kindness, of looking out for your fellow man. No, he was a thrill seeker and in the world where danger lurks at every corner the most dangerous thing you can do is be kind. That was why he idolised me, he thinks my ‘selfishness’, which I am not, is fun.
I was about to open my mouth but Janus pointed over my shoulder. Sure enough, as I turned around there he was. Fox. He didn’t even stand at the front of his little group as he waddled behind who I assume was a higher rank in Solaris’ squad. Pathetic, he betrayed me and earned a collar around his throat. At least Wasp earned being second in command with her Einherjar position but he sacrificed me to be the bitch of his group.
“There it is. Such anger.” Janus purred looking at me. “After you.”
“Not yet. You said he bullies people, let him pick out our new recruits for me. I will not start a fight for no reason.”
Janus didn’t give any sly response but he did give me a wolfish grin as he popped another grape into his mouth. I ignored Janus’ antics, the boy can believe anything he likes. He was valuable to me. Janus was probably my most valuable asset, besides if I yelled at him, told him off or even beat him I think he would just like me more. There was a few screws loose in him.
Sure enough, Janus was right. The two of us stalked the group of three as they sat down at one of the middle tables, the safer tables often unspokenly reserved for the Einherjar. With the attitude that only someone who has abused the Einherjar group status, he clicked over a group of four treating them like dogs rather than people.
Fox was the only one who wasn’t so absorbed in their own arrogance that he realised I was staring. He uncomfortably wiggled under my sight, my judgment apparent.
“Go fetch me some bananas and a mango if they have it.” The leader smiled to himself basking in his own pretentiousness.
Yeah, no. I wouldn’t feel bad about this.
I stood up from my table and walked over, Janus of course in my shadow as we strolled over. The group of three was quick to notice us, approach. It was a little entertaining to see fear creep onto their face. It had been awhile since I beat Bennu, no doubt the story of my rather feral win had rippled all the way to the other Einherjar.
“Well well well, if it isn’t The Mutt.” The leader smirked. His lips didn’t reach his lips though this time, he was too busy staring at me, afraid to take his eyes off me for a second.
“Can I help you?” He asked sarcastically, more so asking me to leave rather than actually caring.
“Yeah you can actually,” I said sitting down at his table much to the annoyance of Fox and his friends. “I was hoping just to have a little chat with you.”
The leader scowled but gave another click of his fingers to the non-Einherjar. “Oi, get food for the five of us.”
To the leader’s credit, he was accommodating and despite his attitude, he didn’t actually want to start a confrontation. Unfortunately for him, it’s hard to avoid a fight when the other person is actively looking for one.
When the non-Einherjar went to leave to get food I grabbed one by the wrist stopping him. A look of confusion on his face was clear, he probably thought I was going to give him orders on what he should bring me.
“That’s alright, I was actually hoping you four could join us. Have a seat, please.”
“That’s alright, we’ll just get the food.”
“Sit. Now.” I ordered. The four non-Einherjar looked like a deer in headlights, unsure who to listen to. On one hand, there were the people who ordered them around daily. On the other hand, it was Red’s second telling them to do something rather than just some people from Solaris’ gang.
Who did they fear more? Red or Solaris and Wasp. Solaris had two Einherjar but Solaris was a new Einherjar and Wasp was known to be the weakest. She never fully recovered after initiation, her greatest strength was her large squad and while she now technically had more followers than before only half of it was hers.
That’s only if Solaris did split the team fifty-fifty. I had a strong feeling though that because he had an ichor while she didn’t their were definitely more followers for Solaris than herself. I wonder if she had any power at all? She had no ichor, she had no followers at the time she joined Solaris. He had all the power when they made the deal to work together, a team and an ichor while she only had her title as Einehrjar which he’d already proven he’d kill for. I wouldn’t be surprised if Wasp had zero power in her own squad, the deal probably struck between the two was something along the lines of ‘I get all rewards, everyone listens to me, you do everything I say and any benefits you get as an Einherjar I keep. You get to live, the end’.
So basically the question was, do they fear Solaris, the rising Einherjar star with the largest gang, or do they fear Red? One of the early Einherjar and whilst she didn’t have an ichor of her own like Solaris she did have me. The person in front of them now.
I was unsurprised when they sat down at the table. Earning Solaris’ wrath was dangerous but Red was worse. Especially when Red’s second commanded it.
“I am still rather hungry though,” I tapped my chin. “Never did finish my breakfast. Fox, would you be a saint and get me some?”
I gave Fox an innocent smile as if we were still friends after his betrayal. He gave his friends a nervous look unsure what to do. I could tell he wanted to listen to me, he was afraid. Not just of Red… but of me. It felt good.
“And while you up get me and my five friends something too,” I smirked, not at Fox but at the leader. We had gained the attention of most people here, now it was a pride thing. Would he let his own gang be ordered around by someone else?
“I would love some more grapes if they have any,” Janus added.
Fox, being the pathetic man he is stood up to actually listen to me but the leader grabbed him before he could leave.
“The fuck do you think you are doing? I don’t think Red would like you to start anything with Solaris. It’s not a fight you will win.”
“Maybe.” I shrugged. “But now, right here? Do you think you can win?”
“Don’t do this.”
“Stop me.”
“Let’s go, these assholes aren’t worth it.” The leader stood up to leave. It was obvious he didn’t want to fight and everyone in the cafeteria knew it, but it wasn’t good enough. He could still pretend he was just being the bigger man.
Before he could leave I nodded to Janus and the two of us leapt into action. I grabbed the leader and slammed his head into the table while Janus was already on the floor punching repeatedly into the face of the other guy. All that was left was Fox, he just watched as his own team was getting attacked. I would say I am surprised but not really.
“Oi. You four.” I looked over to the four non-Einherjar. “Can you deal with this guy while I take care of Fox. I’ve got a little personal thing with him.”
“We would rather not get involved.”
“Do it and you get to join me, guaranteed. We need some more people in the upcoming event.”
“Really?” A girl said surprised. The four of them looked at each other in a silent discussion. “Yeah sure. Let’s kick this guy’s ass.”
“Finally,” One of the four agreed.
I dropped the guy’s head leaving him to the four non-Einherjar. The leader was probably better trained but winning a four-on-one is not something people did normally. Besides I have more important things to punch.
“Come on Canis. I’m sorry, but you can’t blame me for what happened.”
“I absolutely can,” I said pushing my knuckles into the side of my chin to crack my neck.
“You wanted to fight a whole Einherjar squad with just Wasp and me during initiation! What happened wasn’t my fault. Besides you got an ichor from it! You should be thanking me!”
“Thank you?! You betrayed me! You’re not sorry about what happened you’re sorry I lived. You want gratification for my survival? Fuck you!”
“You should’ve died that night,” Fox growled. There he was, the little bastard who only looked after himself. Now that he knew he couldn’t beg for forgiveness from me he went back to his default.
I smiled when my fist broke his nose. I laughed as people cheered, Red would be pissed, even if I was proving that her gang was better she wouldn’t like me starting problems with other Einherjar. My only saving grace would be winning the fight. Which by the sound of Fox’s cracked ribs was a definite.
I lost time beating Fox, I would need to find someone to clean my shirt. It was covered Fox’s blood. Gross. It was only after I heard him stop begging me to stop did I eventually did so.
I took a deep breathe, taking a moment to process the situation. Janus finished with his guy a while ago and the four people I had just recruited were waiting patiently for me to finish my brutality.
“You four. Take those three to the med bay then meet me at Red’s room. We got an hour of screaming to deal with.”