Shane closed his book as the train crawled to a stop. The cinematic reel of passing buildings ended and he stepped out, leaving the train empty. Before him stood walls. The monoliths of stone enclosed the entirety of the SASC,acting as both the city’s swordand shield.. ‘What would make him come all the way here?’ Shane internally complained and loosened his tie. Formality did not matter anymore.

“Have you been practicing to be a creep or something? Why is this the place I find you in?” Shane’s shouts scared off the occupants of the slums leaving the air filled with silence.

Shane didn’t hear any answer and scanned the area. The Master ran his hand through his locks and let out an audible and exacerbated sigh. Sparks spiraled from his hands, instantly forming a gun. Shane fired into the darkness and saw a spark in the distance. A metal pipe fell down along with a man.

“Did you forget how good my eyes are?” Shane asked sourly. The man rolled up, rubbing his back. The man made a half hearted attempt to respond. Shane didn’t care to read their lips. The man pushed away his unkempt brown hair and picked up the metal pipe.

“What are you doing all the way in Australia?” Kendricks gave a courteous smile and rested the pipe on his shoulder.

“You. Caesar told me you went missing.” Kendricks revealed a disdainful expression and sat cross legged, letting the dirty sully his pants.

“Apparently not. You knew where to look.”

“Why?” Shane strode forward as he loosened the grip on his gun.

“Atlas,” he responded somberly. “Krelm is planning something big, something that will shake up the current order.”

“What did you find out?” Shane crouched and leveled his gaze with his friend’s, watching Kendricks’ lips intently.

“Conquering the Nightmare Realm is beyond him or the whole of the government,” he swallowed and paused, like he feared his next words.

“Only the sovereigns can amass enough forces to start and he knows that.” Shane thought he gained an understanding of what Kendricks was trying to say.

His friend looked a lot older than before. No, older wasn’t the right word. Kendricks looked withered. Years of burden seem to have pressed the vitality from the man.

“It is the only way for mundane people to help fight the dream realm. It is death, but it is honorable death.”

“Honorable death? You sound like a legacy, Shane.”

“Why run? You wouldn’t have to be a part of this. You could have walked away.”

“Caesar didn’t send you out here because you’re my friend. It is because you are my greatest weakness. I know something.”

“What?”

“Caesar brought over one of her bodies,” Shane’s eyes narrowed.

“You don’t mean…” He trailed off, afraid to look at Schrodinger's cat.

“The Priest of the Heart is in the waking world.”

‘Krelm was actually insane enough to bring her over?’ Shane bit his nails. He had lived in relative peace knowing that she couldn’t cross over to the waking world without a category four nightmare gate given her unique traits.

Shane looked at his friend. ‘All of us are enemies of the great clans, so they wouldn’t listen to us even if we had proof. This was sketchy to begin with, but throwing her into the mix makes everything worse.’

“And Krelm thought I’d kill you for deserting the government?” Shane asked. Kendricks shook his head in dejection.

Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.

“She took Jack.” Kendricks’ aspect was convoluted at best with five minds sharing one body.

“You can choose not to use him. Why would I kill you?”

“Believe me, he knows.” Kendricks swallowed dryly. “I want you to kill me. Her voice echoes through my head day in and out, whispering in dozens of voices. I can’t…go on like this.”

Shane stood up and locked onto a spot in the dark. “I can see you.”

“Even a mundane body cannot hide me,” A small malnourished child walked out of the shadows, flashing an uncharacteristic grin. “Caesar is cruel for making me use this body. The unawakened need not be pulled into our conflict.”

Sparks flew through the air and Shane’s body manifested blinding white garments. Robes formed from hundreds of weaved black and white feathers draped over his body. A silver laurel crowned his head, stopping the nightmare creature’s insidious whispers.

“Will you kill this poor child?” The girl’s smile only deepened as she ran her hand over her neck, accentuating how exposed it was.

“How many bodies do you have here?” Shane demanded. The girl focused on him and Shane gazed into her soul. It was a disgusting sight of bile and Shane held in the need to vomit.

“Just the one. Like I said, mundane people should be left out of this. Besides, that man wouldn’t let me have more than a couple.”

To his horror, Shane heard whispers in his head. ‘Why let her cling to him? He cannot remember what they once had.’ The voice mocked him.

‘She’s grown stronger.’ Rio was supposed to be hunting her down. What happened to him? Had he…died? Shane threw away such thoughts as he refocused.

“Why reveal yourself?” Kendricks asked.

The girl closed the distance between them and put her finger over her mouth. “You need to keep quiet about my presence in the Waking World. We are trying to help humanity. After all, aren’t I the Priest of the Heart? I love humanity.”

“Only those that can easily succumb to you. The ones who you can toy with like dolls.” Shane sneered.

“You awakened are closer to monsters than I am. Nightmare creatures kill each other for survival, yet you all kill each other to get ahead or when it’s convenient.”

You judge us with your own bias. There are plenty of compassionate awakened. I’m sure you’ve seen some over your many years of life.”

“Quit stalling,” The girl hissed. “Revealed myself because I wanted to keep your focus on me.” She snapped her fingers and people started rushing towards them like moths to a flame. The inhabitants of the slums all resembled the girl: skeletons in skin.

Shane raised an eyebrow at the display, studying his surrounding. ‘There.’ He spotted thing golden roots stemming from the girl’s legs. They were almost too small for even him to see. The roots slithered out and connected to each of the people around them.

‘Shit. A Trojan horse!’ They fooled his eyes. Krelm has used the corrupted beast to smuggle his roots under Shane’s nose.

“I came here to offer an amicable deal to you both. You will continue your roles in the government, convince Heliathus to return to duty, and never speak of my presence to anyone. In return, I will not cause another Scarlet Sky incident.”

Right as she finished, one of the people gathered fell to the ground. Golden roots tore through his flesh. A golden weed watered in blood bloomed from his body. Kendricks sucked in a heavy breath and the girl scowled.

Shane looked at the droplets on his boots. He did not think them to be sullied though.

“I’ll accept the deal, however, I will add another clause.” Shane said, resting his gun over his shoulder. “You will leave Kendricks’ body.”

“No.” The girl returned to smiling. “Anything else?”

“You die.” Shane aimed his rifle at the girl and squeezed the trigger. A gentle hand grabbed the muzzle of the gun before Shane fired.

“Take the deal. I don’t want to kill the people here.” Kendricks pushed the gun down. Shane let him and eased his hands.

There was only one answer to Krelm’s motives.

‘The birth of a new Sovereign.’ To an outsider, it would be a boon beyond words. Another powerful leader to put their stake in the war against the dream realm. However, that was only a pipe dream. If Caesar accomplished his goal, the cold war between the clans would intensify. ‘Would Krelm side with a Clan?’ Shane tried to piece through the possibilities. Joining hands with another established sovereign would be risky. Yes it would insure one Sovereign's death, but then the allies would turn on each other, leaving Krelm back where he started: fighting an already established Sovereign.

‘Unless he doesn’t intend on contending with the already established Sovereigns.’ The enigma that was Sovereign Astor had vanished from the waking world to an unnatural degree. They remained hidden and their power was unknown. Shane smiled slimly as he gained a revelation. ‘Krelm wouldn’t enter a war as a late comer. He’d let the others kill each other while he focuses elsewhere. To conquer the fifth nightmare.’

‘Just what is Operation Atlas?’