Aria picked her way over the graveyard’s toppled stones. The stink of Porza followed her every step. It kept Alban at a good distance and turned some of his aura a sickly green. It wasn’t long before he left and fled for the company of sweeter smelling police.

Aria was alone with the stones.

Before Pan’s spirited escape, the stones glowed grey and yellow from un-use and fear. Now, they glowed red and purple. The colors came from Pan, her rage and scheming.

With care, Aria picked through a broken stone. She plucked a piece from the ruins. She tried to read the inscribed name, but she couldn’t see through the aura.

“I wonder who this belonged to,” Aria said.

Gavain drew close. “I don’t know. That’s just a rune. I’ve seen it on jewelry and clothes.”

Aria raised her eyebrows. Scaldigir’s runes had fallen quite a ways in modern times.

“There was nothing you could have done,” Gavain said. “She has her mind made up.” The pink returned to Gavain’s aura. It sought Aria.

Aria reached out and touched it. She could see Gavain’s affection. She could move her hands through it.

“What are you doing?”

“Playing with auras.” Aria swatted the pink. Some of the color scattered in her wake.

“Very feline-like.” Gavain smiled. “I mean…graceful.” Gavain sniffed. “I heard you got sprayed.”

“I bet you smell it too.” Aria smiled, but it didn’t last. She put her hands in her lap. “I could have done so much more.”

“What do you mean? You did your best.”

“No. My best would have been to identify Pan’s secret before any of this happened.” Aria stared into space. “I could have stopped this all.”

Gavain’s steps approached, slow and tempered. “That’s just too hard on yourself.”

“Is it? These past two years, I’m always away. But, before then, I had so much time to study her aura. How could I miss such a crucial part of her being? How could I fail to see that Pan is a reaper?”

Gavain’s aura swirled with blue. Shades of pink and yellow stretched for Aria. “If you missed something this big during one of your jobs, I’d agree with you. But, when you were with Pan, you weren’t working. You have a right to rest. Besides, I would argue that before this whole incident, being a reaper was not crucial to Pan’s being.”

Aria sat still and straight. Two things that Gavain said tickled at the edge of her mind. He said I shouldn’t have to work all the time… He also said, Pan didn’t live like a reaper. No, she didn’t.

Then again, there had been signs. Pan’s aura always reacted to reaper stories. Pan’s aura betrayed judgments on the powers of others. The signs had been there. Aria just needed to look – to really look.

Sotir crossed the graveyard. “Aria. Can I talk to you for a moment? Alone?”

Aria glanced at Gavain. “Would you mind?”

Gavain’s aura glowed in gentle hues. He began to back away. “Not at all. Porza isn’t a terrible smell, but it’s also not my favorite. I’m going to walk back to the ship. If you want to join me, I’ll be there.” Gavain turned and left.

Sotir drew close. “We have one chance left to catch Pan.” Sotir’s base colors – at least the ones that Aria knew – had gone. Now, Sotir possessed an aura of blue, white, and grey.

Aria thought the change might be permanent. Aria sought Sotir’s eyes. “How do we catch her?”

“Well, it’s complicated.”

“Does it have something to do with the thing you didn’t want Alban or the others to hear? Back on the ship?”

Sotir nodded. “I see a lot of scenarios. In many of them, Brynn kills Pan.”

Aria’s heart seemed to stop. Then, it thundered on. “No.”

“There’s one way for Pan to win, and it has to do with how and when we catch her. We’ve missed the last chance to grab her in the graveyard, but we helped her avoid a life of sickness and pain.”

“The suppressant,” Aria said.

“Exactly. We need to get Alban out of the search. He’ll harm Pan irreparably. But, we also can’t catch Pan right away.” Sotir held up a finger. “This is where it gets complicated. Brynn is too close and will now reach Pan first. Only Alban and his new team can reach Pan before Brynn does, but as I said, he’ll hurt her.” Sotir’s aura showed a hint of white.

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

“So, we’re off the search for Pan?” Aria deduced.

“We are, but that means we can get away from Alban. We just have to point him in the wrong direction.”

Aria nodded. “Doesn’t seem right.”

Sotir drifted closer. “No. But, it’s necessary. Even though…” He looked away.

Aria nudged him. “What were you going to say?”

Sotir set his eyes on the ground. “If Pan gets suppressed, she’ll be easy for me to get. But, she’ll be miserable for the rest of her life. I…almost considered…. But, I won’t let it happen. I never would.”

Aria’s eyes widened. Sotir could manipulate Pan and get her exactly how he wanted. It chilled Aria. She studied Sotir’s aura. She saw a subtle hue of shame but the stronger colors were pink and gold: affection and the desire to do right.

“If you weren’t gold right now, I would be very suspicious of your plans.” Aria sighed. “Maybe, you aren’t so bad for Pan, after all.”

Sotir gave a short nod but stayed quiet.

Aria asked, “Do you know where we should go next?”

Sotir looked up. “I do. I know where Brynn and Pan will fight. We can go there and retrieve Pan after she fights Brynn.”

“So, where do we send Alban?”

Sotir grew quiet. He glanced away, and Aria followed his eyes. She saw Detective Casimir and Alban approach.

“In case you’re wondering…” called Detective Casimir. “This is what a crime looks like. I don’t think we can continue to look for your friend.”

Aria bowed her head. Sotir did the same.

“I’m really sorry. We’re off the job. I need to send you two back to Pittura. I’m stuck here filing a report for the time being.” Casimir jabbed a thumb at Alban. “He and his team, along with some arcanes, are going to pursue Pan.”

“We know.” Sotir said. “I’ve seen it.”

For a moment, Alban’s aura shone brighter. “Good. Did you also happen to see where we might go next? Every tracker has been incapacitated.”

Aria raised her eyes. “You mean…arcanes? That kind of tracker?”

“I do. It was your old mentor, Brynn. Reaper number two, or should I say one? We have her to thank for that,” Alban said.

“Oh my...Mother Tree.” Aria put her hands to her face. “Are they all…”

Casimir raised both his hands. “No, no. None of them are dead, but they’ll need to heal. You can see why we won’t risk you two anymore.”

Sotir and Aria both nodded.

Sotir stepped forward. “You should try Altech. It’s nearby. I see old world architecture and an old church. Pan will go there.”

“You’re sure?” Alban asked.

“It’s the most likely scenario I can see.”

“Any others?” Alban narrowed his eyes.

Sotir smiled. “She might try to get your ship.”

Alban huffed. “That’s not happening. Altech? You’re sure?”

“Yes, Altech. I’m confident.” Sotir stood straight.

Alban turned to Aria. He reached tendrils of suspicion towards her. “What do you think?”

Aria shrugged. “I can’t see Pan’s trail at all.”

“A pity.” Alban held up a tablet and looked at its screen. “She went into the sewer, so she has to surface on the edge of Koptik or head to a connected city. According to this map, the connected cities are Koptik, Prooptik, or Altech.” Alban’s aura sparked. “Alright. Altech it is. You two.” Alban pointed at Aria and Sotir. “I want you to stay in my ship and monitor the situation from above.”

“They’re going back to Pittura,” Casimir objected.

Alban shook his head. “No. They’re the only two trackers. If we keep them in the air and have them land only to work their powers, we can track the two reapers and keep our trackers safe.”

“Who’s going to fly your ship?” Sotir asked. “You’ll be busy, and we’re not capable.”

“I cou…” Casimir began.

“No, you’re occupied. I’ll find you an officer.” Alban turned to go.

“Wait!” Aria called. “Can we have Ambassador Gavain?”

Alban paused. His aura leaked suspicion. Like a fog, it crept towards Aria. “Having date night on my time?” he asked.

Aria startled. “No.”

“You’re a little young for a marriage. Trying to lessen your workload early?” Alban asked. “You do seem like a lazy one…you and Pan both.”

Aria’s cheeks warmed. Lazy!?

Sotir spoke up, “I’ll watch them. Nothing will happen.”

For a long moment, Alban studied them. “Fine. Take Gavain. It’ll save me some time finding that officer. Just remember, DO NOT engage Pan. Am I clear?”

Sotir nodded.

Aria did too. “Can you…be gentle with her? No suppressant.”

“I can’t make that promise.” Alban stalked away.

Casimir opened his mouth to speak to the two young arcanes, but someone from afar called his name.

Casimir sighed. “I’ve got to go. I hate to say it, but Pan’s dangerous now. Her entire escape has been pretty calculated. If you think you can reach her before Alban, don’t. I mean it. Be careful.” With a final wave, Casimir left.

Sotir smiled at Aria. “Good job. You really helped sell it.”

Aria smiled back. “Sotir. Where do we need to go?”

“Kallitech,” he whispered. “And, we need to get there without alerting Alban’s ship.”

“I didn’t think of that.” Aria wished they had their own ship, one that wouldn’t report their whereabouts to their enemy. “Do you think he has listening devices?”

“If he didn’t before, he does now. So, don’t speak the name while we’re aboard. As for the travel log system, that could be a problem, but I have an idea.” Sotir beckoned.

Aria climbed the gangway of Alban’s ship.

Gavain stood at the top and greeted them. “I hear I get to chaperone you two. Better not crash Alban’s ship.” He laughed.

Aria smiled and took Gavain’s hand. Bright green fluttered through his aura, but he didn’t wrinkle his nose. She’d already grown use to the Porza scent. Aria smiled and put a paper in his hand. She gave him a pointed look.

Gavain’s face and aura showed yellow. He took a discrete look at the paper and tucked it away.

Sotir had written their plan, just a few words: Kallitech. Hover low between Kallitech and Koptik. Take motorcycles to Kallitech.

Gavain’s aura showed purple and blue. He’d go along with it. He understood. “Come aboard. I’m driving.” Gavain closed the gangway and headed for the cockpit. Though he moved forward, his aura reached back, trying to get to Aria.

Aria reached into his glow. She waved her hand and watched her aura displace his.

“Playing with auras again?” Gavain looked back. His aura took on the yellow shade of humor.

“Yes, yours specifically.”

“Oh, be my guest.” Gavain’s aura stretched for Aria and glowed with amusement.

“I think I should put a stop to that,” Sotir said.

Aria shot him an annoyed glance, but she smiled.