Sunshen laid in the fluffy canopy bed, surrounded by comfortable pillows and scented air...and all he could see, was the look on his father's face.

How surprised the man was, surprised at the action Sunshen had taken, surprised at the pain. Sunshen did not want to kill him...or maybe he did. The hand had no will of it's own and though it's malfunction caused the blow, it did react to his signals. Even if Sunshen was unsure, the hand knew what he wanted and acted on this want.

He wanted to commit patricide, he wanted to become a sinner.

He looked at the small niatra in the corner of the room, it's light bathing the books around it in yellow glow.

The bed creaked as he sat up and the wooden boards complained the same when he made his way to the niatra. Slowly, carefully, he reached toward it with his hand, expecting to get burnt, as the beast he has become. But the light washed over him gently and calmly. His skin getting comfortably warm where the light touched him. On his other hand, the stains of blood got slowly burned away, renewing the gold to it's pristine state.

The niatra decided him not evil, but Sunshen was not convinced. The stains might have disappeared for his eyes, but he still felt them there. The light might have accepted him as it always did, but he jerked away from it. He felt unworthy, ashamed to bask in such holy light.

He walked over to the table in his room and placed a pillow over the top. Then he gently twisted the golden prosthetic, detaching it from his arm and placed it onto the soft surface.

The golden hand gloved on the red pillow, it's fingers, structure, the embodiment of perfection, spotless and the marvel of engineering. Bloodthirsty and the instrument of sin.

But there was not just it to blame.

He hated Herner, for putting him in this position. The man knew oh so well what would happen that evening, Sunshen was sure of it. He did not know how, or when exactly, but he knew that Magnus would be out of the picture. He needed him to be. Now Sunshen was to do his bidding? What would that be? Pictures of various atrocities rose in his mind, scaring him of what he might be tasked with next.

Sunshen walked over to the giant window in his room. He could see the great purple before him, the malevolence of the world taking form. But now he knew, that it was not only there. Like he, even grave sins could bask in the niatra light, even monsters could walk the illuminated streets. Maybe the light was never as holy as Sunshen thought...

A killer and a heretic, Sunshen became both in the span of one evening.

He looked down. Herner's house was positioned over a cliff, so some of the rooms offered great view onto the drop down below. And it seemed that Sunshen has been afforded one of such rooms.

He opened the great window, letting the fresh, yet slightly rotten, air inside his room. He watched the fog move with the air, as it settled right under his window, waiting for him with it's maw opened wide. He escaped it once and it hungered for him, wanted to devour what has been taken right out of its jaws. He almost let himself be eaten. Almost took a step into the nothing behind the window, but he cowered back into the room moments before gravity would take him as its own.

Even in finishing off the evil he was now, he was unsuccessful.

----------------------------------------

The room was quiet, even Percy's groans and huffs were absent. The respective members sat quietly at their assigned seat, all unwilling to break the silence that took hold of the room once Sunshen entered.

From their looks, Sunshen felt as if he was covered in blood. Head to toe in crimson of his own making, as if the people around the table knew to just what lengths he was willing to go for the cause. Even if the truth was different, even if he showered just moments ago.

"Glad to see you join us Sunshen! You look much better already." Herner threw his arms in a warm gesture.

"Thank you, lord Herner" Sunshen replied.

"Now that we have all gathered here, we might as well begin!" started Herner, sounding chipper and happy as he always did. Though Sunshen now knew of the undercurrents of his joyous act.

He felt sick, sitting there, listening to the man that ordered him, that enabled him to kill his father. But he gulped the rising saliva down. He feared what would happen, had he sullied the man's welcoming festivities. Feared what he could do. He noticed a glare from one of the chairs, and met it.

Naheila was looking at him with a puzzled expression. She seemed...surprised to see him there. As if he was not supposed to return. Or maybe not return this way. But when he focused, Sunshen realized that it was not him she was eyeing so wearily, but his new golden hand.

"Without further ado, I have to confide in you all. Percy was unfortunately unsuccessful in obtaining a higher position in the mayors advisors group. His ties to us has been revealed and as such, he is out of the question for the role, leaving a spot open." Herner blinked at Sunshen, who's heart sank at the gesture.

"Fortunately, we are full of brimming talent here. Many of you are capable in the art of speaking and from you, we have to choose our... representative, let's say."

He moved behind Naheila, where he abruptly stopped.

"Anyone want to volunteer?" He asked, putting his hands on her shoulders, past her short red hair. His fingers gently and sensually felling their way up her neck.

Support the creativity of authors by visiting the original site for this novel and more.

"Anyone?" he asked again, his fingers squeezing slightly into her skin.

But Naheila did not move, her expression still, the same as always. She sat, unbothered by the tips of fingers sliding into her collarbone, even her hair unmoving under the pressure of Herner's breath.

As Sunshen noticed something protruded from his sleeves, the scene of bloody Gret came to mind. The gurgling and terror. He was not prepared to see that again.

Though watching this showing of tranquility, or maybe resilience, Sunshen could not help but admire how steadfast she was. But he knew Herner, knew that his calling had to be answered. She would not move, but maybe he could.

"My name still holds some weight." Sunshen started. Herner slowly moved his head toward him, revealing the surprise branded on his face. "I will take over my father's craft. We need it for our use anyway. I will also keep tabs on what I hear. I could slither into their den easily. Treason is among the things that they would expect the least from a Gureth." Sunshen continued, as he desperately wanted Herner to move away.

"True." Herner said, relaxing his hold on Naheila. He quickly threw a card from under his sleeve, and threw it Sunshen's way. It was a joker, the kind of card with multiple uses. Though it felt more mocking than anything else. It seemed that Herner was aiming at Sunshen from the start.

"Sunshen Gureth it is." He moved back to his chair, dropping on it and sprawling like a bored child.

Naheila's expression changed slightly, her eyes moving from the golden hand to Sunshen. Focused and intent, yet unreadable. Sunshen got a little uncomfortable from the gaze and turned to the others. Heat rising in his cheeks.

"When is the next party Percy?"

"In two weeks."

"Great timing. Sunshen I expect you will be prepared by then. Nataniel, were you successful?"

"Magnus Gureth has died in a tragic fire. The perpetrator is unknown and most doubt that it is a case of arson."

Herner nodded his head. "Official report aside, we need to sway the public opinion as well. We cannot afford people to think that Sunshe-"

"What kind of information should I gather?" Sunshen interjected. "At the party."

"Nothing specific yet." Herner replied, slightly annoyed. "Your goal for now is to converse and mingle. Make them trust that you are what we need you to be. Do not risk it. No gathering information this time. Meet me tomorrow, I will tell you of your new responsibilities further."

----------------------------------------

Great job Sunshen. He thought as he fell onto his bed again, leaving his hand to rest on the table. Just do even more, really get into it why don't you. Not only did he kill his father, now he would taint his legacy even further. Voluntarily. Just because he saw a pretty girl in a bad situation.

Sunshen was about ready to tear his face down in frustration.

But now, in the quiet. The same thoughts came to plague him. The company of the inner circle was nothing to look forward to, but it still did plenty to distract him from the weight of his actions. Now it all came flooding back, stealing Sunshen's ability to sleep.

Will he actually be an informant? Should he? Are the promises of the rebellion only empty words, or is there real intent to help with the wrongness of the world?

Is he actually helping anyone?

A knock on the door mercifully took him out of the barrage of questions and he almost ran as he answered the door.

Naheila stood there, her short red hair barely reaching her shoulders. Wearing the same efficient brown leather clothes as she did when venturing outside.

"Hello." Sunshen said, though his greeting seemed undeserving of an answer.

Naheila stood in the door frame waiting.

"Well...uh...come inside." Sunshen motioned with his hand. Naheila noticed his stump and arched her eyebrow in an unreadable expression. After a brief moment of further silent awkwardness, she finally entered the room.

Naheila quickly looked around, checking corners as if she expected a dart to the neck the moment she walked in. After she was sufficiently convinced of the room's safety, she entered. She gone straight over to the golden arm and gazed upon it with the kind of reverence and hate that reminded Sunshen of what he himself felt.

She inspected the gears, the fingers. Without touching, she tried to understand every mechanism.

"I can put it on if you want to see it in action." Sunshen joked awkwardly.

"No need." she replied.

Sunshen's mouth involuntarily opened and his brain emptied. Naheila just answered. After blinking and taking control of his face again, Sunshen could not help but ask.

"You can talk?" he almost shouted.

"Yes. I can."

"But you never...I thought that you...that you can't..."

"There seldom is a good reason for me to do so. I do not like it." she replied.

"Yeah, uh. I can understand that. With the company you have here." Sunshen joked.

"Don't let Herner hear that." Sunshen's whole body twitched at Naheila's words. "Can I ask you something?"

Sunshen nodded, still breathing out the stress from the remark.

"What did you have to do for that?" she pointed at the hand.

Sunshen's throat tightened and sweat beaded on his forehead.

"Whatever do you mean?" Sunshen laughed nervously.

"What did you have to do for that?"Naheila continued pointing with her left hand, while her gaze was locked onto him.

"It was a gift, for becoming part of the circle." Sunshen continued. Even he heard the uncertain lie in his words. It was too evident.

"If you are unwilling to say, I will not press further. Goodbye." Naheila replied, then she turned to the door and quickly paced outside of the room, leaving Sunshen alone again.

He did not want to say, did not want to plead guilty for the crime he had committed. He did not want anyone to know what he had done.

He watched the hand, calm and relaxed on the table. He was almost certain it would betray him again. He feared when it might do that.

With no better idea and the knowledge that he was not capable of sleep today anyway, he decided to visit the only engineer he knew.