“Do you remember when we first came together?” Mastermind asked after some time.

“You mean before the Styx went up?” Leah asked.

“No, I am referring to the time after the city was built and I lost my old crew.”

Mastermind had once led a group of Hunters himself, and had been responsible for procuring the most vital supplies that early Pandemonium needed. But they were all killed one day, so he came to Leah and offered to join forces. It was a pivotal change in their relationship. One that had defined the many shifts her own crew underwent.

“Of course I remember,” Leah said with a yawn. “We’ve been through too much together.”

“Do you know what my old crew used to call itself?”

“Can’t say that I do.”

He smiled. “‘The Munchkins’. We were a strapping young lot, we were. All trapped in the frames of small children when the Hollowing came, my Munchkins and I could get to the places that the rest of you could not. An ideal company for those who wished to scavenge undetected.

“I was not near as intelligent then as I am now, however, and thought that there was no need to pervert my ranks with elderly equals. Fighting seemed a pointless strategy for those who could evade with ease. But then a subway tunnel trapped us betwixt two hollow herds, and there was nothing to be done. My Munchkins became no more.”

He stared downcast into the floor. “It was my vanity that got them killed. I did not choose adult-sized Hunters because I wanted to prove to the rest of you that I was more than capable of surviving by my own prowess. By appeasing my ego, I had sacrificed my Munchkins on the altar of arrogance.”

Leah pat him on the shoulder. “I’ve lost people too, Mastermind. More than I care to remember. You shouldn’t beat yourself up.”

“But I must! Those who fail to learn from history are destined to repeat it, which was why I came to you and offered to combine our talents. You were respected for your aptitude, but also for your grace. There was none more willing to put the safety of others above themselves than you. If I was to learn from my mistake of placing my own pride above our community’s safety, then that lesson could only be gained under your stewardship.”

Where’s he going with his? “Appreciate the kind words.”

Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

“That is why I must now ask you something very important.” He paused, moisture building in his eyes. “Why did you make the same mistake as me, mum? Why did you choose yourself over us?”

Leah froze in place, her fingers against the counter. She shouldn’t have been surprised that Mastermind would put the pieces together, but that did little to dull the pain of his words. It was worse than the disgust she’d been feeling with herself.

Leah could have denied the charge, or pleaded ignorance, or grown angry that he’d challenge her, or simply changed the subject. She could have told him that it was complicated or that he’d never understand.

“What gave me away?” was all that came out instead.

“Oh, an amalgamation of your recent behavior. The anger, the mood snaps, the propensity to force loyalty to you above mutual respect. You were not conducting yourself like the Leah I had first met. Why, I can’t remember the last time I’ve seen you on Pride!” A red tear came free. “When you left in pursuit of Liam on your own, I knew that you had bartered our souls in exchange for your safety. It was painful to see history repeat, mum.”

Now her own eyes were starting to water. “If it makes you feel any better, Hades gave me one fuckload of an offer. Partial ownership of Elysium, infinite food, full access to the library, the works. All to throw a couple friends under the bus.”

“Then you are twice the fool I thought you were. Hades would have never let you reap the prospects of such a generous deal. He was merely manipulating you into doing the detestable for him.”

Leah nodded. “I know that now. What can I say? Hades had me beat. He knew that if he dangled the shiny toy in front of my face, I’d walk straight into the trap, and bring all of you in it with me.” Her nails dug into her palms. “Just like I did when I started this mess by taking Liam for myself. It was all narcissism.”

But Mastermind stayed fixed. “No, mum. That is where you are mistaken. Saving the human was your moment of redemption, not of rapacity. You knew that there would be consequences for yourself, even if the others might persevere in your absence, but you chose to pursue that goal, regardless.”

“A lot of good that did us. We’re still dead in a week.”

“Perhaps.” He smiled. “Or perhaps our story does not end here, and we will outlast this current crisis long enough to fight another day. Together.”

She dabbed back the tears. “You’re not going to tell anyone?”

“It would be ill-advised to complicate our dilemma with more drama. I shall have plenty of time to scold you for your missteps when we have triumphed later. You can play the role of the melancholy maiden then, perhaps over a bottle of fermented salmon gore.”

She cracked up to that, somewhere between a laugh and a cry. “Fuck. You’re a better friend than me, Mastermind.”

“Then let us remember the roles that have borne us so much success. Leave the strategy to me, and the leading to yourself, and we will all survive this ordeal.”

How the hell did he always manage to stay so positive? Even with the odds so far stacked against him and the truth of her betrayal unearthed, Mastermind was still willing to cast everything aside and play the pompous jackass like nothing had ever happened.

“Got anything to get us out of here faster?” Leah asked. “I don’t think the human will be waking any time soon.”

He winked. “I have just the idea.”