The midday sun was hidden by the cracked clay brick of the rundown buildings. Mud squeezed between the toes on my bare feet. Two rugged men eyed me suspiciously as I walked down the claustrophobic alley.
Luckily, I was not dressed in my normal attire or I am sure I would have long been robbed blind. Instead, I had bought these clothes off of a very confused street urchin for many times their value. They were filthy rags that were barely held together with a few stiches, and itched horribly, but they were necessary.
Even with the disgusting clothes and the dirt I had rubbed on my body and hair, I probably still looked too clean. People in this sort of place could tell their own. They were incredibly suspicious of outsiders, and people that asked to many questions. Unfortunately, I was both.
I hate this place. It is gross and sticky and smells like a latrine.
In my experience, this was the best place to get information on illegal dealings. It has been a long time since I have had to do something like this. In the early days, before we were called the Five Calamities, we did countless infiltration missions. That was a long time ago, and I was never good at acting. I can only hope I still remember enough to get the information I need.
“Hey girly, wanna make some money?” Asked one of the rough men, while making an obscene gesture.
My face scrunched in disgust as I hurried past the two men. They laughed, mocking my reaction.
I was promptly reminded that outside the walls was a place without laws. Any guards here were more for show than actually keeping the peace. Most of them could probably be bribed with only a few coins. This was a place people only went when they had something to hide, or no other choice.
I escaped the vulgar men and made my way into the slums. I would have to find other people to ask. The first ruffians on the street are probably useless anyway.
I looked up, watching Nox as he jumped across the rooftops of the shambling buildings. It was only thanks to him that I was brave enough to come alone to a place like this.
Further up, Sylvie glided through the air. Through her sight I could see the entire shanty town set up outside the walls of Aktaio. She helped me avoid the many dead ends and more dangerous locations.
I heard laughter echo out of a nearby building, and the familiar smell of alcohol. A bar had always been my favorite place to gather information. I entered, thinking I could learn something there, but was immediately shooed out by a plump woman. I was yelled at that they were not a place for children to play. Not for the first time, I hated my diminutive body.
Few establishments would serve a child, even in a place like this. I was reminded of another of the Five Calamities. Esther, crazy psychopath that she is, permanently had the body of a child due to her Tressan heritage. We usually left her out of infiltration missions for fear that she would blow something up. However, she had a way with other kids that let her gather information just as easily as the rest of us.
Under Sylvie’s guidance, I soon found what I was looking for. A group of children kicking a ball together. Despite their poor circumstances and raggedy clothes, the children had great big smiles as they played.
I put on my most innocent grin and ran over asking to play. They were suspicious of someone new, but had an odd number of people so were happy to make even teams.
Surprisingly, I was terrible at the game. While my stamina had improved tremendously since my rebirth, I was nowhere near the children who spent every day outside. Every time the ball was passed to me, another kid quickly stole it. Despite this, I had more fun playing with them than I expected and even almost forgot to act like a street kid a few times. After more than an hour, I collapsed, gasping for breath.
I had to sit out for a while and recover. The oldest boy of the group joined me so that the teams would stay even. He seemed only a couple years older than me, but it was hard to tell. He had sharp blue eyes that flickered from place to place. Dirt hid a lithe, toned frame and brown hair that did not look like it had been washed in a long time.
“Names Donte. What ‘bout you?” Said the boy with a heavy accent.
“My name is Wren.” I replied truthfully. I knew that giving a fake name was pointless in situations like this. I may be under cover, but I was not in hiding.”
“Wren, you’re not from ‘round here, are you?” he asked pointedly.
“Why do you say that?” I asked, taken aback by the sudden accusation. So much for years of undercover experience.
“Your skins too light, like you ne’er seen the sun in your life. Many a workin’ girl could make a fortune with skin like that.”
I blushed and looked away from the boy. “I was sick for a long time. I could not go outside without help.”
Donte nodded. “You also talk too pretty. The others noticed too. Why are you in lower Aktey? Girl like you can find better prospects than here.”
I hesitated for a moment. If I said the wrong thing, he would not tell me anything, but my gut told me that this boy was exactly who I was looking for.
“I am looking for a drug that can give people temporary innate talents.”
Donte’s eyes narrowed. “With your eyes, you already have a spark. Why are you looking for somethin’ you already got? you with the tinies?”
“Tinies?” I asked curiously.
“Guards, girly. You with the guards? They been arresting anyone they catch with spark powder.”
“I am not with guards… er tinies. I don’t have any intention of getting anyone arrested, but this drug is incredibly dangerous. I want to stop it. It does not have any side effects right away, but over time it will… begin to change you. I have seen it before. Many people died then; friends. I do not want it to happen again.”
Donte grew quiet. He looked at me for a long moment. “Change how?”
“It… Is hard to explain.”
Donte stood up and grabbed my arm tightly. “You lying and I’ll sell you to the cheapest slave ship leaving the city, understand?”
I nodded nervously as he pulled me away from the other kids still focused on their game. He practically dragged me down an alley, as his fingers dug into my skin. He pulled me in front of a small shack. A beat-up door barely hung from its hinges. Blue paint peeled with age.
He opened the door without knocking and dragged me inside dim interior. The shack, if you could even call it that, was four mud walls with a dirt floor and a thatch roof that you could see sunlight through. Two small beds and a chest were the only furniture in the shack. However, what caught my attention was what was on the bed.
A woman, or what was one a woman, was tied to the bed frame with thick leather straps. She was not wearing much in the way of clothes, leaving her skin bare to see. Her skin, no that was the wrong word. Thick black scales covered nearly every inch of her body. Her hands and feet had warped into clawed talons capable of rending flesh.
Only half her face remained untouched by the scales. One blue eye was the only remnant of her humanity. The other eye was something familiar. A bright red that glowed in the dim light of the shack.
“Mum, I am home.” Said Donte quietly.
The woman shrieked with an inhuman pitch. I covered my ears, but even muffled the screech still felt like it was going to make my ears bleed. She struggled against the leather straps. The wood bed frame creaked, and looked as if it would snap at any moment.
Donte turned towards me, tears in his eyes. “Is this what you meant by changes?”
I nodded. This is the effect of the drug, but it is only supposed to happen after extended use. I thought the drug had only been in the city for a few months.”
“Six months ago, spark powder appeared in the city. My mum was one of the first to try it. She gained a healing power. Got a job with the tinies. She even fixed my busted leg. Everything was so perfect. But then a month ago she grew sick. The scales appeared a couple weeks later. She lost her mind, started attacking everyone she saw. I had to tie her to the bed. People wanted to kill her. Said she was a monster.”
I looked at his mother carefully. This was worse than I feared. It seemed the drug circulating here was less refined than the one that was used against the Thirteen Divisions. Six months… how many people were infected?
“Is there any way to save her?” Donte asked, fully crying now.
I shook my head. “Once the changes have taken effect only a time-based healing ability can save her. I have only seen that power once in my life, and they died a long time ago.”
Donte clenched his fist, before slamming it into the nearby mud wall. “You say spark powder caused this? You want to find the people that sell it? I will help you.”
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Donte led me through the slums, cutting across alleys I would never traverse by myself. He had a bad habit of tightly grabbing my upper arm and pulling me to make me walk faster. He did this many times, mostly when we were near people with a dangerous glint in their eye or a particularly sketchy alley. I knew that he was trying to keep me from drawing unwanted attention by loitering too long in dangerous places, so I kept quite even though I knew I would have bruises on my arm before the day was done.
The mud under my bare feet slowly turned to packed dirt as we arrived at a busier area of the slums. Surprisingly, this was the one place I had been to today that did not stink like rotten sewage. Instead, a different smell filled the air. Perfume? Why does it smell like some dumped a bottle of it in the streets?
Donte came to a stop in front of a large brick building. “This is the Painted Rose, the most popular cathouse in lower Aktey. Even nobles from the city proper come here sometimes. My mum got spark powder from one of the men here. I heard other people did too.”
I felt my face blush as two parts of my soul fluctuated with conflicting emotions. I asked the question that I probably already knew the answer to. “Um, Donte, what exactly is a cathouse?”
Donte looked at me oddly for a moment before patting my head. “You really are a sheltered girly, aren’t you?”
I slapped his hand away. “Stop calling me girly. My name is Wren, and I am not sheltered. I have seen more death and bloodshed than you can ever imagine.”
Donte smiled, clearly not believing me. “Well then girly, you won’t have any problem following me inside to find the dealer, right?”
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“Of course not!” I replied stomping towards the building.
The door flung open to reveal a velvet interior, dimly lit by lanterns. I could feel my face turning bright red as a nearly naked woman greeted me with a big smile.
“Nope, I’m out. There has to be another way to find the dealer.” I said shutting the door. I turned around to walk away.
Donte clutched his stomach as he laughed. He placed a hand on my shoulder and guided me back toward the door. “It’s just a bit of skin. Not that big of a deal. It’s not like I’m asking you to hire one of the girls. We just need to talk to them for a few minutes and we’ll be done.”
The door opened, and the scantily dressed woman smiled brightly. “Donte, I haven’t seen you in forever! How is your mother? Is she feeling any better?” She spoke.
Donte shook his head. “She is still sick, but I haven’t given up yet. Is Agatha here I want to talk to her.”
“She is always here. you know she never leaves.” Said the woman. She waved us inside.
The smell of perfume burned my throat. I saw nearly a dozen other women in various stages of undress, casually talking to a myriad of men. I could feel the blood rush to my face as I heard the muffled sounds of people… exerting themselves coming from one of the nearby rooms.
“You know these people?” I asked Donte in a whisper. Surprised by his interactions with the woman at the door.
Donte’s eyes narrowed. My attitude seemed to have stepped on a nerve. “My Mum used to work here. These are good people. Don’t look down on them just because of their profession. Many of them had little choice in the matter. That does not make them any less than you or me.”
I nodded, taken aback by Donte’s sudden shift in tone. The woman us led to a back of the building. I followed Donte to a room that was separated from the rest of the building by a bright red curtain.
Inside was much plainer than the rest of the building. A simple bed, a small desk, and a small vanity were the only furniture. Behind the desk sat a woman whose hair had long turned grey. I could tell that she had once been a great beauty, and even time could not hide it.
The woman looked up from the papers on her desk as we entered the room. “Donte! I am glad to see you. I need someone to clean room three if you want to make some extra coin. I have been a bit shorthanded lately and could use some muscle.”
“Sorry Agatha, I can’t work right now. I am helping my friend here.”
Agatha looked at me, eyes scanning me from head to toe. “A bit on the young side but some people like that. Nice skin and the green eyes are interesting. I could sell her as the Undead Princess. Plenty would be interested.”
I felt my face grow hot. “I… I’m not… I don’t…”
Donte laughed. “The girly is not for sale Agatha. I am helping her find the dealer for spark powder. It is important.”
“Shame, I really could use some new girls. Three more got sick this last week.” Said Agatha with a gaze that made my skin crawl. “Now, spark powder… that is an expensive commodity. Even more so now that the senate outlawed it a month ago. Why are you looking for it?”
“The girly here says it’s the reason people have been getting sick.”
Agatha’s eyes narrowed. “Are you telling the truth girl?”
I nodded. “Lot twenty-three… um, spark powder, floods the body with energy in order to force the emergence of an innate talent. It is not something a person’s body can withstand for long. After extended use, the people exposed with grow weak like they are sick. If not treated immediately, they will go mad… turning inhuman.”
“You certainly know a lot for someone so young. How do you know spark powder is the cause?” Asked Agatha cautiously.
“Because I have seen it before, years ago. In a place far from Aktaio.” I replied truthfully. “Countless people died because of it.”
Agatha tapped her fingered on the desk in quick succession. There was a tense nervousness in her voice. “How much do you have to take to get sick?”
“Not much… I am not sure about the exact amount, but even a single use per month could be fatal.”
The tapping sped up. “You know a way to cure those who took spark powder? You tell me that and I’ll tell you were it comes from.”
“So long as they are not too corrupted, someone with an innate talent that drains energy can stop the sickness from progressing. Otherwise, it is nearly impossible.”
The tapping stopped. “There are hundreds of people all over the city dealing spark powder, but the man you are looking for is a senator. I don’t know which one, but I hear he supplies all the dealers in the city.” Agatha took a deep breath. “Myriad realms save us, I thought it was too good to be true, but I couldn’t resist. Every girl in here has taken spark powder at least once. Each dose only last a couple days, and the dealers hand out free samples all the time. I can only imagine how many people in the city have taken it.”
“A senator… do you know anything else? Aktaio is run by over three hundred senators.”
“I don’t. The stories I have heard said he met his dealers in disguise. We only know that he is a senator because one of the dealers saw his pin slip out of his pocket, a blue gem in the center of a silver ring. Only senators have that, but I can get my girls to go fishing for more information. Those dealers are flush with cash and many come in here daily. One of them should know more.”
I nodded. “Even if you cannot find a name, anything could be useful. A nervous tick, a special cologne, or even how he walks.”
“We know what we are doing sweetie. This is not the first time I have had to fish for information. Brothels and bars are where men’s lips are the loosest.”
“Thank you. If we can find him, and cut off the supply even a day earlier, countless lives could be saved. Everyone here would be a hero.”
“I like that. Girls of the Painted Rose, saviors of the city. The publicity we can get from that could keep us flush with customers for years.” Agatha gave me a grin that made my skin crawl. “if you need some extra money, I could hire you as part of my staff. I really like the idea of the Undead Princess. You could even question the dealer directly.”
I took a nervous step backwards, crossing my arms uncomfortably. “I think not. I will leave that work to the professionals.”
Donte laughed. “let’s go. She won’t stop now that she has the scent of coin.” He led me by the shoulder as I hurried out of the building, nearly tripping on my own feet in my hurry to escape. Then, finally we were outside.
“You do not have to be that rattled. She was partially kidding.” He spoke.
“Next time, you are going in by yourself.” I grumbled, pushing his hand off my shoulder.
Donte shrugged. “What now? Don’t tell me to just wait. I’m not letting you leave me behind. I want to find the ones responsible for doing that to my mum. I am not going to stop till I do.”
“Now, we share the information we have with more powerful people. A senator is a good lead. You can tag along if you insist, but… not dressed like that.
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Donte led me through the slums, and through the endless maze of alleyways. The foul stench of the stagnant water and mud that filled the slums only got worse as the day grew longer. No wind could blow between the densely packed buildings to blow the stench away. I would be happy when we were out of this place. It was not somewhere people should live.
As we moved through the slums, Donte made a detour to visit his mother. As we got closer to the shack he called home, I could tell something was wrong. A large group of people had gathered around the small shack, many of them carrying makeshift weapons.
I heard one man shout. “Burn the monster! Cut the sickness off at the source.”
An inhuman screech echoed from inside the house. Donte’s face went pale as he sprinted towards the crowd. He shoved one of the men aside as he shouted. “Leave her alone! She hasn’t done anything wrong!”
A makeshift weapon slammed into Donte’s shoulder as he tried to shove his way past the crowd. He collapsed into the mud as the crowd surged forward. Another screech reverberated through the crowd. A moment of silence. Anger turned to dread and terror as the sound of wood cracking echoed from the tiny shack. Screams of panic, then nothing. The shack grew quiet.
A hunched figure stepped out of the shadows and into the street. Claws dripped with blood. A figure that vaguely resembled a woman, covered in scales, and two glowing red eyes.
She is completely gone now.
The woman opened her mouth to reveal rows of razor-sharp teeth. Another high-pitched screech rang out, loud enough to make your ears bleed.
Before anyone could react, razor sharp claws reached the crowd. A man was ripped apart from the waist. Blood soaked the ground as his top side was ripped from his bottom. A look of horror still painted on the man’s face as the light faded from his eyes.
The monstrous woman tossed the dismembered body parts towards the crowd. With unsettling smile, she watched as the crowd finally began to react.
Many turned in fear, attempting to run away. Those were the ones she targeted first. Claws danced in every direction as she leapt into the fleeing crowd. Screams filled the air, and blood rained on the street.
Donte picked himself up from the mud. Eyes wide as he watched his mother disembowel a man.
“Mum?” he whispered.
The woman stopped moving. With an unnatural twitching movement, she turned to face her son. She grew still as she stared at him.
I cursed under my breath as I pulled out my dagger. I rushed towards Donte as I pressed down on the purple crystal decorating the blade.
The mother looked at her son, body shaking as she took an unsteady step towards him. For a single moment, the red faded from one of her eyes. Tears streamed from the one blue eye.
A single guttural word escaped from her mouth. “Don…te…”
The woman clutched her head, screeching loudly as she stumbled backwards. Claws tore at the scales on her face.
I rushed to Donte’s side. “Run Idiot! She will not be able to resist for long!”
Donte’s mother grew still again as she looked directly at me. I felt a shiver travel down my spine as the blue in her eye faded, leaving only red.
I shoved Donte to the side as claws ripped through the air. I shifted my body just in time as the claws slashed down. Like razors, the claws ripped part of my shirt, missing my skin by less than a millimeter.
I glanced up at the roof overhead. Nox waited there, ready to move at my command, but not yet. There were too many people here. the green flames were too easy to identify. If the world learned of my revival now, everything would be ruined. I needed to draw the woman away. Somewhere secluded, where Nox could act freely.
My eyes grew cold as I cast aside everything of Wren. In this moment were life and death could be decided in a single action, I could not afford her fear. If I wanted to survive this, I would need to completely become Aurielle Aevus.
I took a quick scan of my surroundings. Building, people, and debris, none of it could help me distract her for long.
The woman would not give me time to figure out a plan. She leapt at me, claws extended and ready to tear into flesh.
As she soared through the air, I did not take a step back. That would be death. Instead, I dived forward. I passed underneath the leaping figure. With a splatter of mud, I rolled to my feet in on smooth motion. The woman turned to swipe at me, but I was already in full sprint.
I dashed into what remained of the fleeing crowd. Using Sylvie’s and Nox’s eyes I was able to watch as the woman gave chase. I tumbled to the side, narrowly dodging another slash of claws.
I heard Donte shouting at his mother, but I did not have time to listen to what he was saying. A few people still littered the street. Paralyzed in shock, they had yet to run away. I ran past two of them and weaved behind a man. There was a sickening wet sound of breaking bone as the woman’s attention turned to the closer targets.
You let them die in our place.
What was happening shook me, but I did not have time for remorse. The man’s death had bought me a few seconds. I dashed with all my might towards a nearby alley. I would not have time to find anywhere more secluded than that.
With the man dead, the woman turned back to the next closest target. With a single bound, she closed the gap I had created with the distraction. I would not make it into the alley in time. I turned back towards the woman and hurled my dagger as hard as I could.
Spinning through the air, the daggers aim held true. Luckily, it did not hit hilt first. With the special effect of the dagger active, the blade sliced through the black scales of the woman’s leg without any resistance. the same leg she was about to land on. The dagger sunk into the mud as the woman collapsed to the ground in a tangle of limbs and claws.
The injury did not slow her down for long. She was back in pursuit after only a moments delay, but a moment was long enough. I had made it into the alley.
Sylvie landed on my shoulder, as Nox sauntered down from the nearby roof. Green flames ignited, filling the alley. The woman charged at me, but this time I did not bother to move. Nox leapt forward, a mighty mane of green flames igniting from the collar as he grew in size.
Claws clashed with claws. Nox won in a single exchange. His claws ripped through the woman’s arm, tearing it from her shoulder.
The woman had only just finished her transformation into a Demonkin when we arrived. She was not as strong as one that had lived for years. She was no match for Nox who could handle a dozen strong Demonkin simultaneously.
With a mighty paw, Nox pinned her to the ground. He opened his maw, ready to finish off the woman when Donte rushed into the alley. The dagger I had thrown to buy time was firmly gripped in his hand.
“Don’t you hurt her!” Donte roared as he charged at Nox with the dagger.
Nox leapt back, instinctually dodging the dagger. In the process, the woman was freed from his grasp.
“Nox, stop her!” I commanded.
Freed from Nox’s paw, the woman immediately attacked the closest target. In that moment, I was no longer the one closest to her, Donte was. Claws moved, Nox leapt forward, but it was too late. Blood dripped from Donte’s chest, as he stared at his mother. A mixture of confusion and horror on his face.
The woman froze as blood dripped to the ground. A screech louder than any before it ripped through the street. Red faded from her eyes as she held the limp body in her arms.
“Do… nte… My Donte.” She wept, tears streaming from her eyes. She placed her hand on the gaping hole in his chest. “I am so sorry.” A soft blue light bloomed in the alley, radiating from the woman.
I watched as the soft blue light flowed into Donte. The woman’s talent! Donte said it was a healing talent. That she had been able to fix his leg. Now, she was using it to heal his chest.
The wound closed slowly, but it did close. Within a few moments only a large scar remained. Donte began to regain consciousness as he looked up at his mother with blurry eyes.
“Donte, my sweet Donte. All I ever wanted is for you to have a better life. To escape this place and have a life of joy and prosperity. I want you to always remember to be happy, no matter what life throws at you.”
The woman turned towards me and smiled. “Take care of him.”
“I will.”
“Mum, what are you…”
The woman reached over, taking the dagger from Donte’s grip. Her hand shook for a moment, and I could see the red returning to her eyes.
“I love you.” She whispered, before stabbing the dagger into her own chest.
“MUM, NO!” Donte shouted.
His mother smiled down at him as the light faded from her eyes.