The awkward half hug continued for a bit. Grim was, without a doubt, frigid. Even to my cold body, she was even colder. How exactly she achieved that when she was just like a burning sun not long ago, I couldn’t even begin to decipher that particular puzzle.

  Before long, with a sigh, she let go. By now, the frost covering me had thawed, and I was soaked from head to toe. Shivers went down my spine as my body caught up. It took a conscious effort not to pull on my ice to freeze me still and quiet my body’s growing desire for warmth.

  There were trails of dried blood on my face, from where I had bled after overusing my magic. My entire body pulsed, my very veins felt inflamed due to the rapid use and abuse of the energy the silver coin had given me.

  I was well and truly done for the night.

  Grim settled her clothing and shot me a small smile before moving to collect the gold coin. She leapt down into the reservoir without much concern. A splash of water echoed out over the sound of rushing water. Water that had been dammed by the roots and vines now flowed freely. The floor was covered in a slurry of rapidly melting ice and ash.

  Soon enough, the gold cloud dissipated and Grim leapt back up, her police uniform up to the knees soaked with water. Her boots squished with each step. She flashed a gold coin at me, and the approaching others, others being Tabitha and Diana.

  There was another, more drawn-out collective sigh of relief, which I shared in. We collected our coins, divvied them up. Grim sat to the side, fiddling with her gold coin, a thoughtful expression on her face. She would look between the coin and me. Making me think she had something in mind, but with a sigh, she flipped the coin, it flashed, and suddenly, something about her shifted. Grew.

  It was clear she had grown stronger by a measure. Tabitha ignored it, but Diana looked over, noting and wondering about the change.

  There were a total of five silver ranks. The final distribution of silver coins was easily figured. One for Diana, one for me, and three for Tabitha. I didn’t mind, but Tabitha made mention of the coin she had lended me, and me owing her a coin. I didn’t make a fuss and agreed, especially when I knew that if she hadn’t given me the coin, we might not have survived this night.

  After the coins were split, Tabitha approached Grim, and the pair spoke at length. Bits of their conversation broke out. Despite ourselves, Diana and I listened in.

  “So, as you said earlier, that wasn’t the threat?”

  “No, it wasn’t. Granted, we removed the threat earlier, but…” Grim pauses.

  “Tartarus, right?” Tabitha adds in.

  Grim nods. “Indeed, they don’t operate this far up, not unless something is happening. They don’t exist in the current power structure of the city.”

  “Do you think they might be aiming to change that?”

  “I don’t know, but if they are, we’ll need to keep an eye on them.”

  Tabitha nods. “I’ll make sure the matron knows.”

  “I’ll let the police chief know, and we can work from there. I don’t think they’ll be much of a threat if they try for the mayoral position, but… better be safe than sorry.”

  “I agree, even if they don’t make a move, we need to keep an eye out for troubles that could become an issue when the blood moon happens, right?”

  “Right.” Grim agrees. The pair shake hands.

  “A pleasure working with you Grim.”

  “And you Tabitha. I’m glad this could end amenably.”

  “I feel the same. Now, we should start heading back to the surface.”

  “I concur.”

  Their discussion done, Tabitha called out to us. “We’re moving out kiddies! We should make it to the surface by dawn.”

  We didn’t argue. Grim led the way this time, with Tabitha just behind her. Which meant that I was walking beside Diana. She didn’t appear to have much an issue with me now, and honestly? I didn’t see a reason to further pursue what had happened, or what was going on in her head. I was just glad that mess was over with.

  I didn’t say anything. I didn’t confront her. We easily worked our way out of the waterworks, up the stairs into the sewers, and eventually, back to where we entered.

  As we reached the ladder, both Tabitha and Grim passed to have a final conversation in hushed tones that neither of us could easily overhear.

  “I can’t wait to get proper food in my belly and a nice hot bath!” Tabitha announced as we left the sewers.

  I agreed on a spiritual level with Tabitha’s words. I too could use a bath and a good meal.

  On exiting the sewers, Tabitha and Diana bid us farewell, then went on their way. Just as I prepared to make my own farewell, Grim stopped me.

  “Mind accompanying me on an errand?” A part of me really wanted to decline, but as she spoke, she showed me something she had in her palm. A seed. Exhaustion warred with curiosity and inevitably, I nodded.

  “I don’t mind, as long as its quick.”

  “Wonderful, I’ll make sure to treat you to a meal.”

  We walked down the street. The morning sun peeked over the horizon, banishing the darkness and mist that clung to the ground. As it rose, it bathed the city in gold, and with it came the citizenry. The streets quickly filled. Cars drove along the streets.

  We went down an alleyway at some point, my mind mentally mapping where we were and noted that we were on the edge of the Commercial district. We took a few turns here and there, and eventually came upon a smaller alley filled with potted plants on display. Dominating the alley was a single plant shop whose merchandise was being moved out, so the plants could get some of the early morning sun.

  The air was thick with the scents of flowers. Employees wearing smocks moved about, their hands covered in thick gloves, and bonnets on their heads. Our entrance did not go unnoticed. A few citizens were walking about, some of them purchasing bouquets or inspecting the array of cacti near the window but the employees were the ones giving us odd looks.

  Grim made for the shop entrance, a small bell dinged to announce our arrival. The shop had a number of customers, but it didn’t really feel bustling. Taking in the sights, I almost lost sight of Grim as she approached the counter.

  “I have something for the gardener.” The girl at the counter looked ready to decline, but when Grim showed her the seed, she quickly clamped her mouth shut.

  “I understand. She’s in the back having her morning tea.”

  Grim nodded to her and walked around the counter, towards the back with me in tow. The door opened to a whole other world. My feet stepped not on concrete or carpet, but on a stone path imbedded in dirt. A path that snaked forward towards where a pavilion sat.

  I could see a blue sky above, the sun shone in with golden rays. Birds chirped in the distance. Bees buzzed. The whole place was alive with both flora and fauna.

  We followed the path towards the pavilion. My eyes took in the sights. Inwardly, my mind struggled to understand what I was seeing. The area I was in, was by far larger than the building that it resided within. The space large enough for trees to grow and for a small creek to gurgle by along the path we walked.

  The pavilion itself was fairly ordinary at first glance. A white structure so intwined with crawling vines that it was now green, a curtain of flowers draped down, acting to hide the lone occupant, whose silhouette could only be seen.

  On approach, the curtain shifted and moved. I could feel the very land shift around us. Trees creaked as they seemed to press in. When the curtain was fully pulled back, we were afforded a glance of the occupant.

  The first detail that struck me was not her attire that looked like it was made with vines and flowers twined into thread. Nor was it the finely made tea set beside her. It was her ears. Her ears were long, draping behind her, they flicked, twitched on our approach. Lazily she turned her head and took us in with a bored look.

  “Ah… The dog of war, Grim. It is rather rare for you to approach so early in the morning with business, or… would this be a social call? No… that isn’t very like you, so what could it be?” She droned, her speech slow and measured, as if she had all the time in the world.

  Grim didn’t interrupt. Merely waiting for her to finish musing.

  “Then again, perhaps it involved that seed you have on you.” She finished and took a sip of her tea. A simple look conveying it was time for Grim to speak and speak she did.

  “You would be right.”

  “You may approach then.” And like that, roots pulled back, revealing a set of stairs. With measured steps, her shoulders squared, Grim walked forward and presented the seed to the woman. She took it and looked it over. Sorrow was etched on her face, a long sigh left her lips.

  “A shame what happened to you.” The woman started. “Taken without regard, without any choice in the matter, only to be declared a mistake and abandoned. Left alone.” She spoke slowly, soothingly, a hand softly caressing the seed. “But worry not child, here, here you can properly bloom.”

  With a final sigh she raised her hand, a hidden attendant came out and took the seed without a word. The woman, the elf, or whatever she was, looked up to Grim and continued. “I thank you for bringing me them.”

  “I’m merely doing my part.”

  “I suppose, but not everyone understands the plight of being a mistake. Thank you.” The woman made to bow, but Grim stepped to the side, as if to avoid it. The woman chuckled and began to speak, the curtain closed shutting them in. Leaving me alone…

  “Prima?” A voice spoke out. I glanced over and saw a familiar face coming out of the clearing.

  “Amanda?” I asked, just to be sure. The woman that had been with me during the first event, my first full moon. The woman nearly beheaded, the woman I had left behind.

  She gave me a soft smile and stepped forward.

  “It’s good to see you again.”

  “I feel the same… how have you been?” I asked, ignoring the pangs of guilt.

  “Good, wonderful even…” She went to continue but glanced at the closed pavilion. “Perhaps it would be better to talk elsewhere?”

  I agreed and she led me to another path, a path that seemingly appeared out of nowhere. It led further out, towards a small place where a stone bench sat beside a pond filled with fish.

  “I think here will do.” She mused and presented the seat. I took it without question, and she sat beside me.

  There was a beat, a pause, an awkward silence. Neither of us seemed to know how to start the conversation. She looked unchanged, her hair still in a braid that hung over her shoulder. She looked like a young housewife, her fingers fiddled with the tarnished gold ring on her ring finger. Her eyes locked on it.

  This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.

  Eventually, I made the first step. “What happened back at the event…” I started but paused. Unsure how to continue. When I found the words, I opened my mouth to speak, but she held her hand up.

  “It’s fine. You didn’t do anything wrong. If anything, I’m happy you stayed as long as you did after I was injured.”

  I wasn’t sure what to say to that… It didn’t help that in this moment of all moments, I felt that familiar itch.

  “Thinking of smoking?” She asked, no, it was almost a tease.

  “Maybe...” Too much happened all at once. Really, a part of me really wished I could.

  “You should probably just get rid of it then?” She answered back. It wasn’t an accusatory tone. Instead, it was asked more as a question.

  “I couldn’t do that…” I started and stopped.

  “I suppose you won’t tell me why then?”

  “Still a no, unfortunately.” I said, and she actually laughed at that.

  “I didn’t expect any different to be honest. Though, I don’t suppose we’re all that different, are we?” She says, her eyes stuck on the ring on her finger.

  I didn’t have an actual answer to that, so I stayed silent. Though, based on what she said, I could infer what she meant. Clearly, that ring she wore meant something to her.

  Only… it wasn’t even a real gold ring. It was already tarnished, even staining her ring finger.

  Was Amanda married? Had she been married? She looked like a young housewife, but was she really that old? Was she older? Did she have kids? More appropriately, did she have kids before coming here?

  I had so many questions, and yet, even asking them felt like a breach. Which left us simply existing beside each other and yet… It didn’t feel so bad.

  Amanda began to hum lightly. We listened to the birds. The swaying trees.

  “You know… I still have nightmares. Of that day I mean.” She said, breaking the silence after a while. Her hand reached for her throat. “It’s funny really.” Her eyes were distant. Tears glimmered. “When I was bleeding out, with my throat cut open, after that monster rushed me. Every night I keep remembering that moment. Over and over… The blood flooding into my lungs. Of drowning in my own blood…” She lets out a small laugh.

  “Yet… even then, I can’t help but enjoy my new life here… Isn’t that strange?”

  Her words, struck a chord. “I don’t think it’s that strange.”

  She looked at me, as if to silently ask for me to elaborate, so, I did.

  “After separating, I was underground. It was dark, pitch black, with only a single lantern to guide the way. The air was hot, heavy, and damp. All I could hear was a distant beat. All the while I had to contort and move myself through an army of those white creatures we saw at the end.”

  Amanda was silent, watching me.

  “It was horrible, time seemed to stretch out infinitely and whenever I’m alone, or close my eyes, sometimes, sometimes I remember being there. Feeling it, the smell, the distant beat. I too thought I was insane, after all, I still wanted to keep going after that event. A part of me questioned why I even left you both. Even if the end result ended in my favor. A part of me knew I’d regret it, or at least, knew that doing so wouldn’t be entirely beneficial to me, and yet, I still did it.”

  “And did you find out why you felt that way?” She asked.

  “Yes. It was always kind of there, in the back, but today, I think I finally understood. Here, in this city, I’m no longer helpless. Or rather, I finally see a path forward. A chance to get strong on my own terms. So that I can no longer be jerked around by the whims of others.”

  Amanda was quiet. Listening.

  “All my life, I’ve been running. Or so it felt. Even when it felt like it had turned around, right on the cusp of changing the paradigm, something happened, the floor opened up right beneath me and I was back to square one. All my life it’s been like that, save for few instances of stability.”

  Amanda nods slowly. “I can understand that… My parents weren’t exactly… good parents, though they meant well. They always warned me about boys, kept me indoors, and were just generally suffocating. Yet, looking back, I can’t help but yearn for those days. Looking back, if I knew what I did, I’d have definitely been a better daughter.”

  This time, it was my time to listen. Her eyes were again on the ring on her finger.

  “I was married, you know. Right out of high school. More like, I eloped with my high school sweetheart. This is the ring he gave me on our wedding day. I remember being over the moon, so happy…”

  She looked lost and, also, morose.

  “I’d been so stupid…” She said with another sigh and continued to fidget with her ring.

  I shifted lightly, considered what to say, do.

  “It’s alright if you don’t want to say anything.” She said after a moment. “You don’t need to. I just, wanted to let it off my chest, you know?”

  “I can understand…” I said after a moment, and we just sat in silence. Neither of us talking for a long moment. I glanced from where we came from, hoping Grim would come back, but alas, no luck.

  “Did you… have kids?” I asked, cautiously.

  “I did.” She said.

  “Do you miss them?”

  “No.” She stated… only to blink. “I suppose that sounds a bit, odd for a mother to say.”

  I shrug. “I can’t say I know.”

  “You ever had kids?”

  “Nope.”

  “A significant other? A husband?”

  I was going to blow her off, but… “There was someone…” I said.

  “Would they be related to those sticks of cancer?”

  “They got me into them, in fact.”

  “Really? Now, that has to be a story.”

  “Well…” I considered and sighed, why not. “I’d just been fired from my job when, they found me. It was raining, I was crying, middle of the night, the whole shebang.”

  She nodded, enraptured. I continued. Though, with a bit of alterations. Not mentioning the gender of Alex, or my own. She listened well, gave comments when appropriate, and when it was all done…

  “I can see why you hang onto those, but… whatever happened to this Casanova?”

  “I left them.”

  “You did?”

  “Yeah… I had too much baggage, I couldn’t just settle down, if that makes sense. Not just that, I was afraid that if I kept staying with them, I might be tempted to just, give up. So… I left. I withdrew all the money I had saved up, left it on the table, along with a note telling them to pursue their own dreams and just, left.”

  She was quiet for a long while. Eventually, “Do you regret leaving them?”

  “Despite everything… No… I don’t…”

  “Is that so? Well, I can’t judge you. I mean, I don’t even miss my own children or husband. Though, I can see why you’re so fixated on those cigarettes. After all, I have my own vice as well.”

  “Do you now?”

  “I’m quite the avid gardener. You know, back at my old place, my garden was immaculate. Talk of the town. Even the local papers and news channels talked about it. I made an effort to collect all kinds of plants and herbs. It was, my sanctuary.” She had a distant look on her face as she spoke, along with a soft smile.

  “I suppose that explains why you’re working here.”

  “It does, doesn’t it? I really enjoy being here. All the exotic plants and herbs… Honestly, this is paradise for me, but… I also know it’s not without a cost.”

  I nod.

  In the end, we chat a bit more. Honestly, I felt a lot closer to her now. Though… there were still questions hanging in the back. Like, why was she chosen? What happened with her marriage, her children?

  A part of me, a more cynical part of me… the rational part of me whispered a possibility. A horrible one.

  That this woman beside me, that something had happened, that she’d killed her own family with her own hands, and only then, after the deed was done, did the rabbit come. Whisking her off elsewhere.

  But… that would be too insane, right?

  Almost like, say, if I had killed my old boss, a man I had considered a close friend, a brother with his favorite pen.

  But… that just was silly. Absurd even…

  And so, banishing those thoughts elsewhere. I focused on our conversation. It went back and forth, us sharing how our days went, work, and such. Until, inevitably, Grim found me.

  I bid Amanda farewell and followed Grim out. Grim led me towards a nearby café. We sat at a table outside. A server came to take our order.

  “I’ll have a bacon, egg, and cheese bagel. With…” Grim paused and looked over the menu. Her eyebrows perked. “A pumpkin spice latte.”

  I gave her a look.

  “What? it’s in season.”

  I wasn’t going to judge her, but she seemed a lot more relaxed as it was. The almost unapproachable air that surrounded her faded, and in its place was an almost child-ish glee.

  I ordered the same thing, but for a beverage… I paused… I looked at Grim, her eyes glimmering. “A mocha, please.”

  “Of course, I’ll be right back with your order.” And the server left us.

  “A mocha, huh?”

  “It’s like hot chocolate, but with coffee…” My response was rather child-ish and it had Grim giggling. “Like you’re any better. I mean, who even orders that? I’d assume any self-respecting person wouldn’t even bother touching that drink, let alone drinking it.”

  “Bah, it’s in season. It changes things up from the norm.”

  “I bet you’re one to load tons of cream and sugar in your coffee.”

  “What if I am?” She challenged.

  “Whatever…” I relented, not wanting to die on that hill. We waited for our food, we ate and drank our respective drinks. As we finished up, Grim paying the meal. I finally asked a question burning in my gut.

  “What was that seed?” I had an inkling, but…

  “You could say it’s a second… no, a third chance. I would say that everyone in this city understands just how valuable a second chance is, and few, if any ever get a third chance…” She sighs.

  “Then that seed was?”

  “Yes. That was the alraune, the girl we had killed. At least, it’s a part of her in a sense.”

  “You said she was a mistake?”

  “Well, that’s what they call them. It doesn’t happen often, but occasionally people that get brought over… change. The gardener is like that, as is the director of the hospital. Both faced difficulties, as they aren’t supported by any of the mascots. Even then, they’re luckier than most. Most tend to change into monsters. Which means they can’t even get a job, or work in the city without causing issues. Not unless they learn how to disguise themselves…”

  “Aren’t their avenues for them? Like the women’s shelter?”

  “That depends on whether or not you can find them. There isn’t a program, not really for new arrivals that those mascots call mistakes. They can appear just about anywhere, and usually, they manage to make it to Tartarus, which lies deep below the city. However, many more simply don’t make it.”

  She took a moment to pause and sip at her latte. I took the moment to sip at my mocha. Neither of us spoke.

  “Do they really not care?” I asked, who ‘they’ were was obvious.

  The smile on Grim’s face told me all I needed too. It was not a kind smile. “That depends on who you ask… Foxes tend to think the mascots are their saviors. Beings that could never do wrong. Dogs don’t much care, since we’re hired for a job essentially… Rabbits though?”

  She paused and looked at me. “Well, that could be answered in one way… Have you enjoyed your time here?” I didn’t answer. I could tell, it was rhetorical. She didn’t want an answer. After all, she already knew the answer.

  “You’ve enjoyed your time here, haven’t you? Every rabbit does. Even after all the pain and suffering, they’d gladly throw themselves into the meatgrinder to push forward for whatever it is they want.”

  She spat out. Her black eyes shimmering with heat. The smell of burning charcoal hung in the air. She sighed and breathed, in and out…

  “Does that bother you so much?” I asked, when I saw that she calmed down.

  “It does… Knowing that so many people are brought here, some, like you against their will. I could accept it if everyone had chosen to be here, but… what makes it worse are those they call mistakes. To bring them here and discard them like that, is simply unconscionable.” She spat in a low voice, practically a growl.

  Clearly, today was not my day.

  She sighed. Slumped over the table. After a good minute, she forced herself up.

  “My apologies.” She bowed. “I let my emotions get the better of me.”

  “No, its fine.” I waved her off. “To be honest…” I hesitated. “I kind of like it.”

  “Hm?” She cocked her head in question.

  “The honesty… I mean, I still don’t know why you’re interested in me, specifically, but it sounds like you have an issue with the mascots.”

  “An issue would be putting it lightly, to be honest. I loathe them. Hate them with every fibre of my being.”

  “Didn’t you take a deal to be here?”

  “I did. Only because I was promised the chance to exact justice as I saw fit.”

  “And how does that work, with you being an officer, under a police chief?” I asked.

  “Well enough. It provides structure and honestly, the chief and I, and the other special investigators all get each other. In a way, we’re all cut from the same cloth. So, really, it’s not an issue.”

  “Is that so? And what is your goal, exactly?”

  “As I said, to mete out justice. Even if it means bringing justice the very being that brought me here.”

  “That…” I considered, trying to search for the right word.

  “I know, it sounds insane, and honestly, it’s not like I’m trying to recruit you.”

  “Then why the interest?”

  I ask and she gives me a long look. “Because, I see something in you, I guess.”

  “See something, like what?”

  “Potential, for what? I don’t know, but it could be good or bad.”

  “And?”

  “And, if possible, I want to tilt the scale, ever so slightly in the right direction.”

  “Really? Just that?” I say, bewildered.

  “What, you think I’d say something like, I’m keeping an eye on you because you might cause trouble, or that I might consider putting you down before you become a problem?” She lets out a small laugh.

  I didn’t want to respond, because honestly, yeah, I was beginning to think that. Knowing my goals, I knew, inevitably, we might cross paths.

  “I want to believe, that when the time comes, you’ll make the right decision.” After a momentary silence she says… Though her tone seemed rather, forlorn.

  “Has… that ever worked?”

  She gave me a look I knew all too well…

  “Well, I can’t promise anything.” I start awkwardly, “But I can say I’ll do my best.”

  “That’s about the best I could hope for… Anyway, thank you for today. Both for warning me about the attack, and for coming to my assistance.”

  “I just wanted some experience, and… I think, honestly, you might have been able to handle it on your own.”

  “You’re not wrong, but it would have cost me.”

  “Well, it’s a good thing you’re paying for breakfast then…”

  “I suppose it is.” She said with a light laugh.

  Conversation wound down as Grim got a new drink and we settled down to eat. For the most part, we weren’t that close, but it was clear that Grim wanted to form a relationship with me, but honestly…

  I wasn’t sure how to feel about it.

  As our time came to an end, she paid the bill, and we separated my own mind was lost in thought. I thought back to the recent events. The very literal event, Usagi, that sheep.

  Of the new knowledge begging me to flex it. Of those I teamed up with.

  Inevitably though, my mind drifted to my most recent encounters.

  Diana and Amanda. Their stories were similar in a way. From the sounds of it, and her bearing, I could imagine Diana was an heir. An heir to a company or something else. Surrounded by snakes. She seemed like the sort.

  Then there was Amanda handing out just enough clues to infer something tragic had happened.

  Then combined with my own story…

  Was it possible, that all rabbits shared a common set of traits? Having gone through trials and tribulations, constantly surviving, striving, and when we found ourselves cornered, with no possible escape, instead of just lying down and accepting our fate…

  Perhaps, that was what made a rabbit, a rabbit. That when cornered, we don’t just lie down and die. Instead, against all odds, we turn around, face off with whatever is barring our way and attack…

  Then again, I could be wrong…

  After all, this was just a theory, but…

  Grim felt different, compared to the rabbits I met.

  So, perhaps I was onto something, but honestly…

  I just wanted to take a hot bath, and sleep…

  Hopefully, next month won’t be nearly as crazy…

  …And what I hated the most, was I was almost wishing it would be just as crazy…

  End of Book 1...