Late into the evening at a skyscraper within Lyrsium, half a dozen armed syndicate members guarded the elevators in the lobby. They wore similar combat suits to Aegis, with noticeable differences. Like other well-known Lyrsium syndicates, their appearances mix the past into their modern attire. In this instance, several Asian culture’s iconography allude to them belonging to The Horde. Another group soon approached them, in altogether similar aesthetics. Yet, after some heated words, a fight immediately breaks out between them. The few employees who hadn’t already hidden away scattered into the recesses of the building.

  Though each present wields a transarm, the confrontations are sloppy affairs compared to the duels of the underworld. Amidst the ensuing chaos, a young man made his way into an elevator. Those left behind continue to fight. A short while later, the man rushed into an extravagant penthouse suite with no resistance. He looked ready to fight, with transarm brandished. He stopped in surprise. A woman sat in leisure in the middle of a couch. She had chic, styled, short jet-black hair that framed her face. She looked in her late-thirties and wore stylish clothing.

  “You’re pitifully late, boy,” a man said.

  A short distance away from the woman, a significantly older man sat in a padded chair. Two standing, stoic guards flanked him. He leaned against a cane as he looked at the man. Despite his advanced age, he had an intimidating presence. He had long white hair and a lengthy braided beard, along with glasses hanging at his nose.

  “Zheng, you decrepit old fuck!” the young man said as he moved into a stance.

  “The impetus of youth.” Zheng shook his head.

  “Please calm yourself, Tenzin,” the woman said as she looked at the young man. Tenzin immediately acquiesced to her words.

  Tenzin looked in his late twenties. He had several piercings in his ears while also sporting numerous tattoos climbing up his neck and wore an Aegis suit beneath his clothing. He had stylized, short blond hair and wore sunglasses.

  “What’s going on?” Tenzin demanded. “Has he hurt you, Farrah?” He displayed immense hostility toward Zheng, clearly ready to attack if given a reason. Despite this, Zheng’s guard’s demeanor didn’t change in the slightest.

  “Why must you remind me of the shame I feel we hold the same position each time we meet?” Zheng lamented. “Idiotic child, can you not see we’ve been waiting for you?” Tenzin looked at Farrah, who gave a slight smile as she gestured to a chair opposite Zheng.

  “Please,” Farrah said. Tenzin deflated, yet almost enthusiastically sitting where she had instructed.

  “On with it, woman, I’ve waited long enough,” Zheng said.

  Tenzin pointed his transarm at Zheng. “Watch your fucking tongue or I’ll cut it out and feed it to you.” Before Zheng could respond, Farrah spoke.

  “Both of you will be quiet until I’m finished.” Tenzin and Zheng shot each other menacing glares. “Good. I’ve a proposition neither of you will like, but you will listen if you want to be Khan.”

  Earlier that day, at Vyxora apartments, in the Vyx home, Celeste sat at her dining table. She read a letter in her hand.

  ‘Dear Celeste,

  I am writing this letter in desperation. I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve tried to write to you, and now I’m shamelessly coming to you to beg for your help. My only hope is that you are just as kind as I remember for me to take advantage of. I’d surely feel better if I knew you’d forgotten me, but I doubt it. This is Farrah Khulf. The girl you saved so many years ago. And I’m praying you will hide my children, Ren and Fei.’

  Celeste looked up. “You’re Farrah’s children?” Across the table from Celeste, a young man sat upright. He had a serious demeanor, even while looking flushed as sweat dried. He had short jet-black hair, a clean-shaven face, and deep-set brownish-black eyes. Several layers of clothing were draped on the chair back. A pair of sunglasses and a hat lay beside a large cup of iced water. “Ren?”

  “Yes, Mrs. Vyx,” Ren said.

  “And Fei?” Celeste looked a little over. A young girl barely out of her teens in a tank-top lay her face against the table, clearly enjoying the cold surface on her flushed cheeks. She, too, had clothes draped on the chair, along with a hat and sunglasses. She pressed her lips against a cool glass. Even with the age difference, she resembled Farrah greatly and had amber eyes, while her long wavy dark-blond hair stuck to parts of her wet skin.

  Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

  “Yes,” Ren said. “I apologize for her unsightly behavior.”

  “Fuck off, ass, I’m dying here,” Fei grumbled.

  “It’s quite alright, hun. And let me know if either of you need anything else,” Celeste said. Farrah… it’s been so many years. That explains how they knew such an old password. She returned to the letter, which had a great deal remaining, several pages at least.

  ‘The man with them is a bodyguard I trust, Hanif.’

  “Hanif?” Celeste looked at Ren. He started to open his mouth to speak.

  “That fucking prick abandoned us when we got here,” Fei snapped. “Went back to her.” She clicked her tongue.

  “Quiet, Fei,” Ren said. He leaned over to whisper to her. “Keep your mouth shut. This isn’t a game, you spoiled cunt. We have nowhere else to go.” Celeste observed Fei’s expression twist as she turned her head to look away.

  Ren looked at Celeste. “Sorry, again. It’s as Fei said though, Hanif brought us here, but decided to return to Mother. He passed us some things, then left without discussion. I was told not to read that letter, however, that it should answer much. I’m at your disposal otherwise, Mrs. Vyx, should you have any further questions. I’ll answer them to the best of my ability.”

  “I see. Thanks in advance, then, hun,” Celeste said. She returned to the letter.

  ‘He can answer questions outside of the letter. I’m writing this only the night before, but will explain as much as I can. I’m repeating myself, but I’ve tried to write to you so many times. I wanted to tell you I was okay, but could never find the right words. Because I felt as if I had betrayed the kindness you showed me. I couldn’t even face you to say goodbye back then. I left that note because I knew you might go looking for me if I were to disappear without a word. I convinced myself at the time that, honestly, I’m not even sure anymore. Bear with me as I finally fess up.’

  ‘You saved me. That’s an indisputable fact. To this day, I’ve never been able to remember how you found me. Blitzed out of my mind. Exploiting several, well, sugar daddys. Let’s be honest. Somehow, even decades later, I want to throw up when I think about it. I’m saying this because you were always claiming that it was my efforts and downplayed yourself.’ The letter went on for a few paragraphs, detailing Celeste’s role in caring for Farrah during drug rehabilitation. ‘I’m rambling a lot already. It’s like my fingers remember all the crumpled drafts I tried writing. Onto finally explaining myself.’

  ‘I no longer remember the specifics, but I ran into a girl from my ‘previous’ life. She’d been one of my only friends. As much as you can have an actual friend in that kind of life, at least. She clearly was doing the same grifts as ever. She begged me to help her out of a bind. Again, I no longer remember the details, but I agreed to attend a party with her. There were going to be very wealthy marks. I think at the time I even had arrogant ideas about saving her, as you did me. I know I was planning to only be present, and not, you know. And this is where I betrayed you. Thinking back, it was all in my head. Even now, I don’t really know how you would’ve responded.’ Farrah went into some detail of the party and what happened at it. ‘I fell in love. And he loved me. I had no clue at the time. Erdem, leader of The Horde syndicate.’ The letter continued on with Farrah explaining herself.

  ‘I can’t believe I’ve written so much. My hand’s even cramping. I ask that you destroy this last page after reading it. I’ve already risked testing your patience by unburdening myself, and only hope you can forgive me by finally getting to the point. I’ve somewhat kept tabs on the Vyx, so I know you’ll understand the following. Erdem passed away a few months ago. The council issued a gag order, yet a war of succession has been brewing ever since, as he did not properly choose an heir. As you read this, I’m likely in a meeting with two of the factions. I’m afraid of who or why I was tipped off they would even be making a move, but I don’t have the luxury of questioning it. They’re after Fei. One of them is the old guard, an adviser to Erdem long before me, Zheng. The other is also an adviser of equal standing but significantly younger, Tenzin. Which should convey how clever, and dangerous, he is. They both want to force Fei into marriage. It would give them legitimacy against the other two factions, led by Erdem’s eldest son Azhtang and, next oldest, Batu. Each have a different mother. Ren, on the other hand, hasn’t been involved with the syndicate in any real capacity. Yet, I worry him having a claim could put him in danger from any, or all, of them.’

  ‘I need you to hide them. I have somewhat of a plan, but need them hidden safely. Please. I’m a horrid woman for making such a request after all these years, especially since I know you will accept. So please at least accept the significant credits Ren will offer. Call it an old habit that I squirreled away plenty for a rainy day. I know you’d even do this without them. So think of it as a donation, if you have to. I’ll establish contact with you as soon as I’m confident it won’t compromise their safety. Thank you, Celeste.’

  Celeste stood up and walked over to her kitchen with the last page of the letter in hand. Fei had fallen asleep while Ren had remained stoically upright. He watched Celeste as she lit the page on fire and tossed it in her sink. She walked back out.

  “Well then, huns, let’s get you a shower and a meal,” Celeste said.

  “Does this mean you’ve agreed, Mrs. Vyx?” Ren asked.

  “Celeste, hun. Yes.”

  Ren proffered his open palm, which held a device. “If that’s what you prefer, Celeste. Here.”

  “You can put that away.”

  Ren shook his head. “Mother told me to insist you take it.”

  Celeste observed Ren’s stern expression. “Yer not gonna take no for an answer, are you?”

  “Correct.”

  Celeste sighed as she took the device from his hand. “How much do you know?”

  “Mother gave us little explanation and even less time to take anything with us. I know they’re after Fei. However, I don’t know what she told Fei. I’ve never seen Mother like that, though…”

  “Where’s my fucking slippers, you useless bitch!” Fei shouted in her sleep, startling the others.

  Ren shook his head with a pained expression. “I’m never going to be able to apologize enough in advance for her.” Fei started humming a tune, still asleep.