The rain slackened to a miserable drizzle, hissing on broken stone. The bodies lay where they fell, some Hollowed still twitching, ichor pooling in the cracks.
Rix sat hunched, breath coming in wet gasps. His crimson energy had fled him, leaving only a hollow ache in its wake. Every muscle screamed. Mira pressed a scrap of cloth to a split on his brow, her hands trembling.
Kael stood nearby, blades slick with black gore. He kept glancing into the shadows, jaw tight. "He'll be back. Bastard didn't get what he wanted."
"Or maybe he did," Zane murmured, shadows curling lazily around his shoulders. His eyes looked almost feverish. "He saw Rix crack something open. Bet he's purring in that pretty mask."
Kross wiped a smear of blood from his face, spat into the rubble. "Next time I'll rip his damn spine out."
Renn leaned against a toppled pillar, lightning crackling fitfully across his knuckles. "Next time he might not let us walk away."
No one argued. For a moment, the only sounds were the patter of rain and the faint crackle of burning timbers from some distant building still smoldering.
---
Rix pushed Mira's hands away gently. He tried to stand, nearly buckled, then grunted and forced himself upright. "We have to move. If we stay here, we're gifts on a platter."
"Back to the den?" Mira asked, voice small.
"For now," Kael said. His eyes lingered on Rix. "But tomorrow, we start hunting. I'm done waiting for that Keeper freak to decide when we fight."
"About time." Kross bared his teeth in a savage grin. Even battered, he looked eager.
Zane tilted his head, eyes half-lidded. "Might not be his decision anyway. Something bigger's coming."
Rix met his gaze. "What do you mean?"
The shadow-user shrugged. "Can't explain. But the dark talks different lately. Like it's hungry."
---
They made their way back through the alleys, avoiding main roads. The walk was tense, every clatter making them flinch. Twice they had to duck into collapsed doorways as patrols of enforcers swept by, lanterns bobbing, crossbows ready.
By the time they reached the old department store that was their home, dawn clawed at the horizon. A muddy, bruised grey light spilled across cracked display windows still showing headless mannequins in moth-eaten suits.
Inside, it was strangely comforting. Kross dropped his pipe by the door with a heavy sigh. Mira went to check their precious water barrels. Renn sank onto a battered couch and draped an arm over his eyes.
Rix stayed standing. His whole body buzzed, not with power this time — with dread. With questions. With the echo of Ruel's laughter crawling up his spine.
Kael clapped a hand on his shoulder. "Get some sleep. You're running on fumes."
"Can't," Rix muttered. "Feels like if I close my eyes, he'll be there."
Kael's mouth twitched. Not quite a smile. "Then keep 'em open. I'll take first watch."
---
Later, Mira curled up beside Kross on a pile of blankets, exhausted to tears. Renn snored on the couch. Even Zane seemed still, shadows pooling around him like a cat.
Rix paced. Each step hurt. His shoulder throbbed where the crossbow bolt had gone in. His lungs burned from screaming power he didn't understand.
Kael sat near the doorway, whetstone rasping over one of his knives. After a while he spoke, voice low. "You know… I think that Keeper's scared of you."
Rix frowned. "Didn't look scared."
"No, not of what you are now. Of what you might become." Kael tested the knife edge with his thumb, didn't flinch at the tiny bead of blood. "He's pushing you. Seeing how deep the well goes."
"Feels more like he's trying to break me."
"Same thing, sometimes."
They sat together in silence, watching the pale light creep across shattered tiles. Somewhere far off, a siren wailed — thin, lonely. The city never quite stopped bleeding.