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  To say the two of us were a couple of hell-bent, bloodthirsty idiots would be putting it mildly. Ever since Luminous and I became sect leaders there had been an undying urge to see who would become the ultimate leader of both guards. In truth, we had spent the better part of ten years trying to kill the other just to earn the title and stop looking over our shoulders for once.

  However, we’d never succeeded—obviously—and for the life of me I couldn’t figure out why. I was a skilled and talented killer—so was Luminous if I were being brutally honest with myself. Then again, I narrowed my eyes on the thought. Maybe this was going to be the beginning to something serious. Probably not for the best, if my internal thoughts were anything to go off of. Calculating the timeframe, I tried to gage when either of our orders would come from Onyx Elite.

  While the thought processed, I tilted my head and watched Luminous staring at the flames her hellbent friend created. Thanks to the way her ironically luminous skin caught the light of the inferno I was able to see the shadows dancing in her damning eyes.

  What was running through her mind right now? Was she seeing the type of carnage I saw on a daily? Was she able to live with the consequences of living in the shadows? Everyone—both past and present—knew the rules of being a part of the guards; we were a group of genetically specialized soldiers. Hidden away on the dark side of the moon. Just like ghosts, we were nothing shy of abominations on the face of normalized society.

  Crossing my arms, I leaned against the tree and smirked as Luminous stared at the very tree line I was hiding in. If she knew I was standing here, watching every move she made we’d have a fight just to see if this bloody dance would finally come to an end. Not to mention, who had the better trainers when it was all said and down.

  I could tell from the tension in her shoulders, she was prepared to have a show down, it didn’t matter with who. All I would have to do is step out of the shadows and boom we’d dance with our weapons until the other was dead. Besides, she and I had the same look in our eyes as any other guard member.

  A lethally calm warning for anyone who wanted to get stupid for no reason. A promise for death should the wrong thing hit our ears. Even from the distance separating us, I could tell feelings were void in the gun metal depths of her eyes along with the indifference of sympathy most would have in this situation.

  I was half tempted to just say fuck it and step out of my shadow filled alcove, until I heard what type of mood, she was in.

  She snapped at the two members who were always by her and started walking away from the flames before eventually disappearing behind the adjacent tree line to my own. So much for entertaining the thought of a fight, I thought to myself. Taking another look at the wedding hall, I pushed off the tree and disappeared through the woods as the daytime fire fighters arrived to the ball of flames and began their smothering and dousing routine.

  Of course, there wouldn’t be any type of trace that either guard was present. And if what’s his face were smart, he would’ve made sure to make the death look like one of the guests had found out what he had done. Naturally, the detectives wouldn’t question the cause and method too much, especially in terms of the sole victim in the flames.

  Bruce Prince was a natural born criminal and anyone who thought otherwise was nothing shy of a fucking idiot. The man believed in punishing people who didn’t fulfill their promises.

  He had been quoted saying someone’s word isn’t worth anything if they lie. To which everyone agreed, but he took punishment to the extreme. Killing a father for not picking his kid up on time; attacking a woman because she left work early. The list went on, and none of the crime scenes were something that could just be ignored. In short? The man deserved the fiery death he had received and in truth, nobody would actually miss such a person.

  With content coursing through my veins, I stepped out on the isolated highway and just started aimlessly walking. I may not have liked the fact Svenia tried to handle an order on Silver turf, but I’d be an idiot to think Lumi and her band of quarters were incapable of handling the task.

  Actually, tonight wasn’t the first time I had wondered why the courts had broken up the duties of the guards. It wasn’t like Luminous or the others of Silver Guard trained differently than my Gold Guard or even the dreaded HG. So, why…my thoughts stopped as my eyes caught sight of my own target for the night.

  Eldrick Vance, third rank Silver Guard officer, murder, rapist, evil son of a bitch. The deed that sealed the deal for Mr. Vance was his heinous act against one of the black court’s officials. Of course, Silver Guard officials—not excluding Luminous—told the courts about their ongoing investigation and half-heartedly begged for patience and leniency. However, thanks to Eldrick thinking he was bigger than the moon and stars, he had gotten caught bragging about the murder to a few normal people. Needless to say, opening his mouth ended us being the final nail in his coffin and now, not even his guard could save him. Not that they cared.

  Unsheathing my Claymore sword, relishing in the weight I whistled through my teeth to get his attention.

  “Oi! Who you whistling at?” Eldrick Vance was a tall man, standing at six-seven on a good day. With fire red hair, dark navy-blue eyes and a bulbous nose smack in the center of his face, I’d admit he was extremely intimidating. The same way a newborn kitten was reeking of intimidation.

  “You, my friend,” I leaned against the grip of my sword considering the different ways I could kill the man in front of me.

  He stepped close to me, taking in my shoulder length black hair, the hard set of my jaw, the single light pink scar in my left eyebrow and most importantly. My eyes. Like Luminous, I showed nothing but a lethal calm warning in my washed-out gold eyes.

  “You’re gold.” He said in a thick Brixton accent, still appraising me.

  Tilting my head, I kept my tone neutral, “I am.”

  “Sect leader?”

  “So, it would seem.”

  “You know Luminous River?”

  “I do.”

  “Know her position, bruv?”

  I had to snort as his cockiness returned to the surface. And here I thought this was going to be an easy night.

  “We’re the same in status.”

  “I doubt that, yeah. You don’t know who you’re messing with, bruv. Let Lumi know what you’re trynna do and then we’ll talk, yeah?” He legitimately thought Luminous was going to come to his rescue? What in—I cut off the thought and considered him for a second. So, he was the stupid behind his experiment batch. Good to know.

  Finally, I shrugged, standing up to my own towering height, “that’s where you’re wrong, bruv. You know I’m a part of Gold Guard. So, I’m going to assume you know why I’m here. Talking to you. Right?”

  Understanding finally dawned on his freckle filled face. Scanning me from head to toe—taking an especially long look at my sword, he took a step back.

  “Oh no.”

  I smiled sinisterly, twirling the long sword to loosen my wrist, “oh yeah.”

  Eldrick Vance acted as if he knew this day was just around the corner but didn’t think it would be this soon. Retrospect had a way of being a bitch at the worst time. Granted, I didn’t blame him; he had gotten away with his misdeeds thanks to the normal lawyers and courts not finding any evidence beyond a reasonable doubt to prosecute. So, thanks to a few hushed whispers here and a couple hundred thousand there, Eldrick’s case was sent to the black courts and wham-bam here I was getting ready to do what the upper society couldn’t legally do.

  “Demir, right?”

  “Yes.” I hated mindless chatter before executing a red order. It just dragged out the process and wasted my time.

  “What if I told you I had inside information about your position and the guard you work for? Would that keep you from killing me?”

  “No.” I started toward him with my eyes narrowed and my sword at the ready.

  “Wait!” He held out his hand as if that were going to stop me fro
m fulfilling my duties. Did he honestly think I wouldn’t amputate his hand just for getting in my way?

  “Do you know why you’ve been assigned the red orders that were supposed to be given to Silver?” He half-shouted as he jerked the thing in question back.

  “I don’t care.” I tightened my grip on the sword, judging the distance between us.

  “You’re going to pay hell for yours and her existence.” He shifted on his feet before the bowing knife cut through the air and forced me to dive left.

  My feet landed in an attack stance as my arm swung the sword and caught Eldrick in the knee. A yelp of pain made him stagger backward for a second, long enough to catch the boomerang like knife and throw it at me again.

  I caught the sharp blade in my leather glove and smirked at his shocked expression.

  “Is this the best you’ve got, Eldrick?”

  Stumbling into the dry grass, he looked around for an escape where I couldn’t catch him. Luckily, for me, we were on an isolated highway in the middle of the backwoods. No trees, boulders, or mountains stood in the way for him to hide behind. Although, even with the obvious, he knew I would catch him within a blink of an eye even if there were.

  “You’re really not interested in what I know?” He was grasping for straws at this point.

  That much I knew, but why was he so desperate for me to hear him out about whatever information he had? In all of my almost thirty-five years I had never come across someone who negotiated until the very end. Besides, he should’ve known I wasn’t in the business of making a tit-for-tat type deal. In truth, this little job was from preventing me from doing what I wanted to do. Go home, have a beer—or ten—and go to sleep. Was that really too much to ask?

  “No, I’m not,” without giving him a chance to continue his carrot dangling routine, I spun around slicing him in half at the bottom of his ribcage.

  His top half fell to the side while his lower section fell forward. There was no reason for me to drive the blade through the top of Eldrick’s head, but I did anyway. Call it overkill and unnecessary but given my boredom and flustered thoughts toward Luminous. Why the hell not?

  Pulling the blood covered sword from the central command center of the body, I just stared at the used to be man. Why was I feeling a prick of guilt tinging my heart? Was it because I didn’t take in what he was trying to put out?

  Closing my eyes for a second, I tried to reason with myself. Ok, sure, I could’ve been lenient and listened to what he had to say, but what good would it have done had he told me something I was already aware of? Still, my mind kept coughing up useless questions.

  What secrets could the GG have been hiding from me? I was the sect leader of one of the main sects. Not to mention whenever there was a meeting regarding serious matters, the senior members allowed me to be present. There was nothing within the guard as a whole I didn’t know about.

  Besides, Eldrick Vance couldn’t have had anything of any use to me when it came to my guard’s business. At least, that’s what I kept telling myself while I pulled out my cellphone and called my second in command.

  “Yes?” Dristan Slater answered after the first ring but didn’t offer any other greeting sentiments.

  “Tell Onyx Elite Vance’s order has been completed. Also, send the disposal crew to my location.”

  “You got it,” before the call disconnected, I heard him pecking away on his computers.

  Dristan Slater was the kind of man and coworker to get something done as soon as you told him to do it. There was never any back talk, questioning of authority or any kind of hesitation. Instead, he took the order in stride and did his job.

  Sometimes, I wondered why he wasn’t the sect leader. Especially, since he did his duties so well and didn’t give any form of resistance when an assignment was uncomfortable for him. In truth, he was—by definition—the perfect soldier.

  Nonetheless, I shoved my phone back in my pocket, brushed my curious thoughts aside and started walking toward the city limits. Maybe a good night’s sleep was all I needed, I reasoned with myself.

  Come tomorrow I would be free from the thoughts of Luminous River and Eldrick Vance’s words. At least, that’s what I was going to tell myself until tomorrow proved me otherwise.

  §§§§§

  The following morning, I was pulling my covers over my head and groaning as Dristan threw back the curtains to reveal the midday sun. All the while barking something about one thing or another.

  He tended to always find a way to go around my security system and get into my house before I was ready to deal with him. However, on the flip side, I didn’t have to bother with calling him to find out where he was or what he was doing.

  Cracking my eye open, I flinched as the brightness hit me. The damn sun was just as happy as any other day and thanks to the late summer weather, I knew the temperature was just as cheery as the ball of fire assaulting my optical nerves.

  Flipping to the other side of the bed, I tried to pretend I was asleep. He knew I hated the sun more than I hated the members of Silver Guard. So why in the fuck was he sitting here demanding me to wake up?

  “Rise and shine sleeping beauty.”

  “Go away,” I started counting back from a hundred and allowed my mind to go blank. Ignoring Dristan was easier said than done and I knew my path to sleep was closed off until our assignments were finished for the night. Still, that didn’t stop me from trying.

  “Demir, get up. We need to go see who our targets for tonight are.” His big body forced the mattress to dip as he sat down beside me and lifted the blanket to smile at me. “Who knows? Maybe a certain someone from Silver is on the formal notices for the night.”

  “Why do you think someone from SG is going to be on the roster tonight or any other night for that matter?” Shoving my head under the pillow, I waited for sleep to consume me again.

  “I’m curious, what’s wrong with that?”

  I clenched my teeth and let a deep breath leave me, “go check it yourself if you’re so interested.”

  “Demir, get up, who knows, maybe Luminous is on the list today.”

  It was a challenge to not reach out from the blankets and strangle him for saying the other sect leader’s name. For the longest time I had told myself I wasn’t attracted to Luminous River in any way, shape, or form. But no matter how hard I kept telling myself over the years, every encounter with her seemed to bring something even more interesting about her.

  Whether it was the way she moved when she handled that demonic whip of hers or how she stayed silent when she was deep in thought. I’d be a liar if I said I wasn’t intrigued in everything she did. There was an attraction there, I wasn’t going to deny it like some jackass, but at the same time I had an inbred obligation to my guard.

  Forcing a deep breath out I tried to ignore the feelings for Luminous and focused on the problem at hand. There was no need to think about something that would never happen. Besides, keeping my distance from her and not causing anymore scenes with anyone from Silver would be in my best interest.

  Thinking to myself, I kept demanding my mind to believe what I already knew. There would never be a case where Silver and Gold blended into a happy family, even if I could be with her. Even if she wanted to be with me.

  Pressing the heel of my hands in my eyes, I blocked out my thoughts and focused on the present.

  “Go away and let me sleep.” I finally said to Dristan.

  Attacking my second in command and my best friend would be stupid on my part. Especially this early in the morning. He didn’t deserve my pent-up emotions or a punch in the face. Even if he had woken me up before I was ready to be conscious.

  He sighed and slapped a hard hand on my shoulder, “come on, man. You need to collect your payment and I can’t collect mine unless you sign off on the forms.”

  It was smart of him to go from the payment angle because if he mentioned Luminous one more time, I was going to lose my shit. Something told me from the back of
my mind, my best friend knew about my hidden feelings for the other sect leader. Yet, he didn’t mention his suspicions to me and kept his comments short without antagonizing me about my pitfalls.

  Throwing the blankets back, I covered my face with my hand and sighed. “You’re paying for the coffee.”

  A sly smirk covered his face as he stood from my bed and nodded. “I can do that.”

  “You can, and you will.” I groaned and got out of the bed.

  I pushed my hair from my eyes; another nauseatingly bright day and with it, new worries. The sun blazing through the window forced the bright rays to cast a perfect glow throughout my room, illuminating all of my possessions. Still, even though there were no shadows, I couldn’t stop my mind from coughing up the memories of Eldrick Vance’s words.

  You’re going to pay hell for yours and her existence.

  What the was that supposed to mean? Better yet why was Dristan so excited about the roster of red orders today? He didn’t particularly care about who was on the roster, just the payment. So, unless there was something I was missing there was no justifiable reason for him to be as happy as the sun right now. Then again, I was probably overthinking everything from Eldrick’s words to Dristan’s excitement, but a nagging feeling in the pit of my stomach was telling me there was something in the works I had yet to know about. And wasn’t that just a great way to start the day off?

  Twenty minutes later I was walking alongside Dristan toward one of our neutral ground coffee shops. Anyone from Silver and Gold could come to the little hole in the wall shop without the worry of getting dead while trying to get their caffeine. Granted, the majority of members who did frequent the shop were in my current situation. Forced from their beds and had to face the day with a friendly disposition just to keep their identities under cover.

  Mel & Henry’s was nothing like Starbucks, but it was just as good and less crowded. In truth, the shop had faced everything from that god awful pandemic to the riots head on and had remained strong throughout it all. Not to mention the owners and employees had a tendency to shovel out as much caffeine as anyone could want just to keep the drama factor at a minimum. All in all, the little shop was a great place to wake up and contemplate one’s daily tasks.