Dead Man Walking: Living By Day, Dead By Night
Chapter 245: A Worrisome Invitation

To say that Zane was bewildered when the emissary from Elysium reached his door, inviting him to visit the largest human settlement west of the Rockies, would be an understatement. This time around, Valeria had ensured not to antagonize Zane, who she recognized during their initial encounter to be a deeply paranoid man.

Displays of force in his own backyard were not welcome, and the last time she tried this, he had exacted a major toll on her in recompense. And since this was the case, she sent a small party of six awakened survivors, who were among her most fearsome and loyal cultists, to give the man the message.

The letter of invitation was not written on any ordinary paper. Rather, it was inscribed on cardstock with golden filigree. As if to show off just how capable Elysium was in terms of production. Zane, of course, had no idea that this letter of invitation was crafted by Lilith as a means to conspire against him.

Still, Zane did not immediately answer the emissaries. Instead, he gave them comfortable lodgings in Gravestone's walls. While he himself discussed the matter with the women in his party. The six of them lounged about in the mess hall, while Zane brought this matter to attention.

And though they didn't realize it, Maya was nearby, eavesdropping on them all. Zane's voice was filled with caution. Ever the paranoid man, he did not trust Valeria and her invitation for a second. Naturally, his tone conveyed this very sentiment.

"I don't trust her… It's very dangerous to walk into the end of someone who, less than a month ago, was your enemy. What does she want? Why would she ask me to visit her settlement now? Break bread, and make peace? Unlikely. Something else is going on here, and I don't intend to be the victim of it!"

Olivia was silent as she thought about what this meant. She too was like Zane and did not trust the so called Goddess of Elysium.

A woman so willing to spill blood for the sake of Tahoe and its natural resources, a woman who was capable of mobilizing such a massive force, no less. It was simply unthinkable that she would suddenly want to invite Zane to Elysium simply as a diplomatic exchange as she had requested.

It was with this in her mind that Olivia rejected the idea entirely.

"I agree with Zane on this one. It is very strange indeed… I don't think we should go. This smells like a conspiracy to me… If that woman was capable of such generosity, she would not have sent an army to fight against us for control of Tahoe. Rather, she would have attempted to reach out to us and come to a peaceful compromise first.

Granted, we don't know much about her, but she does not seem like the type to make peace when she can simply take what she wants by force. What do you all think?"

Elena remained silent, but her fists were curled, and her teeth were clenched. It was clear by the hissing between them that she was not in favor of this idea. In fact, out of everyone present, only Angelica was the dissenter.

Ever the type of person to look at the potential good in people, and to take their offers at face value? Angelica tried to convince the group that this might very well be a genuine request to make peace and further establish ties between their two communities. Something that would be critical to the survival of humanity.

"I know what you're all going to say…. You're going to call me naïve. And yeah, I try to see the good in people. But I'm not some foolish child who doesn't understand the dangers that people pose. I mean, you all do understand I was sold into slavery once, right?

But… Gravestone is just a small settlement, and currently our only means of contact is with New Reno, which, speaking of, we haven't heard from them in a while. For all we know, the local horde king wiped them out already.

And though our community is doing well in terms of selfsufficiency. How many of us are there? 1,000 at the most? We can't just be thinking about the survival of our own people. We need to think about humanity as a whole.

If Zane is to be believed, then… Then as much as 99% of human life was wiped out during the outbreak of the virus, as well as the chaotic aftermath. So… If we can establish ties to a large settlement of fellow human beings. Maybe… Maybe we can work together for a brighter future!"

Zane had no love for humanity. In fact, he was no longer even a member of the species. He was as dead as the Horde Kings he hunted. And because of this, he remained silent. This was a discussion for the women to have, and because of this, they instantly began to debate with one another over the dangers and merits of such a decision.

Elena finally spoke, giving her thoughts on the matter. And venting some of her frustration in the process.

"The letter is clearly addressed to Zane. Not the settlement of Gravestone, and not our party. That bitch is up to something. I just know she is. There is no point in walking into such an obvious trap!"

Though she wouldn't admit it out loud, Elena was still pissed at Valeria, specifically because of the woman's prior attempts to seduce Zane. Even though she begrudgingly agreed to sharing Zane with the four other women that she lived with.

Elena would be damned if she let an outsider latch her claws onto her man! As for Madison, she was no longer as stupid and airheaded as she had been in the past. Though her stats of intelligence, wisdom, and charisma were lacking behind her companions. She was still at the level of genius when compared to a normal, non-awakened human.

Because of this, her words held more weight than they would have when Zane first captured her.

"I'm just saying Angelica has a point. And Zane is the de facto dictator of our little town. He's the one who defeated Elysium's armies. In all honesty, it makes sense that they would address the letter to him as our leader and protector.

Besides, I think you guys are forgetting something. Zane raised Gwen from the dead… She's now his servant. She's the strongest Horde King we have ever come across. Even if that cunt tries something against us, Gwen alone will be able to protect us, right?

I mean, I don't care how many thousands of level fifteen awakened crusaders you have, against a level 49 Horde King, they might as well be lambs to the slaughter…. I say we give peace a chance. Especially, if it can help out humanity as a whole. There is no point to be at each other's throats when the undead are trying to wipe us out, right?"

Though Madison was more intelligent than she had been in the past, she rarely spoke of her opinion, and because of this, the other women in the party looked at her with dumbfounded expressions on their faces.

They had forgotten that the girl had become vastly more intelligent, and in many ways, still assumed she was the same mindless bimbo that she had been when they met her. Lily, however, quickly recovered and supported both Madison and Angelica's proposal.

"I can't believe I'm saying this, but I agree with Maddie. Even if they try to do something vile to us, we are more powerful than them. With Zane's horde, and the six of us together, Elysium can't really harm us, now can they?"

Though Elena and Olivia seemed to be in disagreement. Zane interrupted their protests with a heavy sigh and a brief statement before walking out of the room altogether.

"It's 3 – 2 in favor of peace… I'm abstaining as I'm no longer human, and have no right to interfere in your matters. We'll go to Elysium to meet with the bitch…."

After saying this, Zane walked out of the room, but nobody followed him. Instead, he was approached by Maya in the hallways who had a cautious look on her face. She raised out her arms, signalling that she wanted Zane to pick her up.

Even though this little girl was really death herself, Zane still did as she requested. And once he did so, Maya whispered something into his ears.

"Is this the request coming from the same woman who visited you with an army last time?"

Zane looked confused at Maya when she said this. After all, she was in the bunker when he met with Valeria, or so he had thought. But he ultimately put the matter to the back of his mind.

She was death, after all, and as such was a damn near omnipotent being. It was reasonable for her to know everything that was going on around these parts, even if he himself did not know how.

After thinking about this for the briefest of time, Zane silently nodded his head. To which Maya leaned in was more and whispered a warning to him.

"Then you should be very careful when you visit. She may not look like it, but there is more to that woman than meets the eyes. I don't know what exactly their relationship is, but she had Lilith's scent all over her…."

Upon hearing such shocking information, Zane's eyes opened wide in disbelief. He was about to say something when Maya smirked and covered her lips with her index finger, signaling Zane to be silent.

Because of the very moment afterwards, Olivia and the others appeared from around the corner, where they were quick to speak to Zane more about their travel plans.

Despite discussing it for well over an hour, Zane did not mention what Maya had told him. Instead, he kept it in the back of his mind. And silently planned accordingly.