The Moon's Fangs | 1
35 | care package

The truth bomb Reks dropped on the cage fighter left much to be desired. An overdue answer which spiraled into far more questions.

The breadcrumb he threw at Etch seemed to be all he’d been willing to give. Whoever Etch’s ascendents were, Reks had known them. Known them well enough to spot a resemblance. It made me wonder how many others he’d come across. Were they walking reminders of the life stolen out from under him?

The question sat heavily on my mind as we made our way back upstairs to conclude our business with Baze and Shion.

Reks materialized a hologram notepad with a list of items we needed, then handed it over. Shion snatched it from Baze, gave it a single look over, then tossed it aside to dissipate. “Gah, what a pain,” she mumbled, heading over to her worktable to collect the necessary items.

I snuck a look through the window. Etch shoved past clerks and observers, seeming to shout at no one in particular. I small, circular projection next to his ear indicated he attempted to make their version of a phone call.

After using Nolan’s little nickname for me, it was safe to assume who the fighter wanted to reach.

“You have quite the collection here.” Reks observed, catching the tail-end of the scene down below before Etch disappeared behind a door on the opposite side.

Reks had slipped his shirt off on the way up here because it reeked of random strangers’ blood but left it and his hood to drape carelessly over a shoulder. Doesn’t that defeat the purpose of getting away from the smell?

Nevertheless, my eyes begged to explore the defined curves of his arms, the way the cage lights glided across the length of his bare back, getting lost in the deep curve of his lower oblique as he turned in my direction—my direction.

Heat scorched my face as I scrambled to fake interest in some old gadgets strewn about over the counter I stood closest to. But it was in vain. He had caught my explorative gaze. And Reks wasn’t the type to let go of things easily.

He closed in, peering over my shoulder to look at whatever weird gadget thing I twiddled with.

“You’re cute when you’re nervous.”

“What? I’m not nervous. Why would I be nervous?” my voice went an octave too high. My jittery fingers snapped the gadget open, unintentionally opening the two halves of the titanium cylinder into an industrial-like scroll.

“Really now?” the breath of his quiet chuckle brushed past the rim of the hood, sending a trail of goosebumps down my burning neck. “I could have sworn you only redden like this when thinking indecently sinful things about me.” He lightly tugged the hood off my head, further exposing just how right he’d been. “Care to share?”

“I w-wasn’t.” I lied. “Thought I saw a scratch Luk might’ve missed. That’s all.”

“A scratch?”

“A big scratch. Okay? But nothing’s there. So you’re fine.”

His wolfish smile pressed against my ear as his tone dropped low and deeply husky. “Apart of me wants nothing more than to hear you try to lie between the moans of unfeigned pleasure.”

The gadget fumbled out of my hands and fell back onto the counter. I shot him a look, despite the fire blistering my cheeks. “Did you ever consider you might be reading a little too far into things? I mean… I’m not sure if my math is right, but hasn’t it been close to a millennia since you’ve been laid?” A condescending smile snuck across my lips.

Reks pressed a hand against his bare chest, over his heart. “Hit me right where it hurts. You play dirty.”

I leaned in close to where only he would hear me whisper through a placating pout. “Aw, don’t tell me I hurt your little assassin feelings.”

His dark eyes widened, and the wolfish grin turned predatory. “Careful, Amelia… if you keep this up, I’ll feel inclined to fight fire with fire. And I won’t fucking stop until mine consumes yours.”

My breath hitched as his fingers glided across the thin chain of my necklace, lifting the little blue gemstone away from the dip of my collarbone.

My heart fluttered in my throat, making my breathing turn heavy and uneven. “You’re in over your head,” I said, pushing buttons I knew shouldn’t be pushed, but demanded to be pushed despite everything.

“Am I?” He pressed, tilting his chin down to the point where his nose nearly touched mine.

“Ugh, for the Fates above and Shayd below! Either kiss Amelia or don’t. I’m tired of waiting for this sickly moment to end!” Shion huffed out a curse. “Do you want your stupid stuff or not?”

Reks and I both took a step back from each other, looking away as awkwardness flooded the room. It was like we had both forgotten where we were at.

“She knows your name?” Reks’ brows furrowed with his attempt to change the subject.

I moved to answer, but Shion beat me to it. “Obviously I know her name, since we’re on the path to everlasting friendship, unlike you, no name.”

The sheer amount of sarcastic spunk in her mousy tone caused me to crack up in laughter. It was so sudden, I hadn’t expected it. But it felt good to laugh. It was a release of tension I didn’t realize had built up under my muscles.

The concern he held in his features eased as he looked at me, letting whatever remark he wanted to lecture me about name-dropping slide away. “I’m sorry you feel that way, Shion.” he looked back over at her and offered a charming smile, which made her tiny frame tighten up. “If all goes well during our planned visit to the citadel, I’ll consider sharing it with you... so long as you prove to keep the one you know well hidden.”

“Yeah, whatever.” She jerked her eyes away from him like a teenager would when pretending to be annoyed, and turned to a small, beautifully enameled container. It sat next to the small stack of items she put together on her workbench. She picked up two coins double the size of a quarter, both etched with an emblem of a fox’s head with horns wrapped above downy ears in the shape of a sharpened crown. A kinya. “These’ll get you to the surface. They’re special passes Baze won from a high rank a few years back. He’d been saving them for a rainy day… but I guess he wants to give ’em to you now. The guard’ll make a mark on the back when you leave Asylum with the date an’ time, then make the second mark on the front when you return. After that, the coins’ll be useless. Make sure you’re back within fifty hours, ’er else they’ll add ya to the surface ban list.” she tossed the two large coins in the container, then reached for the next item. “This’s a direct comm-link for one of you to reach me… but it better be worth my time if you do.” she shot us a quick glare, then flicked it in with the coins.

“You can reach me through that comm, too.” Baze added in, peering over one giant shoulder whilst tending to his plants. “Door’s open for all kinds of business.” he chuckled mischievously, the same way he did after obviously making a substantial profit on Reks’ win.

“Sure. Or tech issues. Which shouldn’t be a problem since I designed these bad boys.” Shion said blandly, picking up a ring and an armlet, both a deep onyx black.

“You designed your own glamours?” Reks asked, brows raising at the two accessories. “That’s a pretty advanced skill you have.”

Her brows climbed. “Do you even know who you’re talking to here? Of course it’s amazing.” Her cheeks turned pink to match her hair after catching Reks’ curious gaze again. “A-anyway… you two better not lose ’em or mess ’em up! I want these back after you’re finished. You got that?”

“You can count on us.” I smiled. “We’ll do our best to give them back as soon as we can.”

“You better. Or else.” She said, gently setting them both in the container. “The ring is for no name and the armlet is for you, Amelia. I already configured them with a high-ranking family that’re never seen out’n’about. Like hermits. They’re juusst important enough to squeeze into the Circle’s fancy party without causing suspicion. While wearing the glamours, the fake IDs will say your names are Loren and Piren Voa, siblings who have an ancestor that worked for the Lucils, or whatever. Understand? Don’t go screwin’ up.”

“And don’t go screwing up their good name.” Baze cut in. “This family’s undisclosed friends of ours. They’re risking a lot to let us use their identities to move about freely.”

“Yeah, what he said. If you talk to anyone at the gala, make note of any stories or lies spilled from your mouth so the twins can reference them later if brought up. And make sure you don’t put ’em in a bad spot with anyone. The twins hold grudges.” Shion added.

“Wait, how does this work? We put those on and what, look like other people?” I asked, recalling how Reks initially thought I wore a hidden glamour the first time we met… and if my memory served correctly, was quite angry about it.

“Well duh.” Shion snapped her hand up flippantly, like backhanding a fly. “You’ll look like carbon copies of the Voa twins. I added a mechanic in for when both are worn, the other will be able to see past the facade and see your true face. So, no name here won’t see the fake person the glamour makes everyone else see - he’ll actually see you under the mask and vice versa. But that little trick stops working if one of you takes it off. Got it? Good.”

“So, we’ll look like completely different people to everyone except each other.” I gathered.

“How many know about these glamours?” Reks asked, casually leaning a hip against the workbench.

“Me, Baze, the twins, and now you two. A couple others know about the glamour set, but have never actually seen ’em in action.”

“What happens if the real Voa twins show up to the gala while we’re there?” I asked.

“They won’t. Left a few days ago to do some sneaky ruin shit an’ aren’t due back for another few days. But you should take both their personalities into consideration and stuff. They’ve got a rep to uphold. I’ve included an overview of their personalities in the box. But try not to go and talk to a bunch of high ranks. The more you talk, the bigger risk you take in being exposed.” Shion closed the ornate container and handed it over to Reks without looking up. “Here. You already got the invites. You’ll need to get to the citadel early for me to prepare you, Amelia. Around an hour before dusk should do. I’ll have something for you to wear… but as for you, no name, you’re on your own to replace something suitable. Theme’s ‘Primal.’”

“I’ll manage.” He took the container with a nod of his head. “Thank you again. You’ve been very helpful. We’ll contact you if the need arises.”

“Thank you, Shion.” I smiled at the pink-haired teenager, fighting the urge to ruffle her hair. “See you in a couple days.”

“Don’t be strangers.” Baze announced as Reks took another glance out of the window. There was another fight going on in the cage, but amidst the gamblers, Etch looked to be in a heated argument with someone on the lower level, positioned ever so conveniently between the stairs and the exit. Baze peered down too to see for himself. “Ah, yeah. The boy practically lives here. Probably waitin’ for the two of ya to go back down. Etchyboy’s persistent. Wouldn’t be surprised if he tried following ya. If a jump don’t bother ya much, use the terrace.” he nodded towards a door behind his desk.

“We don’t.” Reks confirmed.

I gave him a sidelong look. I mean, I kinda minded. But I also didn’t want to have to deal with a second run-in with the worked-up cage fighter with a bad disposition again. My hand only barely just recovered after hitting him in the face as hard as I did.

Not only that, but he might be planning to stall for time for Nolan to show up.

Yes, I still wanted to confront Nolan about what happened at Altered, but not here. Not in this chaotic environment.

I gave Shion one last wave, though I think she ignored it, before Reks and I evacuated their dual offices through the terrace exit. Reks shut the door behind him, leaving us to stand inside each other’s bubbles on the cramped platform.

It was dark and cold, but this side of The Cage faced the cave’s wall and hovered over the very edge of the level, barely leaving any walking space between the establishment and the far drop into the eerie bay at the bottom. This terrace sucked. Drinking a coffee here wouldn't be any better than having one in a child's time-out corner.

“Don’t tell me we’re jumping down from here,” my arms pressed against my chest as I frowned down at the narrowness of the foot space. “I haven’t exactly honed my ninja skills yet.”

He gave me an odd look, then laughed. “No ninja skills needed yet. Though, I’m interested in seeing you try.” a small hint of that wolfish smirk of his momentarily graced his lips. “I figured I’d let you off easy since no one can see us.”

He slipped the gate ring off his finger, gently pushing us closer together, toward one side of the balcony to make room for the gate to be opened.

His chest brushed mine, sending heat to spread across like wildfire. It took every ounce of willpower inside me to crane my neck away and not simply melt into him like every fiber in my being begged to.

“Do you see anyone?” his breath brushed past my temple.

Oh, hell. Did he think I was acting as a lookout? I wasn’t even sure my vision worked properly at that moment, but I pretended to look around nonetheless, like a drunk pirate at sea searching for land.

“Um, no. Nope. Don’t see anyone—” I turned back, nose accidentally grazing his chin. My breath seized in my throat.

Something rumbled through him. His chin dipped, and I was suddenly hyper-aware of my body being pinned between the balcony railing and his body - his bare chest. A bright fire coiled and tightened in my stomach, attempting to melt my rational thinking into a liquid pool of honey.

“Fates, Amelia… is that your heart?” his lips curled playfully.

Oh, Gods. It was. My heart thrummed fast enough to compete with a hummingbird. It sent bursts of heat to pulse through every part of me.

Why? Why did he have to tease me like this? And why did my stupid heart have to be such a sellout? It made me wonder if Altered had a love-inducing drink special, and he'd been sneakily slipping it into my water.

~Altered does not have a mixture to induce love, however, one of their most sought-after drinks is Altered-Desire. Needless to say, it heightens one's sex drive to invigorating levels.~

TMI, Nox!

“Y-you’re ridiculous.” I seethed, pushing a hand against the warmth of his hard chest. “Open the gate before I decide to take my chances with the bay instead.”

He stiffened under my hand, but I refused to meet whatever look his consuming gaze had in store for me. “Now that would be a frigid swim. How long do you think you’d last before you begged me to warp us out of that icy hell?”

My nose wrinkled up in annoyance. Not long, probably. My tolerance for the cold was zero to none. There was absolutely no way I’d willingly jump into cold water if it could be helped.

Reks laughed quietly. “Your silence speaks volumes.” he gently tossed his gate ring in the air, opening the way to his lab.

“Yeah? Well, your sporadic flirt-a-thons are going to get you in trouble sooner than later.” I stated, pushing away and not looking back as I stormed through the gate, like walking through a portal was somehow a normal thing to do now.

His low rumble of a laugh cut off as I walked through the swirling vortex, then resurfaced once he moved through the gate behind me, catching his ring as it closed shut.

“So says the living embodiment of trouble, herself.”