Darius

"She has been the one sent to infiltrate our ranks! Is it not suspicious how she suddenly joined us, and has taken lead in our endeavours?" The knife pressed against my throat; a warm trickle of blood flowed down my collarbone. The crowd before us murmured and stared on in shock. I met Vane's gaze across the room, he was playing with the fold of his sleeve, where I knew a dagger rested. I shook my head imperceptibly.

If Vane attacked him right now, the crowd would turn against us, it would confirm everything they had just been told. I looked at Axel, who stared on with a shocked gaze. His mouth in a grim line. His eyes pleaded with me, trying to convey a message. He shook his head. I sighed. 

"That's not true! I joined the ranks to smoke him out of the shadows. We have evidence of his crimes." I nodded to Vane who stepped forward. The crowd parted for him to make his way through. He held up his hand and selected items on the screen in front of him. In the center of the room a large projection filled the space. The video I had seen earlier played on the screen, of Darius kicking down and approaching the young girl with a Lost Soul. I looked away but saw the crowd flinch as the final blow was landed. The screen shut itself off and closed. The crowd roared in volume, some tried to approach the dais.

The jostling weakened his hold on my arms against him. I used the moment to draw my arm forward and rear my elbow back into his solar plexus. He leaned over and struggled to breath. I stepped inward and crushed his foot with my heel, and with my head I thrust it backward against his nose. He cursed and released me, I spun and gripped his shoulders, bringing my knee up to his groin he doubled over on the ground. I grabbed the knife from the ground and lifted him by the back of his doublet, holding the blade against his throat. I stared into his eyes.

"You have killed countless players. Children, women, everyone. You have been in their pocket from the beginning." I gritted out. He spat in my direction.

"Don't act so pious, you signed a contract yourself, did you not? They own you. You'll never escape them. It's how they got to him." He nodded toward Axel, who was standing motionless amidst the chaos. His eyes calculating. I froze, he had a point. I did sign a contract, who knows what they will pull on me later on in this game. I grit my teeth and the blade wavered in my hand.

I felt a presence behind me, and arms wrap over my own, holding the blade steady. I looked up in shock to see Axel with a gleam in his eye. He was shaking with rage, his teeth biting his lower lip, his fists clenched around the hilt of the dagger.

"If only I could give you a true death, you fuck." He drew my hand sharply to the side, drawing the blade across Darius' throat. He sputtered; blood poured from the wound onto the wooden floor. The crowd skittered back from the trail of blood. The telltale flame emerged from the fallen body, hovering in the gathering hall. Axel released my grip and I stumbled back, away from the body. I felt hands catch me and I looked up to see Vane gazing down at my face. His hands came up and his fingertips trailed the line of blood at my throat. His eyes sharpened. He looked up at Axel and nodded, Axel nodded in return. The body on the ground began to disintegrate into polygons.

"Well, everyone! The drama is over. This is a night of celebration! Let us return to it." He glazed over his earlier announcement and motioned for the band to start the music once again. Rushing to attention, they complied. Axel turned to Vane and me, his gaze went to my throat, and an unreadable emotion passed his features.

"Are you alright?" His voice was soft. He reached out as if to touch, but then stopped himself and lowered his arm. I nodded and gave a small smile.

"I'll be fine, thank you." He nodded. Vane cleared his throat.

"What did he have on you?" Vane demanded. Axel paled. He looked around them, we noticed Lan approaching. 'Later' He mouthed to us, and clapped Vane on the shoulder laughing obnoxiously. Lan slid into our circle of conversation.

"That was intense! Are you all okay?" He asked, his voice laced with concern. Vane and I nodded; Axel smiled.

"One less knife waiting to come out of the dark." Axel muttered. Lan snorted and clapped Axel on the back.

"Glad you're sticking around, bud." He smiled and Axel returned it, and Lan shambled off into the crowd. He stood in the center of the room when he addressed the crowd.

"Ladies and gentlemen, now that the excitement is over, I think its time we discuss what we all know is coming… Venturing forth, to the new city!" The crowd cheered again. He swiped open a menu in front of him and raised his hands in a grand gesture.

"The city, is Argos!" He said dramatically, and a large picture filled the centre of the room. Greek temples lined a colonnade walkway, shops filled with vendors lined the streets. NPC's were garbed in traditional chitons. There was an acropolis, with a temple building, a forum, a processional way. "We have sent scouts ahead to gain intel…" Lan started his spiel, but Vane gently prodded my elbow, and pointed to the open doors of the balcony. I nodded and we stepped out into the fresh air, closing the doors to the stuffy room behind us. The moon overlooked the fields surrounding Mikado, from the top of the Spires we could see miles in all directions.

I looked up at him, his silver hair caught the moonlight, his gaze was soft over the vast landscape.

"Don't you want to hear?" I asked. He smiled and shook his head.

"We'll see it tomorrow." He turned to face me. His gaze was soft, but serious, as he examined my features. He gripped my chin with his fingertips and tilted my head up, so he could see the line of the cut the blade left on my neck. I felt my face heating as he leaned in so close to examine it.

"Vane…" I started. He silenced me with his lips. They were soft yet firm against my own, the smell of cloves and cinnamon invaded my senses. Arms wound around my back, bracing me tight against his chest. I felt the fear, the desire, the rage all flow through his embrace. My hands tangled in his hair, and I lost track of time, waves of emotion overwhelmed me. I pulled back to catch my breath, staring into his eyes. He loosened his grip on me slightly and tucked a stray hair behind my ear.

"Shut up, Fayre." His soft breath was a chuckle. I smiled and nodded.