Chapter 22.

HERA.

Two weeks later.

I'm beginning to think that Judgment Day might be closer than I wanted to think. I was already awake by the time the circle of sinners nicknamed the Council summoned me. Disgusting. Interrupting drill training with my battalion to talk to soon to be corpses – beyond disrespectful.

I floated into my leather chair, the streets behind me as silent as the city of ruins a few kilometers away. Not only because of how early it was, but also because of the escalation of tension between us and the Gatekeepers. Tension that has been escalating into erratic gunfire between us in the Gray. The last few weeks haven't been kind to either side, but we've taken the brunt of the conflict – the reason of course being the Gatekeepers are on that secluded island of theirs. They don't need to send as many people as we do into the Gray.

Soon enough the Walls of Jericho would be online, however. That will ensure my position in this city of sinners.

I poured myself a glass of liquor, letting the liquid touch the tip of the glass, the brown alcohol balancing precariously. Just like my patience for these fumbling chess pieces.

"Ma'am, the Council is ready," Ceejay called, his voice coming from speakers around the room.

"Please blank the room and accept." I let the liquor linger on my lips, the bitter taste dancing down my throat. Damn you Hunter for taking my taste buds.

White light blooms around the crimson accented office, followed by several buzzes. The Council members hazed into existence on my two couches, apart from that heap of shit. Magnus stood opposite me and behind the coffee table. He examined the chess pieces, his eyes lingering on the white bishop amongst my black pieces. He nodded and stroked back his gray hair.

He wasn't as clean and tidy as he usually was. His hair slightly overgrown, bags underneath leathery and pale skin. Suit ruffled and tie missing. It seems like I was wrong, he was baring the grunt of the attack too. That or something else.

"Hera," Mr. Stone said, clearing his throat.

"Council members."

"You know why we have called you this early?" Grayson asked.

Frankly, I couldn't care. "Because of the multiple casualties that have been charted up as mishaps?"

Preacher sprung up, his blonde hair bouncing. "Mishaps?" he barked. "Ten people died last week. Thirty the week before. And you're not taking responsibility for it."

"And why should I?" I finished the glass and placed it down, the sound cutting him off. "Because by my understanding, the Council is in charge of the Gray. I'm simply just another faction that'll come and go. Aren't I correct, Meredith?"

The old woman snorted. "One of these days you'll understand the value of life, Hera. And when you lose someone you care for deeply you won't be sitting on your high horse anymore."

I smirked. "You're a little late if you were planning on killing the people I care about. About four years too late."

"Everyone, please," Lucy said. She was sitting with one leg over the other, hands twisted over her knees. "We didn't come to fight each other. Our city is being ripped apart, business is beginning to wane and investors are slowly trickling into the East Coast instead."

"Lucy is correct," Mr. Stone said. "This fighting between the Rogues and the Gatekeepers is unnecessary. Hera that is directed at you for disturbing the balance we have woven. Could you explain why your recent endeavors have been so destructive?"

I leaned back in my chair and locked eyes with Magnus. A mutual understanding crossed those cold blue eyes. There was something troubling him too. A fact that I'll take a note on.

"Because I have a rat in my ranks."

Meredith chuckled. "Of course. You're power hungry and messy with your work. I mean, look at you. Drinking at four in the morning, is this really the future of the Gray?"

I slid the desert eagle out of its holster. The large golden gun clinking heavily on my table. I removed the clip and discharged all nine bullets – standing them up in a line, I said, "Nine members in your family. From your two grandchildren, their parents, your sickly bed ridden brother, your niece and nephew that are staying with you currently, your husband," I plucked the final bullet off of the table, pointing the tip towards the old bitch, "and one for you. So keep talking, and you'll watch as I take all of them to God himself."

The woman slammed a fist into my coffee table, making the chess pieces bounce and fall. They righted themselves and robotically clicked into their previous places. "I will not tolerate this. She threatens us, she threatens our families and she threatens our city. We cannot allow this anymore, Christopher. And if you allow this, I'm leaving this city with all the money I bring to it."

Mr. Stone shifted in his seat. "Everyone. Calm down. We are adults with a city looking at us for answers. Hera, you need to stop these attacks with immediate effect. Otherwise we'd be forced to uproot you from this city."

"Like the weed you are," Preacher added.

I filled the clip again and slammed it back into the gun's chamber. "May the Lord's wrath befall each of you," I muttered. I looked up from the flowing designs on the gun's barrel and said, "Fine. I have work to do. So please, get the hell out of my office."

Grayson was the first to disappear, followed by Lucy. The Preacher thrust his middle finger towards me and followed. Mr. Stone wiped his forehead with a handkerchief and nodded towards me. He was just doing his job as best he could. He was old and experienced, years of triumph and tragedy wrinkling the edges of his eyes. I'd spare him. Give him a chance to leave this city. Meredith on the other hand, she will understand the power of the Almighty.

The hag herself left, leaving Magnus. He still stared at the chess board, running his stubble sprinkled jaw

"Something the matter?" I stood up, putting the gun back in place and walking towards the door.

He chuckled. "I should give you more credit that you're worth."

I continued towards the doors.

"You know who the rat is?"

I paused. "I have my hunches. But I've zeroed him out."

"For both our sakes," he said, his voice a light whisper, "take him off of the chess board as soon as possible. Before another player enters the game."

I nodded slowly, the soft buss of his hologram filled the room as he disappeared.

**

I knocked against the large black door. Again. And several times after that. Magnus knew something, he hadn't looked the same ever since a few weeks ago. He began looking frazzled, like he wasn't in control. Something else was happening over there, and I needed to find out. Private Runt was doing a good job on her current assignment, but I needed to send out more people and my soldiers were still busy with their current assignment.

Too many pieces in too many places. I feel like I'm wide open. The queen too close to check.

"You did call them, correct?" I asked over my shoulder.

Mei was half asleep. Poor girl had been working non-stop for the past few days. I'll be sure to reward her when we take the Gray. "I did, but Lord knows what Dan and Kira get up to nowadays."

The door finally swung open. Dan still half asleep on the couch, Kira blinking away sleep. I brushed past her and down the corridor, swinging left and entering the sitting room. I always admired her taste, too modern for my liking, but exquisite nonetheless.

Kira slumped onto the couch next to Daniel, her head leaning against his shoulder. New scars on both of them, a fading black eye on Daniel's face. Hard training always made hard bonds. He traced a line down her palm, followed by a heart. He still remembers. Even after using the Unit for so long, some things are hard to get rid of. Like a red wood with its roots kilometers deep into the ground. A Fallow tradition of promises.

Draco came in next, carrying Saia. They slumped onto the couch next to Mei who was struggling to stay awake.

I clapped my hands together, snapping up their attention. "During the war we were up at two every day. We're heading into a war, so you better get your acts together."

A collective yawn, and a collective rubbing of eyes.

"And I know you've been drinking Saturn treated liquor," I said.

That caught their attention. They all sat up, Saia slapping the sides of her face. "What about liquor?" she muttered.

"Should I call Jin?" Mei yawned.

"That's what I'm here to discuss." I crossed my arms. "Daniel. Have you thought about how Tick was found?"

He shook his head, his dark eye brows furrowing. "No, actually. I thought they just…did."

"Who was the last person he was with before you went to Young Haven?"

He shook his head, a shrug following.

Saia snapped her fingers. "It was Jin. I heard them talking, well shouting. Then a little bit of making up."

"Privacy much?" Draco muttered.

It took them a while to catch onto the line. Kira was the first, her eyebrows climbing her forehead. "Wait a minute. Do you think…"

"Think what?" Mei asked.

"Jin put a tracker on Tick," I finished. They all stared at me like I had begun to float. "We've been keeping watch on him ever since he stormed out of the meeting. Can any of you guess where he went?"

Daniel sat up and said, "Young Haven."

"And he didn't go there for a holiday," I said. "Just assumptions, but having a white bishop on our side was a bad play on my side. Daniel and Kira, you'll be going on a recon mission for me."

"What about us?" Saia asked. "Because if Jin was the reason Tick died we can't just sit on our fucking asses."

I held up my hand. "I understand. But we have to assume he doesn't know that we do. The rest of you will continue doing what you're doing apart from Draco. You'll be helping Saia and Mei with Project Jericho. We're in the endgame and the queen is open. Too hasty with any move and all of this would be for nothing."

"Where and we going?" Daniel asked, his green eye flaring. Just like Hunter's used to.

"You'll be sneaking into the Gatekeepers Island."