Ice Queen (Part Five)

Vlad

That bloody bastard—he ran off without even telling me where he was going. All I got was a vague "Find the defekt." The streets are frozen over, slick with ice, and the cold bites even through my military jacket. It makes my blood boil. I take a sharp right turn, my boots crunching against the icy ground. The night feels endless, the quiet broken only by the sound of my own footsteps.

As I press forward, I notice her—a woman, dark-skinned, wearing a white T-shirt and jeans. The cold doesn't seem to bother her, even though I'm bundled up and still freezing. Her curly brunette hair is loose, tumbling over her shoulders, and she walks with a calm confidence, as if she owns the night.

Something about her stands out. Most people wouldn't be out here on a night like this—especially not dressed like that. She doesn't seem lost or hurried, just… deliberate. My instincts twinge, a warning flickering in the back of my mind.

I slow my pace, keeping her in my peripheral vision as I assess the situation. Who is she? And what the hell is she doing out here?

"Ma'am, are you okay?" I ask, my voice steady as I uncap my gun. Yet my body betrays me—there's a trembling I can't suppress. Something about her feels off.

She turns slightly, glancing over her shoulder to take in my outfit. Her gaze lowers briefly, as if piecing something together, then locks onto me again. Without a word, she raises her hand.

Suddenly, ice spikes erupt from the ground, sharp and deadly, surrounding me. I barely have time to react.

She's the defekt.

"I just want to save my son," she says calmly, her voice almost serene, though her eyes burn with desperation. "Afterwards, I'll come willingly. Just leave me alone."

Her words hit like a hammer. She thinks I'm one of them—a blue.

I'm not. Not anymore.

"I am not a blue," I reply firmly, locking eyes with her. My grip on the gun tightens, but I don't raise it. "I'm here to help."

She hesitates, her guarded expression softening for a moment.

"Where is your son?" I ask, keeping my voice steady.

"They took him," she sobs, tears streaking her cheeks. Her voice cracks as the words tumble out. "They just fucking took him."

Suddenly, ice spikes shoot up from the ground, forming a cage around her as she cries. The air grows colder, biting at my skin.

I don't think. I act. Smashing the ice with my fists and booted feet, I force my way through, shattering the fragile barrier she's built. She doesn't fight me as I break through, just collapses further into herself.

"Tell me—who took him?" I demand, kneeling before her.

"The ghouls," she chokes out, her voice thick with grief and rage. "I couldn't pay them for protection… so they took him."

Ghouls. Scum who prey on the desperate. My blood boils.

"We're going to get him back," I say, standing tall. "I promise you that."

She suddenly throws her arms around me, clinging tightly. Her body trembles against mine, her sobs muffled against my shoulder.

"I just want him to be safe," she whispers, her voice breaking. "I don't care what happens to me."

For a moment, I freeze. I'm not used to this—comfort, vulnerability. It catches me off guard. But then I slowly wrap my arms around her, steadying her as best I can.

"He will be safe," I say, my voice steady, even though anger burns beneath the surface. "I'll make sure of it."

She pulls back slightly, her tear-streaked face searching mine for any sign of doubt. I hold her gaze, unflinching, and give her none.

"Can you tell me where they took him?" I ask gently, keeping my tone calm.

She nods shakily, wiping at her face with trembling hands. "They… they're at an old warehouse on the edge of the district. Near the docks. They said… they said to bring the money, and if I don't…" Her voice cracks, and she looks away.

"They won't get the chance," I say firmly, cutting her spiral short. I stand and extend a hand to her. "Stay close. We'll get him back."

She hesitates, staring at my outstretched hand like it's a lifeline. Then, finally, she takes it. Her grip is desperate, clinging to a shred of hope.

We move together through the frozen streets, heading toward the one place the ghouls will wish they'd never chosen.

…

We take a sharp turn, and that's when we spot him—Kai.

"I THOUGHT CADEN WAS CLEAR WHEN HE SAID YOU WOULDN'T BE A PART OF THIS MISSION!" I roar, my voice echoing through the icy streets.

Kai, caught mid-step, skids to a halt. The moment my words hit him, he stumbles and falls flat on the frozen ground, scrambling to get back on his feet like a guilty child caught red-handed.

"What the hell are you doing here?" I bark, storming toward him.

He looks up at me, wide-eyed and frozen, like a deer in headlights. "Caden told me to find you, and for us to find the defekt together," he says, his voice trembling but defiant.

I stop in my tracks, narrowing my eyes. "And did he also tell you to disobey orders and throw yourself into danger like a bloody idiot?"

Kai flinches but quickly squares his shoulders, his defiance flaring. "He trusted me with this. I—I can help!"

The woman beside me, Ellen, shifts uneasily, glancing between us. I exhale sharply, pinching the bridge of my nose. "I already found the defekt," I say, motioning to her. "So you can leave."

Kai's jaw tightens, his fists clenching at his sides. "I'm not leaving," he says stubbornly. "I told you, I'm here to help."

"You've done enough," I snap, my voice sharp enough to make Ellen flinch. "This isn't a game, Kai. You don't even have a clue what you're up against."

"I don't care!" he shouts back, stepping closer. His eyes burn with a mix of fear and determination. "I'm not running away. Not now."

I glare at him, my patience wearing thin. "You're going to get yourself killed. Or worse—get her killed." I motion toward Ellen, who instinctively moves closer to me for protection.

Kai hesitates, his defiance wavering for a second, but then he straightens his posture. "I can handle myself," he says quietly but firmly.

Ellen's voice cuts through the tension, hesitant yet calm. "If he's willing to help… maybe we should let him."

I close my eyes for a moment, suppressing the urge to groan. "Fine," I growl, pointing a finger at Kai. "But you follow my orders, and if you screw up, you're out. No arguments."

"Deal," Kai says immediately, his relief barely hidden.

I turn sharply, motioning for both of them to follow. "Let's move before I change my mind."

…

As we move through the frozen streets, the tension between me and Kai slowly simmers. The silence stretches, broken only by the crunch of boots on ice.

"So… what's the plan now that we've found the defekt?" Kai asks, breaking the silence.

"We're going to save her son from the ghouls," I reply flatly, not even glancing back at him.

"Wait, who now?" he says, confused. Right—he has no idea about anything.

"They're gangsters," Ellen answers before I can. Her voice is steady but cold, like she's forcing herself to stay calm. "Most of them are defekts, so no one dares to oppose them. Their leader is called El Diablo."

Kai blinks, processing the information. "Oh, and they took your son. So we're going to take him back. Got it." He pauses for a moment, then adds, "What's your name? I'm Kai."

He's trying to keep her from getting too agitated. I can see that, and as much as I want to snap at him to focus, I can't deny it's working. This kid reminds me too much of myself.

"I'm Ellen," she says quietly. "My son's name is Elijah."

Her words hit me harder than they should. I didn't even ask her that—I didn't think to. A sharp pang of guilt rises, and I resist the urge to facepalm.

Kai nods, his tone softening. "Ellen and Elijah. Got it. We'll get him back."

I glance at him briefly. Despite his inexperience and annoying persistence, there's something about his confidence that's… reassuring. Maybe he's not completely useless after all.

"Alright," I say, shaking off the thought. "Keep up. The warehouse isn't far."