The Price of Power

There was silence in the night, except for the rustling of the wind in the trees. Nathan rested against the rubble of the old ruined church wall, the Fragment in his pocket, and it hummed, a steady rhythm, but one that remained far away. He hadn't been getting much sleep the past couple of days and if he could have just let his mind wander it probably would have been, his mind occupied with the past week events. Jenkins' warnings echoed in his mind. The price of power. The dangers of the Fragment.

He was scarcely even touching the bottom of what the Fragment could achieve and it was already evident that it had pulled him into a game of which the full amount is not yet known. Nathan wasn't stupid. He knew there were others out there like Jenkins—people who wanted what he had, or maybe even people who knew more than he did.

He needed answers.

A rustling sound caught his attention. Nathan's hand immediately grabbed the knife at his side, and his heart beat accelerated.

A figure emerged from the shadows. For a moment, Nathan stiffened, but the broad stance of the figure, too knowing, too deliberate to be dangerous was relaxing.

"You've been busy, the voice spoke low, but with a clear sense of authority. It was neither hostile nor friendly, just matter-of-fact.

Stand up, Nathan carefully but slowly, fingers still locked around the hilt of the blade. "Who the hell are you?"

The figure stepped forward, revealing a tall woman, dressed in dark, practical clothes. Her eyes gleamed with an unnerving calmness, her expression one of quiet confidence.

"I could ask you the same thing," she replied. "But I already know the answer. Nathan Grant. The new owner of a Fragment. The dreamer who's already scratched the surface of a realm of which you are completely unacquainted.

Nathan's grip on the knife tightened. "And you are?"

I'm Seraphine," she said, with a touch of a smile. I'm [endeavouring to] join up with an organisation that, frankly, knows a lot about Fragments that you don't know. And right now, I'm here to offer you a choice.

Nathan eyed her warily. He had expected someone like Jenkins—someone who'd make cryptic warnings. However, this woman she looked over-assured, over-comfortable with the unanticipated.

"What kind of choice?" Nathan asked.

Seraphine continued to advance one step closer, with her eyes never leaving his. "You're going to attract more attention. People like me. Individuals who not only desire the power offered by the Fragments but also desire to exert control over them. But I'm offering you a chance, Nathan. You don't have to keep stumbling through this blind. I can help you. But in return, I need something from you."

Nathan took a step back, his mind racing. "What's the catch?"

Something easy," Seraphine replied, and the grin almost imperceptibly became too friendly. "You come with me. Work with us. We'll show you how to manipulate the Fragment and leverage its capabilities. We'll keep you safe from the Hunters and the others who'll come looking for you. In exchange, you help us find the rest of the Fragments.

Nathan's pulse quickened. He hadn't thought about that. There were more Fragments out there. Additional pieces of the puzzle to land in his hands.

"You want me to help you collect them? he asked, narrowing his eyes.

"Not just collect them. We need to understand them, Nathan. We need to find out why they exist in the first place. She paused, her voice dropping to a more dangerous tone. And we must keep them out of the clutches of the wrong people.

Nathan thought for a long moment. He didn't recognize this woman, and he didn't believe anyone. But what choice did he have? Jenkins had warned him, but the idea of uncovering the secrets behind the Fragments had become an obsession.

"I'm listening," Nathan said, slowly sheathing the knife.

Seraphine's smile deepened as if she believed exactly as had been meticulously worked out.

"You'll need to meet with our team. I can't explain everything here. Trust me," she continued, retreating a step and gesturing him forward, "you'll soon realize it's more desirable than dealing with the ramifications for oneself alone.

Nathan hesitated for only a moment before following her, his thoughts a whirlwind of uncertainty. This was a path he hadn't considered, but the pull of the unknown, the lure of power and knowledge, was too strong.

The Fragment, which had seemed like a tool at first, now felt like a tether binding him to something far greater than he could comprehend.