Lunarian (Ch.4)

Maestro Black's brows were furrowed in concentration as he examined the void crystal underneath an energy sensor. The crystal still pulsed stably, radiating void energy and Maestro Black studied it, eyes elated and mystified.

"This is the best artifact you've recovered yet!" Maestro Black related in excitement. "A piece of it holds enough energy to power a city for at least three days! How could a void so deadly hide such a treasure?!" He marvelled.

"Think of all the things we could do with such raw energy... and if your crew was larger, had more hands to reap more artifacts..." Maestro Black's tone was dreamy. "We could have enough power in Ashen falls to rival a fortified zone."

"Do not get any ideas. A void is a force of complete evil and destruction! No place for a treasure hunt!" Kael warned sharply, "The void always takes its due, no one is spared...no one!" 

Vanya remained silent, the haunting memory flashed through her mind once again. The screams...the eruption of the very earth, being pulled into a void, waking up in the rift wastes and returning through hardship to discover she was the lone survivor of the detonation.

Her team, two best friends... one lover. The void always took its due.

"I'm certain with Vanya's guidance, the risks could be greatly reduced." Maestro Black's tone deepened with greed. "Word on the street says she survived a void eruption and all... the silver taint in her hair proves it, no? They call it 'Void-touched'."

Vanya's gaze moved sharply to Maestro Black, her eyes narrowed into a dark, deadly glare. A dagger soared for Maestro Black, lodging into the headrest of the chair he sat, right where his head would have been.

Maestro Black's eyes were wide with shock and horror, his gaze moved to Lynne who had launched the dagger on Vanya's signal.

Vanya's gaze held Maestro Black's, "If you wish to continue enjoying the benefits of the business my crew brings, you will keep your nose out of my past..." Vanya's tone was chilling cold. "Or you and I will be done for good, Black."

"If you wish to raise your own crew of Void-seekers. Be my guest...but I will have nothing to do with it, and my crew and I will take our business elsewhere." Vanya made it clear.

Ren moved forwards, snatching the void crystal from the table with a gloved hand. He safely stored it away in Vanya's satchel, while Maestro Black fumbled over his words.

"Vanny... listen, I'll give you a generous offer for that crystal." He coaxed, "We're partners, aren't we?" 

"Not tonight." Vanya replied blankly. She turned to take her leave and Maestro Black rushed forwards to stop her but Ren blocked his path. "When you realize who keeps your business afloat, you know where to find me."

Vanya pulled her hood over her head and strode out, her crew followed and they headed down the dim hallway till

they arrived at the stairway. The guard held a comm device to his ears, most likely communicating with Maestro Black, he moved to block her path but Ren shoved him backwards while Lynne and Kael snatched their weapons.

"Listen Black, you don't want to test us. You stand to lose more if your patrons discover what wealth you've been amassing. Call your men off." Ren snarled into the comm, smashing the device in his fist before he walked over to the rest. "He won't pursue it." Ren assured Vanya as he came to her side.

"I'd like to see him try." Lynne hissed lowly.

"Something's off." Vanya murmured, her eyes scanning the ground floor of the den from where she stood at the top of the stairway. Only then did the rest of the crew take notice of it.

The usually noisy den had fallen into a hushed silence. Heads turned to the entrance and whispers rippled through the crowd. Vanya followed their gazes and also froze. A man stood near the bar, his figure cutting an imposing silhouette against the den's grimy backdrop. He was much taller and broader than anyone in the room, by a great measure and even Ren paled in comparison.

He was distinct from the rest of the Grayskins in every regard, his eyes a piercing violet that shimmered even in the dim lighting of the den. His expression was set and firm, his aura as chilling as cold steel and every movement he made was deliberate, exuding an air of restrained menace.

"A werewolf!" Lynne muttered, her voice low but sharp with surprise.

Kael whistled softly. "I heard they've been showing up more often in the fortified zones, but didn't think we'd see one of them down here." He observed. "Must be something big if they're crawling out of Lunaris."

The man's silver eyes scanned the room, his gaze carried a weight that silenced the usual noise. As he approached the bar, the crowd parted instinctively, their unease palpable.

Vanya's eyes narrowed slightly. The werewolves hadn't always been a part of this world. Their realm, a plane of twilight called 'Lunaris' had been sealed away on a parallel realm of existence, until a rift opened a decade ago, linking the two realms, Earth and Lunaris. That tear in space and reality had spilled strange energies into the human world, exacerbating the void's reach.

The sudden and unexpected link had forced a reluctant truce. The UHF bartered with Lunaris for their advanced void stabilizing technology, and elixirs of magic and the werewolves took whatever they cared for and whatever caught their interests in exchange, however trust between the realms remained as fragile as the void connecting them.

From what Vanya had heard in her days in the UHF, the werewolves viewed humanity as reckless, while the UHF classified Lunarians as dangerous variables. Yet emissaries much like this man occasionally ventured into this realm for whatever trade interested them, even so, they rarely ever came down to survival zones.

Vanya was drawn out of her thoughts when Kael nudged her. Only then did she notice the werewolf had moved from his position and was now heading straight for the stairway, his piercing gaze fixed on them...or her, precisely.

Suddenly, all attention in the den was now fixed on Vanya. The attention was unappreciated but unavoidable as the werewolf came to a stop at the bottom of the stairway, gaze still fixed on Vanya. At this proximity, Vanya could swear she had never seen a man more stunning...he was handsome, in a dark way that screamed of danger.

"You are in possession of something that doesn't belong to you, girl. I can smell it from miles away..." The werewolf said, his voice a deep rumble that carried across the den.

Ren shifted behind her, his grip tightening on his warhammer. Vanya didn't flinch, though she could guess exactly what the werewolf spoke of.

"I have no idea what you're talking about." Vanya replied blankly.

He raised a brow, the movement drew Vanya's attention to the scar across his brow that reached down to his upper lid, adding to his already established air of danger. "It's void touched. Your kind shouldn't meddle with things you do not understand."

Tension crackled in the air as Vanya calculated her next course of action if the werewolf decided to snatch her goods. The Grayskins watched with bated breaths, no one moved forward to intervene and Vanya knew no one would... everyone would overlook whatever happened here, just as Vanya had done too.

Before things could escalate, a woman's scream pierced the air. Breaking the tense silence. A Grayskin had collapsed near the gambling tables, her body writhing as void energy flickered across her skin, evidence of ingesting void plants.

The crowd barely reacted, some Grayskins stepped over her body, hastily snatching her bag and properties and then proceeded to fight amongst themselves over it. Others watched with detached indifference and a good number had returned their attention to Vanya's standoff with the werewolf which was deemed more interesting.

"Overdose on Viria." Someone murmured in the crowd, confirming what Vanya already knew. The pleasure drug extracted from void plants was more deadly than beneficial, but it was a booming business for scavengers and the curse of pleasure workers.

"Who'll deal with that trash, now?" Another voice muttered in disgust.

The werewolf's gaze finally shifted from Vanya to the dying woman, his expression unreadable. Then he turned back to Vanya. "Your world is rotting from the inside out," he remarked calmly. "It's only a matter of time before it caves under its own weight."

"Maybe, but until then, we survive..." Vanya replied coldly. "Just like you." Vanya's hood slipped back slightly, letting a lock of silver hair escape.

The werewolf's gaze narrowed slightly. "Seems the item is not the only...void-touched."

Maestro Black's loud calls to Vanya, drew her attention and by the time she turned back, the werewolf was already far across the room, making his way to the exit.

Vanya watched him go, contemplating his words. "What do you think he came here for?" Kael whispered.

"Does it matter?" Lynne responded.

"What do you think, Vanya?" Ren asked, his tone concerned.

"Whatever they want, if the UHF or anyone thinks they can control the voids, then they are fools." Vanya murmured. "Be it Earth, or Lunaris, it is a fight for survival... and the void doesn't care who wins or loses."

Vanya's gaze strayed to the dead woman, and then she pulled her hood over her head and stormed out.