Chapter Text
Drops of water hit the skylight above Nyx’s head, as she leaned on her hand. The mineral smell wrapped around her like a blanket, making the stuffy air inside the warehouse feel a bit more fresh. If Nyx focused on it she could pretend she couldn’t smell the dust that covered every surface. She closed her eyes.
A low rumbling of thunder ripped through the sky, at the same time as the huge doors below her opened. She wouldn’t have noticed the newly arrived, if it weren't for the sounds of their conversation, barely auditable over the rain. Nyx pulled her leg, that was until this point swinging idly in the air, to her chest, as she focused her attention downwards.
The group of people sat at the table in the centre of the room, still absorbed in their own conversation. Nyx had watched as they began removing their jackets and hoods, revealing different types of masks. They were already dressed far more casual from the clothes that the country would see them on a daily basis. No one seemed to notice the silhouette that was sitting on one of the beams near the ceiling.
When all but two of the chairs were taken, another sound rang out.
Nyx twitched, feeling something moving under her skin. She pressed her fingers to the pulse point on her wrist, quietly focusing on the beat of her own heart.
Not on the sound of two pairs of footsteps reaching her ears.
Two people.
She knew what that meant.
When a rather tall man with dark hair sat at the head of the table, all the previous conversations vanished. He didn't have to wear a mask. Nobody in this building was stupid enough to rat him out to the authorities. The man that accompanied him, stopped a few steps behind the chair. His right hand.
“Is there any reason you brought us to this filthy hole?” Asked the woman sitting three seats to the left of the man. Her voice was slightly robotic, thanks to the voice modulator she was carrying around her neck. The mask only covered her eyes, so Nyx could see the lips of the woman twist in displeasure. She flung her bright orange hair across her shoulder.
“How can we be sure the place will not be discovered?” A man sitting across her chimed in. Nyx let her eyes linger a little longer on the man’s ears, that sat atop of his head, and on the tail that was subtly swinging behind him.
She shifted a little, trying to quietly shake off the feeling of something crawling on her back. Soon she’ll have to find a space to stretch, or the feeling will become unbearable. She froze, when one of the ears of the dog hybrid twitched, as if hearing her movement, but the man remained turned away from her. Any louder breath and she would be discovered.
The man - The Boss - stayed silent for a few beats, before he spoke. “This place is secure.” The tone of his voice left no room for argument, and Nyx shuddered, even if she wasn’t on the receiving end of the message.
She shouldn’t be there. Her brother would never allow it. She knew that from the very start. But still, she couldn't turn away and leave. Not now. Not ever.
“And what if-” The dog hybrid tried again, but cut short when the Boss’s stare fell on him. He leaned back, trying to appear nonchalant, but his ears laid flatly on his hair, betraying his emotions. Nyx knew he was one of the newer members from around the table. Still trying to prove himself.
“The Wardens checked this place about a week ago,” the Boss responded anyway, not tearing his gaze from the man, whose tail started swaying more nervously. “They won’t be checking for another month or two. I hope that answers your question.”
The dog hybrid lowered his head a little. He spoke quietly, his words almost lost to the rain. “Yes, Boss”
Most of the people knew that the Wardens, or police, would check abandoned buildings from time to time, to make sure, they weren’t taken by any of the villains. Just like this was. If they checked one, they wouldn’t feel the need to do it again for some time. They were safe that night.
The Boss finally glanced at the other members, leaning his elbows on the table and bringing his index fingers near his mouth in a thoughtful manner. He was sitting almost directly under Nyx. If she moved to the left, her feet would be right over his head. From this place she couldn’t see more than a small part of the man’s profile. However, it didn’t hide the scar going from over his right brow, right to his lips, blinding him in that eye.
Nyx was too young to remember the fight, in which he gained that mark, from anything other than stories and rumors.
“Any other questions?” the Boss asked, even if his tone of voice was not inviting at all. He looked at every masked face in silence.
“Well…” a pink haired woman started, taping her fingers on the table nervously. The man moved his gaze on her, but she didn’t seem to mind, as she nodded her head to the empty chair in front of her. It was on the right side of the Boss. “Shouldn’t we wait for Nahual to arrive?”
Nyx had already known the answer to this question, and yet she hoped, she prayed to be proven wrong. For the said man to burst through the door, cussing and swearing at the rain that made him late.
She wanted him to be home.
“He won’t be joining us” the Boss replied, simultaneously shattering something inside Nyx’s chest. She bit down on her cheek, trying to focus on physical pain. Questioning noises tore themselves from the people around the table. The Boss didn’t wait before he continued. “As of four days ago, he got captured by the Wardens.”
Nyx tasted the blood from her cheek, as she looked at expressions around the table. They varied in different shapes of shock.
“You have to be kidding me” muttered a man sitting on Boss’s left. The sound barely cut through the rain. The man's pale face could be seen even in the dim light of the lamp that stood in the middle of the table. After a beat he looked around the table. “What are we gonna do now? We need to get him out." He asked, voice trembling through the modulator.
He clenched his fists. The dog hybrid reached over, placing his hand on the other's. The man shook his head violently. The lines of his forehead deepening.
“We can also kill him” Said the man, who up to this point stayed silent. Most of the heads turned in his direction.
Nyx felt like the world was tilting. She grabbed the beam she was sitting on. Her fingers digging into cold metal. She barely felt the sensation against the nausea building in her stomach.
“What do you mean?” The dog hybrid asked, growling barely restrained from his voice, changed by the modulator.
The previous man shrugged. His hair was fire. Flames danced when he cocked his head to the side.
“He won’t be able to rat us out, if he’ll be dead.” He summed up quickly.
“You little-” The pink haired woman started getting up, but she was quickly pulled down by the other woman on her side. She took a deep breath. The air hissing from her mask.
“If we get to him close enough to kill him, we might as well get him out” She suggested, tightening her fists.
The dog hybrid nodded. “Also, Nahual is a valuable member.” He reasoned. “His loyalty is unwavering.”
The orange haired woman snorted, leaning back on her chair. “Was unwavering. Until that brat started to stick her fingers in places they didn't belong.” She snarled, barring her teeth. She ignored the pointed glare from the bubble gum haired woman. “From then on they were causing more trouble than they should have.”
The Boss hummed lightly in thought. “Our plan can focus on getting him out” he decided after a while. The orange haired woman started protesting, but he quieted her with one glance. “He’s still needed for our cause. Killing him should be the last resort.”
"So we get Nahual out, but what until then?” The flame-haired guy challenged. “It’s not like we can just put everything on pause.”
“We can't,” the Boss stated calmly. "We'll be moving into another stage of our plan."
"How?" The dog hybrid leaned forward. The light from the middle off the table reflecting of his mask. One of the ears on top of his head twitched.
"Nahual was supposed to start with the next phase." The pink haired woman noticed.
The Boss looked up from the table to where Nyx was sitting. Their eyes met. His lips were turned in a woolfish smile. The right side was weirdly raised because of the scar. “His succesor can.”
The Boss always had a liking for dramatics. He liked playing with his allies and victims alike. Reminding them that he was the one holding power.
That’s why Nyx stayed up in the shadows. Unnoticed until now.
She let herself tip forward, her stomach jumping a little at the motion. She let herself freefall for a second, the ground getting closer.
Nyx heard a few gasps, until she spread her wings, allowing her to land softly right behind the Boss. She straightened out, tucking the wings behind her, as she stared at the people around the table.
The orange haired woman broke out of her shock first.
“You brought her here?” She hit her palms on the table.
Nyx would have stuck her tongue at her, if she herself wasn’t wearing a mask. She had to be satisfied with an icy glare sent in the woman’s way. She never liked her.
“She’s still a kid” The pink haired woman shook her head. Like it would get rid of the imagine she was looking at.
The Boss leaned back on his chair. “Don’t let your personal connections blind your judgement, Mara” he reprimanded.
The woman kept staring at Nyx. “She’s too young-” she tried again weakly.
Nyx started moving towards her. Opening her mouth. Reminding, that she is of age. That her brother started when he was younger-
Boss’ raised hand stopped her before she could do more than move half a step. She tucked the wings back in and bit on her lip. “This decision is not up for debate” The man stated, lowering Mara with his gaze. The woman shrunk a little on her seat.
“She’s unruly.” Nyx had to physically suppress the urge to roll her eyes at the orange-haired woman’s voice. Instead, she kept them fixed ahead of her. “Nahual kept her on a too long leash.”
“Melinoe-” Nyx’s head perked up at the mention of the name. She looked back at the Boss, to find him already looking at her. Something dangerous glinting in his eye. “What will you say to that?”
Nyx cocked her head to the side, moving her eyes over the gathered. She hummed, as she stepped closer to the table, dragging her hand over the back of the free chair.
What would her brother want her to do? He would be outraged to know she even considered that possibility. He did what he could, to protect her from this life.
Mara knew this. Fable knew this. Nyx knew this.
But here she was, diving head first to the thing he had forbidden. But did she have any other choice?
Before she could change her mind, Nyx sat down at the chair.
“I’ll do whatever is needed of me” Nyx grimaced, not used to the sound of her voice going through the modulator.
She would do anything to bring her brother back.