Sylas

SYLAS

I do not want to be taking Alex anywhere near Medius, but it seems fate, on this occasion, is conspiring against us.

There is no alternative, I must go into battle with my fierce little feather, who is, at least, both armed and capable of using the weapons in her charge.

"How far?" Alex asks as we pad down the long, curved passage.

The roar of the crowd is much reduced here, given the sound proofing and forcefields in place in this area.

"The box Medius is using is one given to grace and favor guests," I explain. "Which is hardly a surprise, given Medius is the one who sold me to the dome in the first place," I add with a growl. "It is on the next level, and we need to find a…"

I stop at the service panel and wrench it free.

"Up there?" Alex asks, peering inside.

"Up there." I shove myself inside, clamping my wings to my body, and wriggle my way up, sword first. At the top, I gently push at the panel to check the situation outside.

The identical passage to the one we left is quiet and empty. Medius doesn't expect me to come for him after all.

Big mistake.

I heave myself out of the conduit and Alex pops out behind me. For a moment, I'm transfixed. Her dress flows around her like water, and she has a slight smudge on one cheek, which I brush away.

This could be it, the last time I see her, and I want her face to be the last thing on my mind.

"Don't." She wraps her tiny hand around my clawed one, holding it tight against her cheek. "I know what you're thinking, and neither of us is leaving here without the other today."

"No one is taking you from me, little feather." I feel all the desire, the joy, the need for her rising within me. "You are mine."

"That might not be entirely true, ." Medius's voice sears through the air. "Given you belong to me, and therefore what's yours is mine."

I turn with a snarl, but the corridor is filled with shadow soldiers and Habosu.

We are surrounded.

"The thing is"—Medius taps the side of his head and his face flickers from the form he's using to the one he was hatched with—"I can always find you. I will always find you."

I push Alex behind me, into my wings, which will offer her some protection.

"Or maybe, I'll always find you, Medius," I reply.

"Why don't we talk?" he suggests, gesturing to the open door to his box.

"What do we have to talk about?" I bristle. "You're putting me in the dome to die, for entertainment and credits."

"My plans are fluid. We can talk about your life, that of your mate, and your unborn young perhaps?" He jerks his head and the shadow soldiers advance.

I step into the box, Alex at my side, as I don't want to risk her.

The box is one of the largest in the dome. A vast window looks out over the games, which today appear to be beast related, given there's three vesso, the huge eating machines, all teeth and guts, currently terrorizing those who thought they could take on the dome and win.

"." The procurator is seated within a vast sunken area, giving the best view. "You have returned." He lifts a jeweled goblet to me.

It's then my memory completely clicks into place.

The shadow soldiers are his personal guard. The procurator knew all about where I came from. He's working with the Zavaro.

"Procurator." I give him the gladiator bow, my eyes not leaving him.

"You can drop the sword," Medius says. "If you want your mate to remain unharmed."

I fling the weapon across the room, and it shatters the selection of expensive intoxicating liquor on the bar and buries itself in the wall behind. For a nova-second or two, the only sound is the sword vibrating and the dripping of liquid into the plush flooring.

"Dropped it," I say.

Under my wing, Alex snorts.

Medius's face twists, losing much of its sham nature and instead his jaw protrudes with crooked teeth as his eyes blaze red.

"Your memory has returned, I presume," Medius rasps.

"It has, all save what happened to my ship and my contacts." I take a step towards him, and he backs away. "And why this place is filled with Gryn when I couldn't find them."

The jaw widens into a foul smile.

"The mystery of the Gryn. Have you ever wondered why so many apex predators in this galaxy have gone missing?"

While I'm not going to admit anything to Medius, my thoughts go to the shape-shifting Sarkarnii, as predatory as the Gryn and yet just as scarce.

"If the Zavaro are involved, I'd say you're attempting to eliminate any species which would be a threat to you," I reply.

"Ah, you finally remembered." Medius sighs. "Almost correctly. We found elimination tends not to go unnoticed by those who might oppose it. Instead we decided, along with a few other like-minded species, that harnessing you would be preferable. After all, why not make credits from you? Ending a species is so boring. Making it rare and selling the remnants to the highest bidder is far more interesting."

"Selling the Gryn to places like this?" Alex shoves her way in front of me. "This fucking place is abhorrent."

"Survival is not." Medius sneers at her.

"Fuck you. Survival on the backs of others is not survival, it's exploitation, and regardless of what else Tatatunga is, it's full of good, honest species working to survive without needing to do what you're doing." She spits. "No one should be another's slave."

"You should know." Medius nods into a corner, and a large Habosu steps out of the shadows.

Alex grips at me. "Ixor." She shudders.

"Is this the creature who enslaved you?" I ask her quietly.

She nods.

I look at the Habosu. "Then he will die."

I move my glare from the Habosu to the procurator. "The more we can expose this place for what it is, the less palatable it will be for those seeking to profit from it."

"They don't care." Alex's fingers are shaking as they curl into my feathers. "They'll do it regardless."

"Not if those with the power understand they are just as much at risk as those they turn a blind eye to," I say.

The procurator shifts uncomfortably, even if Medius seems uninterested.

"Tatatunga and Trefa are not what you think they are. They will not shield you. Not from those who are looking for you." He says.

Medius swivels to face me.

"Sadly, your memory has returned in full, Gryn. That's too bad." He sighs. "I didn't want to have to do this, but I have more Gryn under my control, and unless you turn over your mate and young to me, I will have them executed."