Hanna teleported them about a mile away from the farmhouse and promised to take care of Lane. They unfolded in an empty field, and made the mile journey to the abandoned silo. When they could see it, they camped out and watched. People, some monsters and some human, made their way in and out of the silo. The humans who left always had a smile plastered on.

“This is dubious, at best.” Rylie whispered.

“Can’t disagree with you there. So, what’s the approach. There’s not a lot of stealth options available.” Mark said.

“I say we just go for the front door. Tell them we have a problem that involves them. They seem pretty inviting.” His partner added. Mark nodded and the two made their way to the entrance. Standing outside was a man in an opened silk shirt. He had tanned skin, and his long hair flowed freely. He smiled at them.

“Always love seeing couples interested in expanding their horizons. Though I have to say, we don’t get many Traitors around here.”

Mark started to summon his hammer and the guy held up his hands, “Hey big man. No worries about it. Just making a comment.”

“How did you know?” Mark growled.

“Ooh, strong stoic type. I love it. Well, first of all, you have that cop vibe, ya know? And as much as we do have cops who like to show up here, they usually seem to be wanting fun. You walked up like you were on business. So, if you’re not here to join us tonight, I’m going to have to ask you to leave.”

Mark could feel the guy’s powers reach out toward them, and formed his glowing coin into a dagger before pressing it to the man’s neck. “I don’t know what kind of persuasion powers you were hoping to have, but you should be a little more practiced before using them on me.”

For the first time, the guy was truly scared and nervously stumbled over his words, “Look, I’m just doing my job. Jeanette only wants people who are here for a good time to show up. You know, stay fed. You can get that right?”

Rylie placed her hand on Mark’s wrist, pushing it down. The guy looked at her in relief. She smiled at him as Mark put the dagger away.

“Look, Rick, right? Don’t freak out, I can read surface thoughts. Now, we’re on a mission and until very recently, it didn’t involve you guys. But now, it does. Someone is trying to take something from Jeanette. We need to talk to her.”

Rick nodded, still shaking from the threat of Mark’s dagger. He let them pass through the door, and Mark let out a low whistle, “Must have had an artist help with that.”

The inside of the silo was about fifteen times bigger than the outside. There were multiple levels with various rooms and hallways. The entrance way took up a large portion of the bottom floor, and boasted several areas where people were getting rather close to each other. Mark took note of one Longing member taking a human up the stairs to one of the rooms that didn’t have windows, allowing whoever wanted to watch to be able to.

“I’m going to take a wild guess that Jeanette is on the top floor is some big, magic sex palance. What do you think, Rylie? Rylie?” He looked over to his partner who was closely watching the pair in the room as they undressed. He snapped his fingers in front of her face.

Rylie shook her head and focused on him, “Sorry. I don’t know what happened. Lane’s magic flared up and the next thing I knew, I was feeding it.”

“Wait, sorry, what? You were feeding it?” Mark asked.

“Yeah,” she replied. “Is that possible? I get having it to use as an attack or whatever, but when it’s in me, does that connect me to the Patron?”

“It’s starting to sound like it. What did you feel when you took Lucy’s?” he asked.

“When I found out you were fighting with Jay and Lily against Artist members, I got super jealous. Like, way more than I would have been. I all but flew to you, wanting to show up them and prove to you that I was the best partner.”

“Shit.” Mark said. “I think it does connect you. This is the wrong place to deal with you being a temporary member of Longing. I need you to be on your game.”

“I can release it. Do you think I should?”

“No. Hold on to it. Just…try to control yourself. We don’t want to draw the wrong attention to ourselves.” Mark said.

They found a table, sitting close to each other not to raise suspicion. Mark reached out around him, sending the multitude of Longing magic surrounding him in the silo. He searched around everywhere, feeling for the strongest source, and finally latched onto it. And then he felt something else.

“I have good news and bad news,” he said.

“What’s the good news?”

“I found Jeanette. I was right. Top floor. Penthouse.”

“Alright, so what’s the bad news?”

“There’s a source of magic I don’t recognize in the room with her. I’ve gotten pretty much everyone identified, except Thatcher was a hologram. So, process of elimination.”

“Strategy is here.”

“Bingo,” Mark said. “Which means, we need to get up there quick.”

Mark put his armor up, and kept it invisible. The two of them walked close to each other, making the majority of the Longing members ignore them in favor of their own partners. The downside was that Rylie’s head was on a swivel, looking into every open room, and slowing down every time someone she found attractive walked by to check them out.

They worked their way up the stairs anyway, Mark trying to keep her focused. When they finally reached the penthouse, Thatcher walked out.

“Ah, Mr. James. Too late.”

Mark swung for the man, but Amber the Blank suddenly appeared, her face lacking expression, touched his shoulder, and the two disappeared.

“Shit,” Rylie said.

They burst into the room where a woman laid across an unnecessarily large circular bed. On the opposite wall were chains coming from it, linking to cuffs holding the woman in place. She struggled against them, but couldn’t get through.

“Need some help?” Mark said.

She startled, then looked toward them, “Not the worst looking pair to show up while I’m all chained up, I’ll admit that. If you would kindly, please.”

Mark looked to Rylie, who was eyeing Jeanette with a hunger in her eyes. He rolled his own, then proceeded to the bed, spinning his coin to cut through the cuffs like a saw. Jeanette came free, sat up, and rubbed at her wrists.

“So, what do I owe the pleasure of Traitors showing up?” She asked.

“You’re pretty calm for someone who just had her artifact taken,” he replied.

Once again, a startled expression flashed across her face. She gave him a weak smile, and he noticed that she was still rubbing her wrist, a tan line showing where the bracelet once sat.

“You know more than I expected. I have known Thatcher Tomlin for years. I know him quite well, even. I wouldn’t just let any stranger tie me up like that, after all. So I assume he is both gone and untraceable,” she said, a shaky confidence to her voice.

“You are correct,” Rylie said, finally breaking herself out of the spell Jeanette had on her.

“Then there’s not too much I can do but wish I had it back, I’m afraid. Though that still doesn’t answer the question of what you are doing here.”

“We came to warn you. Thatcher was just quicker.”

She nodded her head once, solemnly, “That he is. But I do appreciate the effort.” She got up from the bed, wandering over to a standing wardrobe. She pulled out a silk housecoat and slipped it on, before tying it at the waist. “You must find this bit of space we have to be quite degenerate.”

“It is what it is. As long as everything is consensual, I have no problem with it.” Mark said.

“It’s a very fine line,” Jeanette responded. “But I do believe the best in my people. They know to feed only on true desire, to not push it with their magic. Though, we have had a few that have strayed. Those you have not taken in yourself, we have handled.”

“You’re talking about Lane.” Mark said.

She nodded, “We live this lifestyle, this openness, to avoid what happened to her. She tried to suppress the hunger, and Longing herself doesn’t like that. She makes you hungry, pushes you. I think it’s safe to say that my Patron would rather us take than ask. Which is why our powers don’t grow. Not really. We get the basic longing package, asked to go against our previous human morals, and are punished with hunger when we don’t.”

“So you found new ways to control it,” Rylie said.

“Yes,” Jeanette responded. What our patron wasn’t expecting was that humans would be so willing to let us feed off their lust. It’s not dangerous for them in small doses, after all. We found the loophole.”

“What would you have done to Lane?” Mark asked.

“What you did. We have our own rituals, but it’s all the same in the end. Cage her up until she dies. The withdrawal works as a reminder to our followers not to stray from the rules. At least, for now. I’m afraid there will be a power vacuum soon, and I can’t guarantee who will be on top.”

Mark cocked his head and studied the woman. Beyond her calm demeanor was a steady level of fear and worry. She walked around the room, gathering random things and placing them in a suitcase she had pulled out from under the bed.

“What do you mean who will be on top? Aren’t you in charge?” he asked.

She stopped packing for a second and smiled at him, before continuing, “My powers are very defense based. Most of the powers of Longing members are passive. Though there are offensive powers in this Collective. My guess is that Longing granted them these abilities because they were willing to follow the Patron’s laws, and just haven’t been caught.”

She shook her head sadly, “The bracelet worked as an amplifier. Whoever wore it had their powers magnified. My defensive powers were always able to hold off would be challengers to the leadership with it. They would tire out and then be easily overtaken. Now, though, I’ll fall instantly.”

“So, you choose to abandon them instead?” Mark asked.

“Yes, I do. When they get the say so from a position of power, they will act without morals. And those who try to hold on to those morals will be slaughtered en masse. I don’t plan on seeing it. I will be grabbing those I trust and regrouping to see what we can do.”

“Traitors will help keep them at bay.” Rylie said.

“That would be both sweet and expected,” Jeanette said. “But I will not be dying in the process. Now, I need to take my leave. I recommend taking the backdoor out, seeing as how your partner looks like she’s about to hump anything with a pulse.”

Rylie’s attention snapped away from Jeanette and a blush streaked red across her cheeks. Jeanette headed for the back door and off into the night.