“You’re ready?” I ask. Scanning the room I stare at my most useful employees…trusted companions. Over by the counter, Kisa nods at me, her hands on Nya’s shoulders. The two Demi-Cat sisters are starting to look more and more alike as the younger one catches up in age. Funny how that works. Even though we’re aging too, the young always seem to be getting closer. Hehe, is this how a parent feels? Turning my head, I see Meera by my side. Her hands twitch and a flashing blade spins across her knuckles, and in-between her fingers, before disappearing up her sleeve. The deadly fan, her weapon of choice, is concealed somewhere on her. Probably on her right side so she can draw it quickly with her dominant hand. As for me…my weapons of choice, magic and Mephis’s blade are always ready. One at my side and the other in my throbbing head, I give a wry smile. Let’s be careful this time. No more messed up spells. Ugh, I wonder why he’s here? A new target…or something else? It’s too soon to plant more Icebombs. We weren’t scheduled to meet tonight. Why do I get a bad feeling about this?

…

*Thud*

*Thud*

*Thud*

The Stranger’s knocks grow more insistent. It’s not like him at all. Seeing that everyone is ready, I take the final step and put my hand on that thick door. To think…I used to think this would be enough to protect us from all the evils of Merekeep. Well, I did one thing right at least. The soundproofing keeps prying ears from hearing us. God knows what would happen if someone from the street heard some of the conversations that go on in here. Slowly, I undo the lock as the knocks cease.

*Creak*

Man, someone forgot to oil the hinges again.

Should have sprung for the enchanted ones.

“It’s about bloody time!” The Stranger practically shoves me out of the way as he pushes the door in and charges inside. Though I’ve already grown to a height that almost surpasses my stature in the previous world, he is even taller still. One thing he isn’t though is impatient. Always calm and methodical, that’s how he operates. Usually anyways. Today seems to be an exception to that. I can feel the hurry in him right now. “What are you doing in here, playing Demi’s and Inquisitors?”

Uhh do I want to know what that is?

“…hello to you too,” Meera mumbles under her breath with a dark look. The Stranger spares her a sharp glance from his white mask and she rolls her eyes. “What? We were having a nice night before you came. Tch…by Yuel, I hate you.”

“By Yuel? Heh, you’re learning to hide yourself…good.” The Stranger nods at her. “But too slow. Little girl, once you’ve given yourself away, you’ve already lost the game. Pretending to worship another one’s god won’t fool anyone now. Least of all, me.”

“Whatever,” Meera says grumpily. “Answer the question. Why are you here?”

*Creak*

The door creaks again as I close it and the Stranger startles, looking back over his shoulder at me. Calmly, I take my time joining them in the center of the room. The Stranger’s…jumpy? Seriously? Somehow that makes me even more worried than usual.

“Wine? Cheese?” I motion to the Chillbox. “There’s a new batch I think you’ll enjoy. Think of it as…cheese within a cheese. I call it burrata! A one-hundred percent original Myrr creation-”

“-Not tonight.” The Stranger sighs and shakes his head. “I hope you haven’t had too much wine, boy. Or you, girl.” Motioning at Meera, his mood seems entirely different from the smile on his mask. Not cold or analytical. He’s flustered, running hot. Maybe he’ll make a mistake. “This is important so listen closely. I know about your little games with the Demi’s. The fun little welfare parties and food drives to gain their loyalty. Smart, I should have thought of that sooner. Regardless, I know they’re willing to fight for you. I need them. Everyone you can get. Now.”

Damn.

He’s aware of Operation Demi-Storm? I was hoping he’d overlook them since no one thinks of the Demi’s. Should have known the damn bastard would find out.

“Don’t know wat you’re talking about.” Meera sniffs pointedly, while throwing me a frantic one-eyed look over his shoulder. What do we do? “We do give handouts to those worthless Demi’s but it’s purely for publicity-“

“Shut up, girl!” the Stranger’s growl is out of patience. He cuts her off and ignores Kisa and Nya cowering in the corner. Turning to me, the tall man advances with long, purposeful steps. His hands are balled into fists, and I have to resist the urge to start casting spells. Every gaze in the shop is forced on him. It’s like he’s a whirlpool and we’re being sucked into his tidal pull. “You really think I wouldn’t notice you sneaking off to train them? That I wouldn’t have someone following you and watching the shop? You’re naïve and that ignorance is a danger to us all. Don’t presume that others are as stupid as you!”

“I…I…” Meera is at a loss for words. While they’ve exchanged barbs before, the Stranger has never exploded on her like this before. “The hell is your problem?!”

Yea…what exactly is going on here? You’re not this crude…normally.

“I’m with Meera. You’re being crass, Stranger.” I make it plain that I won’t tolerate this level of disrespect towards my staff. Even if I totally do the same thing sometimes. No one insults my people except me! “Is there a problem?”

“A problem…?” The Stranger’s words catch as he clenches his teeth. Slowly, he uncurls his fist and takes a deep breath. It’s crazy how tense the room has gotten. As if realizing the effect he’s had, the Stranger puts a hand to the back of his neck and sighs. Slowly, as he calms down, we all relax. The Demi’s in the corner tuck their puffed-up tails under their dresses and Meera takes her hand off her right-side pocket, as I breath easier. “You could say that. I…alright. Perhaps the fault does not lie with you. Listen, there is an issue that cannot wait. Do not play games with me. The Omniscient Guard is already on their way and if we don’t distract them…it could be the end of all our plans!”

“What did you say?” Meera’s good eye widens. She’s clearly still smarting from the Stranger’s tirade but curiosity has always been a strong motivator for her. “The Omniscient Guard? They’re coming here? You told them where we are?! How could you-!”

“No girl, damnit!” The Stranger throws a long, black-gloved finger her way and snarls. “Would you just listen for a moment? You think I’d be this worried if they were coming for you? You know nothing! As useful as your Master is, I could care less if you’re dumb enough to get caught. It’s no skin off my neck. This is worse than that. Far worse…they’ve managed to find out about one of mine.”

“One of yours…?” I whisper. I’m shocked to be honest. The Stranger has always been so careful. I’ve never seen anyone else working with him, except Echo. And she’s even harder to puzzle out than he is. All my investigations with Jasselryia have ended in abject failure. I still have no idea who he is or what he really wants. And yet…somehow, as if out of nowhere, here is proof that we haven’t been looking hard enough. His staff is not infallible. There’s been a slip up. An opportunity? Or a trap? “Who is this person?”

“He’s known as the Ferry-Rat. Someone who should know better than to get caught. He knows things. Things that we need to get back. Damn idiot drew attention to himself, playing savior in the sewers. The Omniscient Guard has already sent dogs sniffing on his trail. We need to catch him before the pack finds him and tears out the plan!” He emphatically shakes his head while holding my gaze. “You have no idea how much depends on his information. Rest assured, I would not be coming to you if this wasn’t of utmost importance. He…what he knows, cannot be allowed to fall into the wrong hands! So, forgive me if I’m a little impatient, but we need to move! Call your Demi’s! We need to distract the hounds!”

Distract the hounds…what kind of mission is this exactly?

“You want me to use them as a distraction?” I ask carefully, surreptitiously watching Kisa and Nya out of the corner of my eye. I imagine it must be annoying being talked about as if you’re not the room, but right now, I wouldn’t mind switching positions. Every talk with the Stranger feels like an interrogation except you never know who’s asking the questions and who needs to hide their dirty laundry. “The Demi’s are not toys…they won’t be used like that.”

“Isn’t that what you had in mind, anyway?” The Stranger gives me the side-eye, his black pupils regarding me with barely veiled cynicism behind the smiling mask. “All the little-drills? Starting fires? Locking people in rooms? Planting Icebombs? That’s all I need. The Omniscient Guard is dangerous as a unit, but that’s because of their ability to work together. I’m sure you know that. If we can pull them apart, distract their attention, it’ll give us time to search. We should be able to find him first.”

“You don’t know where he is?” Meera laughs lightly, poking her own finger at the Stranger. “I thought you knew everything.”

“Heh…damn girl. Your insults only betray your ignorance. There are places even I don’t dare walk alone. This city is mine, but it’s older than you can imagine! Your Raingods were still carving out the Cliffs of Sisyphus when the first bricks of Merekeep were laid.” The Stranger tells an unconvinced Meera before nodding at Kisa and Nya shivering behind the counter. “See. They know of what I speak. The undercanals…a deadly festering hell which Demi’s and highborn fear alike. That’s where we need to go. I should warn you though…some of your Rainstoppers tried to enter the city once through those sewers. Funny enough, the scrolls say they were never seen again…still think you have the guts?”

“Tch…I’m not afraid.” Meera tosses her hair out. “If you’re scared, old man, just say it. Boss and I can take care of it!”

“Hahaha, great, great!” The Stranger chuckles, straightening a bit and turning to me. “I knew I could count on you, at least to be willing to step up. Now as for your Master here…I wonder, will he be the same?”

“I don’t see anything in this for me.” I tilt my head, trying to understand exactly how dangerous this is going to be. I’ve heard of the undercanals, but never thought I’d need to go there. Risky. “Your man, your problem. Why should we help you?”

“Now come, Myrr…aren’t we a team?” The Stranger tries to convince me, “Haven’t I been watching out for you? Ugh…no?” He sighs as he sees my unmoved face. I regard the tall white-masked figure who’s been growing increasingly frenetic. I can see it in the slightly jerky way his hands wave and the way he’s stringing together his words. Just throwing things together rather than calmly articulating a plan. He’s in a real hurry. I can probably get something out of this. “Listen, I’m afraid I cannot offer you anything except this. If your goal is to take down Selena and the Daggas Clan, who have been abusing these poor Demi’s, then you want to come help me. Help me fix this…and I promise you…by the end of it all, the Demi’s will become equal members of society in Merekeep. But ONLY if we can get to the Ferry-Rat before the Omniscient Guard does. How does that sound?”

That’s…an oddly good deal.

“I have your word?” I narrow my eyes at him. “You’ll tell me your plan after we find him? All of it?”

“You want to know everything?” The Stranger regards me closely, and I see him blink while thinking. His eyes open again and he nods. “Very well. I will let you know exactly how we will topple the Daggas and bring Selena down. Once this matter is resolved. You have my word. And I’ve never broken it, have I?”

“Done.” I hold out my hand, which he shakes. “Now what exactly do you need us to do?”

“It’s simple.” The Stranger glances at Meera and I. “You two are coming with me. We’re going after the Ferry-Rat. As for the Demi’s…I just need you to get them to bring one thing. Chaos. Chaos everywhere. Overturn this city until all the little ants come out of their holes. I don’t care how you do it. Set fires…plant Icebombs…whatever you have to do. Blind the Omniscient Guard’s many eyes so that the few who do see something important have no one left to call upon.”

“Good plan,” I reply.

Huh…you know…that actually was my plan.

Great minds think alike.

Heh…not that I’m anything like you.

…

[I always did hate the dark…

Isn’t it strange?

In the end, we became what we hated.

That’s what times does to you.

Twists you…turns you…into an echo.]