Naomi watched and reexamined the supposed dynamic between the Eve Matriarch and Titan as she made her approach.

Their relationship seemed far closer than simple business partners... Something which could cause problems later down the line. Naomi would have to look out for that.

***

“You can’t just go around spouting trade secrets to the first guy who dangles a shiny piece of metal in front of you, what’s next a guy in a damned ice-cream van?” Katya scolded as she dragged me away, apparently the clans purchases of raw silver had already strained the supply enough that the price had risen significantly, this would likely push that to new heights all together.

“Oh, come on, it’s not that bad. I didn’t tell him how it was made. And besides, even if I did, they’d never be able to replicate it.” I argued, earning me an extremely displeased glare.

“Just try to be more careful with the next one.” Katya sighed before walking off, leaving me behind.

“Next one?” I asked, confused.

“Mr. Titanos?” A smooth woman’s voice asked behind me.

As I turned, I found a beautiful caramel skinned woman of athletic build in front of me, and after being surrounded by Sentires, that word was no longer one I used lightly.

Her hair was curly and short enough as to not get in the way, but long enough to be styled elegantly for this event.

She might have worn a simple, subdued dress, but it didn’t hide the trained stance she innately fell back to whenever she stood still.

It also didn’t hide the fact that she was clearly armed.

“I’m afraid so.” I said, trying to be charming, her polite laugh telling me she wasn’t here to socialize.

“My Name is Naomi Winters. I’m with special branch western division.” Naomi said, observing my reaction.

“Should I have worn body armor and a helmet, Ms. Winters?” I asked in jest, while silently commanding my shadows to expand their patrol perimeter... Just in case.

“I’d like to apologize on behalf of our organization for that. It was the work of a rogue element, but nevertheless, it was our oversight which allowed such an unfortunate situation to occur.” Naomi apologized in a rehearsed manner.

“Am I right in assuming that isn’t the reason you’re here tonight?” I asked, most of my jovial attitude gone.

“That’s correct, we’re currently researching a previously undiscovered type of radiation which is increasing worldwide at an alarming rate, and we’d like your help.” Naomi said.

“And why do you think I’d be of any help to you? I’m not a researcher or a scientist of any kind.” I asked.

“Because until six months ago, you emitted this radiation in large quantities, and since then, you’ve stopped. We’d like to know why and how.” Naomi revealed.

“That was raw Immaterial energy. The increase isn’t the same thing.” I corrected.

“And how would someone whose neither a researcher nor a scientist of any kind know something like that?” Naomi asked, wryly.

“I’ll trade you. You tell me what you’re testing and I’ll tell you why and how.” I offered. I saw Katya’s face drop in the distance, her expression anything but pleased.

Naomi considered it for a moment, before nodding to herself.

“Alright, we’ve found an anomaly which exudes these energies. Some believe it’s the key to a clean renewable energy source, as it intermittently outputs energy without outside stimuli.” Naomi explained.

I immediately felt the hairs on the back of my neck stand up, and all pretense of acting refined went out the window as I stormed off towards Katya.

“Fucking idiots.” I muttered to myself, leaving Naomi looking after me, confused.

“Katya. Are Special branch part of your accords?” I asked, not caring who heard me.

“They are not.” Katya said after a moment’s hesitation.

“Pull out everything we’ve got near wherever that one is stationed.” I warned, gesturing over my shoulder at the woman in the distance behind me.

“Aleks, is this really the ti-” I Put my hand on Katya’s arm before she could finish and showed her what I was sure was about to happen.

“You said we had years.” Katya muttered.

“I was wrong, and it’s only a matter of time before they try it. When they do, they’ll either doom everything remotely near them or they’ll accelerate the process even more. Either way, we need to up our timetable. This party is no longer a priority, in my opinion.”

Katya looked conflicted, but nodded.

“I agree.” Katya said, any further planning was interrupted however, as the shadows I’d set to a wider patrol stumbled on something, the information flooding to me before the shadow was destroyed by gunfire.

It was too far from my domain and carried too little energy to reform. The nearest shadows would take minutes to reach that location.

Katya saw my troubled expression and alerted her Custodes while I sent out every available shadow I had with me to search the venue for anything suspicious.

That’s when I found a witch on her knees, holding a piece of a broken champagne glass bloodied from her, dragging it across her palm, her mouth moving silently as she rocked back and forth. The words she mouthed were strange and wrong.

I used my connection to Natasha and did my best to keep my thoughts simple.

Danger. Stop her. Be careful.

Natasha stilled for a fraction of a second before setting off at a sprint, surrounding custodes following her moments later.

As she got to the witch kneeling on the floor, she crushed her windpipe and slammed her to the ground, placing her knee on the back of her neck and twisting her bloodied hand out of view behind her, a sickening tearing sound could be heard as a result.

The witch didn’t cry out in pain or even flinch, her eyes rolling into the back of her head as her mouth continued to move.

The custodes approaching slowed and created a perimeter as Natasha seemed in control of the situation.

I called forth a dozen armored shadows, each carrying massive tower shields, and commanded them to form a shieldwall around Sophia and the Custodes surrounding her, blocking her from view and any unseen dangers.

Panic now set in as people tried to create some distance between the chaos and themselves, while also searching the crowd for any other dangers.

As the crowd pulled back, a single woman stood still, a gemstone with floating sigils underneath its surface in her hand.

The sigils seized their movements, and the gem began to glow as the woman threw the stone towards her target.

Rage bubbled up in me and I roared out an unnatural, monstrous sound as energy flooded my body and I charged ahead.

As she turned and saw my approach, panic flooded her face and she searched the crowd, her eyes landing on a familiar face before I shattered the flimsy ward protecting her physical body and tackled her to the floor, bones cracking under my momentum.

The Witch went limp and whatever spell she cast should have fizzled out with her consciousness gone.

But as the gemstone clinked against the marble floors, the energy inside it turned dangerously unstable. The gem trembled and shuttered, cracks forming on its surface until it gave way and a blinding light swallow the ballroom whole.

When it receded, the Prime Heir to the Eve clan and the few custodes who had remained to protect her once chaos erupted were gone. A charred spot on the floor was all that was left.

Dread spread over the room like a wave and the despair hung thick in the air as Emily let out a shrill scream of denial before being carried away, kicking and clawing to get free.

“ENOUGH!” My words roaring like thunder. “She was taken, not killed!” I said to those around us, before looking towards the last person the would-be kidnapper looked to for help.

The room collectively followed my gaze and the people standing in close proximity moved away as Mavis strode confidently forward, a sneering, mocking expression on her face.

“Be honest, you must have expected-” She stopped as a spindly obsidian appendage shot towards her with a crack like a gunshot.

“ALEKS NO!” Katya yelled, and I stopped, the razor sharp point less than an inch from impaling Mavis’ head.

“You said Sasha was taken... She is the best chance of getting her back. She’ll be of no use to us dead.” Katya reasoned, although I could see the blood dripping from her clenched fists as she struggled with her own reasoning.

“You always did have a cool head, Katya. Now it’s very simple. Either the Eve clan captures and hands over Aleks’Andros Titanos to me, or I will kill your lines Only Prime Heir.” Mavis said.

“You think you’ll survive tonight if you do so? You think you can break the accords and not suffer any punishment?” Katya seethed.

“The accords specifically prohibit the killing of Heirs at gatherings such as this, and I have not done so... Yet.” Mavis shot back.

Katya was running out of paths to turn to, and I could see it. She looked away as a tear of impotent rage ran down her cheek.

“Why are you even considering this?!” William, one of the clan elders, yelled out.

“Because of the oath.” I stated, my voice low but cutting across the noise.

He turned to me, his eyes filled with misdirected anger.

“So this is how you’ve chained us?! We cannot turn against you, not even to save what is most precious to us, nothing but your slaves now, is that it!?” He yelled, building up steam.

“Be quiet.” His rage fizzled and evaporated before true fury, the lights dimming as shadows rose, walls changing to an endless expanse filled with my armies.

I walked to Katya and put a hand on her shoulder, and she lifted her gaze to meet mine.

“My time with your clan has been some of the best I’ve experienced. I am sorry it has to end so soon.” I said as I showed my own oath mark, its glowing runes blistering my skin.

“I swore to protect your clan, and I will do so.” I said as realization dawned on Katya’s face.

I turned to Mavis.

“You won’t be able to hold me. You should know that.” I stated with certainty. “Swear an oath that you will leave Clan Eve be and release Sasha safe and sound, and I will swear to obey you.” I said, the words like bile in my throat.

“Interesting, I had prepared shackles you’d be familiar with, but this might be better...” Mavis haughtily. “Okay, I will not Interfere with the Eve clan and will return the child unharmed, and in return you will Serve me,” Mavis appended with malicious glee.

“Then we swear it.” I said as I held out my hand, Mavis searching, probing me for any deception, but seeing the recognition in Katya’s eyes, she ceased and simply smiled viciously.

She walked past the Custodes surrounding her, none attempting to bar her way, though all wearing expressions of pure hatred.

She stepped past the broken yet still breathing witch on the floor, not even sparing the pawn a look.

And stopped an arm’s length from me and reached out her arm and as our skin touched she used the full force of her abilities, bringing me to my knees even as every part of me seethingly rejected her power.

“That’s better. A slave should kneel before its master.” She taunted. “Now, let’s see. I Maeve Descendant of Domhnaill hereby swear to return Sasha Romanov Nikoleve safely to her clan and-”

The ritual shattered and the collected energy fell apart as the mark on my arm ceased to glow.