'I... I don't know,' Nyx muttered as the golden light slowly passed through the walls, disappearing from the view. 'It almost pletely blocked our link; I couldn't do anything, Leo. I was scared... Why didn't you run? You promised."

  Leo wi the obvious tremble in Nyx's voice. I thought about esg and almost did in the end... But then I felt it. The enpassing warmth, whispers of promised safety... That's why I didn't move. Because somehow I khis fire wouldn't harm me.

  For a while, it seemed like Nyx wouldn't say anything. Yet, just then, her soft whisper filled Leo's head. 'Hunter...'

  He blinked, furrowing his brow. What?

  'Hunter,' Nyx repeated, her tone never ging. 'He might have left me his memories, his shattered mind. However, you, Leo... you have his power, his unlimited access to bloodlust, and what's now obvious, his instincts... I thought they died with Hunter's sciousness, but it seems I was wrong.'

  Hunter, huh? Leo chuckled within the safety of his mind. Proteg me even from the grave. Fug hell...

  'You could say that,' Nyx agreed. 'However, remember, those instinow belong to you. They are currently weak, and most likely still in the process of bonding with your subsciousness, but with time, they will bee another part of you. And just like with open bloodlust, you must be ready for what they will bring.'

  Sounds ominous. Leo sighed, once more watg through Nyx's eye as the golden dome tio expand outside the warehouse. Not like we do much about it, eh? I just o learn how to handle all of the ges ing my way and not die in the process. Sound simple.

  'Humans...' Nyx grumbled quietly. 'You really love your sarcasm.'

  Leo almost snorted. One, I'm not human anymore. And two, I'm sure sarcasm must be a universal way of g with bullshit. Life would be dull without it.

  'I'm sure,' Nyx muttered, her voice as dry as a desert.

  S up, Leo g Holden, who still had a hand upon the colossal, golden pilr. Anyway... This light, it healed me. It even got the few scars I gathered on my arms... If it do that, then maybe there is another way to fix Adam.

  'Leo,' Nyx whispered softly. 'The light healed you, that's true. But please, don't get your hopes up. The little human's case is much more plicated than a flesh wound. It might work, but it also might do nothing or cause more harm than good.'

  Leo bit back a retort, swallowing hard. Even if he didn't want to hear it, he knew Nyx was right. However, he couldn't give this idea up, not when anht had finally appeared at the end of the tunnel.

  Don't worry, he finally said back. I uand that this is just a 'might' and nothing definite. I won't let this blind me.

  'I'm gd... And Leo? I truly wish I could give you a solution. But not even Nikra knew of a way to save the child at your current stage of power. Any sort of healing arts or sing rituals are far beyond us.'

  Uood. Leo nodded lightly with a heavy heart. Though I would like to hear about those things anyway if you don't mind.

  'Of course,' Nyx whispered, her tone brightening, the warmth returning to their link. 'But it will o wait. The process is done.'

  Fog on their shared sight, Leo uood what the Voidli. The golden dome finally stopped expanding, its transparent light h a good distance above the warehouse.

  The new Safe Zone's prote stretched wide, easily c the area around the building and even including the streets to some extent. There really was no parisoween a temporary and perma zone.

  Looks good. More than enough space to house a few hundred people if developed right. Leo admitted, a few possible pns running through his head. But not gonna lie; if the ey didn't notice this already, it will soon.

  'Indeed. A small price to pay for certain prote.'

  Leo nodded without a word and disected from their shared vision. With Holden finally turning away from the glowing pilr, it was time to set up the part of their pns.

  And so, with measured and almost silent steps, he approached the other man. The leader was already fighting off questions from a grinning Cra. Yet with just a raise of his hand, he stopped the overly excited woman wheiced Leo ing closer.

  "Well Hale, this is it. You said you could do this, and you did. You have my and my people's thanks."

  "Oh don't be so stiff, Tony!" Cra cpped Holden on the back, hard. "We just cimed a perma safe zone. Smile a bit!"

  The man stumbled a step, shooting the woman a gre. "You smile enough for all of us. And our job is far from over, Cra."

  The woman huffed, her shoulder slumping. "Aye, aye. I know. Way t down the mood when that bloody thing pumped me with more caffeihan I ever drank."

  Leo quirked an eyebrow. So, the Safe Zone really healed them all. Although, it didn't fill him with energy like it did for Cra.

  Maybe it works differently for humans? Or is it just her? A quick s of the warehouse made Leo questioer. Apart from Cra, no one seemed like they drank five energy drinks in a row. Though Tyler's stant dedication t at me is endable.

  Shrugging off the hostile gaze, Leo o the tower behind Holden. "Any problems with the new safe zoability? Payment?"

  "Nothing," the leader stated, even as a tiny froeared on his face. "At least not yet."

  Dear Void, what now? Leo mirrored Holden's expression. "What do you mean?"

  "Don't get me wrong, Hale, this pce is safe, much safer than the one we had before..." Holden grimaced, but it was almost unnoticeable. "I just don't know how long this will st."

  You're not making much sense, mao the point.

  "This shield, that repaired the building and now covers it in a dome, isn't iable. Just like Voidlings, it has a power ranking," the man tinued expining. "Currently it stands at D- but if the world keeps on growing, this might not be enough."

  Leo let out a long sigh. Why did I ever think this would be simple. Of course, a random safe zone won't protect us from beasts that have had years or more to grow stronger.

  "So what? This pce will bee essentially useless after some time?"

  "Not necessarily," Holden shook his head. "With my job, I upgrade it. Bigger territory, stronger shield, Ether fre produ. All of this and more is avaible to buy. However, none of those things e cheap."

  "Ether?

  Holden nodded. "Among other things. None of which we even obtain now."

  Yeah... figured out that myself. Still, it could have been worse. Of course, just as this thought passed through Leo's head, Holden spoke up again.

  "And once we buy those upgrades, the upkeep price will return. If we don't pay it, our safe zone will slowly revert to its base state."

  Leo fought the urge to hit his head into a wall. I just had to jinx it... New rule, Nyx, remember it. If something g, it will g. And if it didn't, expect it to go to shit ter.

  'I see what you meant by being a pessimist,' Nyx muttered.

  Ign the Voidling's jape, Leo addressed the two humans. "Oher to pay this time?"

  Holden's mouth tightened into a thin line, his eyes darting frht to left, up and down. "For now? Yes. I 't see any other requirements. Oher is to be paid every ten days."

  Depending on the amount, it should be doable for a rge group. Leo noted, nodding at Holden. "You have time to figure out this ter. Doubt you will need any upgrades in the ing days."

  "Aye." Holden began towards the warehouse exit. "We have other things to worry about. Our first safe zone will colpse soon if we don't pay, and I have nowhere near enough Ether for that. We have today and most of tomorrow to gather things and escort everyone here."

  It's just ohing after another, isn't it?

  "So what's the pn?" Leo asked out loud. "I didn't get you this , only for it to bee useless."

  Holden grimaced and spun around to face the others, his emotion on full dispy again. "Allen!" He growled. "You will stay here. Protect this pce with your life if you must. Do you uand, boy?"

  Tyler's perma gre at Leo disappeared as he gave Holden a firm nod.

  "Evan," the leader turowards the assassin. "Map this pd make an iory of what we use. When you finish, run back to ReachHope and tell Diana to speed up the preparations. I eople to be ready to move on the first light tomorrow if necessary."

  Evan tipped his head, "On it. Good luck."

  As the man sprinted deeper into the warehouse's offices, Holden looked back at Leo and Cra. "You two, I know it's a lot to ask after what you just did, but I need you to apany me somehere."

  Leo narrowed his eyes. "Where to?"

  Holden, not bag off, held his gaze. "Police station. If we all want to survive, we need more people. I 't always depend on you and the few fighters I have. Not when we must transport about forty people from ReachHope to here."

  Fair point. Leo tilted his head. "And you wao e? Bring a literal moo anroup of humans?"

  For the first time since he met him, Holden chuckled. "Indeed. I heard Cra told you about our past with that group, right?" Leo nodded. "Then trust me when I say it. I know Fraer than anyone, and if there is one person who won't have a problem with you, it's him."

  "That's quite the statement to make," Leo ented. "But fine, I will go. Just remember, I'm not a tool for you to use. If you have a pn, you tell me about it. e, and you will die. All of you."

  Holden's hand at his sword whitened, and Leo retty sure he noticed a shiver running through the human's body.

  "I'm well aware of our deal, Hale," the leader uttered through gritted teeth. "I wouldn't dare to put my people at more risk than they already are."

  Leo grinned just enough to show a bit of teeth. "Good. I will meet you by the gallery's entrance close to the station. Till then."

  Without another word, Leo spun around and dove towards the exit, ready for the part of the journey.

  Nyx. It's time to hunt.

  Chaos65