Page 19 of A Requiem of Fire and Ice

As soon as I press the phone to my ear, she answers. “If you’re calling me, it means you’ve gotten into Flesh,” Nancy says, chuckling deeply.

“As you mentioned, Toma took the money without hesitation, but they’ve compromised Kaneko.” I pause when the women’s toilet opens, but continue when it’s not Sara or Kylie. “A fire elemental killed her, and I think he suspects Toma as well.”

“Fire elemny?” Nancy sighs, and I know the old bat is digging her fingers into her temple. “I haven’t heard a thing from Kol either. Be careful from now on, Pandora. King Ragan must’ve caught wind of the Underground and cleaned up the streets. He must be using one of his knights. Fire elemny. Maybe Alek. Did he have short hair?”

My thoughts wander back before I shake my head and say, “Uh, define short? Like, this guy has an undercut, is Asian, and⁠—”

“You need to leave,” Nancy spits.

“What?” I hiss. Realising my expression has shifted too quickly, I flutter my lashes and play flustered and meek. “No, Mother, I’m fine. The air’s not too bad.”

“Listen closely, Pandora. You need to be careful from here on because I know you’ll keep going. The best hunter in Eraminia is after you, and once he sees you as suspicious, it’ll already be too late.”

Xavier opens the door to the men’s bathroom.

“Don’t stray from the path. Stick to the plan I set and keep your emotions in check. For goodness’ sake, I noticed the disgust on your face after you hugged your boyfriend.”

“He’s not my boyfriend,” I say, my frown deepening. “Just someone I need until this mission’s done.”

“I know, but to go along with it, it’s easier for me to keep saying that, so I don’t slip up myself. So, make sure you always maintain your persona while you’re there. If someone figures you out, you’re on your own. I only promised to keep you safe in Oceanview Harbour. Everything else is up to you.”

“Of course. I will keep that in mind!” I say.

“I’m assuming you have no room to talk freely anymore?”

“Yeah, sure. Don’t worry about it,” I say as I snake my arm around Xavier’s waist and smile adoringly at him. “I’ll call you once I’m settled.”

“The hunter is Prince Reen,” Nancy says. “Good luck.”

“Love you too,” I say and hang up.

I’m dead.

Chapter 10

Reen Kyong, July 8th

I sit at the only table and chairs available at the Dragonfire Bar and pat the seat beside me. Kaneko eyes the exit. Elemny outside, gawk with fright… awe, maybe curiosity. Her wavering fear tantalises my taste buds, but also evokes disappointment at the weaknesses exploitable by me. Nothing but the desperate need to flee stirs inside everyone in the bar. They don’t yearn for a fight, which makes the thought of a hunt simmer within me.

I tilt my head to the side and watch Kaneko, wondering if she will take the gamble and run. They almost always do. It’s disappointing to witness. And I have done nothing to instil fear in her. If anything, I’ve been nothing but kind—not even raising my voice. However, those grappling with guilt often think that dying for freedom is preferable to handing over information.

Indeed, Flesh is a kingdom steeped in fear and death, as shown by the decaying bodies displayed across the walls. Yet today, I felt bored and on the lookout for some amusement.

Kaneko glances at the door once more, but I don’t want to push her to stay. I want her to make the choice herself. Still, I might need to give her a little nudge to sit down and share information.

I glance at the man hiding nearby. I wish I could forget about the three other elemny in this room. I know they’ll throw each other under the bus if I give them a chance. Disappointment washes over me as I ponder who would sell their soul first. What elemny working to save others could sacrifice others to protect themselves? I can’t fathom such actions, which may stem from my upbringing, but I absolutely loathe it when someone surrenders a life for their own gain. Take responsibility for your actions and accept the consequences instead of blaming someone else.

The man hiding wails manically and rises from his little hide-hole with his hands above his head. Flames coil like a snake around its prey, and as he burns, my eyes never leave Kaneko’s. She glances at the door again, and my shoulders relax when her jaw softens. She sits across from me, not where I placed my hand. Kaneko seeks distance, which is a sign of hesitation, fear, and caution. She knows—from the gaping, fiery hole I created—that I’m not here for a stroll.

“Look, I’ll tell you everything. Please don’t kill me,” she says, her focus darting to the other two elemny looking at her with bafflement and betrayal.

They’ve got some code to take to their graves. Her speaking out sends a prickle of aggravation through me because she seems to lack a sense of integrity. But this might also be an attempt to steer me in a different direction. Instead of the ace in the deck, she slips in the joker to drive me onto another path.

“How long have you been smuggling elemny within Flesh for?” I ask.

Kaneko blinks, surprised by my sudden question. Soon, she’ll realise I’m no guard. The finest had trained me. She darts a glance at the male elemny behind the bar. I lean across the table and place my hand over hers, resisting the urge to melt her flesh to the bone. “If you can give me everything you know, even a list of all the elemny your group has smuggled in, I can let you go without speaking to King Ragan. You can leave Flesh and never return.”

Once more, she looks to the man behind the bar.