Darkness shrouded her as she sat silently on the comfortable sofa, waiting for the master of the mansion. Before coming here, though, Nawala had gone to ClubR, where they’d first met Big C to discuss business. But she hadn’t gone there for Big C. Not really. Instead, she’d paid off some sleazy bastard to gain useful information about Big C. After warning the guy to never mention any of it to anyone, Nawala went straight to Big C’s house, at the very outskirts of Havengrove. The secured locks couldn’t keep her out as she easily broke in, barely using her strength.
She didn’t mind the wait. Even if she had to sit there for a week, she would. Maybe things would go quicker if she simply went over to see Big C at ClubR. But that wasn’t what she was looking for. For what she was about to do, she would need all the privacy. And besides, she wanted Big C to see the length she would go to get what she wanted, including hunting him down to the ends of the Earth.
She was uncertain how long it took, but eventually, she heard a car pull up in the compound and then come to a halt. A door opened; someone stepped out. Then another door opened, and another stepped out. Two people. Nawala frowned.
“Thanks, Darwin.” It was Big C’s voice. “You know what to do tomorrow.”
“Yes, sir,” the guy called Darwin answered. Nawala didn’t know this voice. She wouldn’t want him to get involved. Thankfully, he went back inside the car and drove away. Big C was the only one left. Nawala knew it was him because of the heaviness of the footsteps and his deep breaths, as though he was scaling a mountain. Slowly, he approached, the soles of his shoes clacking loudly against the cobbled floors.
Then there was a halt. Perhaps, he’d just seen that his front door was unlocked. Nawala’s guess was proved right by the click of the gun that reverberated in the night’s air. Then the door opened slowly, and his previously loud, heavy steps turned cautious, almost imperceptible to the human ear. But Nawala was no human. The sound of creaking wood grated on her ears. It was getting nearer and nearer. And then the ghostly outline of a large man entered the living room.
Then he turned around, and his eyes were trained on Nawala. “What the hell?” He gaped, eyes widening as he opened fire on Nawala.
He’d not actually seen her, Nawala was sure of it. It was way too dark for the human eye to see anything. But he’d seen her glowing eyes. They turned bright blue in the dark, with dilated reptilian pupils. Nawala shut her eyes at once.
The sound of a switch went off, and a brilliant white light instantly flooded the room. Slowly, Nawala opened her eyes, adjusting them to the brightness.
Standing in the middle of the luxuriously furnished living room was Carlton Zuckerman, more widely known as Big C, and appropriately named Big Cunt by her warrior mage. He was massive, almost to the point of bursting out of his rather large burgundy suit. He had a full head of jet-black curls—perhaps his best feature. And as his dark brown eyes fell on Nawala, his rotund pale face turned even paler.
“Nawala? How did you–”
“I’ll be asking the questions here, Zuckerman.” Nawala snapped. “Now sit.”
To Big C’s credit, he kept his outer composure, despite the erratic beating of his heart. Silently, he took a seat on the couch directly opposite Nawala. “Look, I’m sorry I shot you. You broke into my house, you know. You scared the hell out of me.”
A long silence ensued. Nawala simply stared at the man, silently gauging his every move, every twitch of his body. Big C’s calm façade didn’t surprise her. The man was a mobster and had more than likely stared into the face of death many times over. But none of that mattered to her. If Big C was the one who had indeed orchestrated the ambush in the Darklands, then by the time she was through with him, he would wish he had died many times over.
“Why are you in my house, Nawala? You could have met me at the nightclub.”
“I told you, Zuckerman, I’ll be asking the questions here. Ask me another question again, and I’ll have your tongue.”
Big C clenched his jaw but said nothing.
Wala continued, “Well, since we are on the same page, why don’t we get started. I found Dino Bell like you wanted.”
More silence. But the air had shifted. The defiance in Big C’s eyes had faltered. But only slightly. He was doing his best to appear calm, nonchalant, as though none of this was worth his time. And yet, the spike in his heart betrayed him.
“Tell me, Zuckerman, why did you send us into a trap?”
Big C didn’t even blink. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Oh, is that right?”
“Yeah.” He shrugged. “Bullet stole from me and ran. I just wanted you to find him. If you had problems in the Darklands, that’s on you. Not me.”
Wala paused, watching the man carefully. She let the silence hang in the air, so that Big C himself would notice his own blunder. He did notice. And it was glorious watching his big brown eyes lose their last shred of confidence. But his composure never cracked. As if that was the last hope he was clinging to for Nawala not to notice his admission of guilt.
But she’d noticed. And she wasn’t going to let it go. “See, I never mentioned the Darklands. So, how do you know about that?”
A long pause. Big C sighed. “Where’s Bullet?”
“There was fire everywhere.” Wala shrugged. “You do the math.”
“You... burnt him to death?”
Hmm. That Bullet was one smart bloke. Knowing that Nawala would definitely come for Big C, he just ran and never looked back. Didn’t even come to warn Big C. That actually worked out in her favour. She’d take advantage of Big C’s ignorance.
“And I’ll do the same thing to you if you don’t answer my questions,” said Nawala. “Why did you send us into a trap? Mind you, Bell and the akumons told me a lot. But I still want to hear everything from you.”
The gulp in his throat was loud. “I can’t tell you.” Big C shook his head frantically. “The factions will come after me and everything I’ve built if they find out. You can burn me alive if you want, but it’s nothing compared to what the factions will do to me.”
“Hmm.” Wala adjusted herself in her seat and crossed her legs. She gripped the wooden armrest so hard that it crumpled under her touch like paper. Though her rage wanted to come out as flames and consume the massive ball of flesh before her, she reigned herself in, watching him instead with chilling calmness.
“I tend to shy away from long, empty speeches about torture and murder, and just get on with the bloody torture and murder,” she began slowly. “But not today. Someone dear to me almost died, and I want answers. Answers only you can provide. You see, Zuckerman, I took the liberty to learn about you. You’re quite the family man. Well, you’re divorced, with three daughters, several mistresses, and the occasional hookers, but you still hold your family in high regard, I suppose. That’s why you named your nightclub, ClubR, right? After the mother of your children, isn’t it? Rita? Club Rita.” Wala chuckled. “She must be special. Though I have to say, that’s a dumb name to give a club. But what do you expect from someone who calls themselves Big C? Do you have an alphabet fetish or something?”
Big C clenched his jaws, a strained look on his flabby face. Wala wasn’t sure if his expression was because she was insulting his poor naming skills or because she was threatening his family. Perhaps, he had a full bladder or something. Or maybe it was all the above.
Ignoring him, she continued, “You seem to have this ridiculous idea that the so-called factions are far scarier than I am. That was my mistake; my apologies.” Wala solemnly touched her chest. “I assure you, I will be changing that perception soon. But you’re right about one thing. I am going to burn you alive. You signed your death warrant the moment Moon got hurt.”
She paused. Her words were slowly but surely getting to Big C. Even if he seemed calm on the outside, the thumping of his heart told a different story. She just had to let him see that she was his worst nightmare, not the bloody factions. “I will kill you, that’s not going to change. But here’s what might change about how you die. Tell me what I need to know, and it will be quick and painless. No harm will come to your family. You have my word... Or, you can refuse to talk. That’s fine by me. But I will slowly burn the fat off your skin, and I’ll relish every second of it. Then once I’m done with you, I’ll go look for Jenny. Your first daughter, isn’t it? Yeah. Happily married to Dave, the accountant.”
“No. You can’t.”
Wala laughed. “Oh, but I can. And I will.”
“Please.” It was merely a whisper, but it conveyed all of Big C’s fears, pain, and helplessness.
“I’m just getting started, Zuckerman,” said Wala, completely unmoved. Moon almost died. He might be in a more stable condition now, but he was still in a coma. And it was all because of this evil prick of a human. The fact that he expected mercy from her was laughable. “Once I’m through with Jenny, I’ll go find Emily and Dana. All of them, with their beautiful, beautiful family. Such lovely grandchildren you must have. Isn’t that right, Zuckerman?”
“I’ll tell you anything you want to know.” Big C was hysterical now, sweat dousing his red face. “Just leave the children alone. Don’t fucking touch my family.”
“Moon is my family. And you touched him.” Wala glared at the man in disgust. “But I’m no monster. I’m not you, Zuckerman. Unlike you, I don’t harm children. They’re like dogs, you know. Pure. Innocent. Only a monster will hurt such precious creatures. No. I won’t hurt your grandchildren, Zuckerman. But your daughters are not children. They’re fair game. So, you better start talking, or dear Mrs. Ex Zuckerman will be burying a whole lot of Zuckermen.”
“What the fuck do you want to know?”
“Now that wasn’t so hard, was it?” Wala gave a small smile. “Let’s start from the beginning. Why did you send me to the Darklands?”
“It was just business.”
“Business?”
Big C nodded. “Ghostclaw needed dragons; I merely provided.”
Ghostclaw. This name again. The leader of the akumon hive in Havengrove. It was rather unfortunate that akumons were literally heartless, or she would be ripping out Ghostclaw’s heart herself. But his time would come. For that, she could be patient.
“You don’t seem surprised,” said Big C with a raised brow.
Wala shrugged. “I told you. Bell and your akumon friends wouldn’t shut up. You should have seen their faces when we set them on fire.”
“You attacked the akumons in the Darklands?” Big C gaped. “That could lead to war.”
“Attack?” Nawala scoffed. “Don’t make me laugh... but yes, I hope it leads to war.”
“No, you don’t understand. The factions honour a pact that keeps the akumons from hunting outside the Darklands. Attacking them in their own territory can break the pact.”
“Is that right?” Wala tilted her head. “And whose fault will that be?”
Big C’s lips twitched.
“Don’t worry,” said Wala. “You won’t be alive to see what your folly did to the city. I guess you’re the lucky one.” Then she laughed. “Now tell me about this business you have with Ghostclaw.”
“I’ve... never seen him.”
“And you do business with him.” But it did make sense that Big C had never seen Ghostclaw. Agatha did say that the leader of the akumons was permanently confined to the Darklands.
“Only through his akumons,” he said quickly. “They told me Ghostclaw only fed on dragon hearts. Unfortunately, akumons can’t hunt outside the Darklands, so my supplies are the only way they get to feed.”
The more she learned about the feeding patterns of the akumons in this city, the more dumbfounded Nawala got. Akumons were vicious predators who enjoyed hunting their prey themselves. And yet, right here in Havengrove, they had to rely on a third party for their food supply. What exactly was this pact, and how was it controlling the akumons so well?
In Mumbai, where she and Moon had been living in the last four years, akumons ran amok in the shadows, freely preying on the clueless human population. Yes, there were many skilled human hunters, thereby making the akumons very prudent in how they killed their victims. But for the most part, the akumons were the hunters rather than the hunted. Havengrove was the first place she’d been to where the tables were practically turned.
“How noble of you to feed the poor, hungry akumons with my heart.” Nawala’s tone dripped with sarcasm. “You lure innocent people into the Darklands to get them killed. Have you no shame?” Wala didn’t consider herself innocent. But she’d never wronged Ghostclaw or Big C. She didn’t even know them until she came to Havengrove. Yet not only had they tried to kill her for no reason, but they had almost killed her warrior mage. It was unforgivable.
“Spare me that self-righteous bullshit,” Big C snapped. “Most akumons can’t leave the Darklands, and they need to feed on people’s hearts to live. How are they supposed survive if they don’t eat?”
“Here’s a novel idea, you despicable piece of turd.” Wala’s gaze hardened. “Why don’t you give them your heart instead if you’re so damn worried about their survival? I’m pretty sure it’s large enough to feed the whole lot of them. Why involve me and my warrior mage?”
Besides, the idea that akumons could only survive on human hearts was simply not true. An animal would do just fine, although it would have to be alive. But akumons, especially those who wanted to be strong, would never feed on animals. Not when there were humans everywhere. Nawala wasn’t judging them. Humans hunted and fed on animals, after all. It was the same thing in her eyes.
The problem was that Big C had involved her and her warrior mage.
“Your warrior mage?” Big C’s eyes widened. “You mean that little girl? Moon? She’s your warrior mage?” He gulped. “You’re a flameborn dragon?”
At least he wasn’t entirely clueless. She found it easier dealing with ordinary humans who already knew about the supernatural. Not that Nawala was trying to hide who she was, but it was less of a hassle that way. Besides, from a very young age, she’d learned the secret behind the unusually long thriving of the imperial dragon clans—they generally didn’t interfere in the affairs of humans. Wala lived by this code, too. It made her life less complicated. How ironic. This was the most complicated thing she’d been involved in. Why did she even come to Havengrove? She would never have left Mumbai if Khan hadn’t asked.
Suddenly, she frowned. “What about Khan?”
Jamal Khan was a warrior mage, and warrior mages were generally protective of flameborn dragons, even if they weren’t syrabonds. She found it hard to believe that Khana would intentionally send her and Moon into danger. And yet, a part of her had some doubts. Even her own family had abandoned. How could she expect Khan not to do the same? He might be a warrior mage, but he was still not Nawala’s. In the end, Khan’s absolute loyalty was not to her but to his own dragon, just as hers was to Moon.
“Is he involved in this dragon trafficking business?” she asked.
“Do you mean Jamal Khan? I’d never heard of him until Vaughn introduced us a few weeks ago.” Big C shook his head. “The one I deal with directly is Vaughn. He’s the one who introduces me to most of my suppliers and clients. Hell, he was the one who arranged the business with Ghostclaw. He’s the fucking mastermind here. Not me.”
Oh, is he now?While Nawala could obviously tell what Big C was doing, she didn’t mind one bit. She needed to know everyone complicit in this scheme. She couldn’t care less about who the mastermind was. As long as they actively partook in it, she would find them and kill them all. Vaughn was no different.
“Who is he?”
“Enrique Vaughn.” Big C seemed more than happy to shift the blame to someone else. “He’s a business partner of sorts. We’ve had a few deals together. Made lots of money from our deals. The dragon supply to Ghostclaw was just the latest one. He told me just how we could get the dragons, and he introduced me to Khan. Said he ran an underground fight club that had a lot of scaleborns.”
Khan may be a mage, but he was still a businessman. If Vaughn had paid him more money for Wala than Wala ever earned him as a fighter, it made no business sense for him to turn it down. Big C, however, was convinced that Khan didn’t know anything about the dragon trafficking and only believed that this was really a bounty hunting job. Though she wanted to believe that Khan was innocent, she still couldn’t rule out the possibility that he might not be innocent after all.
It was Vaughn who knew Khan, not Big C. Perhaps, without Big C’s knowledge, Vaughn and Khan had already planned to capture her. Wala sighed. Khan wasn’t exactly her friend, but she’d known him long enough to care about him. It would be a shame if she had to kill him, too. But as always, this was proof that she couldn’t trust anyone on this planet. No one but Moon Yong-sun.
“Where do I find this human?” Or mage. Or akumon. Whatever the hell Vaughn was.
“You mean Enrique Vaughn?” Big C raised a brow. “He’s a scaleborn.”
Now this was just something out of a dystopian novel. Dragons selling dragons to akumons through human middlemen? Reality was indeed stranger than fiction. “Where is he?”
Big C hesitated, and Wala frowned, the rage bubbling within her like an ocean of magma. Perhaps, she had been too patient with him. Just before she could break two or three of his fingers, he quickly replied, “You can’t just go after Vaughn. He’s a member of Havengrove Dragon Clan.”
Wala shrugged. “So?”
Big C just stared at her like she was insane. “You need to see their chief first. You may be a flameborn, but you’re just going to make an enemy of every scaleborn in the city if you go after Vaughn.”
“Do I look like I care?” she scoffed, getting up. “Your time’s up.”
Want more? Read the next chapter here.