Chapter Two

“Brief me. How’s it going?”

I tip-toed to the bedroom door and checked the locks twice before returning to perch on the edge of the bed.

My communication chip was projecting Alarion’s face into the dim room and he looked expectant.

“I don’t report to you, Alarion.” I said coolly, keeping my voice low “I do not have to.”

His nostrils flared sharply as he leaned forward, visibly frustrated “Cut the bullshit, Kamari. You are being dramatic, and frankly, at this point it’s becoming childish. Your son’s life is on the line so this isn’t the time for your pride and stubborn theatrics.”

“Listen to…”

“No, YOU listen to me!” His voice rise sharply, “I get you are angry but you have to calm the fuck down and think strategically for once.”

I blinked, genuinely taken aback.

In the fifteen years I’d known Alarion, I’d never—not once—heard him lose his composure like this. The man was carved from ice and calculation. Seeing him visibly rattled was… unusual to say the least..

What the hell had crawled up his ass and died?

“We have every resource at your disposal,” he continued, his jaw tight. “Intel, technology, backup if you need it. Your best chance..,he’ll, your ONLY chance, of getting Lance back alive is working with me. So let me ask you something, Kamari: What’s more important here? Your wounded pride, or your son?”

Bastard.

I clenched my teeth, refusing to give him the satisfaction of an answer.

But from the way his lips twitched—the ghost of a smug smile—he knew exactly what I would’ve said.

“That’s what I thought.” He settled back in his chair, composure sliding back into place like armor. “Now let’s start over. Give me an update.”

I exhaled slowly, forcing down my irritation.

“There is nothing much here to give. I’ve been staying low for two days and just…researching. I got a lead which I’ll send to you once this call is over.”

He paused, glancing at something off screen before returning his attention to me, “what’s it like, over there?”

A groan left my lips before I could stop it, “Hell. I hate this place. I do not understand anything going on here - everything is just different. And worse?” I gestured at myself bitterly, “I’ve been reduced to a foolish, pathetic housewife.”

“Yeah…uhm. I was worried about that part.”

Was he trying to hide a smile? He obviously was and doing a darn bad job at it.

“No need to be worried. This is my only way to blend in so I will not blow my cover…until I get my son back. And if I hear you making a joke about this, I’ll find a way to kill you from another dimension.”

His amusement delighting faded, “Fair enough.”

“How’s the other me doing?”

“Well,” he scratched his beards, “I’d say she’s adjusting as well as can be expected given the circumstances. Rave has been looking after her but…from the way he flowers at her half of the time I can tell he’s not enjoying his new babysitting gig.”

“Hah! He has to get over himself, since he’s the only one I can trust to do the job right. Do you see how fucking different she is?”

Alarion smiled, “Yes, that was unsettling at first. But I wouldn’t say she’s too different from you anyways. She has that fire in you but I guess she’s had a very tough life.”

Obviously.

I bit my lip thinking of everything I’ve learnt about the poor woman in the past two days. And I thought my life had been brutal. But even with everything going on in my life the past decade and half I’ve had power. Support.

Kamari 2 didn’t have that.

If I’d been subjected to that level of psychological torture for years, who’s to say my spirit wouldn’t have shattered too?

“Alarion,” I called, deciding to change the subject. Daniel might come barging in here any minute and I don’t need her to see a strange man’s face hovering over my communication chip. “This is the most important job of my life, and I can’t afford to flop it. I need to find Lance as soon as possible. He doesn’t deserve to go through this shit.”

“And I promise we will do all we can in our power to make it possible. But uhm…Kamari, what is your update regarding the other kids? I have no idea if your mission includes them.”

Yeah I’ve thought about that. I gave it more thought than usual so I was prepared for the question.

“It does but…I’m gonna need something in return.”

“Your full payment? Consider it…”

“No,” I shook my head, “I want something else in return this time around.”

Alarion paused, assessing me with a calm gaze.

I took a deep breath, then another…this one shakier, betraying the fear I’d been suppressing.

I had to do this. There was no other choice.

“I need to be able to speak to Madame.”

Alarion’s expression hardened instantly. “What? No way. You know she never gets in physical contact with the agents, especially you.”

I knew that. In fifteen years of working here I’ve never…

The last time I saw the woman was sixteen years ago - when she dragged my bloody, almost dying ass to Alarion’s house and demanded he looked after me. I never imagined that by looking after me, she actually meant ‘turn me into an assassin.’

Since then she had disappeared. The only time I heard of her was in the news and when she had special assignments for me, which she delivered through Alarion anyways.

Why would she want anything to do with me anyways?

She hated me. Hated my guts…it’s a miracle she didn’t kill me that night - though judging from the rage in her eyes I could tell it took a great deal of self control to not do that.

After what I did….

When I didn’t answer, Alarion sighed, rubbing his palm over his face, “Why do you want to see her all of a sudden, Kamari? I need a good reason because pulling a meet up with her is almost mission impossible but I’ll try. Why do you want to see her?”

“Because I’m dying Alarion,” I watched as the color quickly drained from his faces

His mouth opened, closed, opened again.

For once in his calculating life, the master strategist was completely at a loss for words.

“I’m dying. I’ve got just about four months left, give or take.” I met his horrified gaze, “And my lovely aunt is the only one who can save me. Even though I assume she will be all too glad to see me dead.”