Susan, Beatrice, and Jake met at B's Place to celebrate Jake's new job, for as Susan had silently predicted, so had it been for Jake. She couldn't tell anyone the number of people that had to die for him to secure the job he now had. She had promised a celebration, and that's why they were here."You were so optimistic," Beatrice said to Susan. "I for one wasn't certain knowing how this world works and all."They were all seated around a circular table between them under night skies and the cold air gently caressing their skin."No one really knows how the world works," Susan said. "Sometimes, you can either sit in hopes not to offend anyone, or you can step out and get what you wa

Susan knew the rules of High Town city all too well. There were hidden laws that governed feeding, daily lives, especially that of businesses, and the peace in the city, and now she had made Beatrice the owner of B’s place, trouble unknown to Beatrice was meant to happen.After Susan had killed Ray that morning, she appeared in a bar unnoticed, and sat by an empty table. There were men speaking among themselves behind her, and she listened.“Where are you going? We’ll all be at the Grim to drink our fill and you wish to just go, like be somewhere else.”“B’s Place has a new owner.”“Oh.”“Yes. And I guess the last owner didn’t do the filling in.”

Her heart could rob a man of desire, as it could instill it quickly in him. She didn't like him, but she was willing to risk it. The sofa was drenched in the blood of more than one person. The bodies lying around had their eyes gouged out, their souls ripped from them even before she tore them into irredeemable shreds. No hearts here. No souls here. No redemption here. Only death stays here.Susan looked down at her blood-stained hands and frowned. The blood on her hands felt the heat of her stare and vanished for it couldn’t cry to the heavens for vengeance. Not for this lady. She took a glance around the room and the bodies of the men within, sprawled in different ways on the floor, a smile graced her face, and then she vanished.Elvis, the man whose life Susan had spared in the bar was sitting by a table with papers in front of him, locked up in a shadowy bunker with armed men positioned around, Susan appeared right across him, everyone in the room jerked.The s

Susan was staring into Jake’s eyes when Beatrice arrived with two wine glasses on a tray.Beatrice set the wine glasses before both parties on the table between them, she smiled and winked at Susan, then she walked away.“You don’t know what to say to that?” Jake asked.Oh, yes. Jake had asked her a question. But what was the question, and why was she staring at him with lust.“It’s not that I don’t know what to say,” Susan said. “I just—I don’t know.”“It’s fine. Hope you don’t think this awkward?” Jake asked.Susan for the first time felt herself unable to predict what Jake meant. Was it her love for him? She wondered. “What do you mean?” she asked.“Me taking you out?”“Oh. No—no. It’s fine.”“Yeah. I mean, you’ve spoiled me on several occasions, so I thought to take you out today.&

It was drafty on the peak of the northeast mountain which was almost on a level with the clouds, and it was here Susan chose to have a better view of the northeast side. She saw the smoking huts, and tents, the playing children, the gatherings of adults around fires and the staked meat they kept turning and she wondered, what brought these savages here.They were in rag clothing, their feet bare, and their idols scattered all around the place. Some prayed to their idols, some poured blood on them, some tried to feed them, Susan laughed.“Ignorant they are,” Susan said, “wouldn’t you agree, sister?”Vivian materialized next to Susan. “Chadwick is gathering his war party,” she said. “And I hope we’ve not come to play scouts?” She looked at Susan.“Oh, you’re going to love this.” Susan smiled. “Lightning, whirlwind, and fire.”Vivian lifted her gaze to the changing clouds, it darkened, bolts of lightning struck every part of the camp, a whirlwind began and took people of