2025-01-30 20:58:56Zayn led Vardy through the winding alleys of Haven, the rain continuing to fall around them. The spectral wolf stayed close to Vardy’s side, its glowing eyes scanning the shadows.
“Dean’s got a shipment coming through tomorrow night,” Zayn said, his voice low. “Weapons, supplies, the works. It’s all moving through the south docks.”
“And you know this because?” Vardy asked.
“Because I was supposed to oversee it,” Zayn replied.
Ferah and Tracy caught up to them, their expressions wary as they flanked Vardy.
“You trust him?” Ferah asked bluntly.
“No,” Vardy said. “But I’m listening.”
Zayn smirked faintly. “That’s a start.”
---
At the docks, a group of workers moved crates onto a waiting ship
A man in a dark coat watched from the shadows, his sharp eyes taking in every detail.
“Everything’s on schedule,” one of the workers said, glancing at the man.
“Good,” the man replied. “Make sure it stays that way.”
---
As they reached a small hideout, Zayn stopped and turned to face Vardy.
“This is as far as I go for now,” he said.
Vardy frowned. “Why?”
“Because I’m not suicidal,” Zayn replied. “If Dean finds out I’m working with you, I’m dead. I’ve given you what you need. The rest is up to you.”
Vardy studied him for a long moment before nodding. “Fine. But if you’re lying….”
“I’m not,” Zayn said firmly.
Ferah stepped forward, her expression hard. “We’ll see about that.”
Zayn met her gaze evenly. “You will.”
As Vardy and his group disappeared into the night, Zayn lingered in the shadows, his mind racing.
It didn't want anything to go wrong, even though he wasn't trusted.
“This better be worth it,” he muttered to himself, pulling his hood up as he melted into the darkness.
---
In the heart of the city, Dean sat in his chambers, his expression cold as Marcus delivered his report.
“Zayn’s with them,” Marcus said. “He’s feeding them information.”
Dean’s lips curled into a faint smile. “Good. Let him. It’ll make it easier to lead them into the trap.”
—
Vardy stood at the edge of the crowd, his hood pulled low over his face.
The spectral wolf sat at his feet, its glowing eyes scanning the throng of bodies. Ferah and Tracy stood close behind him, their weapons concealed but within easy reach.
“Why would Dean host something like this now?” Tracy asked, her voice low.
“Because he wants to remind everyone who’s in charge,” Selene said, slipping out of the shadows to join them.
Her tone was dry, but her eyes were sharp as she scanned the arena. “This isn’t just about entertainment. It’s about control. Dean’s showing the people of Haven that he holds their lives in his hands.”
“Or he’s baiting us,” Ferah muttered, her hand resting on the hilt of her sword.
Vardy said nothing. The whispers of the artifact were louder than usual.
“Are we going in?” Selene asked, raising an eyebrow.
“We don’t have a choice,” Vardy said, his tone grim.
---
Inside the arena, the stands were packed with bodies in anticipation.
At the center of the coliseum, a massive iron cage hung suspended above a pit of sharpened spikes. The crowd roared as a team of handlers dragged a snarling, bloodied beast into the cage.
Above the arena, Dean sat on a raised platform, flanked by his most trusted men.
He wore a sleek black coat, his sharp eyes scanning the crowd with a faint smirk. To his left stood Marcus, his expression unreadable, and to his right was a woman with dark hair and a dagger strapped to her thigh.
Her eyes gleamed with cold calculation as she leaned toward Dean, whispering something that made him chuckle.
“Ladies and gentlemen,” Dean said, rising to his feet. His voice boomed across the arena.
“Welcome to tonight’s festivities.”
The crowd erupted in cheers, their voices blending in a roar.
“As you know,” Dean continued, his smirk widening, “Haven is a city of strength. A city of power. And tonight, we celebrate that strength with a demonstration of what happens to those who think they can challenge me.”
He gestured toward the iron cage, and the handlers dragged another figure into the arena, a man shackled and bloodied, his face pale.
The crowd fell silent for a moment before erupting into a mix of cheers and jeers.
“This,” Dean said, pointing to the man, “is what becomes of traitors.”
Meanwhile, Vardy and his group were watching in a hidden curve.
Vardy clenched his fists, his eyes fixed on the man in the cage. “Who is that?” he asked, his voice low.
“Does it matter?” Selene replied, her tone harsh. “Dean’s just making an example of him.”
“It matters,” Vardy said firmly.
Selene frowned but didn’t argue.
Dean stepped closer to the edge of the platform, his smirk fading into a cold, hard expression. “For too long, some of you have forgotten your place. You’ve whispered of rebellion, of standing against me. Let tonight serve as a reminder: no one defies Dean and lives.”
He raised a hand, and the cage’s chains groaned as it began to lower toward the pit of spikes.
The crowd roared again, some cheering, others screaming for mercy.
Ferah shifted uneasily. “We have to do something.”
“We can’t just rush in,” Selene said sharply. “This place is crawling with Dean’s men. If we’re caught, it’s over.”
“So we do nothing?” Tracy snapped.
“We’re not doing nothing,” Vardy said, his voice steady but cold. “We’re watching. Learning. And when the time comes, we’ll strike.”
The spectral wolf growled softly, its glowing eyes fixed on the arena.
As the cage descended, the man inside shouted something, his voice lost in the chaos. Dean gestured for silence, and the crowd obeyed, their curiosity piqued.
“Speak,” Dean said, his tone mocking.
The man’s voice trembled, but his words were clear. “You think you’re invincible, Dean. But your time is running out. The Dud is coming for you.”
The crowd erupted into gasps and murmurs, their attention shifting to Dean.
For a moment, Dean’s smirk faltered. Then he laughed, a cold, sharp sound that silenced the arena.
“The Dud?” he said, his tone dripping with disdain. “Let him come. He’ll meet the same fate as every other fool who’s stood against me.”
He waved his hand, and the cage dropped faster, the man’s screams echoing through the arena as it plunged into the spikes.
Vardy turned away, his jaw tight. The whispers in his mind grew louder, urging him to act, to confront Dean here and now. But he forced them back, his grip on his staff tightening.
“This isn’t the time,” he said, more to himself than to the others.
Selene’s gaze lingered on him, her expression unreadable. “You’re learning,” she said quietly.
Ferah looked ready to argue, but Tracy placed a hand on her shoulder, shaking her head.
As the crowd began to disperse, Vardy’s group lingered in the shadows, their eyes on Dean’s platform.
“What now?” Ferah asked.
“Now we wait,” Vardy said. “But not for long.”
High above the arena, Dean turned to Marcus, his smirk returning. “Make sure the word gets out,” he said. “I want the Dud to know exactly what’s waiting for him.”
Marcus nodded, his expression grim. “And if he takes the bait?”
Dean’s smile widened. “Then we finish this.”
“Lets leave here,” Vardy muttered.
“To where?” Tracy asked.
“There's a hidden cave over there, it'll be safe for us for a while.” Vardy responded.
—--
“This is the perfect time for us to strike!” Vardy’s voice cut through the tense silence.
Ferah leaned forward, her fingers tapping against the hilt of her sword. Tracy stood near the cave door, her spear resting against the wall, her expression tight with focus.
Luthor, still pale from his injuries, sat with his back against the wall, his breathing shallow but steady.
“You’re serious,” Selene said, leaning against the wall, her eyes narrowing as she studied him.
“Dead serious,” Vardy replied, his grip tightening on his staff. The whispers from the artifact surged in his mind.
“Dean’s distracted. His arena is crawling with people. If we move now, we can hit him where it hurts.”
“And what happens if it all goes wrong?” Ferah asked, her tone sharp. “The arena isn’t just a trap for anyone stupid enough to challenge Dean, it’s his fortress.”
“That’s why we don’t aim for Dean,” Vardy said, his gaze steady. “We aim for Evan Harker.”
The room fell silent, the weight of the name settling over them.
“Harker’s one of Dean’s top men,” Tracy said finally. “Taking him out would send a message, sure, but it won’t be easy. He’s dangerous.”
“Everyone in this city is dangerous,” Vardy replied. “But we can’t wait. If we hesitate now, we’ll lose our chance.”
Selene smirked faintly. “Bold. I like it.”
“This isn’t about liking it,” Ferah snapped. “It’s about surviving it.”
“And we will,” Vardy said firmly. “We have to act fast..” His gaze darted round everyone.
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In another part of the city, Marcus stood in a darkened room, his arms crossed as he listened to the report from one of Dean’s informants.“The Dud’s grown stronger,” the informant said, his voice shaking slightly. “He’s got some kind of... spectral beast with him now.”Marcus frowned. “A beast?”“A wolf,” the informant clarified. “It’s like nothing I’ve ever seen. Glowing, silent, dangerous.”Marcus turned toward the window, his gaze fixed on the city below. “And Dean knows about this?”The informant hesitated. “I... haven’t told him yet. Thought it best to bring it to you first.”Marcus nodded slowly. “Good. Keep quiet about this for now. Dean doesn’t need distractions.”“But what do we do?” the informant asked.Marcus’s lips curled into a faint smile. “We let the Dud think he’s winning. And when the time comes, we'll remind him who holds the real power.”---Back in the alley, the group rested briefly.“You think Dean’s already heard about this?” Luthor asked, glancing nervously at
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The cave was silent, the kind of silence that pressed against the ears and made every breath feel louder than it should. Vardy stood at the entrance, his staff glowing faintly.The artifact pulsed in his hand, the whispers louder now.“This is it,” Selene said from behind him, her voice low.“Your first Trial Quest. It’s not going to be easy.”Vardy glanced over his shoulder at her, his expression grim. “They never are.”Ferah stepped up beside him, her sword resting on her shoulder. “You sure about this? You don’t even know what’s waiting for you in there.”“I don’t have a choice,” Vardy said, his tone firm. He turned back to the cave, his grip tightening on his staff. “If I don’t do this, I won’t survive what’s coming.”“Then we’ll wait out here,” Tracy said, leaning against the cave wall. “Just don’t take too long.”“Be careful,” Luthor added. “These Trials aren’t just tests. They’re meant to break you.”Vardy didn’t respond.The air grew colder as Vardy went deeper into the cave.
