Location: Floor 52, Necropolis, The Shield
The alarm was unusually loud.
Vanis stirred from her sleep, her hand groping blindly across the floor.
Frowning, she reached here and there until her fingers brushed against the cool screen of her phone lying on the floor.
With a low groan, she switched off the alarm.
She didn't want to wake up. Her body felt heavy, weighed down by a deep exhaustion.
But she couldn't fall back asleep either.
The whispers in her head had returned, the price of using the Madness that can never be fully silenced.
With a silent curse, she got up.
The sheet slipped from her body as she rose, cool air brushing against her skin.
A dull soreness remained in her body, a reminder of last night.
"You were quite aggressive last night."
Vanis turned toward the voice.
"And you were suspiciously submissive. Not the Jack Raven I know." She said, a dry smile tugging at her lips.
Her partner wore a cocky smile on his devilishly handsome face.
His deep silver eyes shimmered with amusement under the dim lights of their room.
He swept back his long hair, which was a shade of midnight blue, his fingers brushing against the feather-shaped silver ornament dangling from his left ear.
"If indulging you helps you sleep," he said lightly. "I can be submissive all you want."
Jack Raven's smile turned into a teasing grin. "Besides, I know you enjoyed it."
Vanis's heterochromatic eyes narrowed. "And I know that you are a deep sleeper. So why are you awake now, and how long have you been staring at me?"
"Not long enough, unfortunately," he replied with a dramatic sigh. "And your alarm was so atrocious, it woke me from a nice sleep."
"My bad. I forgot to disable it," she muttered, sleepily running a hand through her silver hair as it spilled over her pale shoulders.
With a yawn, she stretched, muscles tight, her scars standing out starkly against her fair skin.
Jack chuckled, his sharp gaze lingering on her. "Still. I am glad the alarm woke me. I get to start the day with an amazing view."
"Please don't get turned on first thing in the morning," she sighed and then became quiet.
"Thanks," her voice softened.
She rubbed her shoulders, as if suddenly cold. "Yesterday was quite… hard."
"I know," Jack wrapped an arm around her, letting her rest against him.
His body felt warm and solid.
It felt real.
"I heard you and Artemis had a fierce round. A lot of words were exchanged," glancing at her, he added. "And I guess Mordred's name came up?"
Vanis stiffened.
"Yes," she replied.
Jack grimaced. Artemis Fray could be brutal when she gets riled up.
"You know she didn't mean to say those words," he said. "Even after a year, that kid is still grieving."
"She lost her parents and her older brother. And the ones who took her and Apollo in were gone as well. One lost her memories and had to leave, while the other got dragged into the Tear."
He sighed. "She and her brother lost everything. Now they're the only ones they have."
"I know," Vanis nodded, but her voice cracked. "I just… I feel awful, Jack."
She lifted her head, and he met her gaze. Her eyes were beautiful: one purple, the other crimson.
But there was something else.
A haunting shadow within them.
"I was there, Jack," she said, pressing closer to his chest. "He was taken away right in front of me, and I couldn't do a single thing."
Her breath trembled.
"I failed him."
Jack felt it.
The excruciating guilt that gnawed at her soul, slowly and insidiously breaking the formidable Vanis Hectus.
Right now, she was utterly vulnerable.
But even then, he could feel the inner icy flame that drove her on, preventing that slow erosion.
She just needed someone to lean on.
He gently stroked her hair. "Don't you dare blame yourself, you fanatic twat. The world is cruel. Go blame the world."
Vanis frowned faintly. "That's far from comforting, you jerk."
He smirked. "Well, you were the one who got upset and sought me out."
Then, with mock injury, he added. "You dragged me in here when you got sight of me. You practically hunted me down."
"Oh, shut it," Vanis rolled her eyes and poked him in the ribs. "You were quite eager as well."
His grin widened. "Guilty as charged."
He leaned and kissed her before she could say more. Her body immediately relaxed, and she let herself sink into his warmth.
When they finally broke apart, Vanis shifted, guiding him so he was above her.
They stared at each other, breathing unevenly.
Vanis's hands drifted upwards, tenderly cupping his face.
Her touch was unusually cold.
"We still have time until our duties begin," she whispered.
"I don't want to think for a while. So let's make the most of it."
Jack studied her for a small moment, then his expression softened.
"Then don't," he said quietly, "I will take care of you."
He couldn't help but smirk. "Don't you hate being sweaty in the morning?"
Vanis returned a smile. "I'll make an exception today. Besides, this room has a shower."
"An exception just for me? I'm honored," Jack chuckled and leaned closer.
"Very well, my lady. Let me boost your spirits. Help you forget the world for a bit."
******
"Good morning, Vice Commander."
"Good morning, Captain Hectus."
Deathwalkers greeted them as they passed, more than a few glancing twice at the striking pair.
Vanis wore her custom Deathwalker uniform: a white, cropped tactical jacket and fitted slacks featuring golden designs, worn over a black bodysuit.
Her black combat boots were fitted with retractable spikes for extra grip on the snow-covered battlefield, and for breaking bones.
Her hair was tied in a ponytail with her bangs parted to reveal the intricate tattoo etched into her forehead.
Jack's tall, athletic frame was clad in a navy blue long-sleeved coat over a gray tactical combat shirt, dark pants secured with a belt that had a chain dangling off it and connected to a thigh strap.
His lace-up black combat boots bore retractable spikes as well, with the edges of the soles studded with a thin ring of steel covered in rubber.
Scars traced the exposed regions of his fair skin, slightly tanned from his time spent outside.
He noticed Vanis looking between him and the greeting Deathwalkers.
"I can't wrap my head around it," she said with a faint frown.
"What?" he asked, tilting his head, amused.
"We both became Deathwalkers in the same year. Became Reapers and Unit Captains together as well," she narrowed her eyes.
"Yet now, you are the Vice Commander, with Minerva as your personal assistant, while I am still a captain."
She looked up at him. "Just how?"
Jack smirked and simply said. "I'm an S-ranker."
"And I can still beat you up fifty shades of blue," Vanis raised a fist. "An A -ranker cannot bring down an S-ranker, but I can still beat the ever cocky daylights out of you."
She shook her head and gave him a look. "Just what did you find on that expedition?"
Jack gave her an apologetic look. "Sorry, love. I'd tell you, but Minerva threatened to neuter me if I speak a word about it."
"Oh." Understanding crossed Vanis's face. "That would be tragic. You'll be far less entertaining."
Jack clutched his chest in mock pain. "Is that the only reason I became your lover?"
Vanis's smirk made him quite nervous.
Then she laughed.
It was a genuine laugh, one that he hadn't heard from her in a while.
"Of course not, love," she said, still chuckling. Her voice turned soft.
"If you cannot tell me, then I guess I'll join the next team headed there."
She stepped closer, looking up at him. The top of her head barely reached his shoulders.
"You will be needing reinforcements, right?"
Jack chuckled. "Indeed. And you'd make a fine leader."
She punched him hard enough that his knees buckled. "I don't need your recommendation."
"Goodness me, Vanis. Stop abusing your boyfriend."
A familiar, curt voice spoke behind her.
She turned around and blinked in confusion, wondering if she was seeing things.
Carlo Devereux, the vice captain of Unit 21, stood a few steps away, looking as immaculate as ever.
His obsidian-black hair with crimson tips was neatly combed, and his black custom Deathwalker uniform was pristinely maintained on his tall frame.
The only thing that marred this perfect noble symmetry was the terrible scar that ran down the left side of his handsome face.
His black eyes remained fixed on Vanis, despite the huge distraction he was holding in his right hand.
He held Artemis Fray, the captain of Unit 21, by the collar of her uniform.
It was as if he were holding a human-sized cat by the collar.
Artemis stared back at Vanis with deadpan golden eyes and with an almost bored expression.
"Um… Carlo?" Vanis asked. "Why are you holding Artemis like that?"
"Oh, this?" he said dismissively, easily holding Artemis up as if she were weightless.
"Our rather mature captain," his tone turned razor-dry, "felt huge remorse for the harsh words she spoke the previous day, and wants to apologize."
Artemis remained silent, her arms crossed and looking rather defiant.
"But her pride," Carlo continued drily, "wouldn't allow her to get off the bloody couch and walk over here herself."
"And since she is essentially my superior," his eye twitched. "She ordered me to carry her and bring her to you."
"Ah," Vanis nodded.
Six years in the Shield and she still can't get used to its insanity.
Jack laughed beside her. "Well, that sounds exactly like my little Artemis."
"Oh, and Vice Commander," Carlo added. "The Slader siblings are currently drowning Unit 18 in caramel syrup. You're the only one who can handle those two."
"Oh," Jack's smile dropped a fraction. "Of course they are."
He exhaled. "I should go."
He leaned in and kissed Vanis.
"Duty awaits, love."
Then his tone shifted as he called the Shield's AI.
"Minerva."
Vanis gave a faint smile. "Yeah. Go save those poor Deathwalkers."
Jack gave a brief nod to Carlo and Artemis, and for a moment, a dangerous glint flashed in his eyes.
Then he was gone in a bright flash of green light.
An awkward silence followed, broken only by the passing of other Deathwalkers and the distant activity of Necropolis.
"Oi," Carlo shook Artemis. "About time you apologized."
Artemis kept her golden eyes locked on Vanis, who returned the gaze with the same intensity.
"Carlo," she finally spoke. "Put me down."
He immediately released her, as if she were a sack of potatoes.
She hit the floor with an ungraceful thud.
"Ow! Gently, you jerk!" the young Fray exclaimed in pain.
Carlo merely grunted before looking away.
Grumbling softly, Artemis got to her feet, rubbing her elbows.
She stepped closer to Vanis. Though Vanis was older, Artemis was taller by an inch.
The two Deathwalker captains faced each other.
Vanis with a calm gaze that radiated an icy chill.
Artemis, with a similar icy stare, one born from defiance.
They stared at each other for a minute without a single word exchanged.
Carlo leaned against the smooth white wall, watching the silent exchange with amusement.
Finally, Artemis spoke.
"Vanis," she lowered her eyes. "I'm sorry."
She hesitated. "I… lost my tongue back then."
Vanis gave a small smile. "I wasn't exactly polite either.."
She opened her arms. "Truce?"
Artemis's expression softened, and she smiled. "Sure."
They embraced each other.
"And it wasn't all that bad. In the end, I had a wonderful time last night with Jack," Vanis said.
"And you have my respect, Vanis," Artemis replied with a grin. "You are the only one who ever conquered that monster's heart."
As they were caught in the moment, Carlo's voice broke it.
"So, we good?"
Vanis released Artemis and glanced at him. "For a noble of the Kingdom, you seem to lack some manners."
He smirked. "Good luck surviving in the Shield with noble etiquette."
Then…
An alarm blared all around them.
And this was not the standard daemon alert.
Every Deathwalker in the corridor froze.
"An S-rank Abnormal has emerged from the Tear," Minerva's clear, precise voice cut into their earpieces.
Vanis's posture changed immediately.
"S rank…" her voice hardened. "Asphodel?"
"No," Minerva replied. "It's a new entity. Sorcerer type."
Artemis let out a muttered curse. "Send us in, Minerva."
"But the Commander can-"
"Minerva," Vanis cut in calmly. "I don't think Artemis will take no for an answer with an Abnormal similar to Asphodel.
A silence extended between them amidst the screaming alarm.
"Fine."
"Deploying Captain Artemis Fray and Vice Captain Carlo Devereux of Unit 21 to the battlefield."
"Hey!" Carlo protested. "When did I agree to join?"
Unfortunately, it fell on deaf ears.
"Deploy me as well, Minerva," Vanis said.
Artemis turned to her, her golden eyes filled with cold resolve. "You don't have to."
"I do," she replied, casually rolling her shoulders and stretching, preparing for battle.
"I promised Mordred not to let you die."
Her eyes sharpened, and she gave a grim smile
"And I intend to keep it."