Umbra Mortis

Chapter 9- My love

It was as if time had stopped, only for a slight moment, before it suddenly snapped back into place. It was as if someone had jumped forwards in time, creating a monstrous mess, one difficult to find the words to describe.

One moment, Ash’s shields were up, and the next, they were gone. A heavy blanket of darkness covered them, an eerie silence of shock settling over the people. Then the lights came on. Bright, blinding. The trio had split up.

Jakayla stood beside Ash’s unconscious body, her eyes narrowed and burning with a murderous fire, daring for someone to come closer.

The right hand wasn’t with them anymore.

Surrounding the two of them lay the bodyguards. Some lay in the dark vermilion pools of their own blood, others missing arms, black handprints dotted across their skin, a few people even missing completely.

The right hand stood on the gallery, chest rising up and down in short, sharp breaths. Her eyes had become solid black, one of the side effects of consuming too much energy. Three others were with Hannah; one held tightly to her front, Hannah’s hand wrapped around the girl’s neck, another stood behind them, Hannah’s dagger masterfully placed at their throat, and the last standing in front of them, assessing the situation carefully.

Hannah looked at them, unblinking.

It was an impressive sight. The right hand stood, body taut and prepared to kill those who she held in her clutches. Black veins stretched down from her eyes like roots of a tree, the pool of black seemingly cascading down her face.

“If I may ask,” Hannah snarled, looking from person to person, “what are your names and pronouns?”

If looks could kill, Hannah would be lying dead on the floor. Their apparent leader glared at her, “Ghost. I go by all pronouns.” Ghost jerked her head to the girl the right hand held to her chest, “That’s Blondie and the girl behind you is Red. I suggest you take that dagger from her neck before I make you.”

Hannah chuckled. “Go ahead. try. See if your friends here will survive it.”

Blondie tried to move but the life harvester tightened her grip ever so slightly, stopping her. "If I were you I wouldn't do that, Blondie.” She shuddered at Hannah’s voice, “Now,” the right hand continued, voice exuding dominance, “what you’re going to do is oh so kindly unbutton my cufflink.

“And you, behind me, just because I’m not looking at you, doesn't mean I don't notice when you move. Reach for that gun beside you, and you will get the stabby stabby. Understood?"

They both glared at Hannah like toddlers being reprimanded, looking unhappy but unwilling to argue. Hannah didn’t care. With a little squeeze of the girl's neck, Hannah’s cufflinks were unbuttoned to reveal the tattoo beneath.

The letters RH were tattooed into her skin alongside a symbol all higher officials had, as well as the mafia’s tattoo. Eyes zeroing on the two letters, understanding dawns on the leader’s face as they realise their mistake.

"Vielen Dank, very nice of you.” Her lips tilt into a smug smile, “Now that we have established you were not just talking to a mere spawn, let's try this again. The Umbra Mortis comes here with an alliance. You will get some of our territory in exchange for your power in battle and access to your trading route. If you agree, we won't declare war on you for threatening the right hands' life."

As Hannah completed her monologue, the wheels in their pretty head spun. They had realised their mistake, yes, but they could still see their co-leader and heir in Hannah’s hold. Ghost did not like that.

"How about we take this to my private office? I would appreciate it if you would stop threatening my co-leader and heir’s life. If we are to form an alliance, that would be best."