Operation Infiltration (Kotlc Fanfic)

Chapter 19 • It's My Turn to Rescue You

«◈･ ｡ ˚ ° ⋆✦【 Tam 】✦⋆ ° ˚ ｡ ･◈»

We materialized in the empty courtyard at nearly sunset, and I glanced around, expecting someone to greet us. Guess Gisela didn't bother waiting.

"I'll deliver the report to Gisela. You two, change and get some rest," Fintan said with a sigh, either at having to talk to Gisela or not being able to sleep yet. Probably both. With a tired expression, he light leaped away while Sophie and I made our way into the hideout.

The dark stone corridor felt even more desolate after the brightness of the party. We reached Sophie's room first, and I waved goodbye before picking up my pace, eager to get some sleep.

As I draped the shadows around myself and turned the corner, a hand grabbed my shoulder, yanking me off to the side. A low, emotionless voice spoke in my ear.

"Since you're done with whatever Gisela had planned, I need you to do some experimenting for me." Vespera's voice was cold and steady, but her grip on my shirt was weaker than I expected.

I fought to keep my expression neutral, but inside I panicked, hoping this wasn't like one of those human experiments she did way back when. "Oh, yeah? Like what?"

Vespera hadn't spoken to me much since I first arrived, and I doubted whatever she wanted would be anything good.

"I haven't had the chance to test using shades before, especially ones that can control Shadowflux. The whole idea of it intrigues me." Vespera smiled, though it didn't reach her eyes, which seemed lost in distant thought. Eventually snapping back to reality, she said, "Follow me."

She led me to a chamber at the dead end of a narrow corridor, taking a key from her cloak and unlocking the metal door. Inside was a meticulously chaotic lab, shelves stacked with notes and vials of indiscernible liquids on each table they passed. Everything seemed organized in a way that only Vespera would understand.

"Don't touch anything without permission." Vespera said as she led me to a table with empty bottles, picking one up, she held it out to me. "Fill this with Shadowflux."

I took it from her hand, avoiding direct contact with her skin. "Right now?"

"Yes, right now," she replied, her voice laced with impatience. "Unless you would prefer a more... forceful approach."

The threat hung in the air, and I knew defiance wasn't the best move. With a sigh, I resigned myself to her demands, better to stay on her good side for now, if she even had one.

I unscrewed the lid and unfocused my eyes, reaching inward, deep into the abyss of darkness that lay between space. I pulled from the depths where even shadows dared not tread, feeling the icy, resistant tug of Shadowflux as I coaxed it forward. Slowly, I summoned it into being, a dark, viscous mass hovering over my hand before guiding it into the bottle.

Vespera watched intensely as she watched, her eyes looked almost alight with curiosity as the bottle filled with the dark substance. She lifted it to eye level, tilting it as if studying a rare gem. "Hmm, very good." She muttered, a hunger in her gaze.

"Can I go now?" I asked, trying to keep the annoyance out of my voice. Willing Shadowflux into existence had drained me further, and I couldn't wait to collapse into my bed.

Vespera's gaze cut through me like a blade. "No, you may not. You will tell me everything about how it works."

«◈･ ｡ ˚ ° ⋆✦【 Sophie 】✦⋆ ° ˚ ｡ ･◈»

When I returned to the Neverseen hideout, I didn't want to waste any more time doing nothing. It was time to get serious. I found where the Collective was being held captive, and with Gisela and Fintan nowhere nearby, I knew this was my chance.