Lykaon

Chapter 16: The Moon

"What do you want from us in exchange?"

"Information."

An amused half-smile appeared on the woman's defined features. "Information on what exactly?"

I took a deep breath before speaking, questioning once again whether or not this was a terrible idea. For the longest time I'd wrestled with deciding to even entertain the notion. A deal like this was dancing with the devil and I knew it all too well. Did the risk outweigh the reward? No, you've been searching for answers for as long as you can remember. This is the only way. 

"I want to know who my father is."

Tilting her head in wonder, the woman replied, "And what makes you think we know who your father is?"

I leaned in a little closer, resting my elbows on the table as I did. "I know enough about you people to know you keep track of everyone who's ever resided under your control. Don't play ignorant with me." It was clear she wasn't going to make this simple.

"Why do you care who he is? He did abandon you after all. Shouldn't he be irrelevant to you?"

"You ask too many question." My jaw clenched in frustration. "Why does it matter to you?"

"We just like to know the motivations of the individuals working for us. Helps keep both our goals in clear focus. So humor me."

My fists clenched anxiously. I'd never shared this with anyone before but it looked as if I had no other choice. "I've spent my whole life feeling incomplete and meaningless. All I ever remember is feeling as if there's a piece of me missing. I can't even recall my mother's face or how I grew up...only running in fear, not knowing what or who I was. I only remember the uncontrollable rage. It's all I've known. Those memories are vital to me, almost as if I can never be complete without them. He's the only one who can give me those answers. I need to know I'm not just a monster." Saying it all out loud made me feel immensely uncomfortable.  

The woman nodded, furrowing her brow as she did. "Intriguing... No one's ever come to us with such a request before. Most only want money, power or fame. I think you may just be the one for the job. You're motivated by something far deeper and meaningful than any other candidate. Not to mention your extraordinary abilities. I see it in your eyes. You won't stop until your mission is complete. Be warned, this is no easy task nor is the preparation for it. We will break you down in every way imaginable and that's only scratching the surface of the trials you will face. We don't take failure well." She stood and circled around the table, seemingly looking me over more closely. After several moments of silence, she spoke again, "So tell me, are you prepared to undergo hell to accomplish the impossible, Dakoda?"

This was it. Finally, my answers were within reach. All I had to do was complete the mission.

"I am."

***** 

POV: Jai

It was early morning. The sun hadn't yet risen above the horizon and the air was frigid. A fresh blanket of snow lightly covered the forest road we followed. Hundreds of golden-clad warriors surrounded me, each walking in somber silence. Our warm breath shown in the early winter air as it rose to the sky and disappeared. The quiet tension was too much for my brain to handle.

I glanced over at Dakoda, noticing he was blankly staring ahead at seemingly nothing. Fortunately that was no cause for concern because he often seemed to be spacing off. When I first met him I'd written it off as him being easily distracted but I knew him well enough now to know it meant he was lost in thought. Of what I had no idea but I didn't blame him. We'd be walking for hours and all I could do is observe everyone. Yes, of course I'd attempted to make conversation but everyone was too distracted to talk. Justin was yammering endlessly with who I assumed was one of the veteran Sun Singers. Calypso went up ahead to go see if she could find any trace of Anieri's trail, which Dakoda had tried to talk her out of but she was too stubborn to listen. Even the young Sun Singers who surrounded me were too shaken to want to speak so there I was, just walking and watching. Exciting times.