HYRA'S POV
"Did Viper make it out of the Underground safely? Did you arrange it?"
"Nah, his father facilitated it. They've reconciled, and Viper chose to go with him."
"Liar."
"Pfft, Zeus always sees through me. How's it going outside? It's been a week, and I haven't seen Maniego's presence. I'm itching to find out what's happening, but I can't gather any information."
"The Seventh Unit is battling the enemy in the city we recently conquered. The others are fighting at the underground gate, hoping to breach it."
"So everyone's fighting?" I envy them. I want a strong opponent too.
"Did you send Viper out because you had a plan?"
I gasped, covering my mouth.
"You can't stand being apart from Viper, yet you sent him away. You're up to something, and it seems I'm right."
Zeus will notice the change immediately, so it's better if I avoid him for now. I don't want to explain; it's exhausting.
Finding information about the enemy's plans is crucial. Relying on Conan is risky; he's a hostage.
"Madam, do you need a companion?" It was Loyd, with John as usual.
I glanced at them and shook my head. They're too conspicuous to bring along. I must maintain discretion.
"If that's the case, be careful, ma'am," John said. They bowed, and I hurried away before they changed their minds.
–
I wandered until I reached Vixen's Gate, where a skull still hung. How many years has it been? It's still here. I climbed the wall, took the skull, and went to a nearby hill to dig.
"I don't know who you were or what you were like, but you didn't deserve what happened to you. They robbed you of any chance at happiness."
"Vladimir said you were so happy when you first saw me."
Did you think your newborn was an angel?
"By the way, where should I look when I talk to you? Above or below? Never mind."
"If you hadn't fallen for Vladimir, maybe you'd be happy now. Do you love him so much that, despite knowing he loves another, you still gave yourself to him? That's pathetic." I covered the hole after placing the skull. "But you know what? Eli-no, Mo-mo-" cough, cough "It's harder than I thought. You know, I love someone too. He was the first to believe in me when no one else did. He listened, supported me through everything. I think he fell in love the first time he saw me, and even harder since. He's my knight in shining armor, not for protecting me from enemies, but for keeping me alive. I don't know what love feels like—I never felt it with you or anyone else. Luci, pretending to be happy around Vladimir and Nathan, gave me this damn mask to take the responsibility she knows Nathan can't. She likely knows how weak Nathan is. Do you know Sophia? Luci's friend taught me about life's dangers, cared for me—I thought I'd feel maternal love for her, but she betrayed me. She taught me everything to be another puppet. I refuse. I only want to be a doll Conan dresses and plays with—never mind. Lucy's no hero, just a pretty face hiding the underground's filth. Sophia warned me she has a son and we should avoid each other if we cross paths. But, being beautiful, he fell for me. Ha! He's utterly smitten. Here's the twist—he despises his mother's killer, me. I killed Sophia to prevent her from using others like me to form a battalion controlling the underground. Sophia feared her son learning her true nature. Bored yet? I'm not finished. He discovered I killed his mother and now hunts me. But he's weak, as are the other masks. That's why I picked them—they're problematic and make it hard for elders to control, giving me time for my plans. But I didn't expect such feebleness."
