The Second Layer

Chapter 31: Lily

Chapter 31: Lily

Lily arrived at Alaine and Evan's house at the scheduled time, but from the three freaks she sensed inside she could tell that Silver had arrived even before her. She knocked softly on the door, and a few seconds later it opened as Alaine let her in. They all wound up in the living room, where Evan was pacing.

"Have you guys heard? Kade went back to Vanning," Lily said as she took a seat on the couch.

"Not surprising. He always was the type to serve someone like that. Besides, I hear Vanning offered him alone what the five of us used to get combined every month, just to keep working for him. Vanning must be getting desperate," Silver replied.

"Vanning feels like his control of the city is slipping through his fingers, and he's right. While the higher-ups may not have killed him, word is Harken is beginning to apply real pressure to him, and Vanning is feeling it. Besides that, the freaks of this city have gotten tired of Vanning's disregard for our laws, and the four of us aren't the only ones who are reluctant to follow him anymore. All that's left is why he's still alive at all, with everything he's done. And that's why I asked us all together," Evan told them.

"You have some ideas?" Silver asked.

"Well, I've been thinking about what Lily told us Lord Talen said, right after he took that knife from Vanning. About how sometimes his intervention is unnecessary. How sometimes it would be better if he didn't intervene at all. He basically told her that Vanning would be brought down, but that he wouldn't be the one to do it. Harken doesn't seem inclined to do it either. She's applying pressure, but she hasn't made any moves to eliminate Vanning. Maybe she thinks he can still be brought back under control, I don't know. But we all know that he can't. He will continue doing things the way he has been. And, if he's given time, he can screw things up a lot more before Harken finally does something," Evan stated,

"I don't think you're going to get any argument from us about that. But where is this leading?" Lily questioned.

"It's leading to the point that maybe Harken isn't the one who's meant to take down Vanning after all. Maybe someone else is supposed to step up to the task. Which is why I started to think, why would Lord Talen tell you in particular that, knowing that you would likely tell us? Why would he want that idea in our heads? And do you know the conclusion I came to?" Evan queried in turn.

Lily knew, and it was utterly crazy. But more than crazy, it might actually be true. Evan didn't know that Talen had been involved in her being able to save them from that NSA facility. Talen had let it all happen, and had specifically asked her not to mention his involvement. Had in fact told her to say the larikin had been lost. Which had led directly to Evan and Vanning's argument, and the team leaving Vanning's service. Which had in turn brought about this precise moment. Talen had set it up perfectly for this to happen. "You think we're supposed to take out Vanning ourselves," Lily answered, still having a hard time believing it.

"It's the most logical conclusion. And why not? With a decent group of us, if we can catch him alone while Payne is away, we can take Vanning. And aside from Payne I don't think there will be a single freak in the city who'll complain afterwards. So, once Vanning is gone, the new leader banishes Payne. He can't take us all on, and will have no choice but to leave. And the city is ours," Evan explained.

"You mean, the city is yours. As the leader of our group, you'd be the natural choice to be the new leader of the city. But while you might be the strongest of our group, are you strong enough to hold that position? And what do you think Harken's reaction would be?" Silver pressed.

"It won't be the first time a freak who wasn't the strongest in a city managed to hang on to its leadership position. All you need is strong enough support from the freaks of the city. Enough to make it clear to anyone who'd want to overthrow you that they'd wind up facing an angry mob if they tried and succeeded, and that they wouldn't be able to hold onto the position long enough themselves for it to be worth it.

"Vryce has never shown any interest in taking the leadership position himself, and so long as I show fair and just leadership, by the laws, I should have his support. And once Vanning's banishment is gone Dynas should return to the city, and I'd have her support too. With Payne gone, that would give me the backing of the two strongest freaks in the city, and the rest would follow. Besides, there might be a few freaks in the city with an edge on me in terms of strength while I'm alone, but Alaine would almost always be right there, by my side. And together, we're formidable.

"As for Harken, well... If she wanted the city to have a new leader of her own choosing, she's more than had her chance to remove Vanning from power and install in his place whoever she likes, and she hasn't done that. I'm confident that if I replace Vanning, she'll confirm me as the city's new leader. After all, Vanning doesn't exactly have her favor at the moment, so I won't be removing someone that she supports. So, so long as I have the support of the freaks of this city and I uphold our laws, which I will, she'll have no justification to remove me. And if she tries anyways, after refusing to remove Vanning despite all that he's done, it'll be her reputation that takes the hit for it. Not even Harken would want to be seen as someone who punishes the just and rewards the corrupt," Evan replied firmly.

"Alaine, what do you think?" Lily questioned, shifting her attention to the one person who hadn't spoken up yet.

"It's risky. Vanning won't go down without a fight. But I believe in Evan, and if he thinks we can do this, then I support him, absolutely," Alaine answered.

Lily just nodded, before turning her attention back to Evan. "Are you sure about this?"

Evan just smiled. "I'm certain. Today is the beginning of Vanning's end."