Chapter Fourteen – Darken the City; Night is a Wire

So, quick warning – this chapter has a depiction of a non-consensual kiss. Nothing more graphic than the canon description, but if it made you uncomfortable in the novel you should keep an eye out.

"Alpha Kesley!" Eclipse straightened abruptly, looking alarmed to see Ze'ev approaching.

Ze'ev stopped and stared at him. His eyes darted to the hallway Eclipse had just slipped out of, where Scarlet's cell was located.

"What were you doing?"

"Nothing," Eclipse said, a little too vehemently. There was poorly concealed guilt on his face.

In an instant Ze'ev had lunged forwards, grabbing Eclipse's shirt and pulling it up. "I asked you a question." He knew he sounded like Alpha Brock. He didn't care.

"Alpha Kesley, I was—"

"Answer me!"

"I gave her lunch!" Eclipse said, cringing from the expected slap.

Ze'ev's grip loosened. "What?"

Eclipse yanked himself free, taking several steps back so that any more attacks would leave him room enough to defend. He was ready for a fight, but unlikely to start one himself. "Look, you know how I managed to get a copy of the Bible a while back?" Ze'ev had been vaguely aware that Eclipse had been looking for the book since they arrived on Earth, but having possessions was neither against the rules nor unique so it hadn't stood out in his mind. "It said to, you know, feed the hungry and whatnot. So I did."

"Oh." Ze'ev rocked back. "Sorry."

Eclipse stared at him, confused. There were red marks around his neck, which were barely noticeable amidst the collection of scars. "It's okay," he said hesitantly.

It hadn't even occurred to Ze'ev to wonder if Scarlet's basic needs were being taken care of. He was too busy dwelling on the idea of torture. "So she's eating?"

"Uh, no," Eclipse said, looking all the more confused. "She outright refused, but I left the trays there for her."

"Right." Ze'ev nodded. "Where did you get the food from?"

Eclipse averted his eyes, watching the floor as if the bloodstain was a particularly fascinating pattern. "It was mine."

"You gave her your food?"

"Well, half of it. I gave the other half to her grandmother."

"Thank you."

Eclipse's head snapped up sharply to stare at Ze'ev. "What? Why?" He frowned. "Were you planning on feeding her?"

Ze'ev was ashamed that it hadn't even occurred to him.

"How often do you feed the prisoners?" he asked instead.

"We don't normally have them," Eclipse said. It wasn't an answer to the question. Ze'ev didn't press for a better one.

The beta shifted awkwardly. "Alpha Kesley? Could you… maybe not tell anyone? I don't want Master Jael to know."

"Of course not," Ze'ev said, tapping his arm to his chest in a mock salute. There was no such thing as a true secret from Jael, but Ze'ev would keep his mouth shut.

He wondered how Eclipse snuck into the room. From the scent, Orbit was standing watch in the hallway. But then again, it wasn't out of character for Eclipse to offer to stand in while she took a bathroom break, or even for Orbit to keep quiet if Eclipse begged.

Eclipse smiled with just a twitch of his lips; the operatives tended to see anything showing teeth as at least hinting a challenge. Then he slipped off.

Ze'ev continued towards Master Jael's office.

It took about ten minutes for Alpha Kesley to reasonably expect his entire pack to reach the board room after he called a meeting. He took the time to stop by the kitchen and pick up the sandwich he'd been allotted after he missed breakfast. The smell of the processed meat made him nostalgic for the Rieux tavern and the Benoit farm, but that was a dangerous thought to dwell on.

When he reached the meeting, he handed the sandwich to Eclipse without a word. Trading food was common enough that no-one questioned it.

The group was still chatting casually. Ze'ev knew he should focus them on the meeting, but he longed for a hint of normalcy, a casual conversation with his pack. He was distracted enough by Scarlet, let alone what happened with Jael.

José Lobo glanced at Orbit Troya as she took her seat. "Aren't you supposed to be on guard duty?"

"If Madame Benoit gets out in the next ten minutes, I'll personally drag her back."

"Mademoiselle," Masaru Tsukino corrected. "Neither of them have married."

"Whatever," Orbit said dismissively.

"We've been in France for years," Vanya Volkov pointed out.

"I repeat: whatever."

The conversation switched as Beta Tristan Wynn walked through the door. "Sorry I'm late. Rieux was a long trip."

"How'd you get here?"

"Caught the train," Tristan shrugged.

Ran's eyes flicked to Ze'ev. "Faster if you don't exit halfway, I'll guess."

"How exactly do you ride trains, Omega Kesley?" Vanya asked.

"Changing trains," Rille Baines answered for him. "Sometimes a line will only take you so far so you have to swap at a station."

Ran shrugged. "Sure."

"So obviously Rieux no longer has any operatives," Ze'ev said to Tristan, unsure why he hoped the small town was safe.

"Actually, no," Tristan said, sitting up. "Barcelona came over. All of them. Their omega whatshisface said Head Thaumaturge Mira herself wanted operatives there in case we missed anything or anyone came looking, but since Master Jael had something important to do with the Benoits and they were already in Paris our packs did a shuffle. Plus, you know, I killed someone there, so I was sent back even though I'm not sloppy enough to get caught."

"How did you fake alcohol poisoning?" Alex Rafe asked him.

"Actually, why did you bother?" Orbit overrode the question. "What's wrong with ripping his throat out and saying it was an actual wolf?"

"I wanted a challenge."

"You've started daring yourself to do things?" Huang Liu said incredulously.

"Enough," Ze'ev snapped, sharper than he'd wanted. The conversation had started to get a little too dark to be a distraction, and he had to put them back on track. "I spoke with Master Jael."

Everyone sat up a little straighter.

Ze'ev licked his lips. "The queen has announced the Earthen attacks."

Silence fell, so concrete that Ze'ev didn't think anyone breathed. Thirteen pairs of eyes stared at him, emotions ranging from horror to excitement.

"When?" Masaru asked simply.

"Tomorrow." There was an outbreak of whispers. "At six."

Ze'ev gave them a moment to let the news sink in. He could already feel the blood against his lips.

"Why?" Rille asked.

"Her majesty the queen is…" Ze'ev hesitated, "Justifiably upset that the cyborg Linh Cinder has not yet been turned over. She wants to have a show of force."

"That's why we're going to terrorise a planet?" Vanya shouted, jumping to his feet and startling the rest of the group. "Because some nobody got away?"

Ze'ev bared his teeth without conscious thought. "Sit down, unless you'd rather take your complaint to Jael."

Vanya glared, not at Ze'ev but at the wall towards Jael's office.

"I don't think she's a nobody," Beta Wane Becke said calmly, waiting for everyone's eyes to go on him. "I think Linh Cinder is the lost Princess Selene Blackburn."

For the second time in as many minutes, the room was deathly silent. Everyone turned and stared at Wane, who held their gazes evenly.

"What." Ran said, not quite a question.

Wane shrugged. "She's the right age," he said, counting off on his fingers, "She's a Lunar fugitive hidden on Earth, and she must have had some bad trauma in her past to justify her cybernetics being put in."

"Princess Selene has been dead for years," Alex said coldly.

"Her Majesty clearly doubts that. She likely has more insight than us," Wane said.

"Also, Selene was kinda burnt to cinders," José said. "Whoever renamed her has a sense of humour."

Ze'ev mentally replayed the news clips he'd seen of the cyborg, wondering if it was possible. Even if she looked identical to her mother, it wasn't as if he had any idea what the royal family looked like – portraits were hung around Luna, but knowing someone's preferred glamour had no impact on their appearance.

"It doesn't matter," Beta Rille Baines said, cutting off Ze'ev's thoughts. "We serve our queen."

"Technically Princess Selene is queen," Vanya said thoughtfully. "If she's alive, she would have been queen when she turned thirteen."

"She's not our queen," Rille said, his voice brimming with anger. He stood up sharply. "And if you act like she is the only possible outcome is bad. You know exactly what Queen Levana can do, so shut up and don't bring her wrath on us!"

No-one spoke for a moment as Rille sat back down again.

"If the attacks are tonight, what'll happen to the prisoners?" Alex asked.

"Well," Ran said slowly, thoughtfully. "The attacks start at six. I vote we put them on the streets at five-fifty-five, see if they can actually reach safety."

In an instant Ze'ev had lunged at him, throwing him out of the chair. Ze'ev didn't let the omega stand up, instead brutally pushing him to ground. Ze'ev knelt on his chest, pushing one arm against his neck hard enough to make him gasp for air.

Ran struggled, his sharpened claws scratching at Ze'ev's face. Ze'ev barely noticed the stings; his head was full of the sound of roaring blood and a wordless fury.

"Alpha Kesley!" Eclipse shouted.

His voice broke through the haze. Ze'ev sat back, releasing his grip on Ran's neck. He stood up hurriedly, trying not to notice his brother panting.

The rest of the pack were staring open-mouthed. Eclipse had stepped back, trying to put distance between the two if Ze'ev were to retaliate for the protest.

He was the only operative who seemed seriously distressed, though; most of them were only confused. Beta Rafe was staring at Ran with undisguised disgust.

"Master Jael has plans for the prisoners," Masaru said finally. "Tonight's attacks won't influence that."

Ze'ev let out a long breath, trying to regain composure. "Beta Tsukino is right." He hesitated. "I don't have any more information to share. Everyone should rest up. Tomorrow is going to be… busy."

Chairs slid out as the pack headed for the door.

Ran was the last out. There was something strange in his expression – not angry, but calculating, as if some new plot was coming to mind. Ze'ev didn't like it.

Once Ze'ev was along in the room, he rubbed his fingers against his pocket.

The small chip he'd stolen felt comforting.

Ze'ev was unsurprised to see Orbit waiting outside Scarlet's cell.

He might be able to convince her to leave for a few minutes, offer to take over while she went on break. But his plan was going to be uncovered eventually, and when it did he intended to take full responsibility. Jael was not going to blame any member of his pack.

Still, an eventual discovery wasn't the same as never being hidden.

Ze'ev could only think of two ways to get the chip to Scarlet secretly. He could either press it into her mouth with his tongue, or try and fit it into her pocket as he beat her.

He wasn't sure, but he thought that a forceful kiss would be the lesser of two evils.

He slipped the chip into his mouth and walked past Orbit, who stepped back with only a confused look.

The scanner beeped and the door opened. Ze'ev walked in.

At the sound, Scarlet turned over on the bed. For a split second she stared at him, uncomprehending, before she jumped out of the bed like it had been electrified.

She scrambled to her feet, and clutched at the wall to brace herself. Ze'ev didn't move, letting her come to terms with the fact he was there.

Finally, she looked up at him, her lips pulled back in a snarl any operative would be proud of.

"Scarlet," Ze'ev said quietly, unsure how to continue.

He didn't need to say anything else. Scarlet lunged for him.

Her punches were weaker than he'd expected. The farmgirl had plenty of muscle and even more passion, but no real experience. Her blows barely stung.

Ze'ev might have been willing to let her beat him forever if it would make her happy, but he had a mission. Besides which, he was afraid if she punched his jaw again it might break the ID chip.

He allowed her five strikes before interfering, grabbing both wrists and holding them down.

Scarlet barely faltered, changing her tactics with lightning speed. She swung her foot at his knee, and Ze'ev reacted on instinct. He twirled her around, knocking her off balance until she was facing away from him, still locked in his grip.

"Let go of me!" she shrieked. The hatred in her voice stabbed at Ze'ev like a knife, regardless of how deserved. She stomped on his toes, but the uniform boots were steel tipped. Out of options, she tried to bite, but Ze'ev was holding her too securely. She did, however, manage to spit on his jaw. "You traitor! You bastard! Let go of me!"

Ze'ev obeyed.

Scarlet wasn't expecting the release and collapsed to the ground off balance. Instantly she scurried to the wall, using it as a support to stand up again. Then she turned and glared at him.

"What?!" she shouted. "What do you want?!"

Ze'ev wiped his cheek calmly, getting rid of his spit. "I had to see you."

"Why?" Scarlet demanded. "So you could gloat over what a fool you made me out to be? How easy it was to convince me that you—," she stopped, and shuddered. "I can't believe I let you touch me!" She rubbed at her arms, disgusted. "Go away! Just leave me alone!"

Ze'ev wanted to apologise. He wanted to drop to his knees and beg forgiveness, just so she could see him grovel and maybe she'd feel better.

Except he couldn't. Beta Orbit Troya was standing outside the door, watching with interest.

"I lied to you about a lot of things," Ze'ev said finally. "But I meant every apology." Scarlet didn't react, didn't look at him. "I never wanted to lie to you, or frighten you, or… and I tried, in the train —"

"Don't you dare," Scarlet said, turning to him. She was trying to keep herself in check, but pure rage was clearly burning under her skin. "Don't you even think about bringing that up, or trying to justify what you did to me. What your people have done to my grandmother!"

"Scarlet—," Ze'ev began, taking a step forwards.

She moved backwards hurriedly, her eyes wide and her jaw set.

Ze'ev stopped.

"Don't come near me," she said. "I don't want to see you. I don't want to listen to you. I would rather die than ever be touched by you again."

That was a fair response. Scarlet Benoit was a very smart woman. For all her anger about being easily tricked, there was no reason for her to suspect that her family had drawn the ire of the Lunar queen.

He glanced at the door. Orbit was resting her chin on her hand. She clearly wondered why Ze'ev had even gone into the room.

"I'm sorry to hear that, Scarlet," he said. He hid his genuine regret. "Because I didn't come here to apologise; I came here for something else."

Scarlet's glare was wet with tears. "I don't care what you—"

Without letting himself dwell on his actions, Ze'ev moved forwards and pressed her against the wall. His hands buried into her mess of curls, and he pressed his lips against hers.

She froze under his touch, repulsed. She struggled.

Hating himself, Ze'ev moved his tongue in his mouth, pushing the little chip between her lips. Scarlet's struggles abruptly stilled.

The instant he knew she had the chip, Ze'ev pulled away. "Wait until morning," he whispered, unable to help himself from resting a hand on his cheek like he'd done on the train. "The world won't be safe tonight."

His fingers touched a single red curl with fascination, and then he pulled back as he realised what he did.

Scarlet pushed him away, dodging beneath his grip and sprinting to the far side of the room. She grabbed at the wall and covered her mouth with her other hand. Ze'ev wondered if she was holding the chip, covering her expression, or protecting herself.

He left, trying not to let his burning shame look apparent.

Orbit stared at him. Ze'ev thought he saw judgement in her eyes, but it was impossible to tell if it was because the kiss was to an Earthen or without consent. He hoped it was the latter.

"I suppose we all have our thing," she said finally, her lips twitching.

Ze'ev only nodded, and headed off. Orbit walked him down the hallway, but thankfully didn't say anything.

He had no intention of ever mentioning it to her again, but he hoped that when Scarlet escaped Orbit realised why he'd kissed her. It would be a better way of being remembered after Jael finished with him.

Thanks for reading so far. Reviews would be great.