Chapter eight: Deception

Consider this. You could remain inactive. You could inform the mobs and let them go in your stead. Or you could accompany them to the Aether to confront your friends and enemies directly.

Three weeks ago

Jack oversaw the lake, a bottle with a greenish liquid in his hand. A gift from Mystia after he helped her. She'd told him it was some sort of green tea. And then she sped off to do her experiments.

Jack was still in thought about the others. He was going to talk to them, he'd decided. He just wasn't sure how to go about it. Walking up to them and asking, "Hey, what are your thoughts about me coming from another world and keeping that a secret for like a week?" seemed a bit too direct, even for him.

He absently raised the bottle to his lips and took a sip from his drink.

He immediately spat it out. Disgusting! He didn't know how the Overworlders made their green tea, but if he didn't know any better, he would think Mystia was trying to poison him.

He heard a quiet chuckle, and he spun around to see Andr just stepping from beyond the trees, her purple eyes amused. She glanced away when he turned, but her grin remained.

"Hi," Jack dryly said, silently wondering how long she'd been standing there.

She teleported to him. It might've startled him if he hadn't expected it. "Sorry," she said. "That just looked kinda funny from where I was standing."

"Yeah, sure." Jack replaced the cork on the bottle and set it down on the grass.

Andr looked out over the lake with a mix of adoration and apprehension. She obviously liked the view, but something made her uncomfortable.

"You don't like water, do you?" Jack said.

She glanced at him. "No, I don't. It hurts when I touch it."

"Any idea why that is?"

"I guess it's just a mob thing. Some of us have some weird weaknesses…" Her gaze calmed a bit. "It couldn't kill me though. I can get away just as easily."

Jack hesitated. "But if you didn't see it coming…"

"I can see it coming." She gave another glance, looking embarrassed again. "It's…one of my powers. I can sense incoming danger."

"But water is a blind spot, isn't it?"

She looked at him, her embarrassment making place for confusion. "Um…no. Why do you think that?"

"Because you got hit by rain when you traveled with me and Cupa. Just before we reached Athena's home."

He'd sounded more accusatory than intended. Andr became embarrassed again and turned back to the water.

"I…" she said. "I did feel that one coming. But a little bit of water won't kill me, so…"

So she could also estimate how harmful the incoming danger was? "So you didn't bother teleporting, is that it?"

"I could've avoided it. Easily. But…" She stopped, looking for words.

Jack frowned upon seeing how uncomfortable she looked. Was this a sensitive topic or something?

She hesitated, not looking at him. "… I wanted to see how you'd react," she finally said.

"To test me?" Jack asked, surprised. It made sense though. The event in question happened before Cupa and Andr fully trusted him; if Andr made herself look weak, Jack's reaction would probably say a lot. If he attacked her when he thought she was weakened, it would mean he wasn't to be trusted. If he tried to help…

"Cupa knew," Jack realized. "But after we got to safety, she still didn't trust me."

"You tried to help," Andr said meekly. "That did mean something. But it wasn't proof."

He nodded. "That's what you were so hesitant to tell me?"

She cringed. "It felt so sneaky to me. I thought you'd be angry about it. At least Athena was more upfront when she said she didn't trust you…"

"You and Cupa were upfront about it too. I can get why you wanted to test me, and I can get that it wasn't decisive evidence. I'm just wondering why you or Cupa didn't say it sooner."

She paused. "Because I was embarrassed. And because I forgot about it later."

"Heh. You know, for a mob as powerful as you who's been surviving in a hostile world your entire life, you sure beat yourself up a lot."

She didn't respond, instead looking over the lake.

Jack realized he might've said something wrong. "I didn't mean that in a bad way, I just…"

"No, it's alright," she said, her usual shyness suddenly gone. "But…that's another reason why I didn't avoid the rain."

He frowned. "What?"

She closed her eyes, sighing. "To get stronger."

"What, to…train your pain tolerance?"

She nodded. "I don't know why, but…some part of me has always thought it important to become stronger. Less sensitive, more decisive."

"Because you're forced to survive in the wilderness…"

"No. Just…because. I guess it's something from my childhood."

Jack frowned. Her childhood…? He'd never heard her talk about that. In fact, he'd never heard any mob bring it up. He reckoned they had some painful moments.

"I don't remember much from my childhood," Andr confessed. "Even less than most people. My first memories are from when I was…around ten, I think."

Ten! She doesn't remember anything from before she was ten?!

"Sometimes I feel things I don't really recognize, but are so familiar at the same time," she continued. "And sometimes I feel things that I'm not sure belong to me, or to…whoever I used to be."

Jack hesitated. "Things like…what?"

She reopened her eyes and raised her hands to look at them. "I'm scared of what I can do," she whispered. "But at the same time, I love it. To be so powerful, so…invincible. I think that feeling is from who I used to be before I lost my memory." She fell silent, looking over the lake. "I'm scared to think about what I might've done back then, you know. I'm always scared I might've…killed people. Lots of people…"

"But you don't know that," Jack said, placing a hand on her shoulder and looking her in the eye. "And whatever you did back then, it doesn't matter now. You're the kindest person I know."

"But I still have these weird feelings and emotions," Andr whispered. "What if I become her again? And what if she's as terrible as I think she is?"

"You won't become her. You're you, now."

She looked down at her hands again.

Jack gently grabbed her wrists. "It'll be okay," he said. "Whatever your other self did or didn't do, it's behind you now."

She glanced up at him, then nodded. She still didn't look very convinced—how could she be? If she did kill people in the past, she wouldn't just let it go. A simple conversation wasn't going to change that.

Andr suddenly pulled him into a hug. "Sorry," she murmured. "I have to do this. It's stronger than me and my evil twin."

Jack awkwardly hugged back. "Uh…it's fine?"

"Smooth," she chuckled softly.

He felt his face growing warmer. Strange; he wasn't used to her making him flush. Most of the time, she was the one who grew uncomfortable during their interactions. She had really gotten some newfound confidence since they reached the Realm.

After a moment they separated. Andr still held his shoulders. She glanced down, her timidity returning somewhat. "Hey, um… What I just told you, about my other self… You and Cupa are the only people who know about it. And I'd rather the others don't know yet…"

"I won't tell anyone," Jack said. "You know I'm good at keeping secrets."

On the inside, he felt really…good. Andr had entrusted him with something she'd only shared with her best friend previously. Something she didn't want anyone else to know.

Andr smiled. "Thanks…"

Jack hesitated. "I'd…offer you some tea now, but…"

She chuckled. "Ahaha… Another time, maybe. When I'm feeling brave. Besides, I'm not sure if I can; it's mostly water, after all." She paused, looking him in the eye. "So, uh… I heard you had a first name no one knew about?"

"Oh, for the love of—" Jack said, but he couldn't suppress his grin. He found it hard to get annoyed at Andr over something like this. "Tell you what; you either drink that entire bottle of green tea or you get someone else crazy enough to do it instead, and maybe I'll think about telling you."

"You're on." She paused. "I'll…have to find someone to convince first, though."

"So long as you don't tell them it's about my first name. If they knew, anyone in the Realm would willingly drink it."

"You're making this unfairly hard!"

He just chuckled. "Good."

Present day

The mobs and Hunters sat in the first cave room, anxiously waiting for…anything. The Ender had not been gone for very long, but Rayallv felt himself growing more and more restless; with the Ender and the Stray gone, there were only Mystia and the two former Nether inhabitants—the more…intemperate ones of the mob group.

Raulyn himself did not seem to enjoy the waiting either, but he appeared calmer than the rest. Of course, he had something protecting him—he was the only one who knew where the portal was. The mobs were determined to reach it, so they could not kill him without also killing their only navigator.

Rayallv hoped that that fact would protect him and the other Hunters as well.

He got up, his sword in hand.

"Rayallv?"

He turned to Raulyn, who was still sitting on the floor, back against the uneven wall.

"Just checking on the lift, sir," Rayallv said.

Raulyn's eyes went to the sword. Realizing this, the lower-ranking Hunter turned the weapon over to his other hand, holding it where the guard met the blade. "Just a precaution, sir," Rayallv said. "In case I need to shave my beard."

Despite the joke, Raulyn nodded approvingly. Rayallv's real concern was the mobs, and he reckoned that Raulyn could appreciate caution when in their presence.

Raulyn got up. "I will come with you. If the lift is reset, I want to know as soon as you do."

They started towards the lift. Rayallv soon noticed Mystia and the mobs standing up and following as well. He glanced to Raulyn apprehensively, but the captain paid them no heed.

Only when they entered the tunnel that held the lift did Mystia speak up. "So, what are we doing?"

"Checking on the lift," Raulyn said, not looking at her.

"Why? If we go down there, we'll get trapped too, and Andr will have to get us out again."

Raulyn said nothing. He slowed his pace to a stop. Rayallv continued forward and examined the area. He intentionally avoided the button; pressing that would only reactivate the lift and force them all to wait until it reset again.

"You can trust Andr," Mystia insisted. "She won't jeopardize our deal."

"I refuse to leave Kai at her mercy," Raulyn said.

"He's already at her mercy," the Wither Skeleton. "Hers and Athena's. And knowing my sister, Kai's going to be safer than he deserves to be."

Ignoring his annoyance at that comment, Rayallv kneeled down and felt at the ground, keeping his glowstone nearby. He had noticed that the ground that descended when the lift was activated had a rougher, more natural texture than the stone that would cover it up afterwards.

In the light, he saw—and felt—what he was looking for: a narrow crack between the lift and the natural ground. Both surfaces were equally rough and fit together like a single unit.

"Sir!" he called, rising. "I think it reset."

"Good," Raulyn said. "Stay here. I will get the others."

"Lower," Kai whispered to Flamma. "Slaves do not look their superiors in the eye. Look down, towards the ground."

Flamma grumbled something in response.

Athena didn't break stride; she continued her way through the tunnels, tailed by the two humans. Both acted submissive. Even after helping Flamma get her armor back on, it'd taken a while to convince the Huntress to cooperate. Even now she was defiant.

Athena had also asked Kai for some more information. It turned out that Crevan and Bear were known among the Hunters under the names 'the Red Fox' and 'the Bear' respectively. The Red Wolf Lorcan and the Arctic Wolf Lupa had both been taken to the prison in Duskraid. He didn't know anything about the other two mobs Crevan had mentioned.

They rounded a corner to see Bear's giant figure obstructing the tunnel ahead.

"Bear," she said. "It's done."

Bear nodded and beckoned. Athena followed, still tailed by the two humans. She didn't walk directly next to Bear; the tunnels here were too narrow, and Bear's gigantic figure just about fit. Every time they passed a supporting beam he had to bend down in order to proceed.

Bear stopped, glancing at a door he'd almost passed. He knocked on it, but there was no response.

Athena frowned. "He's not here?"

"He sometimes visits this room."

"Why?"

He glanced at her, his hardened eyes softening. "Was Vix's room."

"Vix?"

"Crevan's sister. Left for the Elevated Fields. Polar followed."

"He mentioned them." Athena hesitated. "He said there were three sets of siblings. Lupa and Lorcan; he and Vix; and…" She trailed off, looking at him.

He nodded. "Polar. My brother. Was desperate for a safe place. Like Vix and Lorcan. So he left."

"I'm sorry."

He showed a small smile. "Don't be. I'll find him. One day we'll meet again."

Those words left a bittersweet taste in Athena's mouth. Crevan seemed to have all but given up hope of ever reuniting with their lost friends. Bear, in contrast, appeared pretty confident that things would turn out alright.

Athena glanced at Flamma. "You and Crevan have been…busy," Athena said.

Bear growled. "Only Crevan. I don't hurt. Unless I must."

"Why're you so lenient with her?"

"Crevan thinks pain gives answers. I think food gives answers."

"So you both have different interrogation tactics?"

Bear glanced at her. "Crevan was different, once. He's changed. Hates humans for taking our friends."

"And you don't?"

"I hate too. But not humans. Humans'… Hm, what's the word? Stupidness."

"You hate their stupidity…?"

He nodded. "Most humans are fools. But that's not their fault. I know some humans are good. Father was."

Athena hid her shock. "Your father was a human?"

"Yes. Polar and I are half-breeds."

"So, you're half human?"

"Yes. But no. When a mob and human mate, the child is always a mob. Father and mother knew this. They'd seen it before."

"That's…new to me."

"Hm. Not many know this. Most humans don't like mobs. And most mobs don't like humans."

"That I did know."

Bear grunted.

He led them to the room Athena and Kai had rested in. Crevan was sitting on one of the seats, leisurely eating his own meal, his feet on the table. "Ah, m'lady," he grinned in his mocking yet friendly voice. "Job's done, then?"

"Yes," said Athena. "But before I give you what you want, I have one more condition."

"And what's that?"

She pointed to Flamma. "She comes with me."

"Ah. You need more bodyguards, eh?" He gave a nod. "I actually wanted to kill her—much to Bear's chagrin—but I guess this works too. Just…y'know, don't let her tell any of her friends where we are."

"You have my word." She turned to Flamma. "Tell them what you told me."

Flamma glanced up at her darkly, not responding.

Come on, Athena said. Say what we told you to say.

"She's not talking," Crevan said.

"It usually takes some time for them to…adapt to their new situation, so to speak," Athena improvised, keeping her composure.

"So they can disobey orders?"

"Only at the beginning, to a limited extent. She'll come around over time." She turned back to Flamma. "I'll ask again: Where are your colleagues?"

Flamma stayed silent at first. "… Khalon," she finally whispered, looking down. "They are in Khalon."

"She came all the way from Khalon?" asked Crevan.

"I…left," Flamma quietly said. "Deserted. I am not…a mob hunter anymore."

"I suppose," Athena said to her, "that we won't have to worry about them looking for you, then."

"No," Flamma affirmed. "You will not."

Athena turned to Crevan.

Crevan gave a nod. "Good news. Right, Bear?"

Bear grunted in affirmation.

"You're sure you have her under control?" Crevan asked Athena. "Any chance she's tricking you?"

"If she was, I'd know."

"Is that part of your power, or is that just you being confident?"

"Both."

"And…have you ever been wrong about it?"

Athena looked at him sternly.

Crevan raised his hands defensively. "I just want to make sure." He smirked. "If you don't mind giving us another demonstration…"

"Depends on what kind of demonstration you want. I'm not going to be your personal entertainer."

"What if my suggestion is funny?"

"Be quick about it."

"Of course, of course… I actually wondered if you could make one of them do something a mob hunter would never do."

"Such as?"

"I don't know. Kill themselves?"

Bear grunted. Somehow he made it sound like a protest.

Athena glared at Crevan. "That'd be a waste of a bodyguard," she said.

"Uh… Scratch themselves with a knife?" suggested the fox. "Not too badly. Somewhere on the arm or something."

"I'd rather see them in their best possible condition…" She glanced at Flamma. "And with what you've done to her, it'll take a while before she returns to said condition."

Crevan hummed, thinking.

"The exit," Athena said.

"Yeah, alright." He glanced to Flamma. "You know, if you want to be completely sure you've got her under control, maybe you can make her kiss me—"

"Enough."

"I'm just saying—when I asked her to do that, she refused every time—"

"Not surprising, given how you treated her. Now, the exit."

Crevan grinned yet again. "Right this way, m'lady."

He stood up and started towards the door.

On his way there, he stopped near Flamma. "Heh," Crevan chuckled, glancing at Athena. "You really did something with this one, you know that? I didn't think she was ever going to break. You got here at just the right time."

Flamma spat in his face.

Athena froze.

Crevan gave Flamma a glare, a smirk playing his lips. Then he turned to Athena with a raised eyebrow, silently demanding an answer.

"The exit," Athena said, staying calm.

"She spat in my face."

"Of course," she improvised. "I told her to do that."

"I didn't hear you talk."

"I don't need to talk to give orders."

"You talked earlier."

"Because verbal commands are easier."

"Ah, 'cause humans are better at talking than they are at thinking, eh? Makes se—"

Flamma punched him in the throat.

Crevan's eyes bulged. He stumbled backwards, holding his throat. Bear jumped forward to help him.

Kai and Athena lunged forward and grabbed Flamma's arms, yanking her back and towards the door.

With Crevan in a protective grasp, Bear glared at Athena. She opened her mouth to say something, but nothing came out. Nothing could excuse what just happened.

"They're not slaves…" Bear said. "You're their slave!"

Athena and Kai yanked Flamma out of the room and slammed the door shut behind them. "Run!" Athena said.

And they ran.

They ran through the maze of tunnels and corridors, frantically looking for the exit. Athena wasn't sure how long it'd take Crevan to recover from the surprise attack; Flamma's strike hadn't seemed that powerful, but the throat was a vulnerable area. Athena just hoped the fox would be alright.

Eventually they stopped. Athena listened closely. When she didn't hear anything, she gave Kai a nod. "We're fine, for now."

"Good," Flamma said. "Now, we just need to find the exit—"

Kai grabbed her and shoved her against the wall. "They were going to bring us to the exit before you attacked him!" he hissed.

Flamma glared at him incredulously. "What! They were going to kill us." She gestured to Athena. "That one over there is going to kill us and claim it was an accident."

"If she wanted us dead, we would be dead by now! You disobeyed orders!"

"I saved us," Flamma insisted.

"No, you did the exact opposite."

"They're here," Athena said, hearing footsteps. She turned to the hallway behind her, where the noises came from.

Flamma stepped forward. "Time to fight."

"No," Kai said. "We are leaving."

Crevan appeared at the end of the hallway. His eyes showed anger, but he was still grinning.

"Where're you going, m'lady?" he said, voice still hoarse from Flamma's attack. He slowly advanced. "We can't let someone of your status—"

With swift motions, Athena shot an arrow. It zipped over Crevan's head and hit the wall behind him. He stopped moving.

She readied another arrow. "That's close enough, Crevan. Kai, watch my back."

"Understood."

"Aw," Crevan grinned. "You two are actually cute together. Maybe I should get rid of that third one before she ruins your alone time."

Crevan took a wider stance, bending his knees, as if preparing to fight or to leap forward. Athena kept her arrow on her bow. She and the Hunters slowly walked back.

Crevan advanced, apparently not threatened by the bow. That was unnerving. Was he fast enough to dodge arrows?

It didn't matter. He couldn't fight all three of them.

Then light flashed, briefly casting the tunnel in a purple glow. Athena's eyes widened at the familiar tall figure that had appeared in front of her.

Andr glanced at her. "Found you," she said. The cold, ungentle determination in her voice caught Athena off-guard.

"Ah," Crevan said, a hint of fear crossing his face. Teleporters were a force to be reckoned with. "Another pretty girl. Seems like the pretties around here know each other—"

Andr turned and grabbed Athena's shoulder.

All sound ceased, and Athena was back in the cave where the mobs and Hunters had set up camp.

Andr immediately vanished again; she soon returned with the two Hunters and caught them both before they fell over, out cold. She dropped them on their sleeping bags.

Athena looked around. "Andr…"

"I finally found you," Andr said, giving a relieved smile. Her usual meekness began to leak back in her voice. "Took me a while, teleporting around, getting familiar with the place…"

"Andr, where are the others?"

Andr stopped. Then she teleported away again. Athena heard the warping sound in the tunnel nearby, where the lift had been. Then Andr returned, her gaze bewildered. "They're not here… They were supposed to stay here!"

"We have to go back down and get them," Athena said. "There're two mobs down there. I don't want there to be a fight."

"I'll look."

"Take me with you. I know the layout, and I might still be able to talk the mobs down." That was probably wishful thinking, but it was worth trying.

Andr hesitated, then nodded reluctantly. "Fine. But we're not splitting up."