Chapter 36: Little games

Chapter 36: Little games

Bella was right. Rose district was only a few minutes away from Shikari Lane, and Chance could see where it had gotten its name. Hed originally thought it was some sort of sly reference to red lighting or the like, but he couldnt have been farther from the truth.

The Rose district had been named very literally. The buildings were covered with bushy green foliage, all carefully trimmed and properly cared for so that large, beautiful flowered bloomed all the way down the streets. There was almost no traffic in the area, but Chance wasnt sure if that was normally how things were or if it was because of all the Soothound sightings.

A faint sweet smell filled the air, and there was just enough of a breeze through the street to carry the scent to Chances nostrils. He let out a content sigh.

I think I just found my favorite street on Gleam. It smells incredible.

You think I can eat the flowers? Yeo asked. They look magical. I bet theyd have some benefits.

Youd probably blow your Gate up, Bella said, rubbing her chin. Either that or get the Shikari called on us for stealing. They do look magical, though. Dont tempt me.

Arent you supposed to be the voice of reason? Chance asked.

Bella cocked an eyebrow. Reason? No. Im self-aware enough to know that I make some pretty stupid decisions. Im just not as completely brainless as Yeo.

Hey! Yeo snapped. I am not brainless. I simply follow my primal instincts, like our ancestors did before us.

Right, Bella said. Well, why dont you use those primal instincts of yours to find some of the Soothounds while they chew on the flowers?

Yeo pursed his lips. Then he pointed at the absolute last place Chance wanted him to an alley branching off the road. It was nestled between two large bushes trimming the edges of houses.

As good a place as any, Bella said. Chance couldnt argue with that. It wasnt like the Soothounds were just going to be sitting around in the middle of the road, so the three of them walked toward the alley.

Im overreacting. Its not like the Old City is going to be in every single alleyway we come across. Theres nothing to worry-

Chance choked on his own saliva as they drew up between the bushes, where a cracked stone street led into the darkness.

Not this one, Chance snapped, grabbing Bella and Yeos shoulders and turning them away from it.

What? Why! It looked like a perfect place for Soothounds to hide, Yeo protested.

I used my Karma powers. There was nothing in there, Chance lied, his mind racing furiously. He couldnt tell them about the Old City. That would put them in Yamishs sights. But there was no way he could just keep them from walking into every single alleyway.

Right, then, Bella said slowly. She pointed at an alley on the opposite side of the street. What about that one?

From what Chance could tell, it just looked like a normal alley. He repressed the relieved sigh and nodded. Yeah. Lets check that one out.

Yeo gave him a strange glance, but they walked over to it and stepped through the bushes, Chance at the lead. No sooner than they had taken a few paces in, one of the walls rippled. A pathway into the Old City appeared and Chance repressed a curse.

Damn, how big are the alleys here? Yeo asked, peering over Chances shoulder. You detect any Soothounds down there?

Chance didnt even the chance to say no. A low growl echoed through the alley as a Soothound just a little shorter than him stalked out of the shadows, saliva dripping from its mouth as its cherry-red eyes focused on them.

Yes, Chance said, heaving a sigh. The monster bounded toward them, but hed fought so many of them that his hand moved of its own accord. His urumi whipped out, slicing through the air and extending like a striking snake.

It punched clean through the Soothounds chest with a snik. Even as Chance ripped the blade free, the light in the monsters eyes winked out and its body slammed to the ground, rolling over to stop at his feet.

Shit, Yeo said, whistling. When did you get so fast with the urumi, Chance? That was actually really solid.

It was, Bella said, studying him. That was quite impressive.

Thanks, Chance said with an awkward chuckle. Lets get these and

Two more Soothounds padded out of the alley, their hackles raised. Chance groaned.

Dont worry, I got this! Yeo said, darting past Chance and into the Old City. His kusarigama whirled around him and flew out as the monsters lunged at him. Blood sprayed across the alley and Yeo danced past them, a second kusarigama joining the first.

One of the Soothounds pitched forward, a leg severed at the limb. The sickle cut through its neck next, putting it down. The second met the same fate a second later.

Man, this really is easy money, Yeo said. Come on! This place is huge.

Hold on, Chance said. Why dont we just stay here? If theyre coming to us, theres no reason to push further.

There could be a whole pack of them, Bella said, nodding. Its unwise to get too deep, I think. We could get surrounded. And we need the ears five gold each.

Yeo harrumphed. He knelt, drawing the monsters into two metal orbs. We forgot to use the Ward again.

Teeth clattered across the ground and blood dripped from its mouth. It snarled, staggering backward. Yeos twin kusarigama sailed through the air, spinning around the monsters neck like a lasso. He yanked them taut and sickles whipped around, both carving deep furrows through the monsters hide.

Chance sent his urumi out once more and it sunk deep into the Soothoudns neck, just below its skull. With one final snarl, the Soothound collapsed to the ground with a crash. The alley fell silent, save the panting of the three Shikari.

Fishing an orb from his bag, Chance tossed it onto the large monsters body. It vanished in a flash of blue light and he picked the filled orb up, tucking it into a pouch.

Okay, Yeo said, wiping his forehead as the blue dome faded above them and the Ward fell. I think I might see what you mean. If there had been more than a few of those, we could have been in a lot of trouble.

You think? Bella asked dryly. Chance, are you okay? It looked like you got cut up pretty badly.

Yeah, Chance said. It was a pretty rough hit, but Im fine. Thank God for those healing potions.

I hope that Soothound sells for more than just ten gold, Yeo muttered, kicking a pebble across the ground. Uh maybe we should retreat to the entrance of the alley.

Good idea, Chance said, not even bothering to hide his relief. They hadnt actually gone down any turns in the alley, so Rose district was still behind them. The three quickly headed back toward the entrance.

Should we just wait here for more Soothounds, then? Yeo asked.

Are both of you still up to fighting? Bella asked. Im good myself.

I am too, Yeo said. Chance?

Im fine as well. We just run if we see more than one fully grown Soothound, Chance said. As long as they were at the entrance of the alley, theyd be safe. It was better than wandering around any further and somehow getting dragged deeper into the Old City.

Out of the corner of his eye, Chance spotted the wall rippling. An image of another large Soothound appeared in the stone. He suppressed a curse and shook his head urgently. Luckily, he was standing behind Bella and Yeo, so neither of them saw the motion.

The image changed to a group of smaller soothounds. Chance gave a curt nod. A moment later, a dozen soothound corpses catapulted out of the alley, forcing all of them to dive to the side. The bodies sailed over their heads and thudded to the street behind them.

What in the hells? Yeo asked, staring at them. Okay. You all saw that. Im not hallucinating. Right?

Seriously? Chance hissed under his breath. Stop!

The alley rippled. Rosebushes erupted around the entrance, launching all three of them the last few feet out of they alley. Yeo leapt to his feet and darted over to the bush, squinting through the leaves.

Well, Ill be damned. Its gone. Theres just a wall. Its like the alley was never there.

I am thoroughly confused, Bella said, looking from the Soothound bodies to the bush. Ive never seen anything like this.

Yeah, Chance lied, wondering if the Old City was intentionally trying to blow his cover. Me neither. I, uh, think this one might be a bit out of our paygrade.

And Im coming back to hunt Soothounds as soon as Im alone. The Old City and I need to have a nice, long talk that makes sure it doesnt lob any more corpses at me in the near future.

But hey, free loot! Yeo said cheerfully, spinning and collecting the Soothounds bodies. He paused at the aghast expressions on Bella and Chances faces. What? No point passing it up. Its a gift!

I dont know if a monster can be cursed, but if it can, those are definitely cursed, Bella said, crossing her arms.

Not my problem, Yeo replied. The Shikari Guild can figure that one out themselves. Im just going to make some bank off them in the process. I mean, look at this! One hundred and twenty gold, just lying around.

Hes got a point, Chance admitted. Someone else will just take them if we dont.

Are we just going to gloss over the fact that the city literally changed right in front of us?

Meh. Ive seen weirder shit. Well report it to the Shikari and move on, Yeo replied. He gathered the last of the bodies and sauntered back over to them. Shall we go turn this in? If you want, Chance and I can just split these between ourselves.

No way, Bella said, narrowing her eyes. I want in too.

Thought so, Yeo said. Lets go, then. I might not be about to question the gift, but I think I understand when Ive been told to get lost pretty well.

You probably get it a lot, Bella grumbled.

Yup.

Chance shook his head as he fell in behind his friends. Evidently, accepting strangeness was natural once you lived in a world full of magic for long enough. But that wasnt enough for him to completely brush off the Old Citys actions.

Something was seriously wrong, and he needed to find out what before anyone else got dragged into it. Bella had already met Yamish once, and he didnt want the karmic bonds between any of them and the strange man to grow stronger.

If they did a shiver ran down Chances back. He was learning very quickly that there were worse things than death, and somehow, he suspected his unsettling mentor might have been connected to more of them than he hoped.