The Moon's Fangs | 1
33 | friends in low places

Shion swung the door open without care of it hitting the wall from the abrupt force. She stepped aside with attitude and made a large sweeping gesture with her arm, ushering us in.

“Welcome, no names. Please, come in. Spill all our secrets and crush all our plants with your ass.” she shot me a reproving glare, like acidic darts.

A mix of comedic awkwardness swirled in my chest from the proof of her defiant teenage attitude. But something about her disposition seemed a little too angry. Definitely more up-tight than the last time we met.

We stepped in, and she swung the door shut behind us, locking it back on several different hinges.

A breeze brushed by as she moved past us with her fists clenched in a powerwalk towards the room to the left, separated only by a half wall for privacy.

The two sections of the office were a stark contrast between each other. The half we stepped in was a mini botanical garden, packed to the brim with plants, grow lights, and fertilizer peppering every surface and the entirety of the floor. But the half Shion stomped off to looked to belong to a mechanical princess. Hunks of miscellaneous mechanical parts laid in piles here and there along the edges of the wall-length window. Something resembling a motorcycle leaned against a wall next to shelves of tech, gear, and… I inclined my head to catch a short glimpse of… a dress? Multiple dresses.

“You’ll have to forgive Shion. Like me, she don’t trust outsiders easily, and uh… she’s been fuming over tryin’ to figure out who you two’re s’posed to be.” Baze, the grizzly in charge of the Black Market, set down a plant under a grow light while keeping an eye on us over his shoulder. “But from where I stand, this can go either way. Depending on what ya brought me, that is.”

“How do we know you’ll keep your end of the deal?” I asked in their orleizen tongue, feeling Reks’ eyes settle on me. “We went through a lot to get this for you. How do we know you’ll stay true to your word?”

Baze looked at Reks, as if my questions didn’t matter unless it came from his mouth.

Reks leaned against a clear spot on the wall, casually tucking a hand in one of his pockets. He didn’t say a word, meeting Baze’s stare with one of indifference.

Baze’s gaze shuttled back over to me. He cleared his throat, which still bore a gnarly, bruised line from where Reks had previously strangled him. “I’d be lyin’ if I didn’t say I’ve been approached with some offers if I were to learn about yer whereabouts and such.” He shrugged his meaty shoulders, adjusting the brightness over a row of plants. “But we’ve also got nothin’ to tell. We know nothin’ about the two of you except for the fact a high rank wants ya detained under the radar. Important one at that. Even if I did decide to rat’cha out here an’ now, it’d been stupid of me to think the two of you wouldn’t clear out before that could happen.” he pointed at Reks, squinting one eye. “I saw the way you move, boy. You’ve got talent. Real talent. I know better than to get on the wrong side of something like that… unless you left me no choice.”

Reks shifted his weight, nodding. “We know who’s looking for us. Not a surprise he’d come snooping but wasn’t expecting him to snoop around here so soon. I’d imagine his family wouldn’t be very welcome in this district.”

Baze grunted his agreement. “They ain’t. He came hood-up like you lot. Asking me questions ’bout me pretty new choker here.” He pointed at his bruised neck. “But did I tell ‘im? Nah. I know that boy’s father, and I’d never do that piece of shit General any favors. Not willin’ly, at least. So don’t go an’ piss me off by offering up some common grabs now. I lied to a shitin’ Rhosyn for you, out of the kindness of my heart.” He patted his barrel-chest, though his words didn’t exactly sound altruistic.

The hood cast a shadow of Reks’ following smirk. “Careful, Baze. You’ve yet to learn how expensive your two new business partners are. If you can’t offer a sufficient trade, we walk.” He lifted an arm to reveal several of the wide-spanned leaves he used to make our hammock last night to the man, carefully rolled into straps under his cloak. “If we offered you these honey feathers, what could we expect to gain in return?”

“Honey feathers, huh?” Baze stroked his beard. “Those’d be a hot market item. To take the set, we’d be willin’ to offer a short-term agreement. And extend Shion’s assistance with any mechanical help for a limited time.”

Something hard clamored to the ground on the other side of the room, where Shion must’ve dropped something from hearing her skills so quickly offered as compensation.

Reks inclined his head with minimal interest. “What would you offer for halotide?”

Baze went suddenly still, like a bear frozen in an iceberg.

“Lies!” Shion sidestepped back into view. “Halotide hasn’t been seen in years. There’s no way you happened upon it, just like that! Not even the high ranks have any.”

Even in Ellison’s garden, there weren’t many of the plants in question. Nox mentioned they only grew in places with a dark and humid environment. Reks said he found the flora hidden in a deep hollow at the base of a tree not too far off from the hot springs.

It was a plant that sprouted bulb-like orbs that released healing components, but also supposedly secreted a certain type of energy that vitalizes Guides. Just having one in your home would neutralize most sicknesses possibly lingering in the air. And adding the bulb’s resin into your drink was supposed to feel like an awakening for one’s Guide.

Supposedly, halotide was highly sought after for this reason.

By the way he explained it to me, and from their reactions just now, it had to be something exceptional.

“For halotide… anything. Name your price.” Baze’s eyes had turned into wide, watery saucers. “But Shion’s right… it's said halotide died out when the labyrinth was claimed by the badlands.”

While Baze spoke, Reks pulled out the bag of seeds. He loosened the string, which turned them quiet in anticipation. Well, Baze went quiet. Shion went more frigid with agitation, appalled we’d claim to have such a rare plant.

“Put your hand out.” he quietly instructed me. They stepped closer as Reks dipped his hand in the bag, then placed two seeds in my palm. Both were a dark shade of green, round and spiky – like bigger versions of the terrible sticker weeds I’d accidentally step on in the backyard growing up.

When focusing on the two, Nox verified they belonged to halotides, so I knew their Guides confirmed the same thing.

Baze and Shion hovered frigidly over my open hand. I could visibly see a cold sweat emerge on the sides of Baze’s thick neck.

Reks let the two simmer on what they could no longer deny a moment longer before speaking. “For this, you will both vow to a lifetime alliance. If broken, you’ll have both gained a dangerous enemy out of me. We will come to you for information, tech, resources, and anything else we think you can help us with. Sometimes we may bring you more plant life to fill this nursery as an act of good faith and a way of thanks for the support you provide.” Reks reopened the bag, and I gently poured the two precious seeds back into the pouch. “As of today’s needs, we are looking for a way into the citadel. Under the radar. Is this something you’re capable of assisting us with?”

Baze’s eyes glistened with tears of… joy? An abnormal springy giggle left the big man. “M-maybe! No—Yes. Yes! I’ll make it happen. Gimme a minute. Need to verify it with a contact of mine.” His fingers trembled with excitement before rushing over to his leaf and twig-covered desk.

Shion didn’t respond. Her lips went tight, and she turned to walk back into her mechanic cave. It couldn’t be because she was upset about being initially wrong about us. It had to be something else bothering her. That, or she really hated the idea of aligning with us.

I turned and saw Reks distracted by a row of purplish plants decaying at the tips. Baze was already trying to contact some mystery person via Guide, speaking in quick, hushed tones, wanting confirmation of authenticity. Reks took it upon himself to adjust the lighting above the dying plants to a dimmer setting. He pinched the soil, tsking distastefully to himself.

Not seeing any harm in trying, I went after Shion.

She had her back to me as she snatched a silver bracer off her worktable and began to aggressively tinker with it. The closer I approached, the more strange items became visible. At first glance it looked like a giant mess of a mechanical shop. It still did. But her current project consisted of intricate pieces. Arm bracers, cusps, silk infused with some type of metallic sheen, a pair of heeled boots, and more.

“What are you working on?” my eyes trailed towards a tall dresser filled with richly hued gowns and ensembles. Vibrant fabrics hung in a beautifully disheveled mess over one of the dresser doors.

Shion’s attention darted from me to the open dresser. She dropped her tinkering and moved to slam the dresser shut. It took a couple tries to get it to stay closed, what with the fabrics in the way. Like a suitcase, she finally managed to close it when she slammed her butt against it. She shot me an icy glare. “Go be nosy somewhere else, no name.”

I frowned. “Why are you calling us that?”

Sure, we hadn’t told them our names. But she also never asked.

“’Cause you don’t have one, obviously.” she reeled, tucking a stray lock of pink hair behind an ear, unintentionally spreading a splotch of oil through it.

“That’s just silly.” I said, picking up a green cusp from her table.

She snatched it out of my hand, forcefully setting it back down where I found it. “If that was true, I would’ve found out who you were when I hacked into the Nexus interface. But no! Nothing. Zilch.” she crossed her small but fit arms. “Either you two don’t exist, or I’m incompetent. And I am not incompetent.”

“Well… we’re allies now. Aren’t we? We can count on each other to keep each other’s secrets?”

She sighed, turning back to tinker with something else on her table. “If that’s what Baze wants, then whatever. I already know I’m getting dragged into this whether I like it or not. It’s not like my once-in-a-lifetime opportunity is on the line or anything crucial like that.” she gritted her teeth.

“Opportunity?”

“Yes, opportunity.” She chided me. “Someone dropped out of the stylist program last minute, and by some act of Fate, I got picked to fill the hole. If my works are a success during The Circle’s stupid gala, I might actually get to work for Keena Isling on the surface. The surface. That’d give me nearly daily access up there, which would also be just as huge for Baze and his Market as it'd be for me.”

“He’d exploit that access by having you smuggle more plants and other profitable goods to Asylum.” I put the pieces together. “But you think we’ll screw it all up for you.”

“It’s not that simple.” she relented, turning when Baze broke out into laughter, clapping Reks on the back over something we missed. The grizzly man was completely transfixed by Reks as he continued to explain something while holding one of the seeds between his fingers. I caught bits and pieces of Reks giving him instructions on how to properly care for the contents in the pouch.

“Then what is it?” I asked, pulling my attention back to the teenager.

Shion rubbed her eye, leaving a black streak across her lid. It was a wonder the dresses she worked on weren’t covered in stains too. “The high ranks normally leave us be. But ever since we had that run-in with you, important people’ve been coming and asking questions. Vague questions, like they may be inclined to quiet us even if we gave them the truth.” she grabbed a rag to wipe her hands with.

Concern sank through me. I wasn’t sure who she spoke of exactly, but I hoped it wasn’t Nolan. I didn’t know him well, and I was still upset at him for what he did, but even still, Nolan didn’t strike me as the kind to make death threats.

Listening to her explain, it became evident Shion felt responsible for leading Reks and I to the Black Market. In a way, she was the catalyst who set this deal in motion. And now high-ranking orleizens were snooping around, potentially asking about us. If Shion and Baze were found out, it’d jeopardize everything for them.

She blamed herself.

And the fact people still searched for us left a terrible feeling churning in my stomach. Was Nolan in charge of the search? If he was, then was it because he worried about me, or something else entirely?

“Right now, I bet Baze’s telling him about the invites he can get you two for the gala. Which's a funny coincidence ’cause he was only recently exposed to a buyer who had a pair on their person. Someone else ended up getting 'em, so Baze had to strike an appealin' deal to win it over. Just watch. Here in a bit he’ll offer up my projects as a bonus.” her gaze flicked over at me. “Well… for you. I didn’t come up with any men’s wear suitable for your lover.”

“L-lover?” I exclaimed, cupping my mouth after speaking too loudly. “That is not—we’re not—” I shook my head, trying to gather my suddenly scattered thoughts. “We’re just friends.”

“Wow. You’re so terribly convincing, no name.” She deadpanned, then opened her dresser again to get a look at her projects.

I turned to hide the redness coloring my cheeks. “It’s Amelia, by the way. If you were curious.”

Her little brows rose. “I wasn’t.”

She so was.

“Shion, you have the time to make another one of your dresses for that fancy gala shindig, don’t ya?” Baze called over, eyes still watery from excitement, like the big bear was experiencing his first Christmas morning.

“Projects.” she corrected him through the sharp grind of teeth. “My projects aren’t stupid frilly dresses with no purpose. Each accomplishes a certain flare that’ll absolutely catch Isling’s eye. Just wait. My projects are gonna steal the show. She’ll have to acknowledge my work!”

“Is that a yes?” Baze drew out.

She rolled her eyes. “Ugh. Yes. fine! Yes. Call yourself fortunate I’m already in the works of an extra. Count your fated blessings.” she grumbled.

My eyes locked with Reks at that moment. A sinful little smirk played across his lips as he silently mouthed the words, lucky star, at me across the room.

“It’s settled then.” Baze clapped his hands together, which sounded like a mini version of cracking lightning. “In exchange for these precious seeds, we’re allies—nay—friends!” he went to clap Reks on the shoulder with the same force but thought better of it. He grabbed ahold of his beard, stroking down its length. “A-And friends help each other out. So, while you’re on the surface, if ya have the time to scavenge more seeds for us, we’d be most grateful. Truly!”

“We may have crossed paths with a patch of knaveroot and a scarlet nectar tree.” Reks inclined his head toward me and smiled. “We might be willing to pick some up depending on how satisfied we feel leaving here today.”

I smiled back at him. “Yeah. If everything goes smoothly at the citadel, of course.”

By the look on their faces, both Baze and Shion took the bait. Hook, line, and sinker.

A rap against the door snagged everyone’s attention.

Baze beamed. “Your ticket into the citadel is here, just as promised.” He moved to unlock the multitude of locks, then opened the door for a man with a timid look on his face. “Why the Shayd you lookin’ at me like that for?”

The man winced, cowering over a foot under him. He wasn’t short by any means. Baze was just that big. “The invitations… they’re gone, boss. S-Stolen from the vault.”

“What!” Baze fumed, wrapping his meaty fists into balls in the guy’s shirt and yanking him off his feet. “Where are they! Who the fuck got in my vault!”

“I-I-I w-was told you’d know w-when ya looked through the window, s-sir!” He squirmed, kicking his feet before slipping out of his own shirt and hitting the ground in a disheveled thump.

The lackey’s announcement turned all our heads toward the glassed wall. I walked over, Reks close behind me to go peer down through the window.

Below, the scarred man paced circles in the cage. He lifted his arms up at sections of the crowd, goading the cheers and crude shouts. He continued to do this a couple more times until his eyes flicked up at us.

The violent cage fighter shot us a maniacal grin. Even now, dried blood splattered his face.

He pulled out two identical black cards with a holographic sheen in the shape of an eye mask on their centers. He lifted the pair up in the air and waved them at us.

Shion whistled. “Tauntin’ maniac. Wasn’t he the one who gave you the invites in the first place?”

“Traded ‘em for a handful of day passes jus’ yesterday.” Baze’s knuckles cracked. “That kid really thinks he can go an’ pull his brazen stunts on me now? After everything I’ve done. How’d Etch get in my damn vault!” Baze boomed at the lackey, who sputtered ignorance.

Reks cursed under his breath, turning towards the door. His hand graced the small of my back, prompting me to come with him. Shion and Baze were right on our heels as we left the room and made our way down the rickety steps to see what this cage fighter sought.

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