The King's Traitor

Chapter 4 - Hey Bartender

Kira's POV

    "What do you mean you didn't catch them!" I flinched as Astefan's sharp words stuck pin like needles through my brain. Joshua and I had forgone working on wrapping our wounds to go straight to the Diamond Palace, and tell Astefan what had transpired today. Needless to say he was absolutely pissed we had let three Demons get away. Seeing as Joshua and I had taken 6 at a time and still managed to kill them all. 

    "We don't know how they managed to escape my King" Joshua said darkly crossing his arms over his chest. I would do the same to feel a semblance of protection if I could move my left wrist of course. Which f*****g sucked because I was left handed, and now that wrist hung uselessly at my side. 

    "I think you know very well how they escaped" Astefan spat his gold eyes like living flames of hatred in this moment. 

    "I entrusted to you the safety of my kingdom so what the hell was different about today!?" He yelled slamming his hands down on his desk. I winced and Joshua looked at me with a worried look on his face. 

    "They caught us by surprise we weren't ready for it, and it sure as hell won't happen again!" I yelled right back my temper getting the best of me. Joshua face-palmed himself before cursing as he hit his broken nose. Astefan studied both of us with those golden eyes.

    "Get out both of you. Until you both can speak civilly get the hell out" Astefan said practically fuming. Joshua looked like he was going retort until Astefan cut him off. 

    "I said get the f**k out! Now is not the time to mess with me!!" He yelled shutting Joshua up with ease. I grabbed Joshua's wrist with my good hand and began leading him towards the door. I glanced over my shoulder seeing Astefan slump over his desk looking over some of his paperwork. 

    "Let's give him some time to cool off" I whispered to Joshua who just nodded at me as we left the room. 

    "Care to explain how this happened to you?" Reyna asked as she dabbed an antiseptic cotton ball across the gash on Joshua's forehead. Reyna was Astefan's top doctor. While he may have told us to get out of the office he never did tell us we couldn't go see her. She had always suspected something weird about us, but she could never put together into something else. 

    "We were sparring some of the guards and got a little trigger happy. That's all Reyna" Joshua snarled to her. I rolled my eyes lightly knowing Joshua was on his last limb of patience from Reyna's questions. She had ashy brown hair, and hazel eyes. Average if you ask me, nosy, but still a sweet girl. We'd already been here an hour from just getting my wounds bound up. The nicest thing I could do was stick around and not leave him to the inquisitorial Reyna. She tsked lightly rolling her eyes. It was obvious we frustrated her by coming here for wounds and not telling her what happened. 

    "You're all good. The nose will have to heal on it's own though" She said crossing her arms over her chest. Joshua just nodded lightly before standing up and making his way towards the door. I rolled my eyes at his impoliteness. It was always him who was supposed to be the one with manners not me! 

    "Thank you Reyna greatly appreciated" I murmured watching her scoff in surprise at the appearance of my manners.  

    "Watch the wrist," she said crossing her arms over her chest, "It needs at least 3 weeks with the brace, and 2 with it wrapped."  I just nodded before exiting the door. It was going to be a long couple of weeks with no physical activity. 

    3 1/2 Weeks Later. Kira's POV

    I was walking through the shopping districts of Reign pondering what was going to happen tonight. Ever since the huge row with Astefan, Joshua and I have been trying to track down the Morei Brother's. Joshua had done most of the fighting with me being sidelined because of the damn broken wrist. A couple days ago I could finally take the brace off, but I was still forced to have it wrapped, and take it easy on the physical activity side of things. 

    While tracking down the Morei brothers was next to near impossible we were trying to find a lieutenant of theirs to get close to them. Tracking demons had always been pretty easy, but everything had been pretty quiet lately. Joshua had been in the second largest city in Dorlonia, Eminence, for the past 2 days tracking a potential lead. While I was heading to a tavern in the slums to meet with a bartender. Apparently he might be having some Demon trouble, and I was going to go figure it out. 

    I'd be going as Kira Hathoway the PI today and not as the High Huntress. I had gone for a more intimidating look with a black tank, jeans, black thigh high boots, black leather jacket, smokey eye shadow, and dark mauve lipstick. Which to be honest all the black really made my eyes pop. I'd pulled my brunette locks back into a messy knot on the top of my head. 

    I really hated going into the slums, and yet this seemed to be where I was spending half of my time lately. The slums to me were honestly easier to navigate at night when there weren't so many people around. Finally I came up to a tavern building The Abyss was what the sign read. The name itself sent chills up my spine, and my danger radar seemed to be flashing. Now I kinda wished I'd came in costume. 

    I opened the door and immediately was hit with the smell of stale people, and ale. I wrinkled my nose in disgust as I heard whistles and catcalls from the men around in the tavern. I loved how my height immediately made me an easy target. Oh wait no it didn't. I walked past the tables and towards the back of the tavern. If anyone reached for me I'd break a finger. 

    I approached my target for the night, the man who had come to the Diamond Palace for Damon trouble in the first place. The bartender stood perched on the inside of the counter speaking and laughing with several customers. He was on the average side for height of a man, with a espresso skin tone, dark blue eyes, and reddish brown dreads pulled into a bun. According to the palace staff his name was Archer Tulain a native Dorlonian, he was raised in Reign itself. The tavern had been in his family for generations. Hopefully he'd be forthcoming in information I didn't have time to mess with bullshit tonight. 

    I sauntered up to the bar and creepy grin on my face. I pulled out a stool right next to where a group of men was sitting. I felt them turn to me and stare me up, heard some grins, whispers, and catcalls unfortunately the usual. I felt the bartender's attention drift over to me as well. 

    "I'll take an ale" I murmured to no one in particular. I pulled a gold coin out and set it on the counter. I heard some of the men inhale. To pay like this you'd have to be rich. This was gold directly from the coffers of the Diamond Palace. I felt the bartender's inquisitive stare. Our investigator had told him to expect a woman who payed in Astefanian gold, well hell, here I was. The bartender sauntered over setting my ale down upon the counter. He picked up the gold coin with ease, flipping it with a flick of his finger. 

    "Give me ten Ms. Hathoway" He whispered so quietly so that only I would here it. I stiffened cursing under my breath. Why the hell had they given this bartender my real name!? I took a sip of the ale almost gagging at the taste. It definitely wasn't anything compared to the fine whiskies, and wines I was used to at the Diamond Palace. I turned my head and c****d my head slightly with a smirk, watching the bartender clear out the tavern for "Lunch" with brutal efficiency. 

    He was right about ten minutes later he'd cleared everyone out, shuttered the windows, and locked the front door. He looked over to me and walked over with a nervous ease. He hauled himself up onto the bar counter grabbed an ale for himself and drained it. I studied him with a smirk, this was going to be an interesting conversation. 

    "Nervous Mr. Tulain?" I said turning to him and crossing my left leg over the right. I picked up the ale sipping ever so nonchalantly. He just studied me before heaving a sigh. 

    "In many ways Ms. Hathoway" He inquired tapping his fingers nervously on the counter top. God if he didn't quit that soon it was going to drive me insane. 

    "Well unless you lie to me you have no real reason to be" I said staring him down with a smirk. He just sighed, scrubbing a hand down his face. 

    "The man we're talking about here. He's a regular. I'm one who tries to get close to the customers ya know?" He said almost shamefully. I just nodded slightly, finally understanding his hesitation. This man we were talking about is someone he would consider a friend. It always made things harder, but that was the reason I was the bad cop. I could get my answers and I wasn't as easy going about it as Joshua. 

    "Forgive me if I step over my boundaries here," I murmured swirling my glass, "but if he is a Demon does it really matter if he is a friend." He shot me a wry look and I could already tell you what he answer would be. Yet this is a time of war, friendships with the enemy would lead to the loss of your own head. 

    "Yet I still feel as if I am betraying a brother. Do you know the feeling Ms. Hathoway?" He said staring forlornly at the kegs on the wall. I sucked in an annoyed breath, trying not to alert Archer to my animosity. 

    " I come from tribal lands, " I said staring off remembering my past with a smile, "I would never betray a brother, sister, father, or mother. I felt my smile fade away into a scowl, if I were to ever betray one of my Moon siblings I would face a fate worse than death. I impulsively rubbed my left arm. If I were to take my jacket off I'd reveal dark blue-black inked tattoos that stretched from me wrist up to my shoulder. They proclaimed my heritage to Dark Moon, accomplishments, and standings. They would be altered quite often throughout my lifetime. 

    Archer just continued to stare off at the kegs, indecision scarring a scowl across his face. I knew it would hurt preforming your first betrayal. The guilt and shame would last for ever, but this one person could mean life or death. I could only hope Archer would understand that. That he would tell me what I needed to know not send me away. 

    "He goes by Jayce" Archer said with a sigh, scrubbing his face. I smirked softly, I knew in the he would tell me what I needed to know. Self-preservation winning out amongst loyalty. How predictable people were in times of war.  

    "I don't know his last name " He continued. I didn't write any of this down. When it came to my Huntress duties I had an almost photographic memory. 

    "If he ever said it I doubt I'd remember it anyway" He said sheepishly. I had the grace to giggle softly. Anything to put him at ease at this point. 

    "He's got a sandy skin tone, around 6 foot if I have to guess, long silvery blonde hair that he usually keeps in a braid down his back, and gray eyes." He said prattling off a physical description. I could draw up a pretty good mental picture, but none of that matters if I didn't know where to find him. 

    "Why do you think he's a Demon?" I said taking a sip of the ale. He had the grace to look sheepish before drawing in a breath. 

    "A group of about 6 friends and I usually get together on Friday nights while I'm working, a way to pass the time you could say. Jayce started hanging around us a couple months ago. One of our favorite topics was always the Demons" A flush spread across his cheeks at the story. He knew it was usually looked down upon to talk about the war, especially the Morei Brother's. 

    "About two weeks ago we got on talking about the Morei Brother's. Shooting s**t and stuff you know? Jayce just kind of watched us with this weird look on his face. Some of my buddies started poking at him, calling him a Morei sympathizer and s**t. He just messed around with his glass, said Lyrion Morei is more powerful than you think, got up, and walked out. He came back last Thursday and rented out one of my private rooms for this Friday. A friend's birthday apparently" He finished with a shrug. 

    "Friday the 13th" I spat grimly. Of course besides All Hallows Eve it was one of the most superstitious days of the year. And of course a night where we see a rise in Demon sightings. It just so happened that Friday the 13th was in October this year. Also the same month as All Hallows Eve. I sighed inwardly at my amazing luck this year. I rose to my feet, already forming my plan. 

    "I'll be back Friday night. You better not have lied to me" I growled showing off a bit of my Huntress mask. I watched as his face paled, as he realized I may not be who I say I was. He just nodded grimly as I shot him a creepy grin. I turned on my heels and walked toward the door. 

    I stepped out into the sunlight inhaling the city, and grimacing when I remembered I was in the slums. Sometimes I wished for a different world one where these people wouldn't have to live like this. I had to wonder if we defeated Lyrion Morei would everything change? Would people finally live a better life?

    I just shook my head and continued down the street. Joshua would still be in Eminence in 2 days so I'd need a different kind of backup. I chuckled pulling out my phone. I had the perfect person in mind. So I set of the the lavish hotels on the other side of Reign. Looking for a certain blonde-haired, blue eyed sister of mine.