UNSEEN POWERS

Samantha's POV As we hurried out of the warehouse, Julian leading the way, Alex's firm hold on my hand was guiding me through the turmoil. The cool night air hit my face. Though not from the sprint, my heart raced. Everything that had lately happened—Lila's betrayal, Marcus's cryptic threats, and now Julian's warning—pressed heavily on me and made it difficult for me to think straight. But the last words from Julian— Marcus isn't the only one dragging the strings—were the one I couldn't escape. Alex advised us to keep on running down an alleyway behind the warehouse, his voice tense with haste. Although he moved quickly, he did not panic. Alex was stable even now, with everything whirling out of control. He was consistent all the time. The anxiety running through me made it impossible to ask Julian more questions or insist that he clarify who this other person was. Marcus's smile kept returning to me, so secure of his dominance over us. He seemed to have knowledge we lacked. Half expecting to find Marcus waiting at the warehouse doors watching us run with that terrible, knowing smile, I turned back over my shoulder. Still, the alley was deserted. Right now. We rounded a bend, and Julian slowed down lastingly while breathing deeply. "We cannot stop here for very long," he murmured between breaths. "But Marcus's immediate reach is nowhere here." Alex let my hand drop; his chest rose and fell under deliberate breaths. You have to explain. These days. Julian straightened, dabbing at his brow to clear sweat. His gaze turned to me, then back to Alex, doubt obvious in his expression. "I told you, Marcus isn't the one you ought to be most worried about. Someone else behind all of this—someone even Marcus responds to. At his comments, my stomach fell. It was horrifying to consider someone more potent than Marcus, more dangerous. We had hardly made it through him. What chance did we oppose someone worse? "Who"? Alex insisted, approaching Julian more closely. "Who is this individual?" Julian grumbled and ran a hand through his messy hair. Royce Sable here is his name. Years of acting in the shadows, he has been dragging strings from behind the scenes. Once Marcus was his protégé, today Royce has evolved into something more. From the underground to official business negotiations, he manages everything. You never cross him and live. The blood was draining from my face right then. Royence Sable. Although I had never heard the name before, Julian's manner of talking about him chilled me down. Royce was the one dragging his strings if Marcus were the puppet master we assumed he was. "Why haven't you shared this with us before?" Alex spoke in a low, icy voice. I could tell he was trying to control his rage. Julian continued, his voice defensive, "Because I didn't think you would believe me." And since I was trying to keep you two away from Royce's view. Marcus is the least of your troubles, if he discovers you're participating in this. Alex stiffened his jaw and balled his hands into fists at his sides. I knew he disliked feeling as though he was powerless, and this situation—learning—was almost driving him to the brink. "What then?" At last finding my voice, I inquired. "What do we do if Royce is as deadly as you suggest? We cannot continue running just here. Julian nodded his head. No, we are not able to. But facing Royce straight amounts to suicide. He listens with ears and eyes all about. You only find out who is devoted to him right before it is too late. Then why are you still alive? Alex inquired, mistrust tingling his words. "If you know so much about Royce, why hasn't he taken you out? Julian's face clouded. "Because I have been of benefit to him. Until recently. But I will be equally disposable as everyone else if Marcus tells back that you have been excavating too deep. I drew hard, his words weighing in. Time was running thin for us. Marcus was one thing, but today we were enmeshed in something far more terrible than we had ever imagined. Alex turned to face me; his eyes had softened slightly, but the conflict remained. Sam, we have to have a strategy. We cannot continue to run blind. I nodded while my mind flew. "What if we turn Royce's own techniques against him?" Curiosity blazing in their eyes, both Alex and Julian looked at me. "What do you mean?" Julian asked in a wary voice. "Maybe it's time we do the same if Royce has been dragging strings from the shadows and adjusting individuals behind the scenes. We come across someone close to him who can provide us clout. We have to act long term. Alex gave a frown, obviously dubious. For something like that, who could we possibly trust? I bit my lip considering this. Though trust was limited, someone—someone with access to Royce, or at least knowledge of his operation—had to be found. "Lila," I blurted at last, the name tumbling from my mouth before I could second-guess it. Alex flinched at her mention, and I blamed none of him. Lila had betrayed us, but something in her eyes—in the way she had come clean—told me her story was more complex. She was not really devoted to Marcus. Maybe she would help us if we could persuade her that we could bring Royce down. It could also have been wishful thinking. Alex stated sharply, "We cannot trust her," his voice somewhat angry. "I know," I said, my voice forceful yet understated. But there is no option here. She is the only one familiar with Marcus's inner life. And maybe we can leverage her playing both sides to our benefit. Julian gave out a sour laugh. "You are engaged in a deadly game. Lila is not particularly renowned for her allegiance. "I'm not saying we trust her totally," I continued, looking Alex in the eye and eager to help him to grasp. Still, we make use of hers. She might bring us to Royce if we can convince her that working with us is her best choice. Alex looked at me silently for a moment. He seemed to be struggling between knowing we had few choices and wanting to guard me. He nodded at last. His voice low, he continued, "We'll find her." But I won't hesitate the instant she shows any indication of turning on us once more. I nodded in approval. While Lila was a risk, we were already drowning with hazards. Our only forward path was this one. We followed Lila to a run-down, seemingly abandoned modest safe home on the outskirts of the city. Julian had stayed behind, arguing his presence would only complicate matters, but I wasn't sure if I could believe his arguments. Still, we had little time to probe him more. As Alex and I walked toward the structure, the evening was shockingly calm. Long, sinister shadows across the broken pavement were created by flickering streetlights. Every nerve on edge, my heart surged as we approached. Alex tapped on the door, his body stiff, poised for anything. A few seconds later the door cracked open, and Lila emerged—her face pale, her eyes wide with astonishment. Samamantha. Alex, she whispered, her voice trembling just a little. "What are you working on here? Alex responded, his voice strong, "We need to discuss. "And this time you will be telling us everything." Lila retreated so that we could enter. One lamp in the corner barely lit the modest, understatedly furnished room. It smelt of moist wood and dust, as though nobody had really lived here for very long. Lila slammed the door behind us, eyes dubious as she turned to face us. "I told you everything I could." "No," I answered, moving forward to meet her with as much force as I could muster. "You told us the kind of hearing you desired. We now must have the truth. Everything. She hesitated, eyes flitting between Alex and myself. She seemed to me to be terrified and doubtful. She realized she was cornered. "We know about Royce, Alex said, his voice quiet but piercing. Julian gave us all the information. When Lila said Royce's name, her eyes grew wide, and for a second I felt as though I could see a flutter of real terror across her face. Her voice quivering, she said, "You don't understand." Royce cannot be fought with your hands. Unlike Marcus, he is not like that. He remains. "We have no option," I responded, my voice gentle but firm. You will enable us to bring him down. Lila shook her head, retreated, her eyes wide with terror. Not a number. No, I cannot. If Royce discovers—' "He's going to kill you? Alex spoke coldly after he finished. "then perhaps you should be more concerned of what we will do to you should you not assist." Lila glanced at us wild-eyed, as if assessing her alternatives and looking for a way out when her back struck the wall. But none of this existed. She finally grasped shakily, after what seemed like an age. "Okay," she said in a whisper. "I'll assist you." But should this go south...