070. Between Black and White

An hour before Andrei's arrival at Drevnie Skazaniya, Dmitry gripped the steering wheel tightly, his jaw clenched. The weight of the situation mirrored in his rigid posture, while beside him, Sergei sat upright, his face equally tense. They drove in silence, their anxiety palpable as the SUV sped through the snow-covered streets.
In the backseat, Jalu leaned back with an unlighted cigarette in hand, his thoughts drifting as he gazed out the window. Next to him sat a woman whose beauty stood out even in the dim light filtering through the vehicle. Litsi’s green eyes reflected the passing streetlights, her wine-red hair cascading like a waterfall of embers. The sight of her beside him seemed almost surreal, especially given their unexpected encounter earlier that day.
Jalu had first spotted her when he stepped out of Drevnie Skazaniya’s front door for a smoke, waiting for Dmitry and Sergei to take him to the airport. There she was—Litsi, sitting calmly on a park bench despite the biting cold, her attire far too thin for such weather. The strangeness of the scene immediately caught his attention, his eyebrows furrowing in recognition. Though the infamous Great Hunt for Ymvith had occurred in 1957, long before Jalu or even his grandfather’s time, he had heard of it during his training with the EPCU. The fact that an Ymvith still existed—sitting in plain sight, no less—was nothing short of shocking.
Ymviths were supposed to be extinct in this world, wiped out in the hunt that had cemented their place in the EPCU's Category One threat list. But now, here was Litsi, defying history with her calm presence. Yet, as he observed her, Jalu’s initial unease began to dissipate. After all, compared to the creatures he regularly faced in Indonesia, an Ymvith’s threat felt almost trivial.
“Enjoying the chill, are we?” Jalu greeted in Russian, his voice casual as he approached her.
Litsi, who had been diligently restraining herself for hours, felt the familiar surge of hunger course through her veins. But this time, it was mingled with something more—lust. The man standing before her wasn’t just any stranger; he was young, handsome, and engaging her in conversation. She smiled, a slow, sultry smile that could make any man lose himself in her beauty.
“It won’t be as cold with your company,” Litsi purred, her voice rich and velvety, each word carefully chosen to seduce. “Where do you come from? It’s rare to see such a beautiful man in this area.”
“Indonesia,” Jalu replied without missing a beat, his tone steady.
The moment that word left his lips, Litsi’s expression subtly shifted. Her sharp gaze bore into him, curiosity flickering in her emerald eyes. Pierre had warned her about the presence of EPCU task force members at the bookstore, advising her to wait outside and avoid attention. She had expected to stay unnoticed, blending in with the park's solitude. But now, she was face to face with one of them, and not just any member. This encounter had taken a far more intriguing turn than she anticipated.
Seeing the change in your mood, I’m guessing you already know who I am," Jalu spoke in the Eldest Tongue, his tone casual as he took a drag from his cigarette.
Litsi’s posture stiffened, but her voice softened, filled with a pitiful plea. “I didn’t cause any trouble in this country. Please let me be.”
Jalu raised an eyebrow, a mocking chuckle escaping his lips. “An Ymvith begging? Is that how you survived all this time? By begging?”
A flash of anger crossed Litsi's emerald eyes, but she held back, knowing the danger of acting recklessly. Pierre had warned her about the Indonesian task force, and she wasn’t foolish enough to provoke someone like Jalu.
“Are you waiting for Mr. Balzac?” Jalu’s question landed with force. Litsi choked, her shock evident as her wide eyes met his.
Jalu smiled knowingly. “Seems my guess was right. He’s not going to finish anytime soon, so we’ve got some time to kill.”
“I won’t betray the trust I’ve been given,” Litsi said firmly, though the sensual undertone in her voice remained. “No matter how... delicious you look to me.”
Jalu laughed, a dark, amused sound. “I’ll take that as a compliment. But, you’ve already betrayed him, haven’t you? Using your charm on me.”
Her beautiful features twisted in frustration as Jalu’s smirk grew. “What do you want?” she asked sharply.
The humor drained from his face, leaving behind a serious expression. “I want to take you for breakfast,” he said, his tone matter-of-fact.
Just as the words left his mouth, the sound of tires crunching on gravel announced the arrival of Dmitry and Sergei in the SUV.
“Let’s go,” Jalu urged, motioning toward the vehicle. But Litsi remained rooted to the spot, her hesitation clear. She glanced at the car, then back at Jalu, wary of being taken somewhere unfamiliar by a man she didn’t know or trust.
Jalu’s eyes darkened as he added coldly, “If you refuse, I’ll rip your head off, dump your body in the woods, and hand your head to Mr. Balzac myself.” He stepped closer, his voice low and deadly serious. “My name is Jalu. If you’ve heard of me, then you know I’m a man of my word.”
Fear washed over Litsi’s face, a palpable wave of regret for ever crossing paths with Jalu, much less trying to seduce him. His name was infamous, not just among criminals and EPCU members but also in the hidden circles of interdimensional beings who lived undetected among humans.
In her life, Litsi had held a deep respect for only two figures. The first was Ullirth, revered for his vast knowledge and ancient wisdom, and the second was Pierre, whom she saw as the strongest and most compassionate human she had ever encountered. Yet, even they had warned her about Jalu, the renegade EPCU operative. He was a man who had strayed far from the oath, becoming a terror to anyone—human or interdimensional—who dared to cross his path.
Now, facing him, Litsi felt a weakness she hadn’t experienced in years, like a lamb standing before a ravenous lion. She knew resistance was futile. Jalu, like all members of Division 96, wasn’t just an ordinary human. His presence radiated a deadly certainty. Biting her lower lip and clutching her trembling hands, the ymvith finally relented. With slow, reluctant steps, she walked toward the car, her fate seemingly sealed.