Chapter Forty-Nine

Landing in Lena marked a significant change of scenery and atmosphere. The city sprawled out before us in the night, a web of gleaming structures cast in the subtle glow of artificial lights. I felt a twinge of unease, a shadow cast by memories that I preferred to keep buried.

This was Lena, a fourth-world planet far removed from the tumultuous second world of Astreaus. Its cityscape was a stark contrast to Pythos, marked by meticulously planned architecture that exuded wealth and control. Tall buildings of black glass rose towards the sky, interspersed with carefully designed greenery. It felt like a world apart from the chaos I had left behind.

The night sky above Lena was a breathtaking tapestry of celestial wonders. Two grand moons dominated the expanse, casting an ethereal glow that painted the world in shades of purple. Their presence was powerful, a constant reminder of the cosmic forces that shaped this universe.

In the distance, a series of planets adorned the horizon, each wearing a unique set of rings that encircled their majestic forms. The planets' hues ranged from delicate pinks to pristine whites, their colors blending harmoniously with the surrounding cosmos. These celestial bodies held stories of their own, mysteries woven into the fabric of space and time.

Kaden's words brought me back to the present. "We'll buy a ship using cryptocurrency," he explained, his voice steady as he detailed the plan. His words were a lifeline, grounding me in the reality of our situation. I nodded, a mixture of anticipation and nervousness swirling within me.

Before we left the ship, Kaden leaned over and pressed the button on my cyro suit. His gesture was a silent reminder of his protectiveness, a touch that spoke volumes without words. I smiled at him, gratitude evident in my gaze.

As we stepped out into the city, the bustling streets enveloped us. We headed to a mall, a testament to Lena's opulence. Here, I found myself in a world of sleek stores and elegant displays. I picked out a dress and heels, the act of choosing new attire almost feeling like a fresh start. Kaden's presence beside me was a constant reassurance, his quiet strength a grounding force amidst the unfamiliar surroundings.

With new clothes on, we made our way to a hotel, Kaden's knowledge guiding our path. The lobby buzzed with people from all corners of the universe, drawn to Lena's allure. Kaden's armor drew inquisitive glances, a testament to the awe his presence inspired.

A hotel employee approached us, and Kaden's interaction with them spoke of familiarity. We were led to a private VIP lounge, an enclave of seclusion amid the city's bustle. The plush seating and dim lighting created an atmosphere of intimacy.

I ordered a drink, opting for something that would calm my nerves. Kaden did the same, his ease in navigating this world reassuring. I took a sip, feeling a subtle warmth spread through me.

"So, how will we meet your friend?" I asked Kaden, my curiosity piqued. His response was measured, his gaze steady as he met mine. "He knows we're here. He'll find us when the time is right."

Amid uncertainty and the weight of the past, Kaden's presence was a steadying force. Lena held secrets and memories that I was not yet ready to share, but in Kaden, I found an anchor—a reminder that no matter the challenges, we faced them together.
—
Seated in the upscale lounge, I found my attention drawn to Kaden. His attire was reminiscent of the enigmatic bounty hunters I'd heard stories about, and his armor seemed to emit an aura of both strength and mystery. It wasn't ornate or showy, but it commanded attention nonetheless. It was as if he carried his own story within its metallic contours.

He studied me with a quiet intensity as they shared a moment of companionship. "You've been here before," he stated, his tone as steady and calm as the flowing streams of Astraeus.

Raising my glass to my lips, I took a measured sip, allowing the cool liquid to soothe my thoughts. Evading his question, I chose not to reply. Kaden's scrutiny remained unwavering, and he continued, "You don't have to tell me."

In response, I lifted the glass again, taking another deliberate sip, my eyes never leaving his concealed gaze.

He pressed on, his words as direct as his actions, "I've returned bounties here before."

His statement drew my attention, intrigue weaving its way into my curiosity. "When?"

Kaden's helmeted visage gave nothing away, yet I could sense the underlying depths of his emotions. "Last time I turned in rulers of slave planets from the fifth world. Six of them."

I found myself compelled to delve further, to understand this man who walked a path so different from my own. “How do you decide when to hunt? To become involved in another world’s political climate?”

The reply was as honest as it was enigmatic, "Only when it makes the universe a better place. I don't get wrapped up in politics. I like straightforward criminals, straightforward crime. No mess."

An unspoken understanding hung between us, the recognition that our lives were a complex tapestry of choices and actions.

"Has it been harder to work since... since meeting me?" I asked, a thread of guilt seeping into my voice.

Kaden's silence resonated, and then his words came, a raw admission, "Yes."

Guilt tightened its grip on me as his response sank in, a realization of the impact I'd unknowingly placed on his life. “I am sorry.”

"Bad people are always out there," he said softly, his words brushing against the ambient hum of the lounge. "Bad things are always out there. If I tried to stop every bad person, I would never sleep."

A small smile curved my lips, gratitude for his wisdom and his ability to navigate the harsh reality of our world. "Thank you for spending time with me," I said, breaking the momentary silence.

His reply was swift, his voice carrying an unspoken promise, "Always."

As the ambient hum of the lounge surrounded us, a sudden interruption shattered the moment. A blue-skinned alien with gracefully curving horns approached, her robes of pristine white cutting high on her hip bones. Her presence held an air of command and mystery, and I felt a mix of curiosity and a twinge of nervousness.

Her voice was smooth and melodious. "Please follow me."

My heart raced a little as we stood, my past weaving into my present. I'd been here before, treading on ground that held memories both bitter and painful. The blue alien led us through the corridors of the hotel, her strides confident and purposeful.

We entered a private room, its atmosphere hushed and distinct. My unease grew as I realized that I was about to confront something I'd long tried to forget. I gestured for Kaden to step aside, my intention to share a warning with him—brace for conflict, prepare for something that had the potential to unravel the fragile peace we'd found.

Before I could speak a word, the room's door swung open, revealing a young man dressed in flowing white robes that accentuated his lithe frame. His name was Jace, and he exuded a captivating aura that was almost hypnotic. His dark hair fell in artful disarray, and his eyes held a captivating shade of cerulean blue that seemed to hold secrets of their own.

Jace's movements were like a slow, predatory dance, his fingers trailing an unseen path over my back. His voice carried a mixture of amusement and taunt as he spoke, pulling forth my true name like a secret revealed. "Well, well," he purred, his words resonating with history. "If it isn't Aurora?"

I tensed as he issued my true name, an intimate display of our past. I could sense Kaden at my side tense at this.

My muscles tensed involuntarily at the utterance of my name, Kaden's proximity at my side acting as a reassuring yet vigilant presence. Jace's gaze shifted to him, acknowledging Kaden's role as a bounty hunter. "What brings you back to Lena?" he continued, his eyes alighting on me once more. "And with my favored bounty hunter?"

Facing him, I returned his gaze with a guarded expression. The layers of my past and present seemed to converge in this single moment, an intricate web of emotions I'd long attempted to shield. Determined not to reveal any vulnerability, I clung to silence as my shield, a tactic born from years of surviving in a universe where weakness was exploited.

As Kaden's stance shifted subtly, his hands inching closer to his weapon, the tension in the room thickened. Jace seemed to pick up on the undercurrents of readiness, addressing Kaden with a nod. "Were you hired by her family? She's not the true princess, if you didn't know."

The tension in the room was thick, a storm cloud waiting to unleash its fury. I felt a flush creeping up my cheeks, an involuntary reaction to the reminder of a past I was reluctant to acknowledge. My voice was steady, though my nerves buzzed just beneath the surface.

"I need a ship," Kaden's gruff voice interjected. "Wipe all debts you owe me, just a ship."

Jace's laughter rang out, carrying a touch of the unpredictable. His amusement seemed to ripple through the room, the air heavy with tension. "Would you care to first explain this curious pairing? The best hunter in the galaxy paired with the worst Shadow."

At his words, a surge of anger welled up within me. "Jace, don't," I warned, my tone sharp with a mixture of frustration and desperation.
Jace's smile only grew wider, his intentions clear as he prodded at the depths of our past. "Last I heard, you abandoned your princess," he continued, his words like a knife slicing through my defenses.

"Stop it now," I snapped, unable to hide the raw emotion seeping into my voice.

A wicked glint danced in Jace's eyes as he persisted. "Swear I saw her naked in chains a few weeks ago."

“Are you sure it wasn't by your own hands?” I challenged, my voice laced with defiance, though the memories his words stirred were far from easy to confront. Jace's laughter echoed, like the twisted reverberation of a dark symphony.

"Don't act like you didn't enjoy it," he taunted, his words like poisoned daggers.

My control slipped, anger coursing through me as my fingers tightened around the grip of my weapon. "I was twelve," I hissed, the anger uncontrollable. "Just tell me, where did you see Irina?"

"Answer for an answer," his taunt persisted, the atmosphere crackling with tension. My hand hovered over my gun, mirroring the dozen men around him, their weapons raised.

"I was hired by Astraeus. We are hunting the four princesses," Kaden's reply cut through the air, his demeanor unyielding, his voice carrying the weight of a warrior's resolve.

"We?" Jace inquired, his laughter dripping with cruelty. "She'll probably try to run away again, this one."

Silence fell from my lips, a shield against his taunts, the torrent of emotions and memories they conjured.

"See, she was sent to me," Jace continued, his words dripping with malevolence as he closed in on me, his fingers tangling in my hair.
My breath caught in my throat, terror replacing anger as his words ignited memories of pain and darkness. "For discipline, training," his words slithered into my consciousness, wrapping around my thoughts with suffocating intent. A shudder ran through me, my voice rendered powerless.

"Should I start the fear generator again?" he sneered, and I trembled under his gaze, unable to hold it.

"You sick, twisted fuck—" My retort was cut off by a sharp, piercing scream that sliced through the air. A flash of energy blade, crimson blood splattering. Jace's fingers, once poised to touch me, now lay severed on the ground.

I turned to Kaden, my astonishment silencing my words. In a heartbeat, he had leaped into action, encasing me in the embrace of his armor, a protective fortress against the chaos erupting around us. Laser beams streaked through the air, a deadly dance of light and death.

Frozen for a moment, I felt his gloved finger activate my cyro suit, his voice urging me to flee. Panic surged, my limbs moving on instinct as I scrambled down the corridor, my vision a blur of white.

When my heart rate slowed and I a safe distance, I dared to glance at the scene. The sight was surreal, Kaden's armor a whirlwind of precise violence as he cut through Jace's men with an ease that spoke of practiced lethality.

In an instant, they were all incapacitated, and Kaden stood over Jace, the aura of a predator exuding from his every movement. Their exchange was hushed, a silent conversation of power and retribution.

Jace's hands rose in a feeble plea for mercy, but Kaden's response was inscrutable. I saw the faint glint of his gun, a weapon of finality, and my voice broke through the tension, a desperate plea to halt the impending act.

"Kaden, no!"

The shot that followed wasn't the one I had anticipated. It veered from Jace's forehead to his shoulder, sparing his life yet exacting a painful toll. The intensity in Kaden's helmeted gaze seared, his unspoken dominance a palpable force.

Jace's cries of agony filled the air, his grasp clutching his injured shoulder, and I stepped forward to stand over him, my resolve burning. I delivered a swift kick, forcing him to the ground once more.

"Have you seen any other of my sisters?" I demanded, my voice a mix of anger and desperation. When his silence persisted, I pressed my boot against his wounded shoulder, prompting a pained gasp.

"Saxta, and I—I heard rumors of Oedipus Prime, but I'm not sure," his response was halting, an admission born from pain.

"Did you grant us a ship?" I continued my interrogation, and Jace nodded weakly.

With a nod towards Kaden, a silent signal shared, I turned away. I walked away from the sound of my tormentor meeting his end, the echoes of retribution ringing in my ears.