The last place I expected to see this man was as a barista in a coffee shop. Bursting in during a training exercise wasn't necessarily the entrance I was hoping to begin with. Almost embarrassed, I make a mental note that the first step forward would be to create a magical training ground. A safe place that wouldn't scare mortals.

The man looked younger than the one in my vision, Whitewind had shown me a much older man. This one looked to be on the approach of 18. I offer a small smile, trying to appear calm instead of allowing my frustration with the methods of the Siren to boil over. 

Tiberius happily accepts our drinks with a wink, causing the teen to scurry off from the strange-colored gaze of a creature he was designed to fear. 

"Well, we're screwed." I sigh heavily, removing my flask to dump a shot or three into the cup. 

With a chuckle, Tiberius folds his arm on the table and observes the youth with a casual tilt of his head. "I wouldn't say so. It was my understanding you were quite young when this all started. Maybe this is exactly what we need. Who better to help him into his newfound role than you? Think about it, you'd be a wonderful mentor."

My youth seemed to be my constant downfall, not only did it put me at a negative for experience- it was the focal point of my every failure. People were unwilling to accept my mistakes and instead ridiculed them as the shortcomings of a spoiled young man. I wasn't necessarily excited about the process of going through this all over again with another man, younger than I was when this all began. 

"It seems like it's the opposite of what we're needing. I was young but I had some of the strictest training available. I was raised knowing that all of this would be possible, despite not thinking it would happen to me." 

My mentorship of Tyler hadn't been the shining moment I had hoped for. I didn't like who Tyler had become, even if that had nothing to do with me, it made it difficult to want to continue to teach him. 

 Admittedly, our waiter was the only one who didn't look at us as if we were murderous, though in this world that didn't bode well for his mental state. Tiberius watches me hopefully and I respond with a heavy sigh, "Perhaps." I allow. "We should question him. Find out how willing he is and how much he knows."

Pleased with my agreement, he opts to change he topic. "Good job finding him." He compliments me, sipping his drink with an appreciative shudder, before taking my flask and finishing it off by pouring the rest into his drink. "You humans have really mastered flavors. We don't have anything like this in the god's realm. It's all ale and mead. Water if you like, wine at times if it's a special occasion. Not that I spend much time there."

I had only recently begun to accept that the gods do, in fact, exist. Only to realize that they're willing to let us all die. "I didn't find him, you threw me into the building if I do recall." I take a sip of my own beverage; I spend too much time missing my past life. I knew what it was like to be from a different realm, it was as if I'd come from the time of gods as the people were much more brilliant in their independent abilities. 

The world, itself, seemed more colorful when compared to the dreary cities of today.

With an innocent smile, he shrugs one shoulder. "You were quite entertaining this morning; you can certainly think on the fly. I don't think you need much help when it comes to general magic, I could teach you some new things though. You seem like you've dabbled in the arts a bit... just by the sense of you. Randy's been holding out on me, he's going to have to share you."

I lean away to decline, but he holds up his hands in his defense. "This is not dark magic. It's just neutral. Siren's are neutral."

"Sirens steal souls." I remind him curtly. 

"Indiscriminately. There is no selection in what we do. If not me, I assure you, someone else would kill the individuals of the souls we take." 

I'm reluctant to admit any of that is a neutral act but I agree to consider it as my eyes follow our dark-skinned savior. With the casual conversation, I wish Lotta were here. She seemed to have knowledge of everyone, perhaps there was an angle we were missing when it came to this man.

 "Think about it."

"All I can think about is this horrible feeling I have in the back of my mind. It's getting to me, I can hardly even think around it, like something terrible is going to happen." 

It'd been weighing on me since last night, threatening to crush me with an overbearing sense of dread. Peaking in my dreams, I'd tossed and turned all night long trying to escape the constant barrage of nightmares and this feeling as though I were suffocating.

Examining me, Tiberius makes a face. While he seems as if he might have more to say, he opts to protect me instead. Neither of us felt comfortable suggesting that there was something wrong with me, or worse, Verando.

 "Maybe you're channeling your husband. Isn't he the one who is 'doom and gloom'? We need 'Nic' today; you're a bit more pleasant than your other half."

Pulling my coat tighter around my body, I dawn the garment I snatched from his belongings while we packed in preparation for going our separate ways. I'd reserved it, afraid it would lose its scent, hoarding it until I was in desperate need. Taking a small inhale of the collar, I pull my cup closer to my chest to absorb some of the warmth that emits from the rim of the steaming mug. 

"I just really want to talk to him. I hope he's alright. He hasn't reached out yet, today." 

I could dwell on it all night or get on with it. "Sit," I tell the barista as politely as I can manage, trying not to sound so short in my newfound Kingship. The people of this city had begun to call me 'Your Majesty', once more—no doubt adopting the phrase from the many magic users who were familiar with my past. 

I allowed myself to fall back into that role, much as it seemed I didn't have a choice in the matter.

The people of this time were desperate for authentic leadership, and salvation from their impending doom. Those on our side seemed to understand that time was limited, and feeling the crunch made me less than tolerant of coaching a teenager into helping us build an army.

As the younger man lowers himself into the seat, he steals a nervous glance towards his manager. I clear my throat to gain his attention, "Don't worry about him; I think my allowance is plenty of permission." 

Tiberius waggles his eyebrows at me, and I kick him under the table. It isn't often I pull rank, but I'd like to make an excellent first impression. "Tell me. What's your name?"

Pursing his lips, he awkwardly looks around before touching his name tag with a nervous laugh. "Landon." He suggests as if it weren't true. "We wear these tags so people don't have to ask.. I.. erm.. is it not visible enough? These outfits are so dark-" 

I resisted the urge to steady the racing mouth of a teenager. 

Was I like this?- Of course not, I won't allow myself to think that.

"Landon? Interesting. You look like someone we've been searching for. Tell me, Landon, what do you do besides this job?" The emerald eyes tell all, every quick dart of his gaze to avoid eye contact. His shoulders rise and fall as he chews on my words, fidgeting uncomfortably in his chair. Setting my jaw, I resist the urge to still him through harsher methods. 

Freezing him to the chair wouldn't be best served in this instance. I was frightening him, making him too nervous to even speak to me.

Tiberius clears his throat, "We're looking for a 'Lux'? Heard of him?"

The thick eyebrows raise in surprise, well-sculpted over the bright green orbs that accent beautifully against his dark complexion. "Lux..? Why would you be looking for him?"

"We need his help," I interject.  "End of the world and all..."

 He bites his lower lip in response. Tiberius twitches a finger to calm my ebbing patience. 

"We need to speak with him." The Siren's eyes glow as he starts to hum, and suddenly, the teen bursts out with a grin. 

"Hey! You're the lead singer of that metal band!" He says excitedly. "Yeah! Tiberius! I've seen you; I recognize that feeling anywhere. You're a.. errr... Siren! It's trippy stuff, but great music. I'm a huge fan." 

My expression drops at the gushing man over a soul-eating Siren.  Never mind the savior of the planet when a singing monster was merely inches away. "Hey, what happened to that concert you were supposed to do? I had my tickets..."

My palm finds my forehead in dismay. We were getting nowhere with these constant distractions. Pushing my chair away from the table, I prepare for a quick dismissal. My head is not in the correct place for dealing with fandom over a musician who purposefully deceives his audience. I had bigger things to attend to; I needed to call a meeting to discuss an expansion of our perimeter. 

Tiberius warns me with his eyes to remain in place. "Mr.Mercer was called away unexpectedly, but we will do the show as soon as he returns. So, you're a fan? If you help us find who we're looking for, I would be more than happy to set you up with some tickets. Backstage."

Drumming his fingers, reluctantly, the green eyes glance towards me. "You need Lux's help for the.. end of the world? You said?"

"I need his help to prevent it." Were people living in this city still this ignorant? Could one ignore all the headlines, the fights, the constant activity? 

The openness with which we presented ourselves had been at the forefront of importance. Making a mental note of the need for more transparency, I fold my hands on the table, composing my face. "I need to find Lux."

Swallowing, he slowly nods. "Alright. Alright. I'll take you to him. After my shift, that is. I am still on the clock. Can you meet me back here at 2? That's when I finish."

___________

We wait outside on the street corner; I huddle into my borrowed coat and pull the hood up over my head as snow flurries down from the fluffy gray clouds overhead. The gentle fall piles all around us, threatening to snow us in. 

I busy myself with righting the clouds; a snowstorm at this time wouldn't do, and our adversaries could surely use the punishment. I casually redirect the storm, enjoying the feeling of the magic surging through my body as it warms me and brings me back to a more grounded state. 

Tiberius watches me with interest, marveling as the clouds roll lazily across the sky. 

Currently, it felt like a drunken stroll down the sidewalk. I'd been lightly drinking all day, and now I was inebriated. 

"What does it feel like? To influence the weather?"

"I imagine it feels like a stimulant; at least, that's how they are described to me. I feel good, like I never want to stop." Where I would have struggled with this before, the clouds obediently roll out of our way towards the outer ring of our perimeter. "I can't imagine not being able to use."

With a firm pat on my back, Tiberius smirks. "Pretty impressive stuff, if you ask me. I've dealt with gods, but it's to be expected that they can control the elements. Mortals who can do it, it's truly fascinating. I would say this has been one of the most entertaining sections of my life."

 Whirling his finger in a gesture towards the sky, we both take the opportunity to watch the community workers stack decorations hurriedly on the massive tree.  Our fight earlier had destroyed a good part of it, it would seem they were desperate to rebuild it. 

Machines lazily rumble up and down the streets to collect trash and leftover rubble. The buildings had already been refurbished so that any indication of fire had been eradicated. In the distance, I can feel the prying eyes of the hidden heroes watching us from the shadows.

 Suspicious of us as we were of them, I would like to get off the street and back into the safety of the pub. I felt exposed without a lycan to hear and sniff out trouble, and the need for people grew more significant every day. Trackers, those in tune with how things moved in the shadows, I felt like I was flying blind without it.

Relying on them felt foolish; we needed a more concrete structure for such outings. Tiberius and I were too crucial to be left on our own so easily. 

"Those machines are something, huh?" Landon startles us both with the sudden comment. "My apologies, er.. Your Majesty." 

After a moment, he quickly bows and I try not to roll my eyes at the respectful gesture. 

"A man does not bow in quite that manner. He might make a gesture such as this, but it's not necessary." I demonstrate with an outstretched hand, the other behind my back as I tip my head. Landon repeats, smiling as if I've shown him some neat trick. 

Tiberius throws in a sarcastic curtsy, and I resist the urge for violence. Apparently, I wasn't a happy drunk tonight.

"Well. You want to meet Lux. Follow me." Without hesitation, the Siren trots after him, and I find myself trailing behind. Keeping an eye over my shoulder, I find the conversation between the two distracting when trying to keep a visual out. The harsh realization that I'm becoming my husband is not wasted on me. 

As we approach an apartment building, Landon scans a code on his wrist, and we enter quickly as the door slams shut behind us. "If you're trapping us, I'm going to have to kill you," I tell him, my tone even. 

Tiberius frowns, "Could we not let him live and keep him as a pet?" 

Pulling my lips into a thin line, Landon laughs nervously. "No, it's not a trap. I live here."

We climb the stairs, and my mind is filled with visions of cats chasing us down darkened hallways. Any enjoyment I might have gained from the architecture is lost in the memories of hardly surviving the attacks. The overhead lights flicker, shabby, and poorly lit. 

"You live here?" I ask, uncertain.

Landon shoulders his bag, "Most people my age do. The government provides these houses so that we can live close to our jobs. It's run entirely by Artifice, so it can be handy for convenience. Makes staying home sick difficult, though-" Our expressions must catch him off guard because he averts his eyes. "I guess I'm the only one who takes a sick day..." 

Opening a door, we enter the small apartment, complete with one table, one couch, one chair, and some pale cabinets. On the wall, a projected screen lightly plays a heroic theme song. "So why did we go to your house if you're taking us to meet Lux?" Tiberius asks curiously. 

Landon walks over to the couch, slipping on a robotic hand over the top of his own and sitting down roughly. His expression sullen, he taps into the air, and a screen appears with a character dressed in a warrior's uniform. "That's Lux."

The Siren and I exchange glances, uncertain of what he's showing us. 

"Lux is a character in a video game I created, 'God of War.' He's made up; I don't know if you saw a profile from the game or what, but that's not me. Well, it is me, but obviously, I don't look like that. When I saw you both, I got nervous because I hacked into my own game after I sold the rights and made him super powerful. But these new creators are messing up my vision for what the game was supposed to be."

This doesn't make any sense. I stare at the character, but he looks nothing like the man Whitewind showed me. That man was beside me, only in teenage form.

"Don't be absurd, King's don't arrest people. At least, not personally. I'd be the one to decide if you were to be executed." 

He quickly clutches his throat, and I sigh, gripping my hair in frustration. 

"The man I'm looking for is you. I had a vision that a man named Lux would help us... there has to be something we're not seeing."

Tiberius taps his chin curiously. "Did you say you hacked into this game to make this character?"

Frowning, Landon nods. "Yes... are you going to call the police?"

"How did you bypass Artifice?" He questions.

"I wrote a code that Artifice can't see. I run my own business, hiding from Artifice, and made this video game while doing that. When you asked what else I do, this is it. I'm a hacker." 

I fail to see where this is going, yet Tiberius grins as if we'd just won some grand prize. "Care to share?" I question.

Tiberius crosses his arms over his chest, decisions finalized. "Landon, Lux, this kid, he's a hacker. The entire system is run on Artifice, Nicolas. We could become invisible with his help."