Part 2: Gorgaius' Game

Bumera's fingers tightened around the wheel of the transport as she flicked the switch, cutting off the self-driving mode with a sharp, deliberate click. She wanted control today—over something, anything. The old, sputtering engine growled to life under her command, grumbling as it pushed through the layers of ash and dust that clung to the Underworld's roads. The Underworld—an endless, crumbling expanse of industrial decay—sprawled in all directions like a spider's web Jagged skyscrapers of rusted steel and blackened concrete clawed at a sky choked with thick smog. Neon signs buzzed faintly, casting flickering glows on the weathered faces of those who lived in its shadows. The air was thick with the stench of oil, metal, and something ancient that lingered in the streets, where refuse piled up in silent heaps, forgotten by the city above. Below, everything was made of grime, decay, and desperation.

Her mind was still swirling from the past eight days, a blur of angry words, cruel hands, and the sickening weight of Gorgaius' touch. His taunts, his casual cruelty, the way he had belittled her for the discovery at the waterfalls—it all stung. "A noble-born boy falling from the sky, with a Gab Nori in hand," he had mocked her relentlessly, as though it were some sort of joke she was too stupid to understand. "Your imagination is getting the better of you," he laughed at her, a deep, rumbling sound that seemed to vibrate from his chest, thick and guttural, like the growl of a gorilla half-breed flexing its massive, muscled frame.

Bumera's jaw clenched as she steered the transport past a crumbling bridge, its iron frame rusted and half-collapsed. There was no time to dwell on Gorgaius' cruelty, not when she had found something—someone—who could give her the freedom she craved.

The hum of the transport engine steadied her thoughts, but the ache in her body—a dull, persistent pain that seemed to pulse with every movement—reminded her of how long she had been trapped in Gorgaius' world. The marks on her skin still burned from his fingers, the shame mingling with the exhaustion. She had never been more determined to get away from him.

The job Gorgaius had spoken about, the one to visit a senator in the South, was just another reason to push forward. His eyes had glittered when he mentioned it, some shadow of ambition lurking behind his words. She had overheard enough to know he was up to something dangerous. She didn't need to know the details. All she needed was to be gone before he left.

She wasn't going to be his knife. Not anymore.

A small, bitter laugh bubbled up from her chest, a sound that bounced around the cabin like a playful echo, sharp and almost too bright for the heaviness of her thoughts. She pushed the accelerator down harder, the roar of the engine filling the space around her.

"Let's see where you've hidden yourself, sweetheart," she murmured, her voice lilting and off-kilter, a mix of playful insanity and sarcasm. It was a tone that danced on the edge of something volatile, sharp and half-crazy, like a child with a twisted smile and a dangerous gleam in her eye.

That day at the great waterfalls, she had finally convinced Mazi and Esa to get into her transport. The plan was in motion, and for the first time in ages, things seemed to be falling into place. They were headed toward the heart of the city, the promise of escape burning in her chest.

But as they neared the crowded urban sprawl, one of them—Mazi, she thought—suddenly feigned a need to use the bathroom. Bumera suspected it wasn't the urgency of nature but the overwhelming magnitude of the city that had unsettled them. The towering skyscrapers, the endless maze of neon holograms and flickering lights that swallowed the streets in a bright, pulsating glow. She hadn't realized how out of place they might feel here, in the crumbling wreckage of the Underworld, where nothing was ever clean or simple.

With a quick smile and a casual wave, Bumera led them into a crowded street, guiding them toward a restaurant with a restroom in the back. But as soon as she turned her back to lead them inside, they bolted.

It happened so fast—too fast. Even her sharp feline senses barely had time to catch a ripple of movement before they were out of sight. They moved through the crowded street like shadows, slipping through gaps in the chaos with the precision of ghosts. Even her sharpened instincts couldn't track them. They were gone, as if they had flown away, vanishing into the city's sprawling labyrinth with no trace left behind.

Bumera cursed under her breath, her gaze sweeping the crowd in frustration. "Well played, you little rats," she muttered. Bumera hated losing people. It was a feeling that always dredged up memories of the time her mother had abandoned her in a narrow, bustling shopping street, neon lights flickering above as she was left behind, lost in the crowd.

Today, she was determined. Her fingers dug into the wheel as she clenched it tighter, feeling the rough texture beneath her palms. She wasn't about to let Gorgaius—or anyone—hold her down. Not anymore.

The holographic billboards nearby flashed with the face of the Nori Queen, her cold, serene gaze plastered across the Underworld. "Serve the Queen, Sever Ava," the glowing letters beckoned. Bumera's eyes lingered on the image, and for a moment, her mind wandered to the Goddess Ava. It had been years since she'd prayed or visited a temple—years since she'd even thought of it—but something about the billboards, the urgency of her situation, made her wonder if that's what she needed now.

The memory of the boy Esa's whispered prayer after they'd escaped the waterfall, when they'd finally made it to safety, flickered in her mind. He had muttered something, hands pressed together. Maybe that's what I need, she thought.

Closing her eyes for a brief moment, Bumera whispered, "Ava Nori, help me."

When she opened her eyes again, there they were—Mazi and Esa, standing outside a tall restaurant window. Their young faces hungry, their eyes wide with desperation for food and water.

She slammed the transport into park with a jolt, her eyes wide, manic with a mix of excitement and something else, like a predator catching sight of its prey. "There you are," she muttered, before stepping out of the vehicle with a fluid, tiger-like grace. The stripes on her skin, etched across her exposed arms and legs, gleamed in the neon glow of the city's lights, shifting like shadows under her swift movements.

She approached the boys from behind, silent as a shadow, a grin playing at the corners of her lips. "There you are," she said, her voice almost too sweet, like honey on a knife's edge. "I was worried sick about you."

The boys turned to her, looking disheveled and gaunt. Their clothes were filthy, caked with dirt, as if they had been sleeping on the streets and scavenging whatever they could find. Bumera took a moment to study them—Esa's wide eyes full of guilt, Mazi's defensive posture. She couldn't help the flicker of amusement that crossed her face.

"I'm sorry, Miss Bumera," Esa mumbled, looking down at his feet.

Before she could respond, Mazi elbowed him sharply.

"We're hungry," Esa continued, his voice low, almost embarrassed. "We need a place to sleep... the police are after us—" He added, shifting uncomfortably.

Mazi elbowed him again, cutting him off, but Bumera's brow furrowed. The police? She glanced at the two boys, wondering what kind of trouble they had gotten themselves into. It was hard to believe the authorities would bother chasing after two hungry kids like them, not when the Underworld was teeming with gangsters and criminals. The police barely batted an eye at the things that really mattered—like Gorgaius.

She folded her arms, eyes narrowing slightly. "The police, huh?" she muttered.

Just then, the restaurant owner—a young man with brown hair and kind brown eyes—came out with two plates of food. "Here, boys," he offered them the heaping bowls. "We had a lot left over today." Bumera could tell the boys had come here before. They were comfortable around him, like they had been here many times.

The man then looked at Bumera, his expression turning skeptical, his concern apparent. "Leave these boys alone. Get out of here, halfbreed," he said to her, waving his hand.

This was where Bumera knew how to handle the situation, and today, she was dressed just right for it—she had to be ready for dinner with Gorgaius and his business contacts within the hour, after all. Her black skirt, tailored to fit, highlighted her long legs, and her sleeveless blouse, simple yet elegant, framed her figure just right.

She stepped close to the brown haired man confidently, her movements smooth as she approached the man. Her large breast brushing just barely on his arm.

"I know these boys," she said, her voice sultry and assertive. "They're a friend's errand boys. They ran away. I'm here to take them back."

The man was not convinced, but his eyes lingered on her chest, then on the tiger stripes on her arms and legs, unsure of what to make of her.

"You're a handsome one," Bumera added with a slight smile, hoping to soften the situation.

The man smiled, a little flattered, but still cautious.

Bumera pulled out her clear glass tablet and held it out. "Take my contact. Call me sometime."

After a moment of hesitation, the man reached into his apron, pulled out his own glass tablet, and tapped it to hers before retreating back into the restaurant, his expression still one of uncertainty.

Meanwhile, Mazi and Esa were hungrily devouring the heaping bowls of food. Their eyes were wide with desperation, and they ate without hesitation, as if afraid it might be taken from them. The steaming plates, still full of fragrant rice and hearty stew, were emptied in mere moments, the boys barely pausing to breathe. They didn't speak, didn't look up—just ate.

Bumera watched them quietly. She let them finish their meal in silence, the only sound the clink of their spoons against the bowls.

When the last of the food was gone, she finally spoke, her voice calm but probing. "Are you finally ready to come with me? I told you I can get a place to stay."

She glanced at Esa, her gaze shifting to the worn pocket of his pants. There, barely visible, was the Gab Nori.

We still don't have credits," Mazi said, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand, his voice quiet but firm. "So we can't pay you."

Bumera gave him a steady look, her lips curving into a half-smile. "We can figure out an arrangement," she said, assuringly.

With that, the boys climbed into her transport again, their bodies still tense from the uncertainty of the last few days. She started the engine, and with a swift push on the accelerator, the old transport jerked forward, cutting through the crowded, grimy streets of the Underworld. Neon signs flickered overhead, casting brief glows on the faces of the people hustling through the city—faces hardened by the grit and chaos of their surroundings. Bumera's hands tightened around the wheel as she navigated the winding roads, her focus absolute.

She drove as fast as she dared, heart pounding with the urgency of the situation. As they neared Gorgaius' place, she pulled out her own clear glass tablet and quickly typed a message.

"Cancel dinner. Found the boy. Meet you at your office."

The reply came almost instantly. "If you've wasted my evening on your madness again, Bumera," the message read, "there will be a price to pay."

Bumera's stomach dropped. She had heard those words before, and she always feared what followed—and it was never good.

She pushed the thoughts aside, focusing on the road ahead. There was no turning back now. The transport rumbled beneath her as she sped through the dilapidated streets of the Underworld, the city that never truly slept, but never truly lived either. The streets were narrow, choked with layers of grime and debris. Rusted metal scraps and broken concrete littered the ground, forgotten remnants of a past that no one cared to remember. Neon lights flickered intermittently above, casting eerie, colorful glows on the cracked, peeling facades of the buildings.

Within minutes, they were in Gorgaius' office.

The room was dimly lit, the faint scent of cigar smoke lingering in the air. Gorgaius stood at the center of the room, his posture tall and imposing. He wore a sharp, expensive suit, the fabric catching the low light as he turned to face Bumera. His broad shoulders and strong features gave him a powerful presence, and his eyes narrowed as he took in the sight of the two boys—dirty, tired, and clearly underfed.

Bumera's stomach twisted, but she kept her composure.

"Well, Bumera," Gorgaius said, his voice smooth but cold. "I told you if you waste my time, you'll pay the price." He looked at the boys with mild disdain, his eyes scanning them both, noting their ragged clothes and haggard faces. His cigar smoldered in his hand, but he didn't seem interested in it now. His attention was entirely focused on her.

Bumera's pulse quickened, but she stepped forward, determined. "Gorgaius, I'm telling you the truth," she said, her voice sharp. "The boy—Esa—he has it. A Gab Nori. I saw it with my own eyes."

She glanced urgently at Esa. "Show him, Esa," she urged. "Show him the Gab Nori, now!"

Esa's eyes widened, and for a moment, he seemed confused. He looked at Bumera, then at Gorgaius, his expression innocent. "I—I don't have a Gab Nori," he said softly. "You must be mistaken."

Bumera's breath hitched. She had seen it. She was sure of it. She took a step toward Esa, her eyes wide with disbelief. "No, you're lying!" she said, her voice rising. "You must have it. Show him."

Mazi shifted nervously, his eyes darting between Bumera and Esa. "He's telling the truth," he said quietly, his voice almost apologetic. "Esa doesn't have a Gab Nori. We are two poor boys. Why would we have a Gab Nori?"

Liars! Bumera froze, her mind racing. She had seen the outline of the sacred tablet with her own eyes. The fear began to rise in her chest, but she forced herself to stay calm.

Gorgaius remained still, his expression unreadable, though a flicker of irritation crossed his face. He took another drag from his cigar and let the smoke curl from his lips slowly, his eyes never leaving Bumera.

"You think I'm foolish?" Gorgaius asked, his voice low and controlled, though the anger in it was unmistakable. He took a step closer to her, his gaze narrowing. "If you've wasted my time, there will be consequences. You don't want to find out what happens then, Bumera."

Bumera's heart raced. She could feel the tension thickening in the air. Gorgaius' towering figure seemed to close in on her, his presence overwhelming. She had to think fast.

"I—I'm not lying!" she said, her voice trembling but fierce. "You have to trust me, Gorgaius. I know what I saw. Esa is hiding it from us, but he has the Gab Nori. I just know it."

Gorgaius' eyes flashed with something darker, and he took another step closer. His voice was like a sharp edge now, cutting through the thick silence. "Bumera," he said, his tone warning, "you're not in a position to make demands." He wrapped his large hand around her throat. "You know how I don't like being lied to."

Bumera swallowed hard, the weight of his words sinking in. Bumera turned to the boys, pleading as she ran out of air, her eyes wide with desperation. "Please," she whispered, her voice trembling. "Please, show him the Gab Nori."

The boys stared between Gorgaius to Bumera. Gorgaius' massive face mere inches from Bumera's face, fixed her with an intense gaze that seemed to bore into her very soul. "Tell me the truth, Bumera," he demanded softly, his voice dripping with quiet menace. "What's truly going on here?"

She gasped, "Esa..."

Mazi cut her off. "I have an emerald ring!" he blurted out, pulling it from his pocket. "Don't hurt her! Please!"

A wide, sinister smile spread across Gorgaius' face. He released his grip on Bumera's throat, and she gasped for air, her lungs burning. Gorgaius winked at her, as if the whole thing had been a game.

"An emerald ring, you say?" He drawled, taking the ring from Mazi and examining it closely. "My, my, this is a fine piece. Worth more than Bumera earns in a year, I'd wager. Surprised she didn't just take it and run." He chuckled, puffing on his cigar. "For this ring," he added, "I can offer you room and board for a month. In one of my finest apartments, of course, under my protection. You need protection, don't you? Since you're on the run?"

Mazi hesitated, "What do you mean?" He shifted uneasily in place.

Gorgaius laughed gutturally and sank into his expansive, opulent leather chair, pressing a series of buttons on his glass desk. A holographic news stream flickered to life above the desk, displaying Mazi and Esa's faces and names.

"Child Psychopaths. Murders on the Run. Killed Seven People." Then a number of messages followed about how to report them to the police.

A cruel smile touched Gorgaius' lips as he watched the news report. He leaned forward, his musculature rippling beneath the expensive silk of his robe, his eyes gleaming with predatory interest.

Bumera stood frozen, her blood running cold. Why hadn't she checked the news streams today? He knew I wasn't lying, she cursed under her breath, a jolt of fear electrifying her. He wanted that Gab Nori for himself now, there was no doubt about it. What angle are you playing, Gorgaius? She wondered, her eyes narrowing.

"When I see a story like this," Gorgaius began, "I can tell you two things. The headline is a lie, one, and two, you did something to someone very important. What I can't wrap my mind around is what you could have possibly done, you little poor, hungry children." He leaned forward, his gaze intense, a predator sizing up its prey.

Mazi looked at Esa, who was nervously gnawing on his lip, his eyes wide with terror. "We didn't kill no one," Esa blurted out, his voice trembling.

Mazi put a hand on Esa's arm, trying to calm him.

"Oh, let the little one speak," Gorgaius said, his voice a silken caress that sent shivers down Bumera's spine. "I know you didn't kill anyone. How could you? Look at you, so innocent and small."

Both boys stared at the ground, shifting uncomfortably under Gorgaius' intense scrutiny.

"Did you steal something important from someone? Say, like this emerald ring?" Gorgaius leaned forward, his eyes narrowing. "And perhaps a Gab Nori?"

"We don't have no Gab Nori," Mazi echoed Esa, his voice small and defiant.

"Alright, perhaps that is true," Gorgaius conceded, his smile widening into a predatory grin. "This ring alone, is worth a fortune." He stood up, towering over Mazi, his face inches from the boy's. "Where did you get it?" He picked Mazi up by the collar, Mazi's frail legs dangling in the air, his hands at his collar attempting to free himself from Gorgaius' hold.

Bumera wanted to speak up, to explain the impossible, but the words caught in her throat. She didn't want to make him any angrier than he already was. The air in the room crackled with tension, heavy and suffocating.

"We took it from Mali Khoraz' bedroom." Mazi finally said, breaking under the pressure of having Gorgaius so close to his face.

"Mali Khoraz?" Gorgaius asked, incredulously "The Mali Khoraz? The Banali kalasaar?" He belly laughed loudly, shaking his head in disbelief. "Tell me where you really got it? He demanded, his voice hardening.

"I told you, I got it from Mali Kh-" Mazi repeated, his voice rising in panic.

"Fine, let's say I believe you," Gorgaius interrupted, his grip on Mazi suddenly loosening. The boy tumbled to the floor with a light thud, gasping for air.

Bumera noticed the way Esa's eyes flashed with anger. He was probably a sky god, and she didn't think they should be angering him any further. "I told you," she spoke up, her voice firm, "I told you the boys fell from the floating islands. I saw them in the great falls, in the water."

"It's true, we did. It was luck that we survived," Mazi said, stepping forward in front of Esa as if to protect him.

Bumera decided she would do the same and remained silent, stepping closer to Mazi, her gaze unwavering.

"That is impossible," Gorgaius scoffed, dismissing their words with a wave of his hand.

"Yes, we thought so too," Mazi said, his voice trembling.

"Ava Nori protected our fall. Ava got us here in one piece," Esa declared, his voice filled with faith.

Gorgaius' amusement was palpable. He looked at Bumera, raising an eyebrow and puffing on his cigar. "Ava Nori protected their fall..." He trailed off, a glint of interest in his eyes.

"So you're, what, sky gods, children of sky gods, or--" Gorgaius asked, a predatory glint in his eyes.

"We are the servants of the Khoraz family," Mazi interrupted, his voice trembling slightly. Bumera could tell he was lying, but she let him continue. "They were horrible to us," he pointed to Esa's arms and legs, the scars a testament to the abuse they had endured. "See? They beat us and burned us. And didn't feed us. We wanted to run away, you see. So we stole that ring and we ran."

Bumera noticed Gorgaius settle back in his chair, a thoughtful expression on his face. He seemed to believe their explanation. It was the only logical explanation, after all. But Gorgaius hadn't seen Esa almost fly and carry a boy much larger than him. That boy definitely has the gift. She pursed her lips, keeping that information to herself for now.

"Well, thank you for your honesty," Gorgaius said to Mazi, a chilling smile playing on his lips. "Bumera, take our new guests to their new apartment. Give them keys and starter phones with enough credits for the week."

What are you playing at, Gorgaius? Bumera thought, a knot of unease tightening in her stomach. She knew Gorgaius better than that. He wasn't generous or fair.

"That's the least I can do in exchange for this beautiful ring, it's probably a royal heirloom," he continued, examining the emerald ring closely, his voice a silken caress that masked the predatory glint in his eyes. "I'll come visit you next week, and we can discuss what's next. Maybe the two of you can get to work for me? Huh? What do you say, boys? You want jobs?"

Mazi nodded hesitantly, and Esa, seemingly taking his cue from Mazi, followed suit.

"Good," Gorgaius said, walking out of the office and gesturing towards Bumera to follow him.

She followed, a shiver crawling down her spine. "Take them to Apartment 1C in District 49," Gorgaius whispered, his voice a low growl.

That makes more sense. Apartment 1C in District 49 wasn't a residence, it was a tomb. Cracked walls, peeling paint, and a single, grime-coated window cast the room in perpetual gloom. Broken furniture scattered in a dimly lit concrete box. Gorgaius, Bumera realized, was playing a dangerous game with these boys. He would cage them, while he gauged whether he wanted to exploit them or kill them.

In that apartment, Gorgaius had ordered Bumera to kill many a dangerous enemy, none of them as innocent and fragile as these two. Her heart sank at the thought of it.

"Keep an eye on them," Gorgaius said, his voice low and cold. "I know they have that Gab Nori. Visit them without announcing it, and you'll find it."