Darius crashed through the vegetation with his lungs burning, and his breath, scraping his throat raw. The forest seemed to close in on him, branches clawing at his clothes, and roots, threatening to trip him at every turn. Behind him, the shouts grew a little loud.

  “He went this way!”

  Darius cursed under his breath and veered sharply to the left, forcing himself into a thicker brush. He ducked beneath a low-hanging branch and nearly lost his footing, catching himself on a tree trunk slick with moss. He did not stop.

  Stopping meant chains, and chains meant a cage. His wrist burned.

  The band beneath his sleeve pulsed violently now. The yellow gem blinked fast and frantic, while the violet gem flared beside it, their light bleeding faintly through the fabric. Valiants and a Rageler were too close. Far too close.

  Darius yanked his sleeve down and pressed his arm tight against his chest, willing the glow to stay hidden as he pushed onward.

  The forest thinned suddenly, giving way to a shallow ravine carved by old rainwater. Darius skidded to a halt at its edge, heart lurching. It wasn’t deep, but the slope was steep and uneven. Stones littered the descent, slick with damp earth.

  There was no time to think.

  He slid down the incline, losing control halfway and tumbling the rest of the way, pain flaring as his shoulder struck hard. He bit back a cry and rolled to his feet, dizzy but moving, forcing himself onward as he plunged into the trees on the other side.

  “This way!” a voice commanded from above. “He can’t have gone far.”

  Darius staggered forward with swimming vision. His legs ached, but fear drove him on. He pushed himself deeper into the forest.

  At last, he spotted a fallen tree ahead, its massive trunk split and hollowed by rot. Without hesitation, Darius dropped to the ground and crawled inside, dragging loose bark and leaves over the entrance as best he could. He pressed himself flat, barely daring to breathe.

  Moments later, shadows passed by.

  Valiant boots crunched over leaves just a few paces away. Through a crack in the bark, Darius saw the flare of torchlight sweep across the forest floor.

  “I heard him fall,” one of them muttered.

  “He’s wounded then,” another replied. “He won’t get far.”

  Darius clenched his jaw, forcing his breath to slow despite the scream in his chest. His hand slid instinctively to his sword, fingers trembling. If they found him here, he would have no choice.

  The torches lingered.

  Then, slowly, the light moved on.

  Only when the forest fell silent again did Darius dare to breathe properly. His body shook, adrenaline draining away, leaving behind a cold, hollow dread.

  Darius waited a long while before daring to move.

  When the forest finally convinced him of its silence, he eased himself out of the hollow trunk, muscles stiff with his joint protesting. He brushed bark and dirt from his clothes, then pulled his sleeve down firmly over the band, pressing the fabric flat as if that alone could quiet the gems.

  But the gems blinked faintly now, It meant the Valiants, were going farther away from him.

  Keeping low, he moved back through the trees, retracing his path toward the Red Dome. Each step was careful. The sound of an owl’s wing sent a spike of tension through him.

  He paused often, scanning with searching eyes, expecting cloaked figures to step out from behind every tree.

  At last, the red dome emerged between the foliage. Life had returned to the quarters and Valiants moved in small groups, while guards posted at familiar points.

  There was no alarm. Darius exhaled, slowly.

  He slipped from the trees and into the outer streets, adjusting his posture as he walked, forcing his pace to slow. He let his shoulders relax, his expression settled into something neutral, almost bored. Just another man moving through the Red Dome, with nothing to hide.

  Still, his mind raced.

  For a heartbeat, he considered returning to Karev’s chambers. It would make sense. Meredith would be there, waiting. It would make everything seem normal.

  But the image of the two Valiants in the woods flashed through his thoughts. What if they had already returned? What if they crossed him in the corridor? Questions would follow; where had he been and why was he alone?

  No. Too dangerous. He thought.

  Darius altered his path and headed for the main gate instead.

  The guards there straightened as he approached, their eyes narrowing with mild suspicion. One of them stepped forward, hand resting loosely on the hilt of his weapon.

  This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

  “You there,” the guard said. “How did you enter the Red Dome, and why are you leaving alone?”

  Darius opened his mouth to answer…

  And then he saw them.

  Across the street ahead, moving between buildings, were the two Valiants from the forest. Their cloaks were pulled tight, and their steps were brisk. One of them turned his head slightly, scanning the area.

  Darius’ heart slammed against his ribs.

  He forced himself not to look again.

  “I came with Karev,” Darius said quickly, steadying his voice. “Valiant Karev. He brought me and his wife to be in earlier. He said I was free to leave once the meeting began, that Meredith would return later with him.”

  The guard studied him for a moment. Another guard leaned in, murmuring something under his breath. Darius stood still, pulse roaring in his ears, every second stretching thin.

  Across the way, the two Valiants disappeared into another street.

  Finally, the first guard nodded.

  “Very well,” he said. “You may go.”

  The gate was pulled open just enough for him to pass.

  Darius did not hesitate.

  He stepped through, the heavy doors closing behind him with a loud, final thud. Only when the Red Dome lay safely at his back did he allow himself to breathe again.

  He walked on, not looking back.

  What he had seen in that clearing replayed itself in his mind— the boy, the Rageler, the impossible transformation.

  They weren’t just making monsters.

  They were cloning them in a dangerous manner. And now, he had seen it.

  Once Darius had put a good distance between himself and the main gates of the Red Dome, he slowed and glanced back.

  High atop the walls, silhouettes of Valiants still patrolled, with bows slung, heads turning in calculated sweeps.

  He kept walking until the curve of the street and the press of buildings finally swallowed the fortress from view.

  Only then did he stop.

  Certain he was out of sight, Darius turned and broke into a run.

  His boots struck the stone hard, breath tearing from his lungs as he pushed himself faster. The streets blurred past him, lanterns streaking into lines of light.

  His mind replayed the scene in the woods again and again. That Rageler twisting itself into a perfect imitation of a boy.

  Jeremy…

  The child in Jeremy’s house was most likely not Oliver at all. It was a beast, hiding in plain sight.

  Darius ran until his chest burned. He slowed only long enough to drag in a few desperate breaths, hands braced on his knees, then forced himself forward again.

  When Nathan’s home finally came into view, Darius didn’t bother to knock. He mounted the steps two at a time and hauled the door open.

  “Nathan!” he shouted as he rushed inside.

  No answer came.

  Instead, Catherine appeared from the inner room, alarm already etched across her face.

  “Kriger” she said. “What’s the matter? You look… gods, you look terrified. And where is Meredith? She was meant to return with you. Is she all right?”

  Darius bent forward, hands on his thighs, fighting for breath. “She’s… she’s fine,” he managed, words tumbling over one another. “Still with Karev. She’s safe.”

  Catherine frowned, unconvinced. “Then what is the matter?”

  Darius straightened sharply. “Where is Nathan?”

  Catherine hesitated. “He went to Jeremy’s house. Anthon spoke to him in the market earlier— said Oliver was acting strangely. Disturbingly so.” She lowered her voice. “He ate raw chicken, Kriger. Didn’t even flinch.”

  The room seemed to tilt.

  Darius’ eyes widened, horror and grim colliding in his chest. The final piece fell into place with sickening clarity.

  The boy they had brought home that night was not Oliver.

  “He’s a Rageler,” Darius breathed.

  Catherine blinked. “What did you say?”

  “There’s no time,” Darius said urgently, already moving. “Catherine, you have to come with me right now. Lead me to Jeremy’s house. Nathan and the others are in danger.”

  Her face drained of colour. “Danger? What danger? Kriger, you’re not making sense.”

  “I will explain,” he said, gripping her arm just long enough to impress the urgency upon her, “but not here. Not now. Please trust me.”

  She searched his face, reading the fear there, the desperation. Finally, she nodded.

  They rushed out of the house together.

  Outside, Darius stopped short. “Get the horses,” he told her. “Fast. I need to speak to Favian before we leave.”

  Catherine didn’t argue. She turned and ran for the stables.

  Darius pivoted and headed straight for Favian’s room, his pulse pounding once more. If anyone could help them face what was waiting in Jeremy’s house—what was already wearing Oliver’s face—it was Favian.

  Inside, Darius found Favian sitting upright on the bed. He looked to be in far better shape than before.

  “What’s wrong?” Favian asked, frowning as he took in the look on Darius’ face. “You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”

  “Nathan and Jeremy’s family are in danger,” Darius said.

  Favian stiffened. “What do you mean, in danger?”

  “I went to the Red Dome,” Darius replied. “With Meredith.”

  There was a sharp intake of breath. “The Red Dome?” Favian snapped. “Are you mad? The plan was to stay close to Karev, not walk straight into danger”

  “I know,” Darius said, “but I had no choice. And that isn’t even the real problem.”

  Darius shook his head in horror as if recounting those moments.

  “I got lost,” he continued. “Deep inside it. In the forest.”

  Favian said nothing, waiting.

  “I found a ritual,” Darius continued. “Three Valiants were performing it.”

  “A ritual?”

  “They were cloning a Rageler,” Darius said quietly. “Binding it into the body of a young boy.”

  Favian’s eyes widened in disbelief.

  “There’s something else,” Darius said after a pause.

  Favian looked at him. “What?”

  “The boy we brought home that night,” Darius said slowly. “The one we thought was Oliver.”

  Favian’s brow furrowed. “Yes?”

  “I don’t think he was Oliver at all.”

  “What are you saying?” Favian asked impatiently.

  “I think,” Darius said, swallowing, “that he was a Rageler.”

  Horror washed over Favian’s face.

  “I’m going to Jeremy’s house,” Darius added. “Catherine’s coming with me.”

  Favian’s eyes widened as he pushed himself up. “Then I’m coming too.”

  “No,” Darius said at once, forcing him back down. “You’re not.”

  “I won’t stay here while—”

  “You can barely stand,” Darius snapped. “If you come, you’ll die.”

  Favian clenched his jaw, anger and frustration flashing across his face.

  What if Nathan’s family discovers we are Truthers?” Favian asked.

  “That can wait,” Darius replied. “First, we stop the Rageler.”

  After a moment, Favian nodded. “Then go. But be careful.

  Darius nodded. “If it comes to it,” he said softly, “I may have no choice but to use the Spirit of Death.”

  Favian sighed—a sound heavy with disapproval—but said nothing. He only watched as Darius turned and left the room.

  Outside, Catherine had already brought the horses. They mounted quickly and rode hard into the night. And the gods help them all if they were already too late.