Chapter 35: The Umbra King: Chapter 33

Sera sat in a corner booth in Whiplash, waiting for Sam. After their first meeting, Sera charged into Whiplash one day, looking for them, and demanded they help her clear Rory’s name.

From there, she became a fly, always buzzing around with her bossy attitude, and it drove Dume crazy.

“Where did this guy come from?” Sera asked the group. “I mean, he showed up out of nowhere, demanding information about Rory, and you guys just gave it to him?”

Dume scrubbed a hand down his face. “He said it was to help her.”

“What Dume is trying to say is that the guy is terrifying. He’s bigger than my truck,” Keith chimed in.

Kordie pushed Keith’s head playfully. “He’s not that big.” Keith winked at Kordie and leaned forward to whisper something in her ear, making her blush.

The two were closer than before, and Dume suspected they were sleeping together at the least, if not in a full-blown relationship.

“Get a room or join the conversation,” Sera scolded the two, and they broke apart.

“You’re terrifying, too,” Keith told the small redhead, and Dume swore something akin to pride shone on her face.

“Good evening,” Sam said robotically, appearing from nowhere. How did someone that big move around undetected?

“What kind of mystic did you say you were?” Dume asked him.

“I didn’t.” Sam sat down beside Sera, and Dume had the urge to make her switch seats. “Who are you?” the giant asked Sera.

“Sera,” she said, holding her chin high. “Rory saved me.” That was all she said, offering this stranger nothing more, and Sam appraised her before nodding.

“Have you found anything else?” Sam asked, directing his question at Dume.

“Two more victims came forward,” Sera answered before Dume could open his mouth. “That’s six out of thirteen. Seven if you count me.”

Sam’s eyes went from Sera to Dume, and Dume saw him fight a smirk.

“And what of her mother? Do you still care for her?”

Kordie shook her head. “We are taking care of her the best we can, but she’s been… acting out.”

Sam leaned back and draped his arm along the booth behind Sera, and Dume’s eyes tried to saw it off. “What do you mean ‘

‘?”

Keith rubbed the back of his neck. “Her babbling has gotten worse. She’s had a few good days since Rory left, and each one, she tries to leave, saying she has to save Rory.”

Sam remained impassive. “She has seen something.”

“Before Rory left, she spouted a prophecy,” Keith said. “Rory was freaked out by it.”

“What was the prophecy?” Sam asked, sitting forward.

“

Dume recited like an oath. It was still scribbled on Lenora’s walls, and he labored over the meaning and how it related to his best friend.

Sam flagged down a server and asked for a pen and paper, jotted down the prophecy, and folded it into his pocket. “Thank you. I will check back for updates.” He stood.

“That’s it?” Sera asked, scooting out of the booth to stand. “What about Rory? I thought you were going to help her.”

Sam towered over Sera, and when he looked down at her, his eyes shone with humor. “Don’t worry, little one. I am not one to lie.”

Sera told him to fuck off with her expression and sat back down. “Good day, then.” She dismissed him as though he were no one, and Dume covered his mouth to smother a laugh.

“I like her,” Sam said with a tip of his head before leaving.

“Can you control that mouth of yours before you get yourself killed?” Dume grumped.

“Just because you fear the brute doesn’t mean I do,” she quipped, making Kordie and Keith laugh.

“What do we do now?” Keith asked.

“We keep looking,” Dume replied. “Sera’s protests at the enforcer’s station and outside The Capital walls are garnering attention. If there are more, they will come forward.”

Sera was fierce in her own right and demanded to be heard. Dume had to keep a low profile, but Kordie and Keith attended her rallies, and the turnout was slowly growing as more victims came forward.

“We’ll clear her name,” Kordie said with conviction. “I just wish she were here to see it.”

“My father will tell her what we’re doing,” Sera assured them. “She’ll know she has fighters on the outside.”