Cade rolled over in the warm covers and snuggled next to the sleeping Elucard. The shadow elf grazed a gentle finger down his partner's scarred flesh.

"Don't wake up, he whispered. "Don't let this end."

Cade ran his fingers through Elucard's short, blonde hair and brushed over his elven ear. He let a small chuckle slip through his lips. "I love you, Elucard Freewind."

A ghostly voice whispered back in Cade's mind. It was Elucard's. I know, Cade. I love you too…

Cade snapped open his eyes. He rolled over in the warm covers and snuggled next to…nothing.

He was alone. Still.

He let out a long sigh and swung his legs over the ledge of the bed. His toes pressed against the cold stone floor before standing up.

He glanced at the bed. It was empty like his soul. He once found purpose with Elucard as a Black Rabbit, and his foolish actions ripped that away from him. Then he found purpose with Elucard again, and with it came the joy he never knew could exist. Cade fought for it. Alanna be damned, he fought for it, but like the sunset his light disappeared from a power stronger than he.

Wraslyn.

He bit his lip in frustration until a droplet of blood dripped from his chin. Wraslyn, you bastard. I swear to the Torn One himself, I will find you and strip Elucard from your clutches!

Cade collapsed back on the bed. The bedframe whined under the sudden weight.

Take on Wraslyn; Dead of Winter? What was he thinking? Elucard and he could barely compete against Strife, let alone Wraslyn, Lord of the Night, the Shadow King himself! But there was still a chance. He was the Silent Master, after all. Trained by the very organization he sought to bring down. Yes, Wraslyn ruled over the domain of the shadows, but he now ruled over the domain of stealth and combat.

Elucard was no slouch in that regard, either. He also trained his share of students in the Red Rabbits. Surely, they would be inclined to rescue their master.

This doesn't seem so bleak. No…no, I think this could be done.

Three days passed since he joined the Anti-Rogue Ops under Wiccer's watchful eye, but he remained within a private apartment set up by the Long Whisper army.

To keep tabs on me. He chuckled. Like they could keep tabs on a Black Rabbit?

Cade slung on his tunic, cloak, and then his leather armor. Wiccer took away Cade's ninjato. A wise choice had Cade still been his enemy, but the confiscation of his weapon just told him that Wiccer wouldn't be trusting him just yet. No matter, what kind of Silent Master would Cade be if he couldn't slay a man with his bare hands?

Not a very good one, he thought.

Cade reached for his steel mask on a table but pulled back his hand. The Mask glinted in a shaft of morning light trickling through moth-eaten holes in the drab curtains that covered the window.

He was now Cade, and that was Inle's mask. That mask symbolized everything that was wrong with Inle. Inle, the enemy of Elucard. Inle, the betrayer of Jetta. Inle, the slayer of Wiccer's brother. Inle, the spineless coward. Inle. He was not Inle anymore. Wiccer and the rest still needed convincing, and if he were to do that, it would have to be without his—Inle's mask.

Cade creaked open his front door and eyed the yawning sentry. The same one from last night. Which meant that the changing of the guard had yet to occur. He could slip out the back to see if one of his old Black Rabbit strong houses still had equipment. Perhaps some trit? He could restock and…and…split town?

I'm still thinking like Inle. Like I have nothing tying me here. Like Elucard isn't waiting to be rescued…

Cade shook his head and swung the front door wide open.

The guard sputtered and straightened to attention.

This book's true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.

"Greetings!" Cade chuckled with a coy smile sliding on his face. "What agenda does Wiccer have for me today?"

"The commander expects to see you at headquarters today!" shouted the guard.

Cade looked up and down at his escort. "Grinta, was it?"

"Sir!"

"I'm quite hungry. Do you mind if we head to the Mystic Fang and grab a bite to eat before all this military business?"

"I have strict orders to bring you to Commander Newsun as soon as you have awakened."

Cade glanced at his open kitchen window and sighed. Inle would have ditched this stooge by now, but I suppose Cade wouldn't.

He turned back to Grinta. "Fine. Lead the way."

***

Cade knocked on the Wiccer's office door, and a stern "Enter," invited him in.

He hesitated before walking to the center of the office and scanned the walls for any exit points but found none. Where any window might have been were instead decorated wall to wall with dune elven art. Beaded blankets, spears, and painted landscapes of Scorch reminded him of the last time he nearly slain Wiccer.

Now, his former enemy served as his commander, who sat behind a large cherry oak desk. The human steepled the tip of his fingers together as he sneered a murderous gaze at Cade.

Cade could only turn away, but a low growl caught his attention. He looked up in time to see a yikahti drop from the vaulted ceiling.

Wiccer gestured to a chair. "Sit, Inle."

Cade watched as the striped cat paced back and forth, a clawed hand hovering over his sword's hilt.

"I'd rather stand if it's the same to you."

"It's not," hissed Wiccer. He turned to the yikahti. "Lear."

In a flash of steel, Lear unsheathed his saber and tapped his blade on Cade's shoulder. "This yikahti's commander ordered you to sit."

Cade eyed the sword and gave Wiccer a bored glare. He rolled his eyes and sat in the chair at the center of the room.

Wiccer rose from his seat. "Bind him."

At the command, two Anti-Rogue operatives burst through the door and shackled Cade's wrists behind his back.

"Is this really necessary, Wiccer? I can free myself without much effort," started Cade.

"You answer to him only as Commander Newsun, criminal scum!" Lear snarled, gnashing his teeth.

Wiccer circled his desk and lifted Cade's chin. "I will decide what is necessary. You may have Wildeye fooled, but I will not be as gullible."

Cade's silver eyes shined back into Wiccer's eyes. "And your harekin? Last I checked, she ran your little ARO operation."

"How did you—" balked Lear.

"Know?" finished Cade. "I know everything and without my cooperation you will always be one step behind, thrashing in the dark."

Wiccer clenched his teeth and tugged at Cade's tunic. "You bluff!"

"Do I?" Cade chuckled. "Tell me, Wiccer, why haven't you told Lear that you've been seeing someone?"

Wiccer widened his eyes but tightened his grip on Cade's collar.

"That petite bar maiden at the Bearded Dog. Or did you actually think you could keep your personal life a secret from the Black Rabbits?"

"The Black Rabbits are dead!"

"Are they?" Cade laughed.

Lear struck Cade with a heavy fist. "Enough of your lies!"

"No one…" Wiccer stumbled backward. "No one knew of Amani…not even my own father…"

Cade smirked. "Do you not see my value now, Commander?"

"We can't trust him, Wiccer. He's Inle. He'd say anything to get out of this," Lear hissed.

Sweat slid down the side of Wiccer's face. With a shaky hand, he yanked a tuft of Cade's violet hair and jerked his head back. "I admit I am not as good as Elucard at torture, but that doesn't mean I haven't picked up a few things."

Wiccer drew a dagger from his belt and poked its tip against the shadow elf's throat. "How many spies do you have in this city?"

Cade winked and whispered, "Should I start with how many there are in this room?"

Wiccer raised a brow and looked at the two eager recruits guarding the door. "Leave."

Cade snickered.

"Am I some sort of a joke to you?" Wiccer nudged the blade's edge further against Cade's throat.

Cade beamed a smile and snatched Wiccer's wrist and then, in another smooth motion, pulled Wiccer's arm over his shoulder and sent the commander crashing into the oak desk.

The shadow elf dusted off his hands and rubbed his wrists where the shackles once were. "From one clown to another? Yes, you are a riot."

Lear ran to Wiccer's side, assisting him from the smashed desk.

"If Wraslyn had his way, he would have sent Inle to slay the both of you and dismember your bodies. But I am not Inle, and I no longer work for Wraslyn."

Wiccer held his head and leaned his bruised body against Lear. "Do you think I should just trust you?"

Cade reached down and picked up Wiccer's dagger. With a flick of his wrist, he flipped the weapon in the air and caught it by the blade. He then extended his arm and offered the dagger back to Wiccer. "With each day that we dawdle, Wraslyn makes one more step closer to destroying the final two seals, and Elucard continues to be imprisoned."

Wiccer glanced down at the dagger.

Cade smiled. "Tell me this, Wiccer. Do we have the luxury for you not to?"

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