a giant glass tombstone stickin

irrored glass-most of it smashed now. The ground floors were choked with vines that hadn't been there yesterday. The Aether work

the Shamblers were

circling the revolving doors in a slow

d signature detected. Wh

Rank: S (Unstable

| Aether R

Barricaded

t pe

ueen," the woman everyone in the wasteland t

le and let a small

rf

nutes to get up to t

w and quiet, only killing when he absolutely had to, using a piece of rebar to crush skulls so he wouldn't have to make noise wi

ing; some were in expensive suits, others in black tactical gear

uards, Ja

out and grabbed an unspent pistol from the floor.

coming from above. A wom

y ba

of frost, then a wet

ed climbi

e lounge. Leather sofas, a mahogany bar, and

ress, and the wal

middle of the room, her ba

, though streaked with blood and grime. Her white silk blouse was torn at the collar, revealing a pale collarbone and a fresh g

it out li

eap in blocks of crystal. A ninth was creeping toward her al

l blue-tracked the creature

e whispered,

traight through the creature's chest. It stag

lena s

way her knees almost gave out. The ice glove

was

to the room from the stairwell, Jax de

pistol and fi

ed back. Three bo

ted to lift, but nothing happened. Her power wa

saw

ood drying on his sleeves. He stood in the doorway l

r-sharp. "If you're another one of Garr

can

ken glass. "You have eight percent Aether left.

ent comple

you kn

a lot of

tremor in her lip and the pulse flickering in her throat. Up close, she smelled l

ifted h

mily owns forty percent of this city. Whatever

most l

are ash. Out there..." He tipped his head toward the shattered windo

, something flicke

e

uickly, but

l return," she insist

. Eleven are dead in the stairwell. The twelfth ra

blue eyes searched his face, an

aid. "Fled the roof an hour ago

e to listen. S

ll slowly t

stretched

aded doors. The tower groaned. Somewhere,

never been told "no," stood in the ruins of her penthouse and l

she asked, her voi

he pause

en. She respects stre

ract,"

ontr

keep you alive while this city burns." He held her gaz

s body, then back to his face, a slow

ou th

A faint, cold s

h caught

eople share power. You'd become stronger. Your rank would rise. You'd be immune to the

stared

re in

oba

mpatibili

t required. Awa

an who wanted to refuse but couldn't. A queen without a

indow, to the dead city a

ealized. Very slightl

say no?"

" Jax said, "and you die

of it hung

losed h

reath

e was gone. What remained was something

softly. "What would you

d to tilt her head back to meet his eyes. Cl

e fed and warm and you've had time to think, I'll explain everything. And if you

ran through her that had n

until

ou do as I say in the field. And y

pride, resentment, and underne

lowly, "the most arroga

es

ld rui

could

moment

heir to the Whitmore fo

, her voice perfectly stea

was ice-cold, and soft

d. "And yet i

Di

nitiated: El

Progres

ort target to Sa

ned briefly around

toward th

r draw a breath, steady