The Fourth Zaldizko

We followed his lead out the tavern"s back door before anyone noticed our exit. When I glanced back to the closing door, I saw tanned uniform men storm into the tavern to round up the stray knights still in a daze at what had happened.

"Hurry!" Lita dragged my attention back to the cobblestone lane we sprinted down.

It spiralled downward, moving us away from the light smog and musky city smells.

We came out to the vague sight of a bushy glen with dense foliage and wild flowers letting off an astringent bitter-sweet musk beneath a moonlit sky.

The ground was spongy with mud caking our soles as we ran. Being out in nature made me feel alive. A sentiment of the home I lost tugged my heart. I shook off the feeling of homesickness and refocused on the immediate situation.

Our sprints slowed to a brisk walk when the knights felt no one was hot on our heels.

Silence ensued as we trekked the idyllic under bush and through a forest of tall wise trees. We moved up a steep path and paused for breath when we reached the top of the hill we had climbed.

A glorious view amongst the night sky graced my eyes. I saw the vast landscape of the Second District.

Twinkling white-orange lights from the buildings and street lamps were split by the water ca.n.a.ls that formed a cross-section separation of the streets to divide them into quadrants similar to h.e.l.l"s Labyrinth. Smoke lazed about stumpy chimneys of high-rise brick buildings with flat roofs or triangular shaped roofs with terracotta tiles forming peaks with animal gargoyles perched on their edges. The gargoyle bodies seemed to glower under the moonlight to form an image of warning.

I peered further and noticed four tall pillar moonstone towers (similar to Gat Shiem"s Library and Archive Towers) within the center of each quadrant like landmark points only visible from a certain height and distance. Unlike Gat Shiem"s towers, they didn"t glow with their own light, but were only visible underneath the moonlight.

A vague column of gold light, behind the right pillar tower, was an odd sight to the city vista.

"Don"t dally." Ryoko reminded me of our plight.

I sighed and followed her lead away from the picturesque view.

We trekked downwards, along the edge of a noisy brook that eventually curved away from our path, to connect into the mouth of a pond that was being replenished with water from a gushing waterfall, illuminated by the glowing insect bodies whizzing about its waters.

My legs ached and breath burned against my chest by the time we reached the wisteria paths of the mansion. The white stone footpaths were lit by rows of burning torches staked into their edges.

I gawked at the wisteria"s purple-white floral canopy over our heads as we walked, sniffing in the strong bitter-sweet smell from its flowers. My mouth lapsed into a goofy smile as I relished the crisp breeze that cooled my flushed skin. Somewhere in my heart, I felt a warm fuzziness like I had come home.

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"Welcome home." I whispered to myself.

"Yep. Welcome home Famine." Jensen acknowledge my greeting as he came up behind me.

I blushed, feeling slightly awkward. "Um, thanks."

"Come on!" He slapped my back and raced ahead of me.

I eventually entered the mansion via the main entrance and followed everyone up the cream flight of stairs, through the conservative sitting area that was still dust free and showing zero signs of being used.

We headed up the stairs into the sleeping quarter"s lounge room where cat-bots were running wild, curled up a sleep on the lounges or floor, or preening themselves.

"Hey War. Take Famine and Death to the Onsen Level." Ryoko called out to War.

War nodded eagerly.

"Come on," he said to us with a know-it-all tone to his voice.

I chuckled at Death"s groan and eye rolls.

We followed his lead out of the resident level, through a door that was hidden in a discreet alcove next to the room Lita and Ryoko shared.