Lyra took Kael to a safe house. Small building, unmarked, tucked between a tannery and a closed shop.
"Upstairs," she said. "There's a bath. Use it. You smell like a slaughterhouse."
Kael didn't argue. He climbed the narrow stairs to a small room. A tub sat in the corner. Cold water but he didn't care.
He stripped off his blood-soaked clothes and climbed in.
The water turned red immediately.
Kael scrubbed at the blood. Other people's blood. Their lives coating his skin.
He should feel guilty. Sick. Something.
He felt nothing.
"That's the sword's influence," Soulrender said lazily. "It dulls the guilt. Makes killing easier. Necessary, even."
"Is that what you did to my grandfather? Made him a monster?"
"I made him powerful. He made himself a monster. There's a difference."
Kael didn't answer. Just kept scrubbing.
After a while, the water was as clean as it would get. He dried off and found new clothes on the bed. Simple but clean. Where Lyra got them, he didn't ask.
He went back downstairs.
Lyra sat at a table with papers spread out. Maps. Lists. She looked up when he entered.
"Better," she said. "You look almost human now."
"Almost?"
"Your eyes. They've changed. Harder. Older." She gestured to a chair. "Sit. We need to talk."
Kael sat.
Lyra pushed a paper toward him. "The Red Vipers paid Julian fifty gold a week. Protection money, extortion, theft. Now that income's gone. He'll be angry."
"Good."
"Angry men make mistakes. But they also lash out. Julian will send someone after you."
"I'm already on his list."
"Now you're at the top." Lyra tapped another paper. "He has other revenue sources. The Silver Fangs gang in the dock district. The Broken Chains in the warehouse quarter. The Iron Brotherhood near the merchant square. All paying tribute."
"You want me to hit them too."
"Eventually. But not yet. You're strong, but you're not invincible. The Brotherhood has fifty men. Well trained. You'd die."
"Then what?"
"Build your strength. Train. Absorb more power carefully. And..." She hesitated.
"What?"
"Get allies. One man can't topple a Great House. You need people who'll fight for you."
"Where do I find people stupid enough to fight Julian Voss?"
"You already found one." Lyra smiled. "Me."
Kael studied her. "Why are you helping me? Really?"
"I told you. Julian's bad for business."
"That's not all."
Lyra's smile faded. "You're perceptive. Fine. Truth?" She stood and walked to the window. "Julian has my brother."
Kael sat up straighter. "What?"
"His name is Ethan. Twelve years old. Julian's people took him six months ago. They're holding him somewhere. I don't know where." Her voice was controlled. Calm. But Kael heard the pain underneath. "They use him as leverage. I feed them information about Black Market activities. About anyone who might oppose Julian."
"You're a spy."
"I'm a sister keeping her brother alive. There's a difference."
"Why tell me this? I could use it against you."
"You could. But you won't." Lyra turned to face him. "Because you understand. Family matters. Your father mattered. Julian took him from you just like he took Ethan from me. We both want the same thing—Julian destroyed."
She was right. They did want the same thing.
"So the deal is," Kael said, "I help you get your brother back. You help me kill Julian."
"More or less. First we make Julian weak. Cut his income. Turn his allies against him. Make him paranoid. Then, when he's vulnerable, we strike."
"How long will that take?"
"Weeks. Maybe months."
Kael's hand tightened into a fist. Months felt like forever.
"I know you want revenge now," Lyra said. "But rushing gets you killed. Julian has resources you don't. Time. Money. Allies. You need to build those things."
"By killing his gang members."
"By proving you're a threat. By showing the Black Market that someone's willing to stand up to him. People will join you if they think you can win."
"And if they don't?"
"Then we both die." Lyra sat back down. "But I don't think that'll happen. You killed fifteen men tonight without breaking a sweat. That sword makes you dangerous. Combine that with intelligence and allies, and Julian won't see you coming."
Kael thought about it. Every part of him wanted to march to Voss Hall and drag Julian out by his throat.
But Lyra was right. That was suicide.
"Fine," he said. "We do it your way. For now."
"Good. Tomorrow night, there's another job. Smaller. A merchant who works for Julian. He needs to learn that loyalty has a price."
"Kill him?"
"Scare him. Badly. Make an example. Show the other merchants that Julian can't protect them."
"I can do that."
"I know you can." Lyra gathered her papers. "Get some sleep. You've earned it."
She headed for the door.
"Lyra," Kael called.
She stopped.
"I'll get your brother back."
She looked at him. Something flickered in her eyes. Hope, maybe. Or just desperate need to believe.
"I know," she said quietly. Then she left.
Kael sat alone in the safe house.
Downstairs, the city was waking up. Morning light creeping through the windows.
He'd killed thirty-nine people in two days.
And he was just getting started.
* * *
END OF CHAPTER 8