Wolf Dominion
Chapter 40

Hades takes me straight to Cracklen. We walk through the wide tunnels, directly to the underground city. It’s lit by burning orange – and far more serene than I’d have ever thought. Well, it’s not a paradise, but it’s not a rat’s den either.

It’s somewhere in between for a high dense populated city. Genesis Kind and their Beasts litter the streets and share it seemingly in peace, keeping distance when necessary.

Everything is etched into stone, or from stone.

Hades walks me through the centre where the most activity lies, then we go straight for a bonfire, where some other Shades are in heavy robes as they chat with their faces completely covered aside from their distinct eye colours.

Everyone parts for Hades, and so he replaces a spot by the fire, an empty stone bench, and he sits – dragging me onto his knee.

“You seem ignorant,” Hades mocks me, while holding my waist and checking my brown pouch at my thigh. When he sees the weapons he snickers and shuts the pouch, slapping his hand on my thigh instead as I timidly take in both him and the city around us, “Let me educate you, why not?” Hades is in a good mood.

I turn to him and catch his eye boldly, “Educate me on what?”

“Skye leads the most corrupt Dominion ever, because of his council,” Hades begins, while I notice a small human girl, running through the crowd, straight to Hades. She’s small and fragile framed, but dressed in nice clothes as she gives Hades a quick hug and disappears giggling.

He accepts it like it’s a common occurrence to receive the odd embrace of a random worm.

I have to ask as she runs off, “So you don’t kill every human you meet?”

Hades is honest, “Not always, why would I, but I do eat them occasionally, raw is my preferred taste. So, Ryder. What’s so special about you?”

The tracker in my arm from Raygar is the only thing that brings me solace right now as I confide in Hades harmlessly, “Special? Nothing. I just wanted to kill Skye – I dreamt of ending Wolf Dominion, I got caught on purpose to be taken from the Dry Canyon and then I ended up exactly where I thought I would. Within Wolf Dominion, there I met Skye. I just lost the will to kill him overtime.”

“Big dreamer?” Hades asks, kindly almost.

“I know nothing but death and pain,” I remain true to my word, while sitting on Hades’ lap and feeling like a twig he could snap if he so chooses.

I don’t forget who holds the power right now.

“You’re rather clean for a worm,” Hades looks me over, and his eyes are roaming places I rather they not.

“Tell me more, about Shades or Genesis in general,” I try to distract him, “I am largely ignorant. I only know what I am told, which isn’t much.”

“It would be my pleasure,” Hades doesn’t hesitate, “Most Reptiles don’t follow a Dominion. Bears are also unlikely to concede. Wolves and cats are the most structured, you could say. But the wolves stick together and cry like wimps without one another. Although I worship my own Kind – I don’t care about blood family like Wolf Dominion does. Skye fights off three main adversaries. Their biggest rivals – Cats. Next, Shades – loose and scattered and without law. Aside from if you’re tall, you’re strong? You live. And third, humans.”

“And how do humans live here?” I ask, furrowing my brows.

“They’re conniving, smarter than Genesis in different ways, and therefore valuable,” Hades knows humans well, it seems.

“You admit that?”

“I just wanted to see your reaction,” Hades squeezes my waist and I wriggle uncomfortably.

I know where this is leading, but I ask him anyway, “What happens to me now, Hades?”

“You rest your mind, girl, let me sort the rest,” Hades shuffles me closer, his hands strong on the backs of my thighs, as he also lowers his mouth to my ear, “Relax and let me guide you. Ryder.”

I stiffen my spine as my breasts touch his chest, and I slam my hand to his heart as I steady myself and meet Hades’ strong gaze. His green eyes blink and the crocodile slits wonder how stupid I really am.

But I’m not thinking about running, or resisting.

If anything, I’m still curious for more.

“You cry,” Hades’ murmurs as he sees a tear leak out.

“From passion to learn more,” I whisper, “I want to learn more. Please.”

“Do you even know why your Kind came to this planet?” Hades asks, curious about my own curiosity.

I shake my head.

“They didn’t try to share the planet, they tried to mine it for gold – it’s what your kind call Solividian,” Hades states it simple, as if it’s well known. But I had no idea.

“And what’s so special about that rock, Hades?” I ask.

“Currency, power. I for one welcome the infestation – as it’s extra hands, and extra food. What else do you want to know?”

“Um,” I can only think of one thing for the moment, “What’s the Shining?”

Hades smiles at that, “Fuck a hostage of another Kind, usually an enemy,” Hades is happy to explain this, “Why did you know about that term?”

“Just something I heard uttered today over dinner,” I admit, blushing a bit, “Before I was suddenly forced to leave on my mission without warning.”

“Yeah. About that. You’re going to tell me why you’re so special to Wolf Dominion,” Hades drawls, easy, while blinking slow. I look down, nervous, and he adds, “You give it away too easy. You really are important in some way to them?”

“I agreed to influence my Kind to join Wolf Dominion. I’m good at convincing others,” I avoid the direct truth.

“A leader?” Hades is too generous with his choice of words, clearly wanting me to say more.

I almost cringe with how close he is to the word Luna, however.

“I’m… expendable… and pretty, so I guess I’m desired for a few moments longer before I’m no longer considered useful,” I have a truth to give there. I raise my brow with it, “Even you want to fuck me, your hands are spreading my legs this very moment –”

“Even me?” Hades catches on, ripping into my lazy statement which gives away some truth, while stopping his sly warm hands, “Who else is lining up for you?”

“I’m a whore, anyone,” I dismiss it, shrugging a shoulder.

“You comply to that label? Why?” Hades has cottoned onto the fact I talk to avoid this forced physical union… and he uses it against me.

I just have to be strong.

Now, I don’t answer.

I just keep his stare and I don’t blink as I look up at him. Hades inhales softly but exhales slow as he considers me.

“Hmm. Well fuck. You’ve been used enough,” Hades shoves me off his knee, out of the blue, “I know when to stop playing around – when it’s morally corrupt –” he’s talking to himself as he departs. I’ve suddenly reached for his ankle on instinct, grasping on, even though he’s about to leave and it could be my opportunity to run. I hold onto him though, and I tremble as he looks down at me, begging him. And I don’t even know what for, so I just look at him, feeling like I’m losing more opportunity if he leaves me here on the ground with the other Shades, “…they all love me…” Hades speaks to himself, chuckling for a moment, before acknowledging me again, “If you want my attention, Ryder, ask for it boldly. Do you want me to fuck you? Say it and I’ll oblige... whore.”

I let go of Hade’s ankle and I lean back onto my hands, feeling bereft and lost as I glance up at his knowing eyes and then all around me, past the robes, the flickering embers, the street fires – the crowds.

Hades remains as I look lost.

Then he smiles as he gets an idea, “You want to meet the others, Ryder? Your Kind.”

What?

Yes.

I don’t answer Hades but he knows I wouldn’t refuse. He helps me stand up and I go for a walk with him through Cracklen.

Hades knows how to act foe, then friend, then foe, then friend again. It’s good manipulation, I feel I can’t run when I may learn more – able to gain more if I ask the right questions.

I’m now with the most dangerous and sly Shade, and he’s guiding me to a new and different demise.

One I can never comprehend, until it’s happening.

Cracklen. When you explore further north and up an incline, smooth streets are embedded into rock, there’s small trickles of water, houses made in the dry stone, some with moss covering the doors. The more water, the more moss.

And all around the city, are free traders.

There.

There.

And there.

There.

There.

Everywhere.

Each ’There’ Hades whispers at me, while also nudging me to look toward a happy woman… or a man. Smaller in frame compared to the Genesis.

All of them? My Kind.

It’s such an intense moment, to see humans living well, that I’m numb to it for now. Being a hostage was all I could focus on. Otherwise I might get emotional – and then say the wrong things.

Eventually Hades shows me a large group of my Kind playing in the street with a flying ball, and they’re all wearing expensive gadgets.

The Residue.

Jawkin told me they would be wearing expensive gear.

“They live well,” I murmur, pointing out the obvious.

“Yes. And I did this for them. For the ones that can work the harder tasks,” Hades corrects himself, “I pay them well.”

“They’re free? None are in hiding?” I ask for clarity.

“Yes. They’re free. What did Wolf Dominion tell you?”

“They’re just worms to Wolf Dominion.”

Hades shakes his head, happy to explain, “They’re rich, everyone is a worm when you hold all the Solividian on the planet within the very walls of your Dominion. Freedom predominantly reigns on Genesis, the Dominions balance each other, you’ve been hibernating and fucking the evil dictators of this planet. You’ve been in with the evil. You have no idea you were deep within the side of the oppressor?” Hades is becoming disgusted with me.

“I knew –”

“But you relaxed into the luxury, even accepting a position as a whore and a slave.”

“What do Rogue Masters do?” I try to change the subject, as the other one is making me uncomfortable.

“Great deflection. Rouge Masters. They kill any who don’t obey, kill all who don’t submit, torture the ones who fight for freedom, control the resources, decimate innocents living their lives in peace underground –”

“All for what purpose?” I’m surprised I even use that word, after hearing it so many times, it’s stuck now.

“Currency. Solividian. I fucking love it too,” Hades is happy not to deny that.

“Well,” I look across the street, where I see a bear walking with the Genesis it’s bonded too, “All these animals are tiny compared to the Alpha wolves I met. Zrot Company. Ten, no, twenty times bigger than any other beast here...”

“They genetically modified them, to gain an advantage no one can fight off,” Hades scoffs, “Everyone fucking hates Zrot Company, and I’m glad Zrot was eventually slaughtered. Although that doesn’t fix the second problem. Vorth will be next in line. Vorth has the highest intelligence for a beast I’ve ever encountered. He kills with moral weight in his decisions,” Hades looks into the distance, “He’s truly dangerous. A great warrior.”

“Xrat,” I whisper his name, thinking of him.

“Hmmm?” I shake my head and Hades continues, not catching on to my awful slip of tongue, “Yes, you don’t fuck with Wolf Dominion head on in a battle on a field.”

“It seems to be that way… well… thanks for showing me around. And showing me my Kind,” I hope now that Hades explains soon how he’ll use me to get more of what he wants.

“No,” Hades drawls menacingly, out of the blue, as his hand slides to the nape of my neck when I’m not looking, “You came here to convert humans – have a go,” Hades socially throws me in the deep end as he calls out to the geared up Human Kind across from us playing that game with the flying ball, “Come listen to Ryder,” human men and their female companions immediately turn and head on over.

I wish I could sink into the ground. I’m so embarrassed already. I don’t know what to do. Hades is clearly just trying to make me regret my loyalty to Wolf Dominion.

“Who’s the new girl? Welcome to Cracklen,” one very handsome human male smiles brilliantly and even bows toward me. The others look me over with kindness in their smiles.

“She’s from Wolf Dominion,” with Hades’ quick snipe about me, their smiles promptly die, “… she’s been sent to convert you, to convince you to enslave yourselves to your new Masters in Wolf Dominion,” Hades pats me forward – and all the humans step back suddenly and look at me like I’m crazy.

Why was he doing this?

“I’m not,” I blurt out, blushing a hot red as I lie and look at my feet, “I was, but I’m not now.”

“She’s my hostage, she’s nervous,” Hades pats through my hair, “Don’t worry, she’s just clueless.”

I’m looking down and I’m now thinking of the tracker in my arm… and the people I’ve met.

Did Raygar know Hades would come for me?

Did they all know?

I halt my breath.

The Residue.

They were tracking me to the Residue.

But these humans weren’t desperate and in need of shelter. They had well established lives in Cracklen.

“Hades? I need to get away from here,” I look up at the humans and back to Hades in a slight panic. I didn’t want to stay still for too long. Hades says nothing to my complaint, the humans look to Hades, “…what…?” I whisper, confused why I’m getting ignored.

“Hmm. Fuck. I’m sick of feeling sorry for you – you lot, I need her alive so… keep her alive, that’s the only requirement – she’s worth gold to Dictator Skye, he loves her or something,” Hades shoves me hard and I fall to my knees in front of my Kind.

“Wait. What’s happening now?” I look over my shoulder to Hades.

He just smiles softly, then turns.

And walks away.

Hades’ giant form glides like he’s not aware it’s not normal for him to make barely a sound with each boot step when he’s that fucking large.

But he’s also gone. I’m left alone with ‘The Residue’.

I look up at the humans stepping in, surrounding my kneeling body, their eyes are huge and wide, full of absolute rage, and absolute disbelief and fury, all at once they unite against me.

“You obey Wolf Dominion? You fucking dumb traitor, you fucking bitch!”

I hear one snarl. And another – and then they’re all cheering for my demise.

My Kind pounce on me.

Human Kind!

First, they beat me. A kind mercy to what I’m soon to face afterwards.

Torture.

Because Hades lightly threw me under… with the truth I gave him.

Or Raygar threw me under? Or Wolf Dominion?

I don’t know. I don’t know who orchestrated this.

But now I was being punished – and I never thought this situation could have happened.

I guess I’m about to learn my greatest lesson.

I asked for more knowledge, and Hades delivered me straight to it.