Chapter 458: He Went Back

The Day Before Sophia Regained Consciousness

Caspian shifted slightly behind Orion.

Jarek went on.

"Owl employed us at some point after proving ourselves capable. I once asked him why he employed rogues, and he explained that his father had instilled in him not to judge a book by its cover, and given the way things were with the enclave, he was very certain some rogues were dealt a rough hand, and everyone deserves a second chance."

Orion’s gaze sharpened, just a fraction. That sounded just like what Tobias would say, and he had also been aware that Tobias hired rogues, but he didn’t know who they were specifically. Tobias’s father had done the same too.

His fingers curled into the blanket beneath him.

"We had important roles too, and he trusted us."

Orion nodded once, absorbing everything.

"What happened at the Black Market?"

Jarek hesitated.

Only for a heartbeat.

"It’s gone," he told Orion.

"Tell me what happened specifically," Orion told Jarek. "And tell me who destroyed it."

Jarek lifted his chin.

He did not look away.

"The enclave."

The word came out without fear.

Only bitterness.

"Specifically... the Luna’s people."

There was a small breath.

"Victoria’s men."

Orion’s jaw tightened. He had not gotten the chance to ask Jarek questions when Ronan had told him about the enclave, but now he had the opportunity. Everything Jarek said lined up with what Ronan had told him, and even with more details. And so far, Jarek hadn’t told a lie.

Jarek’s voice stayed steady.

"They came in like customers. I remember Owl selling the Skylur and Trihydra remains to them. The market was abuzz with whispers of the enclave being there, and the others were on fire. They appeared to be searching for someone specific, but that didn’t deter them from killing anyone they could get their hands on—men, women, and children—and they laughed as they did so." Jarek spoke as if he was seeing everything happen again.

"Do you know who they were looking for?" Orion asked him.

Jarek shook his head. "No. And honestly, after what happened, I’m not so certain they were even looking for someone. They seemed more delighted in the massacre of the people in the market than in their mission."

"How did you survive?" Caspian asked Jarek.

"Owl."

Immediately he said the name. Daniel, Orion, and Caspian shared a look.

"Owl saved us," Jarek explained. "He helped us through a hidden path, and at first, we thought we were free. We were in the woods after all, the forest surrounding the market, when suddenly the enclave moved to find anyone who escaped. Owl came for us again, this time disguised as one of them, as he led us to safety, stopping at a ravine and telling us to find the pack in the North."

Once more, Daniel, Orion, and Caspian exchanged looks.

"Owl sent you to the pack in the North?" Daniel asked. Jarek nodded.

"Yes. He specifically told us to tell them that Tobias sent us to them," Jarek told them.

"If you claim Owl sent you to the pack in the North, then how did you appear at the heart of Nirvana?" Orion asked Jarek.

Jarek swallowed and looked at his hands. "That was a failure on my part. We followed the direction Owl gave us, but then we came across some beasts. I never thought that when Owl said that there were numerous beasts in Nirvana—some we didn’t even know about—I never thought he was telling the truth. We met the three-headed snake."

Once more, it felt like he could see everything that happened, like he was reliving it in that moment.

"I was rooted in fear. Maya was with me, and some others too, but Tarin... Tarin wasn’t with me. He was with someone else. We got separated and we hid from the snake. We made plans to go back, but then we got lost. I have... I haven’t seen Tarin yet. But I... is it possible to go back there? I can’t disappoint Owl."

Orion just stared at Jarek. The name Tarin rang a bell in his ears. This was the same boy that he found with Sophia, the one she had sucked the Trihydra venom from. It seemed the boy was tied to Jarek and his people after all.

"Your leg is injured. How do you expect to even move?" Orion asked Jarek. 𝙧𝙚𝙚𝔀𝒆𝓫𝓷𝙤𝓿𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝙤𝓶

Jarek looked at his leg and then back at Orion. "Then is it possible for you to send someone out to help? I’ll pay you for the help."

Jarek looked desperate, and it was obvious how much he cared about the boy, Tarin. Choosing to put him out of his misery, Orion spoke.

"Does Tarin have a pouch with him, one that belongs to Owl?" Orion asked him.

Jarek stared at Orion with a frown. "How do you know that?"

"Because we have someone whose name is Tarin in the pack right now. He hasn’t regained consciousness, but he’s been treated, and he has a pouch from Owl with him," Orion told Jarek.

Jarek stared at Orion now, his senses tingling. He should have asked from the very beginning, but he had been more focused on keeping his head in one piece, especially with how intimidating Orion was.

"Who are you people?" he asked Orion. "And where am I?"

Orion gave him a smirk. "First things first, let me reintroduce myself. I am Orion, alpha of the Nightshade pack, also known as the pack in the North."

Jarek stared with wide eyes. He should have known from the beginning that this was the pack in the North. He was in a bed in a warm room that smelled faintly of herbs, and there were noises outside of children playing—and it was in the North too. Of course this was a pack, and it seemed very organized too.

"I’m in the pack from the North," he said as recognition dawned on him.

Orion nodded. "Yes. And while I appreciate you being truthful and everything you told me, I have one more question."

"I’ll only answer if I can see Tarin. I need to verify that it’s really him," Jarek told Orion.

Orion nodded. "That’s fair. Now that that’s agreed on, where is Tobias?"

Jarek swallowed. "He went back."

"Went back where?" Orion asked him.

"To the Black Market," Jarek told Orion.