Illyse leaned her head back against the concrete wall of the ally, finally letting out a slow breath as her eyes slid closed. Her blonde hair was loose around her shoulders, her blue muscle shirt that held the faded logo of some band sheād never seen almost covered under the black bomber jacket sheād grabbed at the last minute to brave the cold October night. Sheād also tugged on jeans and boots to go out in- something she rarely bothered with but tonight, they were necessary.
Tonight, all of the tattoos that marked her as a Realm Jumper were covered, keeping her identity hidden from the buyers. If anyone found out that a Peace Keeper was moving product or worse- that she was the true Kingpen of Helethenās Nine Realms, thereād be an extra special cells waiting for her in Purgatory that more than a few of her fellow Jumpers would volunteer to throw her in.
Raising both hands, Illyse lit the cigarette with a Zippo and stashed the pack and lighter in the deep pockets of her jacket. This was the only drug she allowed herself to imbibe in- a drug she was forced to buy over the counter. Sheād made a pact with herself long ago to never try her own product, instead using guinea pigs to test and see how much the substance could go for. It was one of the things that kept her on top.
She didnāt have to look at her watch to know they were late. Of course, the men meeting her tonight had no idea how important she was. All they know is that The Viper had sent someone, so, yeah. They probably thought they could make her wait. Any one of her lower-ranks would wait outside a meeting place for hours rather than turn up to her empty-handed.
But tonight, sheād taken the job herself just to get away from her fucking family. If she didnāt love Maksen so much sheād kill him for dumping their kin in her house.
āOnly until itās safe for them,ā heād argued. āTheyāre Cadywalkers! Itāll never be safe for them, Maks. They war, they kill- for the love of the gods, the family crest is āfeed, fight, fuck!āā āDa said thatās a stupid joke started by Aunt Narcissa-ā āI donāt care! They canāt stay with me!ā
Yet, somehow, Illyse had barely made it out of her house a few hours ago. Nine cousins. Nine. Heād somehow worked her over with those puppy dog eyes and goody two shoes logic.











