The Noble Queen-A Shadow Slave Fanfic

"Well, I don't know about your plans, but I need to use the facilities. That was intense," Fir sat nearly forgotten in the corner of the room. He was quietly snacking on the emergency supplies, not daring to look at their expiration date. 

Chip leveled his gaze on Noble.

"You let Harlow go just like that?" the man's anger pushed on Noble's consciousness.

"Oh, we aren't done then..." Fir sank deeper in the chair. 

"Now that wench will claim she is some kind of hero risking her life to save our necks," Chip insisted. "She will paint herself the star of this story." 

"She would have done that anyway," Noble sighed, "Let her brag. She admitted to murder and threatened my mother. That won't be covered up by one act of heroism." 

"You really think that recording will do any good?" The burly Master scoffed. "I am sure people have far more condemning evidence on that witch, and she is still walking around like she owns the place. She must have some hidden sorcery to have so many lives." 

The bedroom door cracked open.

"I don't hear yelling anymore. Is it safe to come out?" Lonzo peeked through the opening. 

"Marginally safer than it was," Coy answered as he looked warily at his companion. 

Teran nudged past his father and crept into the room. "Where is Harry? Did you kill her?!?" 

"She went out to check for the monsters," Noble chewed her lip.

"That's good, right?" Teran looked at the adults. "It means she is keeping us safe?" 

"Oh yes, very good and honorable. It isn't at all because she wants to save her own skin." Chip stepped forward toward Lonzo, nearly cornering him. "You'll be honest, right? Tell me, husband-of-a-director: Will this one act of heroism by Harlow be enough for her to get away with all that she has done including lying to you?" 

Lonzo averted his gaze. "I'm severely uncomfortable right now."

"Join the club," Fir flinched when Chip looked his way.

He hid behind his bag of food, unwilling to say more.

"You may as well answer the question," Coy shrugged, "he isn't going to let it go."

Sweat formed on Lonzo's brow. Noble was ready to jump in if needed, but she, too, wanted to know the man's thoughts. 

"Well, the Great Clans always want to handle punishment internally. They have their own laws and discipline. Unless something drastic happens, they will ask for the evidence to be turned over for them to deal with. Any good thing Harlow does will be weighted heavily in her favor, especially since the bad things were done on Valor's behalf." 

"That's wrong!" Teran's shoulders rose to his ears in indignation. "Justice should be the same for everyone." 

"That's just the way it is. Power runs the world," the father shook his head. "If your mother had less power and influence, she wouldn't have had the connections to reach Master Noble. We would have been left here." 

Chip held out his palm. "So you think Harlow..." 

"....Will get away with everything she has done just like every other time." 

Lonzo shut his eyes, preparing for the wrath of Master Chip. Instead, he got a light squeeze on the shoulder. 

"See? This man knows what he is talking about! We need more people like him in the world." 

Grinning fiercely, Chip stepped back and gave the man some breathing room. Lonzo opened his arms to accept his concerned son. The man furrowed his brow at the burly Master. 

"You aren't angry?" 

"Harlow's the enemy, not you." Chip cracked his knuckles. "You see, Noble? We all know the only way to deal with this properly is by getting our hands dirty so the world stays clean."

"We can discuss this after we get out of here," Noble pressed her lips together. 

It stung to hear Lonzo say what she already knew. The system was flawed, but it was all they had. Lance had died because he tried to work peacefully inside the legal system. 

There was no way that Noble would let Harlow escape punishment again because of her Legacy upbringing. 

'Maybe I should consider...' 

A rumbling sound shook the ground. While Noble couldn't feel it, she heard the noise and saw the three soldiers summon weapons.

But Lonzo and Teran barely reacted to the sound. 

"What was that?" Noble asked, looking around for any breach. 

"It happens like clockwork. I think the train must run close by." Lonzo shrugged. 

Noble recalled an entrance to the subterranean station far down the street. His assessment made sense.

"So the Skinwalker is even keeping the trains running? That is some deep level of commitment. That isn't something we could see even if the cloudy veil in the dome is removed." Coy mused. 

"From what I saw, it is continuing to mimic every facet of human life. I thought it might be for my benefit, but perhaps it is more than that?" Fir lowered his weapon and flexed his bandaged hands. 

"You must be careful trying to get inside a Nightmare Creature's head like that," Chip warned. "Instead of understanding, you can become like them instead. Trust me, I should know." 

The others heeded his warning and dropped the conversation. They wouldn't find an answer today, or possibly ever. But since survival relied as much on understanding the enemy as one's own assets, Noble let her mind linger on the topic a little longer. 

What was the Skinwalker's goal? 

Was it trying to become human? Noble doubted it. 

Corrupted things wanted to destroy everything that remained undefiled. Noble had experienced its hatred in full force. Why would it try to become like something it hated? 

'It isn't because it wants to live peacefully side by side with humanity, that much is sure.' 

"Shouldn't the banshee be back by now?" Chip chewed his lip. "We might want to go..." 

"If we leave, it will all be together," Noble ordered. 

The men around her nodded, relieved that none of them would be sent to check on the Awakened bodyguard. 

Noble checked to see that her essence reserves were almost fully replenished. That was good. She would need all her power for the trip out. 

"We will give her another minute and then–" Noble stopped and frowned as the door pushed suddenly open. 

Harlow dusted off herself.

"Did you try to lock me out?" 

She raised one eyebrow at the group. 

"Safety measures." Chip crossed his arms. "We would have let you in if you had done the knock." 

"Hmph." Harlow frowned. 

"What took you so long? I thought you were only checking the stairwell." Coy tried to divert the incoming argument. 

"I went a little farther just to make sure," Harlow tilted her chin. 

"And everything is clear?" Noble held her hands behind her back. 

"Would I be back if it wasn't?" The woman shot back. 

"You are back now. That's what matters," Noble frowned, deciding how to proceed. "Teran and Lonzo, finish getting ready in the bedroom. Fir, get one more set of dressings on those hands. The rest of us will firm up the exit strategy." 

Noble watched the father out of the corner of her eye. 

Lonzo nodded. 

He turned Teran toward the other room. "I'll make sure your Spelltech is working properly one last time, son." 

Fir frowned, unhappy to be left out of the planning, but he also complied. 

The three Masters were left alone with the bodyguard.

"So, what's the plan?" Harlow looked expectantly at the other three.

From behind her back, Noble tossed a small object to Chip. He tucked it behind his ear.

'The plan is to kill her, right?' Chip asked eagerly through The Other's Voice.

Noble nodded imperceptibly. 'Yes.'

Coy understood, taking a step back from the other two.

The reason for the change in plans was very simple.

Harlow wasn't Harlow anymore.