The weather outside was wonderful. Gloomy, rainy, rather chilly too. All nice until it got through all your layers of clothing, drenching everything. Misery would settle in afterwards.

  Somewhat reminiscent of my experience of hunting in the woods. Except now the wolves were all around me, wearing the face of men.

  -Brooding again, my dear mate?

  -''The weather steals me.'' I replied.

  -To better times?

  -Hmm, yes and no.

  -Oh you.

  There were a few moments of silence before I've picked up the conversation.

  -You could have argued further against this back then. I'd actually expected you would. But you didn't, you relented easily.

  -''I could tell you were set on it. I saw the news article. I thought it might be a heist at first.'' She trailed off before she continued.

  -But I know you are beyond such ambitions as power or money. When you look at me, when you hold me close with your palm against my belly, I can see what truly matters to you. What drives your intention. And with it the resolve to make things better wherever you go.

  -So I trust you, my mate.

  -''You make it all worth it.'' I replied in kind.

  I sipped from my coffee, turning away from the soaked but beautifully ornamented balcony. The view from the sixth floor we were at was quite a catching one. Especially since we could see our target even if still some distance away. Despite that, the eye-catcher in the room was Provence in her new colour. Her hair was black, and so was her now normal-sized tail.

  Precautions were necessary before even stepping foot on the landship. Foremost adopting new identities, and masking some of our traits. For this we had procured new ID's. I have used special makeup to conceal my scars. And Provence had dyed her hair as well as using a special corset to compress her tail.

  Thus, we were able to infiltrate the population without attracting any attention with our eye balling traits. It was vital we didn't. Not only for avoiding my identity being picked up by my target, but also to cut any links which might lead to and put Rhodes Island in a bad situation.

  It meant that mister Grape also received a new coat paint, turning his mane black, though he didn't seem bothered by it in the slightest. Yet tense he would be, or rather... more alert was the right choice of words. Siracusa was full of cut-throat wolves of all kind. And he felt it.

  -Ever wanted to have sex with a dangerous mafiosa wolf, Cassiel? I can be one just for you tonight.

  -''Ah, I see you're up for ''negotiations''.'' I said with a pleased smirk.

  And she brushed her uncorseted, great black tail across her bare legs in a seducing manner.

  It was unwise in a way, having brought her with me. Yet she was right. She knew the place well, it's people, and the customs of this nation. We had an easier time infiltrating Volsinii thanks to her knowledge, and it sped things up. Time was of the essence. If I wanted to achieve my objective I would have to do it soon before my ''friend'' moved his estate to the New Volsinii landship.

  That, and I didn't want to prolong this mission more than I had to. Provence's pregnancy was still in its infancy. Her abdomen area still lean with no hints to her carrying our progeny. Even so I aimed at a swift conclusion in our favour, so I could return her back to the landship that was our home.

  At least I could rest better knowing that the gift that flew so strong in my veins now flew in hers as well. It was a monumental discovery when it was given to us by doctor Kal'tsit. The impossible had happened. My gift had passed on to Provence with the pregnancy, curing her completely of oripathy. As such I knew she was hardier, swifter, sharper than ever. And I could be a little more at ease for it.

  There was no doubt about it. The blood tests were repeated, and each time the results were the same. Conferring with Kal'tsit we came to the conclusion that this happened not because of simple, reckless intercourse. But because my will manifested as a command to the gift I had. It passed because I instinctively wanted to. Because I wanted to give myself all to the wolf girl I loved so deeply.

  It was indeed something that could be controlled as we found out.

  -''What do you think of the place so far?'' Provence had asked.

  -A wretched den of scum and villainy it certainly is, but not the worse I've seen.

  The place was near lawless. There were no police force, or army, or any real proper authorities of power. On paper there were. The city's civil administration coupled with the judges of their justice system carried away the will of the head of state, Signora Sicilia. But it was a broken system if ever. And one hanging always in a constantly shifting balance.

  The will of the state was enforced only by the sheer might that the fear of Signora Sicilia's retaliation might bring. The head of state apparently having high reaching power by the grace of an army of assassins and specialists at her bidding.

  No one dared cross her, or outright challenge her ''Pistole e Ordine'' system. Though I wouldn't have put it past the ambitions of the mafia families. Indeed, the only real armed forces that I've seen were the jail guards that I saw when we passed by one of their prisons. Though I doubt they would challenge anyone who would bribe them with a sufficient sum. Or who threatened their families if they didn't close an eye for an escape to happen.

  All in all a place that would make me rather choose to live in the Barrenlands as a preferable alternative. Unless one got bored and wanted to constantly dangle on a knife's edge living besides peril. Where every moment could meet you with a knife in your back. Or a hit squad, for even accidentally sneezing in your own pasta and be seen by someone too patriotic to their cuisine.

  Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author.

  I raised the scope that I detached from my rifle and zoomed in again. It was a decent view of my target's manor even if incomplete. Though mentally I had a complete image of most of the layout, having perused for a few good days all around it. Posing as middle aristocratic nobles from Victoria having come as tourists for the event of the new landship soon to come. A job we've expertly done thanks to Provence's native knowledge.

  Though it was not the only thing we would base our heist upon, as I came with my own tricks to ease our mission. A special mini computer with a program wholly designed to hack into anything I would need. The systems that monitored the infrastructure on this landship were not the most advanced.

  Indeed, most of Siracusa wasn't advanced at all. Just managing to keep three paces behind the other nations in terms of technological development. I guess it had something to do when most of the leadership were cut-throat criminals vying for complete control.

  Unfortunate for the locals, a benefit for me. As it was all too easy to hack into the landship's systems to retrieve schematics of the electric grid, the sewer system, and the maintenance corridors just underneath the city. Every possible way in and out of the manor. And all the connecting utilities present were at my disposal to analyse.

  -''Mee-boo!'' The cutting-edge four legged robot came to life.

  -''What a curious little thing Mayer's made.'' Provence noted.

  -It's a custom one that I ordered.

  And an expensive one as well besides his brethren. But well worth it's money and the storage area I had to sign off ownership to Mayer's for it. Really, thinking on it, I got off cheaper having bought Closure's hacking system out with two blood bags of my own instead!

  The canine like device that Provence was referring to was one of Mayer's autonomous robots. They were specially designed and built. And in amazing record time that made the ludicrous cost worth it in the first place. The size of a fist in comparison to his over the knee-high brethren. It was a stealth scouting model. Shaded in a blackish paint that blended in with the drab colours of the city. Which I've put in the last few days to hard work finding every possible entrance into the manor in question. While I analysed anything of interest regarding the place's utility connections.

  With all these factors combined I had a good knowledge of my target in the least amount of time. A plan was already forming in my mind.

  -So how will we do this?

  -Have some distraction in place to trigger at our notice. Sneak in, destroy that damn ball, disable the bomb, and get out.

  -''You left out the part where you tell me to knock the ball out while you go kill your target alone.'' She said smugly.

  -It is... an unknowable situation that I have to face.

  -You won't face it alone.

  -It is mine to face if it comes to it. You'll be in the background. Ready to bail my ass out if it all goes south.

  It truly was a conundrum. One that should have been simpler by following an old motto, ''If it's hostile, kill it.''. I had some knowledge of him in this new world, having dug all news reports possible from the deepest parts of the intranet. His little business empire was profitable, if bloody. He was a ruthless businessman. Seeking many shady connections to enable his wealth and influence.

  He had little connection to Kazdel except for hiring mercenaries when it was convenient. I suspect there was simply no money to be made in a failed state. There were many notable official trade agreements between him and many companies, as well as nations. Most notably Columbia, Sargon, Ursus and Siracusa. This made him welcome in many circles. But underneath that I found evidence of clues connecting him to human trafficking, illegal weapons smuggling, heavy narcotic deals, as well as ruthless artefact recoveries.

  This gave me a lot to read in, but at the same time it gave me so little. Who was the man that was once my friend now? How long was he awake? How did he turn into a sarkaz vampire? What were his aims now? And was he still himself? Did he even have the soul of a man anymore? From my suspicions on the human trafficking part I would say no.

  Moreover, facing someone as resourceful and probably ancient as him made my chances of success in a protracted life or death fight unpredictable. Not to mention that this was his terrain. He would have all the advantages. And to be sure he would have taken all of the deadliest precautions against intruders. From burglars to mafiosi alike.

  -Let's go out to one of the restaurants. I know a good place. It will refresh your thoughts.

  -''Very well.'' I acceded to my lupa's proposal.

  -''I'm sorry Grape. We need you here to guard our den please.'' Provence spoke gently as she sat down to cuddle and caress Grape's head. Placating him. And for his part he agreed easily.

  It was the better choice. For as camouflaged as he was from his normal mane colour he was still distinguishable. And so he would stay behind to guard either our hideout or vehicle. Keeping him close when we knew the action was about to drop.

  We went to one of the better regarded establishments, reserving a private booth for us to enjoy a proper Siracusan meal. The pasta was phenomenal in a way that few at Rhodes Island could have made it, bar just myself and two others.

  We indulged in savouring fine wine, and talk small things and curiosities of current Terra that intrigued both me and Provence. Subjects apart from our mission. And topics that were completely aside from anything regarding Rhodes Island, our real jobs, friends, or names.

  It was an understanding we had agreed upon since before entering Siracusa. You never knew who could be listening anywhere. As such we only spoke freely in places we were sure were safe and untapped with any possible listening devices, or thin walls. Our room at the grand hotel nearby being one of them. We had to be professional and mindful of every circumstance. It was our lives after all that we had to take care of in a place that would have been all too happy to engulf us.

  Such was the agreement that I couldn't ask her face front why she had brought one of the smaller meeboo robots. Or why she had stealthily let it loose inside the restaurant. She was obviously stalling for time I realised by the point it took for her to finish her meal. So I indulged her.

  -Care for some desert my dear lupa?

  -It's a must after the dish we've had. Have anything in mind?

  -Let's peruse the menu for something suitable, we are in no rush.

  -But of course.

  It would be nearly two hours later that we would finally leave the restaurant in question. We walked at a leisurely pace since the rain that seemed to be a constant here finally ceased for once. My eye caught the meeboo robot hiding in a corner by another alleyway. She saw it too, and we both knew we had to retrieve it.

  A task made just a tad more difficult by the amount of people walking by. We couldn't leave it there, nor could we stand too idly by for fear of attracting suspicion. The crowd in this part of the city was of a higher status, and the thugs belonging to the different mafia families a bit more civilized looking. There was a semblance of order which we had to blend in. I suddenly grabbed my lupa. Turning her over near the wall of the corner building, syncing my lips with hers.

  The Siracusan people were known for their outward way of expressing themselves, especially in matters of love. So my sudden initiative blended well with the natives. More so that I wore an indistinct but very fashionable black Victorian parade coat. The likes that a high officer would wear. This would give any thugs or inquisitive passer-by a second thought to disrupt what seemed to be a normal display of intimacy that they were all so used to. In this meantime our little miniature meeboo crawled up Provence's blind spot and into her purse.

  -Shall we retreat for today?

  -''Yes, I was having quite the same thought.'' I spoke in a proper Victorian. Again to dispel any suspicions while maintaining my persona.

  -''So, what have you dug up?'' I asked once we arrived back in our hotel room, and after having checked for any tampering.

  -''Something quite interesting'' She said as she took out the small meeboo robot.

  -I found out of a certain plot some independent gangsters have of breaking into your friend's collection and cleaning it out.

  -That's why you wanted to ''go out and eat''?

  -Yes, I knew they had a private meeting at the restaurant we went today.

  -You are impressively resourceful even in an urban setting.

  -Have you ever doubted me Cassiel?

  -No. It's just that I saw you as someone more versed in the outdoors.

  -I can make do to survive in any situation. Versatility is a vital trait to a catastrophe messenger.

  -Well, plug it in when you're ready, and we'll see what it picked up.

  I had a pause to check my own equipment before she did so. And while I passed by the window I thought I glimpsed a familiar sight far below. I went to the balcony itself and gazed sharply at the crowd. And the certainty of the person I saw became reality.

  It was Texas.