The air inside the Haven had reached a breaking point that felt like a physical weight pressing against the walls. Koma had not moved from his position but his intent was a visible distortion in the air around him. Kaola was trapped in the center of that pressure her breath shallow as she waited for the strike that would end her existence. The silence was absolute and suffocating.

  Lokee and Hykee were the first to appear through the threshold of the open doors. Hykee was leaning heavily on his sister his head lolling to the side from the force of the strike that had rendered him unconscious moments before. Lokee was breathing hard her expression a mixture of exhaustion and grim determination as she dragged her brother into the center of the hall. She did not look at Koma or Kaola right away. Her focus was entirely on getting Hykee to a place where he could recover. The presence of the two of them immediately shattered the isolation of the room drawing Koma gaze away from his sister for the first time since Kova had departed.

  Koma did not look pleased by the interruption. He watched them with a detached coldness his eyes tracking the way Hykee feet dragged across the stone floor. He had expected results and instead he was being presented with failure. The air in the room grew even colder as Koma straightened his posture.

  A moment later the air distorted again and Kova stepped into the room followed closely by Juno and Kana. Kova was as calm and composed as ever his expression a mask of absolute neutrality. He looked at the scene before him the scattered members of his family and his sister who was still trembling in her chair. Kova had fully intended to bring the others to the roundtable room. Despite the chaos at the settlement his objective remained the same and he moved with the steady purpose of a man who was already looking several moves ahead. He led them toward the center of the chamber his presence acting as a buffer between the conflicting forces gathered there.

  Koma broke the silence. "Everyone is here." he stated his eyes drifting slowly over to where Kana stood shrinking behind the others. "Even the family failure."

  Kana flinched as if she had been struck physically her face flushing with a mix of shame and terror. She didn't dare to look him in the eye. Koma didn't linger on her for long before his gaze snapped back to the brother standing in the center of the room.

  "Only one missing is Koa." Koma said his tone shifting into something more demanding. "And why is that Kova?"

  Before Kova could answer the question Lokee let out a sharp frustrated exhale. She didn't say a word to either of them. She simply turned her back on the brewing confrontation and walked off toward the inner chambers dragging the unconscious Hykee with her. Her footsteps were the only sound in the hall until she disappeared around the corner leaving the rest of them to deal with Koma's growing impatience.

  Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

  Koma glanced back at Kaola who was still gripped by a visible tremor. He let out a low hiss of annoyance. "Ease up." Koma told her his voice devoid of any warmth. "If I was going to kill you I would have been done it already. You are wasting your energy on fear when you should be thinking of a way to be useful."

  Koma then turned his full attention back to Kova. "You love interfering with me brother." Koma stated his voice like the sound of dry leaves skittering across a grave. "I was just beginning to have a meaningful conversation with our sister about her future. Or rather her lack of one."

  "The conversation can wait." Kova replied. He did not flinch or look away from Koma hollow stare. "Be smart for once and let the bloodlust rest."

  Juno stayed behind Kova her eyes wide as she took in the sight of Koma. She had no tales or legends to rely on only a single memory of him that had burned itself into her mind. It was a memory that was far from pleasant and the mere sight of him brought the cold weight of that moment rushing back to the surface. To her he did not look like a person at all. He looked like a hole in the world where a soul should be a void that threatened to pull everything into its darkness. The sheer weight of his existence made it hard for her to breathe. Kana gripped her hands together to keep them from shaking while Juno stood as still as she could hoping that if she didn't move the monster at the pillar wouldn't notice her presence.

  Kova turned his gaze toward the others his voice cutting through the heavy atmosphere with the weight of a decree. "We need to talk alone." he commanded his eyes moving from Kaola to Kana. "Everyone get out."

  Kaola did not hesitate this time. She stood up quickly and began to retreat toward the exit following closely behind Kana. As the sisters began to leave together Kova stepped toward Juno who was hesitating near the threshold. "Juno. I am sending you back. You have someone waiting for you."

  Juno heart sank at the words. She had fought to be here and the thought of being discarded now was more painful than any physical wound. "Why are you sending me back Master? Please don't I haven't proved myself yet." she said her voice trembling with emotion.

  Kova reached out and touched her shoulder. At his contact the air around her began to ripple and fold inward like ink spreading in water. The dark familiar pull of his Void surged forward as she began to teleport swallowed whole in a flicker of displaced space. In an instant she was gone sent back to the place he had designated. His focus was already shifting back to Koma as the room cleared of all but the two of them. The doors began to groan shut and the last thing echoing in the chamber was Kova voice. "I have the scrolls and none of them is ready for what may be coming."