“You didn’t need to say that,” Scorpius told Iago while shifting into his human form.

The shaper sat on his bed and rolled his eyes. “It was necessary. I want them to start trusting you.”

“They won’t. I’m the monstrous leech if you’ve forgotten. The terror of their nightmares. I’d be better off not showing up again.”

“Nonsense,” Iago dismissed his words. He leaned back against the wall, eyes closed. “Alec is a kind person. Too kind for this place. I played with his emotions, raising up the guilt. He won’t tell anyone about you, nor will he let the girls do it. He’ll think he owes me that much at least.”

“Owes you?”

“For distrusting me when I helped them so much. He knows he can’t anger me or I’ll just pack up and leave. Or join the Mistress which would be even worse. No, you have nothing to worry about. Just go about your business as if nothing had happened.”

Played with emotions? Wasn’t that a bit too… manipulating? But right as the thought came, Scorpius threw the consideration away. It wasn’t hurting anyone. Iago was only doing what was necessary. It was part of their survival.

It wasn’t like Scorpius was hurting anyone. It was only people’s own preconceptions that were being challenged.

He let it go and focused on the more important problem at hand. “The Mistress…”

Iago inclined his head, accepting the change in topic. He opened his eyes and looked down at his thin hands. Once healthy skin was greyish and dripping. The muscles supporting it were gone.

“She has made her first move. Unsuccessful as it might have been, she won’t care too much. She’ll just hit somewhere I’ll be hurt more.”

“That is?”

“The survivors. I don’t know what she’ll come up with but it won’t end well for them. And I won’t be able to help them. Still, I wonder, what brought it out? I was certain my acting was flawless…” His voice lowered at the end and he fell into a thoughtful silence.

Scorpius did not need to think too hard about it. He’d heard the rumours circulating in the camp. “Shea.”

“What about her?”

“She told the Mistress about the food. That you were shaping for the survivors and not her. The camp was waiting for her retaliation for the last couple days,” he answered without hiding his disgust for the girl. Iago had saved her life and this was how she repaid him. How could there even exist such people?

“Shea…” Iago murmured to himself. “That silly girl… I never thought she’d be so wilful. Her single action toppled all my carefully planned out strategies.” He chuckled to himself, the sound lacking any humour. “That’s what I get for letting her run free. Maybe I should have really become her teacher and kept her by my side. She wouldn’t have had time to run play with the Mistress then…

“But it’s too late for that. We can do nothing but await Cyana’s second attack.” While saying that he massaged his left wrist, revealing a dark brown bandage.

Guilt clogged Scorpius’ throat but he didn’t say anything. His words would be ignored anyway.

Instead, he found a medical kit in the corner and took out a clean linen wrap. “Let me retie it,” he said and Iago pushed the sleeve back. It wasn’t easy for him to remove the bandage one handed so Scorpius quickly removed it himself.

He took in a sharp breath when he saw the two deep marks with crusted blood around them. Clenching his teeth, he brought water and over a small bowl cleaned the blood off. The skin was translucent underneath, with veins popping out.

Without wasting a second, he retied the bandage with a clean linen to hide the gruesome sight. Iago let the sleeve drop once he moved away, and there was no longer any sign of the injury.

But Scorpius knew. He knew it all too well. It was his teeth marks there. Before the battle Iago suggested he should take a drink to strengthen himself. For some reason, Iago’s blood could be ingested instantly, and it gave Scorpius an unequalled burst of power for the next couple of hours.

It would decrease in time but not wholly. He was growing stronger with each feeding. Right as his friend was growing weaker. The sudden parallel staggered Scorpius. He swung back to stare at Iago as horror gripped his heart.

That couldn’t be… No… No way… It was just a little blood… People made plenty of it. He didn’t take more than necessary, and it shouldn’t have weakened Iago at all! The shaper always claimed his weakness came from too much shaping, but did it?

The thought dizzied Scorpius and he leaned against the chair. No way. It wasn’t possible. But there was something. The nosferatu they killed last night… He said something in that regard… No, not said but alleged to it. To the fact that he should have known Scorpius had a hidden card up his sleeve.

“What is it?” Iago asked with puzzlement. He pushed himself off the bed and came to check up on Scorpius. “You don’t look well.”

Scorpius slid down to sit on the chair and looked up at Iago with tortured eyes. “Did you know? Did you know before you agreed to it?”

It didn’t take long for Iago to understand the meaning of his words. Shrugging, he stepped away. “I’ve read it once in an ancient book but did not pay much heed to it. As you’ve noticed yourself, most what’s written about your kind is pure nonsense.”

“What about later? You must have known it was right! That I was killing you! Stealing your life energy away!”

“You’re being too emotional again. Do you think I would have done it if I saw nothing in it for me?”

That caught Scorpius’ attention. Iago was a good person but he was a planner too. Or so he claimed. All his actions were for the seemingly impossible goal of defeating the Mistress. He did not share those plans but Scorpius had glimpsed the drawings. Iago spent most of his days the last month, or so, sitting and drawing, writing.

“It was surprising to note that you did take away my shaping, little by little, but the amount wasn’t note worthy. And your improvements were much more obvious. I deemed it better to strengthen you than to keep my own power. It was minuscule whether I had an ounce more or less.”

“But your change, you’re a shadow of yourself!”

Iago smiled at him, a small and tired smile. “It’s really just the shaping. I was never a great talent. Shaping once a week would be inadvisable to me, yet I do it every day here. My body can’t keep up with the strain. It uses up more resources than it makes. Your taking a bit of my shaping changes nothing. If we’re too weak and die against the Mistress, it won’t matter whether I would have lived a week longer or not.”

The speech was probably meant to reassure Scorpius but now he felt even more depressed. Iago didn’t expect to survive facing the Mistress. Whatever the outcome, he saw himself dead at the end. The only question there was whether he’d take her with him.

It wasn’t right. How could taking her life be worthy of Iago dying? She was just a prideful noble with too much power. They could run away and never meet her again. Find other people and live peacefully until the natural end of their lives.

It was natural that Scorpius would live longer, he was a nosferatu, but it didn’t sit well wit him that his friend might not even have a year left. He was just a young man by human standards too! It wasn’t worth it to sacrifice such a life for the sake of killing a spoiled rich girl.

Was it?

He never heard the full answer. “What did she do? Why do you want her death so badly?”

Iago refocused on him, crossing his arms. His features instantly shifted into a frown as he thought of her. “She destroyed my life. There wasn’t a day when I wasn’t suffering in her hands. And she was father’s favourite. She could do whatever she wanted, without any reprisal. Even instigate others to torture me.”

He moved away, his voice growing harsher and harsher as he spoke. “She never did anything with her life. Among the Winteridge children, she was the strongest and the most useless one. Where others used their talents to achieve the betterment of their caste or those below them, she only basked in pleasures. All while mocking everyone beneath her. She was father’s perfect daughter.

“If she lives, the world won’t change a bit.” He stopped near the fireplace, then turned back, a faraway look in his eyes. “Power breeds fear. People will bow to her and she’ll establish the old rules. Recreate every abuse that was suffered by those born without power. I won’t let that happen. Elecar destroyed the world to clean it from people like her.

“The least I can do is sacrifice myself in an attempt to make his work have meaning. Otherwise… “ He met Scorpius’ gaze with unspeakable sorrow hiding in his eyes. “Otherwise the whole world would have died for nothing. It would be just too tragic.”

“You mean Elecar brought the Scourge to kill his own family?” Scorpius asked incredulously. He tried to make sense of it. Find some reason but could not. How could you destroy the world in your hatred for your family? What did the world have to do with your inner power struggles?

It took a moment for Iago to answer with a stiff nod. “Them, and all the shapers in the world. He wished to destroy the problem at its heart. If there were no shapers, there would no longer be any abuse of such power. The weak would have a chance to fight back.”

Scorpius was angry. Fight back? What fighting back could the dead do? There was no point to saving the people if none of them were alive to enjoy it! Tough life was better than none! That wasn’t a hard deduction to make!

But looking at Iago’s forlorn expression, he did not dare to say it. The shaper often voiced his hatred for Elecar and did his best to ensure others looked at it that way too. Yet, now it seemed he was actually working to achieve Elecar’s dream. Was that really hatred what he felt? Or maybe disappointment?

The emotion Scorpius was struggling with at the moment. He’d idealised Iago as the perfect human but now saw him as just another flawed person. He was stronger and kinder, but also more mad. He thought that killing one woman was going to change the world. Make it a better place.

Even Scorpius wasn’t that naive. And he’d never been part of the society. Only watching it from afar.

How could such a smart person be so blind? Could his anger be blocking his sight even now, after all that had happened? That was the only plausible explanation Scorpius could come up with. Yet, it was so childish. You hurt me so I hurt you, even if that will result in something even worse for me. Lashing back without a thought or consideration.

All while making complicated plans and spending half a year preparing them. It really was nonsensical. But maybe it was something that had to be done. He did not know what Iago had suffered under her hands, after all. Maybe it was necessary for him to make her suffer to move on.

Thinking that, he swore in his heart to see him through it. He wanted to meet the real Iago, not the shell driven mad with hatred that this creature before him was. At first, before meeting her, Scorpius had seen the real person. But the glimpses of him were becoming rarer and rarer the more time passed by.

He wanted to know if there would be anything left once the Mistress was defeated.

***

“Why can’t I tell it to everyone? They need to know!”

“It’s not our secret to reveal,” Alec repeated for the hundredth time. He was sick of Denni arguing with him but his words just weren’t getting through.

She glared at him, hands on hips. “It’s too important! He has no right to hide something like this!”

Alec decided to change his words. Maybe that would help. “Have you ever seen him hurt anyone?”

“Well no but -”

“What about him as a person? Have you ever felt that he’s less than a normal person? A base being?”

“No but-”

“Orion, Malek’s cousin. You’ve seen him with Scorpius. The child is usually quiet and not overly friendly but he came out of his way to meet him. Does that tell you nothing? Do you really think someone who befriends children like that is a monster?”

The girl hesitated at that. It was easy to refute someone saying she owed someone, but much harder to argue with obvious points. He didn’t lie when saying that Scorpius haven’t done anything to deserve their anger. Anything besides revealing that he was something else than just a normal human.

“Leave it,” Lyra said, sprawled on the table. They were sitting inside the canteen, clear that no one would overhear them here. And it was warmer within the building’s walls.

“You agree with him? You think we should just let it be?” Denni shouted out, indignantly. She couldn’t believe her best friend was not on her side. It hadn’t happened before.

Alec watched Lyra raise her head a fraction from her hands. “Do you really want to get on his bad side? He killed the old leech that we feared for months.” Her head dropped back on her hands and her next words were extremely muffled. “I don’t’ want to see anyone else die.”

That silenced Denni. She gaped for a time, then shook her head. “No way! He wouldn’t do that!”

“But don’t you want to reveal his secret because you think him capable of it?” Alec asked, pouncing on her hesitation.

“No, I- Fine! Be that way!” She glared at him. “I won’t tell anyone but if something happens…”

“I know,” Alec said with a sigh. He was more than aware of the danger of keeping the knowledge to themselves. But at the same time, what choice did they have? Again. It was either tell and become Iago’s enemies, or hide it and hope nothing happens.

Morning sun filtered through the window and Alec heard a noise outside. Coming out, he saw Urri opening the storage room. She was surprised to see him here but smiled brightly none the less.

Not long after, Iago appeared to shape the food and disappeared just as quickly. But Scorpius remained. He sat down near the front tables, waiting for the cooking to be done. It was his habit to pick up the first plates and bring them to the tower.

Now, however, his presence was a menacing one. He didn’t do anything auspicious yet sweat collected on Alec’s back. The man must be watching them. Listening to hear their words. It was good they finished the conversation before he came.

The silence remained for a good half an hour before others started coming and filled the room with noise. Unknowingly, they hid Alec from Scorpius’ sight and he breathed a sigh of relief.

Soon Urri came out with food and presented two plates to Scorpius. He picked them up with a thanks, and left.

As he was moving through the tables, he paused near Alec. In a whisper he said, “You should tell them.” Then he was gone.

For a moment, Alec stared uncomprehending. Tell the truth? Didn’t they just decide not to reveal it?

“Show them the fangs and that’s it,” Lyra murmured. Without waiting to pick up her meal, she stood up and left. Denni watched her for a second, then ran after.

Alec was left sitting alone with two elongated fangs in his right hand. He opened the palm, staring at them. There was nothing special to see. Whitish grey in colour, well-formed. It could be any human’s teeth if not for their length.

Someone brought him a plate of food and he ate it absent mindedly. After finishing he couldn’t tell what it was he’d eaten.

Once others were also done, he stood up and called for attention. Dozens of eyes focused on him but for some reason he couldn’t be bothered. In a dispassionate voice he told them that at night the leech was killed by Iago and Scorpius. To prove it, he raised the two fangs. “You no longer need to fear. The terror is gone!”

Yet, even as he was finishing his speech, the door’s of the canteen were kicked open. Three servants from the Mistress’ house pushed through with the head servant at the forefront. He pushed towards Alec and puffed up his chest before speaking, “You are Alec, the self-proclaimed leader of the armed forces here?”

He nodded warily. This did not bode well. What did the Mistress want now?

“Then you’re hereby sentenced to a public execution! You and your whole militia are to be wiped out for going against the honoured Lady Winteridge’s orders!

“Yesterday evening she sent her trusted servant to slay the disgrace known as Iago. For interfering in this task, and killing the servant, you will face the judgement instead. The ceremony will take place before the Mistress’ mansion tonight. For each person missing, two people from the camp will be taken at random. Act at your own accordance.”

The head servant finished with a savage glint in his eyes, smiling smugly. His lips curled even higher as he watched Alec’s face turn paler and paler. “Right, I’ll be waiting for you by the mansion,” he said and turned with a flourish.

At first the crowd was silent, shocked at the news. All the teenagers killed… For what? What did they do? Then they recalled Alec’s announcement and the hall erupted with noise. People shouted one over another: afraid, disbelieving, furious.

But Alec heard none of them. Without notice he staggered out of the throng and left the hall. Outside, he started walking, not caring where.

They were all going to be killed. For the sake of slaying the leech.

Heroes executed for slaying the evil dragon.

He wanted to scream out at the unfairness of it. The injustice.

But who would be listening?