Date: Unspecified Ti: Unspecified Location: Myriad Realms, Yellow Plains, Freedom Fighter's headquarters. "You've grown strong, I'll give you that," Sansa admitted, tilting her head slightly. "But don't mistake my patience for helplessness." Her lips curled into a smirk as her eyes darkened. "The only reason I didn't kill you the mont I beca a demigod is because Baylor agreed to give our marriage another shot—on the condition that I leave you alone."
After ascending to the card demigod realm, the first thing Sansa did was check on her husband—silently, unseen—using the new abilities granted by her origin card, Haunting mories. The card allowed the mory of her in a person's mind, to co to life as a phantom and haunt them, letting her spy without their knowledge. But that wasn't all. If she wanted, she could weaponize the mory itself, turning it into a deadly force as strong as the victim's perception of her. Allowing her mories to assassinate those who rember or even know her. Watching Baylor work tirelessly, pushing himself past his limits to save the Freedom Fighters pained her, yes, but it also made her realize just how much the organization ant to him. That was when she decided—if the Freedom Fighters ant everything to Baylor, she would make them hers. And once they were under her control, he would have no choice but to return to her side.
But before she could fully execute her plan to make the freedom fighters hers, Baylor caught her in the act. She had no choice—she had his mories of her kidnap him.
Being taken captive without even a chance to resist sent a wave of panic through Baylor—not for himself, but for Wyatt. Thankfully, Wyatt was beyond the influence of the Card World's sphere, aning Sansa couldn't reach him. Not yet. That gave Baylor just enough ti to negotiate. He knew exactly what Sansa wanted most in the world, and this ti, he made sure she wouldn't have the chance to pull strings behind his back—as she had with Ellen and her husband.
Though it infuriated Sansa that Baylor was only willing to give their marriage another shot for Ellen's orphan's sake, she wasn't about to waste this once-in-a-lifeti opportunity. Still, she wasn't going to let him half-ass it like last ti. No, this ti, he would truly commit—she had made sure of it. She had to be the center of his world, just as he was hers. That was why Baylor never reached out to the Freedom Fighters about his investigation—because he knew better.
Even with Baylor back by her side, Sansa continued taking over the Freedom Fighters. She wanted to gift the organization to him, a symbol of their fresh start. This ti, she would support him with everything she had, ensuring he had no reason to leave. But that was only if he put her first—if she was his priority, the way he was hers.
Even with Baylor back by her side, Sansa continued taking over the Freedom Fighters. She wanted to gift the organization to him, a symbol of their fresh start. This ti, she would support him with everything she had, ensuring he had no reason to leave. But that was only if he put her first—if she was his priority, the way he was hers.
Otherwise?
All hell would break loose. Just like the last ti, she will hurt everyone that Baylor prioritized over her. When Matron claid that Baylor had already joined her side, the other departntal heads were stunned. They couldn't believe it—Baylor had dedicated his life to their cause. But then, rembering his love for Ellen, they realized Matron wasn't lying. A heavy silence settled over the room as they chose to remain re spectators, watching the tense exchange between the new leader Henricks had forced upon them and Matron.
Wyatt was taken aback. So this was why Matron's mory never haunted him—why she hadn't tried to assassinate him in his sleep whenever he was in the Card World after she beca a demigod. He had Baylor to thank for that. If not for Baylor's ddling he could have dealt with Matron sooner.
Shaking his head, Wyatt turned to Sansa. "How did you beco a demigod? Last I checked, you were nowhere near condensing your divinity." His eyes narrowed as a thought struck him. "Was it Gideon Grim?"
He knew only Gideon had the knowledge and resources to reach out to the Three Mischiefs and help them break through to the demigod realm ahead of ti.
At the ntion of Gideon Grim, Sansa's expression finally darkened. But she quickly regained her composure, tilting her chin up slightly as she replied, "Looks like they weren't wrong to call you one of the most brilliant minds of this era." She let out a slow breath. "Yes, it was him. At first, he wanted to kill you in exchange for his help, and since I wanted the sa, I agreed." Her lips curled into a smirk. "Don't worry, though—I promised Baylor I wouldn't kill you or be the reason you died." She leaned in slightly. "As for Gideon… he never specified when I had to kill you. Could be now… could be a thousand years from now."
Wyatt exhaled sharply. So that's why Gideon Grim had stopped planting his seed in card apprentices across the five regions. Wyatt now realized that Gideon Grim had managed to plant his seed in one of the Southern Region's officials—soone who knew about Clown Mask and her visions of the future. That revelation forced him to reconsider his plans for helping the Seven Princes of Hell take over the Card World.
10:56
"Did he also help the Supre Leader and the Emissary of Light?" Wyatt asked, though he already knew Gideon had reached out to the Supre Leader—they were clearly working together. But the Emissary of Light? That was still a mystery.
Sansa smirked, crossing her arms as she leaned back slightly. "Hold on, buddy. I answered your question—now it's your turn to do a solid."
Wyatt sighed, already having guessed the reason why she was suddenly being so cooperative. She wanted sothing from him. Narrowing his eyes, he leaned back, arms crossed. "What do you want?" His tone was prepared—he knew a negotiation when he saw one.
He did not want to entertain her but he had no choice. He needed information on the Emissary of Light. He needed to know if he also had beco a demigod and joined hands with Gideon Grim. No news ever slipped out of the Empire about him. His followers considered it blasphemy to even discuss him, believing their duty was to obey without question or expectation.
Sansa's lips curled into a pleased smile. "The Freedom Fighters. I plan to gift it to Baylor during our honeymoon," she revealed, her voice practically dripping with delight. For so reason, talking about this with Ellen's orphan made her feel as if she were speaking to Ellen herself.
Wyatt scoffed, shaking his head before she'd even finished. "Not happening." His rejection was instant, absolute. She was asking too much for basically nothing. Wyatt was the one who took advantage in a negotiation—not the other way around.
"That's it. This is where I draw the line." Jax slamd his fist onto the stone table, his frustration boiling over. "I know we're in a tough spot, but you guys are basically kicking us while we're down. Wyatt, you're supposed to be our leader—I expected at least a little respect for our cause." He shot a glare at Wyatt and Sansa, disgusted by the way they so casually discussed the future of the Freedom Fighters right in front of them, as if their struggles ant nothing.
Wyatt barely spared him a glance. "Sit your ass down." His voice was sharp, laced with power.
Jax's body jerked against his will as the celestial blood rule domain took hold, forcing him back into his seat. His breath hitched. Panic flickered in his eyes as he struggled—but it was useless. His horror mirrored in the faces of the other demigods, who also found themselves frozen, staring at Wyatt in stunned silence.
Just then, Luna let out a dry laugh and leaned back. "See? Told you. I'm not weak—he's just too strong."
Ignoring Luna's interruption, Sansa began, "Don't be so quick to reject . At least hear out first, will you?"
Wyatt exhaled through his nose, already knowing this conversation would go nowhere. "Sure, go ahead," he said dismissively, leaning back in his chair. He wasn't going to give her what she wanted, which ant she wouldn't give him any useful information. Still, if he played along, he could at least stall for ti—Henricks needed every second to get the Freedom Fighters safely to Lil Red Storm Realm.
Sansa studied him for a mont, then suddenly smiled. "You have no idea how much you resemble your mother." She tilted her head, amusent flickering in her eyes. "It's tis like this I wish I'd just used my ability on her and kept her by my side instead of killing her. Don't get wrong, I don't regret it—but I can't help feeling nostalgic."
Wyatt's jaw clenched. His expression remained cold, but there was a dangerous edge in his voice as he cut through her little ga. "Sansa, nothing you say or do will make hand over the Freedom Fighters. So let us just get this over with."
She was trying to get a rise out of him, but it wasn't going to work. Whatever she thought she saw in him, whatever connection she was trying to fabricate—it didn't exist. He wasn't Ellen's son. He was a stranger to her.
User Comments
0 comments from readers