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Now, the jars were nearly empty.
Only a few remained. The cold, old ones. The ones that felt like stale history instead of living warmth.
Sekht’s gaze drifted to the small table where the remaining blood jars sat. Their contents were darker now. Thicker. Still useful, but the sll was not the sa. It was like comparing fresh bread to dry crumbs.
His tongue pressed lightly against his teeth.
His hunger answered.
Bat Bat’s eyes suddenly opened.
She sat up in bat form, staring at him like she had been waiting for this mont.
"You hungry," Bat Bat said.
Sekht did not respond imdiately.
Bat Bat’s tone sharpened, like a tiny judge.
"You hungry hungry," Bat Bat repeated, nodding as if confirming evidence.
Sekht turned slowly.
"How do you know," he asked.
Bat Bat blinked, then looked offended.
"Bat nose," she said, as if Sekht had asked a stupid question.
Sekht stared at her.
Bat Bat puffed up a little, wings flaring slightly.
"Master sll like... like wolf when wolf see at," Bat Bat added.
Sekht narrowed his eyes.
"That is not a complint," he said.
Bat Bat thought about it for a second.
Then she nodded firmly.
"Yes," she said. "Not complint."
Sekht exhaled through his nose, trying to keep his patience intact.
He walked to the table and picked up one of the remaining jars, turning it slightly so the lamplight hit the glass. The blood inside was thick and dark, but the scent was muted. Old. Cold.
His throat responded with only mild interest.
Not enough.
He set it down again.
He needed warm blood.
He needed living blood.
He needed to hunt.
He did not like the thought.
He had accepted what he was becoming, but acceptance did not erase discomfort. In purgatory, blood had been survival. Here, in Slik, blood was cri if done openly. It was danger if done carelessly. It was death if it beca known.
He could not feed in his own district.
He could not feed near Dawn House.
He could not feed where Lily might hear whispers.
He could not feed where Elena might notice missing people.
He needed a place where violence did not bring city guards.
He needed the underground.
Sekht’s eyes darkened slightly.
"The underground market," he murmured.
Bat Bat’s ears rose.
"Market," she repeated.
Sekht looked down.
"You are coming with ," he said, already knowing the argunt would begin if he did not say it first.
Bat Bat froze, then slowly smiled like a child being handed candy.
"Yes," she said quickly.
Sekht reached toward his cloak.
"But Auri stays," he added.
Bat Bat’s smile vanished.
"Why Auri stay," Bat Bat demanded.
Sekht slid his arms into his coat slowly, not reacting emotionally.
"Auri is a secret," he said. "And the underground is not a place to reveal secrets."
Bat Bat stared at him suspiciously.
"You bring Bat Bat, but no bring Auri," she said slowly. "Master like Bat Bat more."
Sekht’s expression remained flat.
"That is not the reason," he said.
Bat Bat narrowed her eyes.
"Master lie," she accused.
Sekht pinched the bridge of his nose.
Bat Bat watched him like she had won.
"You want to explain," Sekht said, voice asured, "why I cannot take Auri?"
Bat Bat nodded violently.
"Yes," she said.
Sekht spoke slowly.
"If Auri cos out, soone might see her wings. Soone might recognize her race. Soone might connect her to . Then soone might ask why a rchant heir has a summoned harpy. Then soone might report it. Then soone might kill her. Or try to steal her. Or use her to threaten ."
Bat Bat listened with wide eyes.
Sekht finished calmly.
"So Auri stays."
Bat Bat’s face twisted.
"Bat Bat also can be stolen," she protested.
Sekht looked at her.
"Yes," he said. "That is why you are coming with . So I can see you."
Bat Bat blinked.
Her anger paused.
Then she nodded as if that logic was acceptable, even if she hated it.
"Okay," she said reluctantly. "Bat Bat co. Bat Bat stay close."
Sekht reached out and tapped Bat Bat lightly on the head.
"Do not transform," he warned. "Stay in bat form. And do not pee."
Bat Bat’s ears drooped.
"No pee," she muttered, like she was being asked to live without air.
Sekht opened the door.
Click.
The corridor outside was quiet. Dawn House servants were asleep or resting. Elena had arranged it that way. Only two guards stood at the hallway corner, both bowing silently when Sekht passed.
Sekht walked like a shadow, leaving the mansion without ceremony.
The gates opened quietly for him.
Creak...
Slik’s night air struck him like a different world.
It was cooler. It slled of smoke and oil. It slled of cooked at and cheap liquor. It slled of sweat. It slled of secrets.
Bat Bat perched on his shoulder in bat form, claws gripping his coat gently.
"Where we go," Bat Bat whispered.
Sekht answered quietly.
"Down," he said.
They moved through the streets with controlled steps.
Tap... tap... tap...
No rushing.
No running.
Only careful movent.
Slik at night was still crowded, but the crowd was different. More beastkin. More cloaked figures. More eyes that watched without blinking. More smiles that did not reach mouths.
Sekht kept his face calm. He was not here to show power. He was here to feed. He was here to hunt. He was here to remain invisible.
Sekht did not take the long route this ti.
He moved through the quieter side streets like soone who already knew where the shadows pooled, where the lantern light did not reach properly, and which alleys had too many footprints for comfort. The city above still had rules. The city above still had faces. But the closer he got to the underground market path, the more the air changed.
Less perfu.
Less food.
More tal.
More sweat.
More old fear hiding under fresh arrogance.
The warehouse district was quieter at night, but not empty.
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