Double-Blind: A Modern LITRPG

Chapter 176

My hand twitched. Itd be so easy to end Aaron here. My Strength wasnt particularly high, but it was still a significant upgrade from a normal person. Itd take seconds to dig my fingers into his throat and squeeze

Id love to get in touch with her. Have a little chat about what she remembers.

crossed the threshold of stress. I stepped back from myself, mentally. Looked back towards the house. Daphne had moved from the kitchen table to the sitting room. She was lounging on a chaise, pretending not to be looking our way. Joyce was tidying up dishes.

Moving on Aaron hereeven if my chances of success were goodwas worse than idiotic.

It was impulsive.

And no matter how good it would feel in the moment, it wasnt worth the fallout.

Aaron sighed. Alright. Well do it your way. He angled away from me and unfastened the clasp of his Rolex, pressing his thumb against a black button hidden within the clasp.

My ears popped from a sudden shift in pressure. A thin, membrane like bubble shimmered around us.

Were shielded. Aaron explained.

Where the hell do you keep getting items that look futuristic? I had to ask.

Aaron gave me a smug grin. Havent met a technomancer yet, I take it.

No.

Theyre infuriating. But incredibly useful. Not even the gods themselves could hear us if they were so inclined. Say what you need to say.

I looked Aaron dead in the face. Cameron Reed.

Aaron blinked, just a fraction too late. Who?

I let out a slow hiss. Damn. And from what I hear, he thinks so highly of you. Anyway, his number is up.

If youve come here to threaten the life of someone who may or may not work for me, I think the result may not be to your liking. Aaron didnt bother hiding the threat in his voice.

On the contrary. Im here to ask how youd like us to proceed.

Us? Aaron asked.

Like clockwork, Azure hopped the fence. He was wearing my damaged Eldritch armor and carried the stench of death with him.

Cant say I knew what to expect, but this is something else. Aaron murmured. His body language was still strong, confident. No amount of posturing could hide the sudden paleness in his face.

Got a vermin infestation on your hands. Azure said. I didnt like what he was doing to my voice. It sounded too gravelly, too pointlessly obfuscated.

What kind of vermin? Aaron asked.

Homegrown. Gray hair. Big smile. Feels like hed kill you at the slightest provocation. Unnaturally attached to his car?

Sunny. Aaron said. He sounded less angry, more disappointed.

Thats the one. I confirmed.

He said they looked everywhere and couldnt find you. Aaron interrogated Azure directly.

Technically true. I found him. Azure reached in his inventory and pulled out the dossier, handing it to Aaron Which was when he gave me a target.

Aaron leafed through the file and put a hand to his mouth. Then slowly, his face hardened. Christ. Its hard to believe hed act so directly.

Well, I shrugged. No point in denying it. If it wasnt Myrddin, hed have pawned this off to someone else. The question is, where do we take it from here?

Aaron opened his mouth, then closed it. He pointed a finger at me. Dont do that shit to me. I taught you that.

What shit?

The act like youre already a part of a team you want to join shit. Aaron frowned. Which implies something I hadnt fully considered.

Do you want my help or not?

Why would you even- Aaron stopped himself. His expression grew firm. No. Not until I understand this, he drew an invisible line with his fingertip from Azure to me, and stuck the finger in my chest. And this.

The merchants guild found some of Myrddins actions during the transposition unpalatable.

Didnt even bother to hear me out. Azure groused.

I shrugged. Personally, I dont really care. It takes a lot more for me to throw away someone so useful.

Aarons brows knit together. So the chaos the other night...

Feds have been up my ass. I rolled my eyes.

They thought we were the same person. Nearly crucified Matt for it. Azure chuckled. I shot him a look. That was sharing far more information than necessary.

We got a little creative. I finished.

Then the rumor of Myrddin being there was what? A dogwhistle?

I smiled. As much as I hated him, it was always nice how quick Aaron was on the uptake. Something like that. Figured youd be one of the few to realize things werent adding up, making the transition to this moment as smooth as possible.

None of this explains why youd be remotely interested in helping me. Aaron said.

I made a vague circle with my hand. The three of us have something in common. Theres only one thing we really care about.

Power. Azure said.

And with said power, winning this stupid game. I said. As much as I hate you, Aaron? Youre the one person Id wager most likely to make it out of this unscathed. And whatever plan you have to do that? I want in.

Aaron crossed his arms and appraised me. Youre different. Not as angry as you used to be.

Just better at hiding it.

So what. Aaron turned and faced Azure. Youd enter my organization as his agent?

Im no ones lackey. Azure bristled.

Myrddin owes me a few favors, but hes his own person. I confirmed. He needs a guild and hes obviously capable. You need to clean house, and have a necromancer whose research will benefit significantly from the cores he provides. Whats the downside?

And in the process, youll have done me a favor, handed me a special class, and ingratiated yourself as an alley. Aaron nodded slowly. Not bad. And Im not saying anything you dont already know. But the fact that the necromancer in question is Kinsleys father isnt a problem?

I snorted. Please. Im sure youve recognized the similarities between the site and a certain project you worked on a long time ago?

It looked like her handiwork, but it was impossible to be certain. Aaron hedged.

I raised an eyebrow. Well, she didnt want to do it. Not until I twisted her arm. Latent trauma and blah blah blah. If Im willing to do that to my own mother, you really think I give a shit about some kid I met less than a month ago?

Aaron glanced over to Azure.

Azure shrugged. Kinsley cut me loose on a hair-trigger. Fuck her and her people.

And the losses you suffered? Aaron asked, scrutinizing me closely.

I kept my voice casual. The words tasted like bile. Like I told Sunny. Jinny didnt matter, I barely knew her for two days, and what happened was mostly her fault. Saes alive. And Nick, so long as hes alive and not being tortured

Hes not. Aaron confirmed quietly. All things considered, hes being treated very well.

Then hes finally out of my hair. I finished. And yes, the timing sucked, and I really could have used his help during the transposition, but I survived.

Okay. Aaron said. He smiled. Lets do business.

On one condition. I leveled a stare at him, and for the first time let my anger shine through. No matter how this ends, Sunny goes down. End of story.

Were on the same wavelength. Aaron waved dismissively. Though Im curious why you are.

You dont get to make the kind of threats he made and walk away. I remembered in a wave of anger how hed recited my personal information back to me, then talked in detail about what hed do if I didnt keep my mouth shut. He said hed make my mother bite the curb.

Aaron closed his eyes.

And that hed stomp her skull in, while my sister watched.

Jesus. Aaron hissed.

Guessing he left that out of the report.

Good fucking guess. Aaron looked genuinely uncomfortable. I had no idea if Sunnys threats had actually disturbed him or if he was playing the reaction up for the sake of building rapport. He was just that good. Dont get me wrong, if you need someone to send a message, Sunnys your guy. I knew that. But there has to be lines. Obviously its fine with me.

What do you want us to do with Cameron? Azure asked.

It might be possible to stage something. Whisk him away to a safehouse, if youve got something along those lines. I suggested.

No. Aaron squinted. Sunny already knows thats something Myrddin might pull, because of the necromancer. Hell be more alert to the possibility. He grimaced at Azure. And hell probably expect you to bring a trophy.

He never mentioned it. I interjected, not really wanting things to head in that direction.

Sunny doesnt always say exactly what he wants. Its been a reoccurring problem. Aaron pulled both hands down his face, giving us a detailed view of the redness beneath the whites of his eyes.

I have something of a sense for people. And Cameron seems loyal to a fault. Azure said.

It took me a moment to realize why. Azure had enough insight into my mind that he probably knew that killing someoneeven if it was someone with the enemyat the behest of a deranged asshole didnt sit well with me.

That, or he was talking to the tape.

Aaron leaned back against the tall fence, letting his head bang against it lightly. Mr. Reed is a good man. Professional, despite his neuroticism. Hes been an associate of mine long before the dome.

But? I prompted.

Aaron looked at the ground, sadly. Hes not steadfast. In what were trying to do. Hes with us because he owes me and trusts me, but hes not committed to the cause. Its only a matter of time before he breaks.

You realize we arent true believers, either. Partially on the basis of having no idea what youre actually doing. I pointed out.

In truth, Im not worried about you, son. Aaron said. Once you see what Im buildingthe endgameyoull pick the right side. Its undeniable.

It was alarming. Aaron knew the score, knew what we were. What I was. At most, we were friends of convenience, poised to eat each other at any given moment. If I were him, I would have kept me away from whatever secret I was guarding for as long as humanly possible.

The fact that he was still so confident in my longterm support made me uneasy. Aaron was a monster, but he was a patient one. What if he actually had something worthwhile?

Youre advising me to kill him. Azure asked, flatly. Your own man.

Aaron mulled over the words carefully. What Im advising, is for you to follow the directive you were given. Theres no telling where Sunny is, and whether he or one of his many followers is watching Mr. Reeds domicile from a distance. Its the safest course.

The fact that Aarons group was dealing with internal strife, in the grand scheme of things, wasnt particularly surprising. He talked a good game. Had a natural talent for making you think he was above it all, a man set apart. Elevated. But once the polish faded and he was in the shit? He was nothing more than another rat among thousands.

Azure stepped into Aarons space. I almost directed him to back offbut decided at the last minute to let my summon handle it. Other than a few missteps, Azure had handled this more or less perfectly. I know what Im about to say is pointless. That no matter what I say here, people like you dont really get it in their head until their wings are clipped. But sometimes I cant help myself.

I watched as Aaron tensed, ready to send a mental message at a moments notice.

With a cold smile, Azure leaned in. I dont share Matts qualms about pulling innocents into the crossfire. Its natural order of things. If you ever get it in your head to slip a similarly shaped knife between my ribs, it wont go so smoothly. For you or the people you care about.

So Ive gathered. Aaron gave Azure a nod of acknowledgement and peered at me. Not the sort of person Id expect you to throw in with. You always seemed too inflexible for that. Too fixated on some cosmic notion of fairness.

I grew up.

Maybe. Aaron said nonchalantly. Then he spoke directly to Azure. Perhaps a show of good will is in order.

I jumped in, keeping him off-balance. Start with getting your foot off my peoples neck. This only works if I have plausible deniability. All it takes is one weak link in your surveillance network, and it all comes tumbling down.

Fair enough. Sunny was wrong, threatening you the way he did. Aaron mused. Done. Though well eventually need to figure out where you fit in the organization, thats a long-term issue. Ill find an excuse to lift surveillance in your region.

I had to actively fight myself not to ask the questions thatd haunted me. What Aaron intended. How hed managed to achieve this position of power as a civilian in such a short span of time. But the longer I spoke to Aaron, the more likely it was that Id give him an angle. Right now he was on the back foot, and he needed to stay that way.

Those answers would reveal themselves eventually.

Dad? Everything okay?

All three heads whipped around to where Daphne was leaning outside the back door. Her face was a mask of worry and concern.

Aaron gave her a strained smile and a polite wave. All good, sweetie.

There was a gentle whoosh as the door clicked shut behind Daphne, and she disappeared within the depths of the house.

So, Cameron dies. I confirmed.

Mr. Reed was special. In a perfect world, I owed him a great deal. That doesnt change the reality that there was no place for him in the grand scheme of things. Aaron said. To his small credit, he actually seemed to struggle with the decision. And his death will serve a greater purpose.

Sure hell appreciate that.

I stuffed my hands in my pockets and began to walk away. Myrddin fell in line behind me.

Judge me all you want. Aaron called after me. But we live in a world of problems, Matthias. Im the only one offering a solution.

And Im just following orders. I called back over my shoulder.