Tower of Paradise

—Mom! —Zephyr’s desperate cry tore through the air as I pressed the cold steel of my dagger against his delicate skin.

I felt his small body tremble beside me, rigid with fear. Guilt gnawed at me from within like corrosive acid. Though I knew what I was doing was necessary, a part of me wondered if I could ever forgive myself for the things I was about to do.

—Let him go! —Alma snapped through gritted teeth, her eyes blazing with contained fury—. Killing him won’t help you! It won’t save you from me!

—Are you sure? —I tilted my head with a smile I didn’t let reach my eyes, keeping my voice steady despite the tumult of emotions overwhelming me—. We both know what this boy means to you. I don’t want to hurt him, but I will if you force me.

I saw the immediate shift in her gaze. Those dark pools that had previously reflected only hatred and contempt now showed something new: fear. Not for herself, but for the boy trembling under my dagger. I had found her weak point, and though I loathed myself for it, I knew it was our only chance.

—Despicable! —Alma roared, her voice laden with disgust—. I can’t believe humans would stoop so low as to use one of their own—a child, no less—as a bargaining chip.

I felt Zephyr struggle to break free from my grip. Instinctively, I pressed my dagger harder against his throat, causing him to let out a cry of pain as another drop of his blood slid down the gleaming blade. The sound pierced me like an arrow.

—Alright! Alright! —Alma’s stern expression visibly softened as she witnessed Zephyr’s suffering—. What do you want?

—I want you to let us go, Alice and me. No pursuit, no tricks. We’ll leave and never return to this place.

I observed the internal struggle reflected on her face as if reading an open book: the disdain for having to negotiate with a human, the humiliation of being strategically outmaneuvered, but above all, the genuine fear for the life of the boy who now served as my shield. It was evident that nothing in this world mattered more to her than that child’s life. She seemed willing to sacrifice anything for him.

—How do I know you’ll keep your word? —she questioned, her eyes darting between my face and the dagger pressed against Zephyr’s skin.

—You don’t —I admitted calmly—. Just as I don’t know if you’ll attack us from behind the moment we turn around. But right now, this is the only option that keeps us all alive.

The silence that followed seemed to stretch eternally, thick as fog on a winter morning. I could feel Zephyr’s racing pulse against my arm, the subtle tremor of his body. I hated myself for using him like this, for turning him into a pawn in my desperate game.

Alma let out a deep sigh that seemed to rip her soul from her body. She raised her hands and bowed her head in a gesture of surrender. Before my eyes, her appearance began to transform: her body gradually shrank, the thick muscles that seemed forged in steel slowly vanished, her claws retracted as if they had never existed, and her charcoal-colored skin receded to reveal once more the beautiful, slender female figure that concealed her true nature.

—Go. Take your friend and leave —she said, clenching her fists so tightly I could see her nails digging into her palms—. But don’t hurt him.

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Alice lying on the ground. Consciousness had abandoned her long ago. Her body bore the marks of the battle like a map of her bravery. It was clear that whatever ability she had activated to unleash such power had run its course, and the cost seemed severe. I was alone in this dilemma, with the weight of our lives on my shoulders.

—On second thought —I interjected before Alma could solidify her defeat—. I want more than just escaping.

—What do you mean? —she asked, confused, glaring at me with a hostile look that could have melted steel.

—We’ve gone too far —I explained, as my brain frantically organized my thoughts—. Alice is unconscious, and I’ve threatened to kill the boy. What makes you think that the moment I agree and turn my back, you won’t kill both Alice and me just to silence us?

I paused briefly, letting my words sink into her mind.

—We both know I’m no match for you, but I’m a cautious man, and I know that if I trust you, sooner or later I’ll make a mistake. And when that happens, you’ll be there, waiting to kill us.

A deafening silence enveloped the place, broken only by the mournful howl of the wind. Alma’s eyes scanned the space around her, scrutinizing the gaps, dents, and the multiple ice spears embedded in the hard floor. I could sense a shadow of sadness cross her face as she gazed at the place she had begun to call home. It seemed like a solitary island in the midst of an infinite ocean.

Her eyes filled with tears that gleamed like crystals under the dim light filtering through the broken windows. I didn’t understand why she was crying, but it was clear she was making a decision that tore her soul apart. My instinct told me I was right: she undoubtedly planned to come after us once we left. She would let us exit the building only to ambush and eliminate us when we lowered our guard.

Alma couldn’t, no matter how much she wanted to, afford to let us live, much less allow our escape. She couldn’t risk Alice or me reaching the city and revealing her existence. If the SID found out about her, they would hunt her mercilessly.

I then understood why, despite her formidable power, she remained hidden in this abandoned building, living in the shadows alongside a boy she had come to consider her own son. And Zephyr wouldn’t fare any better if his bond with her was discovered. To humans, it would be logical to eliminate a child who had grown attached to a monster. His death would be considered an act of mercy. In the worst case, they might take him for experimentation, subjecting him to unimaginable torments that would make death seem like compassion. And due to the war being waged between humans and the alliance of monsters and other species, I assumed the most powerful humans wouldn’t have time to pay attention to this place and its events.

History had taught us with blood: no human would allow a Terragno to escape. Unlike most minions, which were solitary creatures typically living in burrows, Terragnos—of the same species—had evolved to the point of forming a society of monsters, a Colony.

Whenever one was discovered, they were exterminated by any means available. It wasn’t just their wild nature or the danger of them consuming humans, but because they were underground-dwelling monsters, unlike other species, unaffected by walls. In short, there was fear that Terragnos might discover the location of our settlements and unleash an invasion. Humans lived isolated, confined behind vast, thick walls, ignorant of what lurked beyond, save for rumors of colossal monsters prowling in the darkness.

I didn’t know what had happened between Alma and her own kind or what circumstances had brought her here. While humans appeared powerful, the truth few knew was that Terragnos were an extraordinarily formidable race. To gauge their power, suffice it to say they were third-evolution creatures. Their species numbered thousands, perhaps hundreds of thousands, of beings on Alma’s level, along with dozens or hundreds of monsters even more powerful than her.

My heart began to race at the thought of an entire race of Terragnos. A single one had been capable of defeating Alice, one of the strongest women in the guild. It was madness to consider facing more than one.

If I left any loose ends in this situation, my entire species would suffer the consequences of my weakness. I couldn’t allow it. I refused to be the one who condemned humanity simply because I lacked the courage to get my hands dirty. I couldn’t prioritize my personal ideals over the survival of my people.

Thus, only one path remained: eliminate the threat before it materialized. I had to choose the most efficient, the only viable solution, even if it was also the most tragic.

—I want you to kill yourself —I demanded with an icy voice, tightening my grip on Zephyr’s neck—. Kill yourself, or I’ll kill this boy.

Alma’s eyes widened at my ultimatum. Her face reflected such profound shock that I could almost feel the chill that paralyzed her mind. Though perhaps not entirely unexpected, the cruelty of my demand was overwhelming.

—Are you insane?! —she shouted, her voice laden with disbelief as she tried to reason with me—. He’s human, just like you! I don’t know your laws, but don’t they forbid taking another human’s life?

—Yes —I replied with a coldness I didn’t feel—, but who’s going to find out? People, especially children, die in Danafor all the time. That law you speak of only applies if you’re rich enough to live in Sherazade. No one will know if I kill a child here.

Alma clicked her tongue in contempt, realizing that any attempt to appeal to my humanity would be futile. The look in my eyes must have convinced her that I was truly prepared to kill the boy without hesitation if it came to that. And the terrible thing was, she was right: I was ready to sacrifice an innocent life for what I considered the greater good.