”The last several hours had been most trying, both for the Bey’s every present worry as well as the relative boredom of babysitting during the auction. Even as I watched the proceedings, the Corporate bidding war over the fringe-tech weapons, my thoughts were constantly rushing off to Grigori and 23Enigma held in Carpai Graen, to Miss Wolfir. Even as I lead Veracity on, the silent words between us outside the apartment complex, those words ran through my mind like fire. That Mrs. Blaize took my arousal to in relation to herself, only worked to my favor, she is an impressive woman but she is no wolf. Perhaps it is the exhaustion, but I am glad to heading home and hanging my mask up for a while. It’s times like these that I wish I could forgo the act and be Elwin Cypress again. “

“I’ve begun to have doubts as well. Serious doubts, about where I’ve lead those who look to me for guidance, about who I’ve placed my trust in. Gregori, he may well be a liar, but what if he’s right? What if the Bey is a snake and knows my past. He certainly knew enough about Gregori – his reputation is solid, he seems like a honorable man, a core tenant of his philosophy. Even if Gregori is throwing a spanner in the works, what of Able, he is an agent of Rossum and they own his soul? His humanity, as little as he had, it seems to slip away just a bit more each time I meet him. He is divorced of compassion, we are all numbers to him, how long to Rossum turns him against me? It’s about time I put some distance between us – I cannot grow lax and give him full reign of my home as if he were a friend."

It’s been a long day, like one long tightrope walk, with sharks circling below. I barely see my ‘Children’ as I pass them in the halls, Gregori will need to wait till the morning, my bed calls to me like a temptress. As the door slides silently open, a single deep red rose rests upon my bed.

“I can’t help but wonder if Miss Wolfir is still here, no doubt with Mrs. Vano. It seems sometimes I miss some things, even with those I care most about. It’s been almost five years, she was so feral then, feral still in her own way. Bringing me the heads of my enemies, once I saw her only as a disgusting tool that had to be used to protect the organization that would protect me. Now, now I would lay my life down for those who follow me. They have put their trust in me – love that only exists in these hidden corporations of the damned. Francheska, she is the most loyal and the most loving – being in her presence is like being swallowed in the embrace of the world, conflagrations and torrential rains and all. She’s the truest thing in my life, we both love our new home and our new family, something we built together. A bond built upon who I am, not the Candyman or power or any of that, but upon my beliefs. I love her for it.”

Staring at the rose a few moments more, Candy turns from his bed. The siren call of the feather down drowned out by the howl of the wolf.