Chapter 527: The Luna’s Burden

One Month Before

Rows of iron cages lined the walls, and inside were dozens of people, men, women, and children.

Some were slumped against the bars, barely moving. Others stared blankly into the darkness.

Their bodies were thin, like the child the warriors had seen in the street. And the residue of black blood filled the floor too. He heard someone cough as they spat blood.

The smell was overwhelming here.

For a brief moment, Tobias forgot to breathe.

His eyes moved slowly across the cages. Some of the prisoners lifted their heads weakly as they heard footsteps. One woman reached toward the bars with trembling fingers.

"Help..."

Her voice was barely more than a whisper. But then she turned away when she saw Victoria.

"You must be curious," Victoria said softly as she watched him.

Tobias said nothing.

"If you are going to be my guard," she continued quietly, "then this is something you must know."

The dungeon remained silent after Victoria’s words.

Tobias stood where he was, the thick stench of rot clinging to the air around him.

"You already know about the plague," Victoria said calmly.

Tobias inclined his head.

"Yes, my lady."

Victoria gestured lightly toward the cages.

"Then you know how violent it is."

Her voice carried easily in the damp chamber.

"It spreads quickly. Too quickly."

She turned slightly, looking across the prisoners with an expression that was almost thoughtful.

"At first, we believed it spread only through blood or wounds," she continued. "But recently... we have learned something troubling."

Tobias remained silent as Victoria’s gaze shifted toward him.

"For some people, even a single touch is enough."

Tobias’s eyes flickered slightly, though he kept his composure.

Victoria watched him carefully, clearly noting the small reaction.

"Only for some," she added. "Not everyone."

One of the prisoners behind them began coughing violently again.

A thick, wet sound. Black liquid splattered against the stone floor as he coughed.

Victoria gestured toward the stain.

"You also know the most obvious sign of the disease."

Tobias nodded slowly. "The black blood," he guessed.

"Exactly," she said with a nod as she folded her arms.

"That," she said quietly, "is what you are seeing here."

The dungeon seemed colder somehow after those words.

A weak groan came from one of the cages nearby. A man inside shifted weakly against the bars, his skin pale and drawn tight over his bones.

Victoria sighed softly.

"I apologize for bringing you here," she said, though her tone did not carry much regret. "Especially when the air smells like dead flesh."

Tobias shook his head immediately.

"It is not my place to complain, my lady."

Victoria gave a faint smile.

"No," she agreed lightly. "It isn’t."

She stepped closer to one of the cages, looking inside for a moment before turning back to Tobias.

"But this," she said, spreading her hand slightly to indicate the dungeon around them, "is exactly why I brought you here."

Tobias waited.

"As my guard," Victoria continued, "you will be responsible for carrying out certain tasks for me."

Her eyes sharpened slightly.

"And one of those tasks is this."

She turned fully to face him.

"You will ensure that every infected person in the western lands is collected."

Tobias remained perfectly still.

"You will bring them here, where they are to be kept away from those who are yet to be infected. The healers are doing everything they can to study the disease."

She gestured again toward the prisoners.

"They believe that if they observe the infected closely... they may eventually find a way to stop it. And that is why we must collect them."

Out of everything she said, one thing gnawed at Tobias. Only some people were infected, so the plague did not affect everyone... but why?

Could it be that some people were immune to it? And if so, he wondered if that was the main reason they had sent help to the Nightshade Pack.

He could only hope he would get his answers.

"I understand, my lady," he said to Victoria, not letting her know any of the thoughts he had.

Victoria studied him carefully, as though trying to determine whether his agreement was genuine.

After a moment, she seemed satisfied.

"Good."

She turned toward the iron door.

"Come, William."

Tobias followed.

He pulled the heavy door shut behind them as they stepped into the narrow corridor outside the dungeon. The echo of the closing metal door rang through the stone passage like a final sentence.

They began walking back toward the staircase.

Their footsteps echoed softly against the stone walls as they climbed.

Victoria spoke again as they ascended.

"I have a mission for you."

Tobias glanced up briefly before lowering his gaze again.

"My lady?"

Victoria continued climbing without looking back.

"There is a pack I want you to visit," she said as they reached the first landing. "When you arrive there, you will understand why I sent you."

Tobias nodded.

"Yes, my lady."

Victoria’s tone remained calm and steady. She turned slightly as they reached the next flight of stairs.

"Take several guards with you. Do not go alone."

Tobias inclined his head again.

"Of course."

They continued climbing the winding staircase.

"When you reach the pack," Victoria said, "you will collect their Alpha."

Tobias frowned slightly.

"And everyone else in the pack."

That made him pause for a brief moment.

Victoria noticed immediately.

"Is there a problem?"

Tobias quickly shook his head.

"No, my lady."

But after a moment he hesitated again. Then he asked carefully,

"Are they infected as well?"

Victoria stopped walking. She slowly turned around, her eyes settling on him.

For a moment, the silence between them stretched uncomfortably.

"One thing you should understand, William," she said calmly. "If you wish to last long in my service, and if you wish to remain my guard, then you will learn to carry out my orders without questioning them."

Tobias immediately lowered his head.

"My apologies, my lady."

Victoria watched him for another moment.

Then she sighed lightly.

"In a way," she said slowly, "they are infected."

They resumed climbing the stairs.

"They are also among the people you must protect me from."

Tobias followed her again.

"What do you mean, my lady?"