Jacob Divenfall waited for the end.

The boy had been kidnapped right off the street, on the road to school.

He had no idea what awaited for him, but given the stench of hopelessness and despair in the cell he resided in and the bleak messages scratched into the walls, it couldn't be anything good.

But one day, there was a commotion!

He pressed his ear to the door of his cell, heart racing with trepidation. His end was coming, wasn't it?

Jacob heard voices...

"... finest stock! Labor for farms, personal servants, shock troops, pleasure, housekeeping... anything you need!" Came the voice of the bad man who had captured him.

"I do have a question for you six, especially you, sir, who runs this group." A woman's voice, rich, husky.

"Of course, whatever you want to know!" The bad man's voice.

"What gives you the right?" Her voice again.

"What...? What do you me-YOU?!"

"Me."

"Guards! GUARD!!! Bring the whole squad!"

"They come. Good." A low, almost hungry growl from her.

"Wh-What do you mean?! They'll kill you!! There's dozens!"

"Wheat for the scythe. Anyone... anyone at all associated with this kind of wretched behavior will not be leaving here alive."

"Y-You can't! We'll turn ourselves in!"

"Had you been in any other profession, I might've accepted. Not this one. Children are the most defenseless, the most innocent. And you prey upon them like parasites. No, it's time to die."

"I'LL GIVE YOU ANYTHING! JUST DON-"

Only agonized screams followed.

Then silence.

Then footsteps.

The door opened and Jacob cowered in the corner, whimpering and shielding his face.

"Please don't hurt me...!!!" He begged.

He felt a gentle hand on his shoulder, giving an encouraging squeeze. "Hello there, Jacob!"

He opened his tear-streaked eyes to see the gently smiling face of a blue, wolfen Rathi woman.

"Y-You... You don't want to hurt me...?" Jacob whimpered.

"Not at all, little one! I'm going to take you home. Your parents are very worried! But it's going to be okay now, I promise!" She said with a bright, warm smile.

"B-But the bad man..."

"Shh, he can't hurt you anymore. It'll be okay. You're safe now."

"Wh-Who are you...?"

"I'm Aries Passadar. I'm a friend! Your parents said the password is 'Xanadu'." She said.

"Th-That's right! I-I'm so sorry, I was just going home from school when-"

"It wasn't your fault, Jacob... it's all okay. You'll be home soon!"

Suddenly, the doors nearby flung open and a dozen guards rushed in, armed to the teeth!

Jacob watched his guardian's expression shift from gentle and nurturing to ferocious and steeled.

"Stay close." She said, drawing a massive pistol and bearing on the new foes.

"B-Boss! Oh gods...!! What did you do to-you cut him into bits...!!!"

"Wheat for the scythe..." Aries Passadar murmured softly.


"Mommy! Daddy!" Jacob cried as he ran down the pathway of his home and into the waiting arms of his parents.

His mother and father scooped him up, joyful tears flowing as rivers down flushed cheeks.

Once everyone caught their breath, Jacob's father stood up, wiping his eyes. "Thank you, Miss Passadar. I can't... I can't thank you enough for this. As promised, we've gotten together the fee for-"

Aries shook her head. "No fee. Not for this." She said with a warm smile, holding her hands up.

"N-No... I can't let you do this without *something*..." He began to sob.

His family had never seen him weep.

"Sir... please, I could never accept money for this. Knowing your family is safe and unbroken is all I need." Aries told him, holding his hands. "Now please... go be with your family."


Aries climbed back into her truck, waving and smiling to the Divenfall family as she drove away.

As soon as she got far enough away...

... she began to sob uncontrollably.



[Artwork by the incredible Squiggly Dig, coloring by the unflappable  Sonlirain ]