Nathan entered through one of the many abandoned entrances to the city. With the cataclysm occurring, the government was least interested in guarding the borders and no one in their right mind would enter the city of Radford at this time.
But for Nathan the only option was to go back, because inside the city was where his ticket out was. He could flee to another joint territory, but that would simply delay his problems, not solve them.
'Why go back?' asked Amelia with that same doubt.
Nathan walked quietly down the street that led to the city, full of empty cars of people who had fled, but because the entrance was closed, they could not cross with their cars and had to leave them behind.
'It's the best I can do now... although clearly I'm not going to go and join the fight or anything like that' Nathan explained without stopping walking.
Nathan didn't know what the situation was like in the city, but he had no doubt that the calamities had already managed to enter completely and filled the streets. After almost half an hour, the sun began to set, and Nathan finally saw the buildings that were beginning to rise in the distance.
"Just one day and everything went to hell" Nathan muttered, looking up at the columns of smoke rising up to the sky.
Nathan contemplated the city for a couple of seconds and continued walking. When he fully entered the city, he noticed that the streets were completely empty, only illuminated by streetlamps on each side. The lights inside the buildings were off, but Nathan could feel movement from inside the buildings.
People were afraid to go out into the street, but they were still curious to see what was going on.
Nathan walked without caring about the stares of the civilians and finally, after about twenty minutes, when the sun had already set and the sky was completely black, he arrived at a luxurious hotel in the northern part of the city.
From a distance he saw several people inside the lobby, but instead of entering he flowed essence into his legs and quickly went to the side of the hotel to start climbing it in several jumps.
He knew there were cameras and very good security, but that was the least of his concern at the moment.
He reached the top floor window and carefully broke it, trying not to draw too much attention to himself. Although he knew it was useless in the place he was getting into.
As soon as Nathan entered through the broken window he found himself in a luxurious room with a large double bed. But he did not have time to appreciate it when an arrow charged with essence shot through the door of the room.
Nathan dodged the arrow, which crashed into the wall of the room and exploded, creating a large hole from which the night sky could be seen.
"What a nice welcome..." muttered Nathan as the door burst open and three men in suits entered.
"Don't resist!" shouted one of Enarys' guards.
Nathan raised his hands in surrender and one of the guards wasted no time in catching him, throwing him to the ground and holding him down with the weight of his own body. Nathan did not resist, knowing that he would not achieve anything by fighting and waited patiently.
Finally, after hearing all the noise and knowing that it was safe, Enarys entered the room. As soon as her gaze landed on Nathan, she opened her eyes in surprise and covered her mouth elegantly trying to hide her smile.
"What a surprise to see you here" Enarys said calmly and with apparent surprise.
Nathan scoffed as he saw Enarys' expression of fake surprise, and realized that she was expecting him, or at least expecting to see him at some point.
"Yes, what a surprise" Nathan smiled slightly behind his mask. "Can we talk... in a more comfortable way?"
"Let him go" Enarys said as she backed into the hotel room lounge.
Nathan stood up as soon as he felt the guard let him go and lightly massaged his arm to show that he had been hurt. The guards looked at him with a frown on their faces, clearly displeased.
Since the first day they had met him they had never liked Nathan. For them he was a reminder that they had failed to keep Enarys safe in the front palace hotel, where the attack on her had occurred.
Nathan ignored the stares of Enarys' guards and followed her into the living room, where he found her already seated on a large sofa with a cup of tea in front of her. Enarys gestured for him to sit down opposite her, and Nathan followed her suggestion and sat down.
"So, what brings you here?" asked Enarys, hiding her smile behind the cup of tea as she took a silent sip.
Nathan folded his arms, watching her silently, then looked around and saw several suitcases packed. "You're leaving?"
"Did you notice" Enarys asked even though she knew it was obvious he was planning to leave.
Nathan sighed in exhaustion. It had been a much more than horrible day and now talking to Enarys was costing him minutes to live. So Nathan simply decided to end the conversation as quickly as possible.
"Take me with you" Nathan said in a tired tone.
"Why should I?" asked Enarys without disguising her smile. "What's in it for me?"
Nathan was silent, thinking about what to answer. He knew he had to offer something to get Enarys to agree to take him with her, he simply had nothing else to offer her but himself.
"I will work for you" Nathan replied dryly.
"I have two conditions" Enarys held up two fingers of his right hand. "You will work for free for three months and you will show me what's behind that mask"
Nathan frowned as soon as he heard Enarys' conditions, but quickly spoke. "I have my own conditions"
Enarys smiled, crossed her legs, and leaned against the back of the couch. "I listen"
Nathan leaned forward slightly and rested his elbows on his knees. "One month and nothing that involves entering realms for at least six months"
Enarys' smile quivered for a second, but she hid it well. She frowned slightly interested and raised her head. "Two months and no realms. Sounds good to me... but"
'He really don't mind revealing is identity to me?' Enarys looked silently at Nathan without understanding what he was thinking.
"But?" asked Nathan to which Amelia shook her head.
"It's nothing... So you agree?"
It was Nathan's turn to stand still as he thought about the terms. Being different money than what was used in the northern islands than in the Aeterna territory, he surely wouldn't have any money at all.
Besides, he had lost most of his belongings. He only had Adan's fangs, a silver bracelet, and a lizard in his coat.
Nathan leaned back against the back of the sofa and sighed. "Fine, I accept. But I'll take off the mask when we leave the territory"
"Fine by me" Enarys smiled and got up from the couch. She stretched out her arm and offered her hand to Nathan.
Nathan stood up as well and looked at Enarys' frail hand before giving him his, signing the verbal deal. Little did Nathan know that Enarys already knew who he was, she simply wanted to know how important it was for Nathan to leave to accept such a deal.