Cade panted as sweat poured onto the soil of the Anti-Rogue Ops training area. With an exhausted grunt, he pushed off the ground, and his elbows locked into place. He leveled his spine in a front-leaning rest and then held still. Cade's joints burned like Scorch's deserts, but he struggled with his mind more than his body. Elucard still suffered as Wraslyn's prisoner, and all he could do was prepare for a fight.

A set of footsteps approached him. Had it not been for Cade's superior training, he would not have heard them. They belonged to someone as skilled as he, perhaps even more so. That fact narrowed down the possibilities of candidates. Lear? No, Lear was skilled with a blade but not on his feet. It couldn't be Wiccer. The man was trained as a White Cloak and by a Black Rabbit, but hadn't kept up with his training. Unlike Legion, or…

"I heard rumors you were now in ARO, but I'd never imagine I'd see you in the red and black!"

"Malady," Cade grumbled with a sneer.

Cade never thought he would see himself in the Red Rabbit colors either, at least not until he wanted to be with Elucard more than Dead of Winter. Only then did it finally feel right.

"I could say the same for you, son of Ryjin," Cade said with a smirk.

He waited for Malady's scoff before continuing his jabbing remark. "Imagine being raised to lead the Black Rabbits, but instead join their most fearsome enemies!"

Malady stomped down hard on Cade's back. "The Rabbits are dead, no thanks to you!"

Cade didn't shake or flinch with the weight of the grizzled veteran pressing on him. He let out a short chuckle. "You were always the weakest of the clan, Malady. Even Jetta was stronger than you."

Malady gnashed his teeth in a vicious snarl. "I was strong enough to beat you!"

With a glint in his eye and the fluid movements of a fighter developed well beyond his years, Cade swept Malady's foot and leaped on the aging elf's chest.

"You always let your pride control you," Cade said. He gently patted Malady's quivering cheek. "You've had the Black Rabbits stripped away from you twice! Now you serve in the army of your enemies as some lowly cog."

"And you are no different?" shouted Malady. "You and I are just the same: broken rabbits clinging onto nothing!"

Malady thrashed underneath Cade, but the younger shadow elf pushed harder on Malady's chest.

"No," Cade responded. "I have Elucard. I have all I ever wanted. Love, companionship, something I'm willing to die for."

Malady grasped Cade's wrist and tugged him forward. "So where is he?"

Cade tried to break free, but Malady only pulled more.

"How well did you protect him?" Malady continued. "Trained by that cat, and you still lost him!"

Cade clenched his eyes shut so that Malady could not see them.

"Look at yourself, Inle. All your strength and you are still powerless! You were always the weakest of the Black Rabbits," Malady finished his carving of Cade's esteem with the precision of a rapier.

Stolen novel; please report.

Cade yanked his wrist free and curled his hand into a trembling fist.

"Go ahead, brat."

Cade's chest heaved with anger for Malady but more from frustration with himself. He drew back his fist with enough rage to smash Malady's face into a red wine.

"Inle!" Lear's voice cracked across the air.

Cade slowly lowered his hand.

"Pa-thetic," Malady whispered loud enough for Cade to catch the insult.

Lear grabbed Cade's shoulder. "Get off of him and go wash up."

Cade used his sleeve to wipe away any peeking tears and stood up. He ripped his shoulder away from Lear and glared at the yikahti with his deadly, silver eyes. "It's Cade."

***

Elucard watched silently over Lost Dawns from his familiar watch tower. Jetta sat beside him cross-legged. Together the still moment lasted, what would seem like, an eternity before Elucard plopped down on the ledge. He curled his fingers within his palm. They shook. They shook with fear; a fear that he could not place, nor quell. He couldn't even remember how he ended up here.

He closed his eyes. Fragmented images of his master, Legion, his childhood willow tree, and his many near deaths scattered through his mind like dandelion seeds blowing helplessly in the wind.

Jetta's muffled voice surfaced in his thoughts. He tried to focus on her words. He missed her. Perhaps that is why she was here now? Because he missed her. Unless…Could she be…Was she here because she was supposed to be? He concentrated harder on what Jetta was saying.

"...When.. the happiest…"

Elucard opened his eyes and turned to his friend.

She repeated her words. "When were you the happiest, Elucard?"

His pupils shrank at the question. When was I happiest in my life?. More memories flashed through his mind until a clear picture developed from the fog. Inle. Jetta. His Black Rabbit family.

He raised his chin to catch a faint breeze tickle his nose. He spoke slowly, "With you…and Ca—" He felt a sharp pain in his throat catch his breath. He tried to say his name again. "Ca—" The sensation of a wolf's fangs breaking his flesh made his grimace.

"With you and Inle," he finished. Although this time his voice sounded mechanical, as if he lacked the passion and excitement he might feel when speaking Inle's name.

Inle's name. Not C…

Jetta's voice interrupted his thoughts once more. "When we were Black Rabbits—That was my favorite time as well."

Elucard gave her an inquisitive look. "Truly?"

She giggled. "Yes, silly."

He raised a gentle hand to her face and grazed her rosy cheeks. She feels real…but how can I know that she is?

"I am real," she whispered.

"I hope so. Alanna knows that I wish this world to be true."

"Then you must fight for it." Jetta took hold of his quivering hand. "For they are coming to take it all away. Inle. Me. The Rabbits. All of it!"

Elucard tugged his hand. "Who?"

Jetta's eyes dripped with an inky, black liquid. "Arrelion. Wildeye, Avalon. Wiccer," he voice lowered and grew sharper with each name that she spat, but it was the final name that cut him like his blade. "Cade."

The name pounded across his skull like a marching army. Cade? I have to fight Cade?

Jetta jerked Elucard's chin. "Calm yourself, my friend. You can beat them. You must."

I…must…

"For you lead the Black Rabbits."

For…I…lead…

"And as the Silent Master, all enemies will quake within your shadow."

I am the Silent Master.

Jetta slipped out a cruel smirk. "Yes, my handsome elf. You are our Silent Master.

"I will protect you, Jetta," Elucard whispered. " I will always protect you."

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