Deep in the heartland of the United Sentry States are the burning ruins of the Black City, a melting pot simmering with hostility as humans and Darklings struggle to rebuild their lives in the aftermath of a brutal and bloody war. A wall now divides the city separating the two races. Trapped on the wrong side of the wall is 16 year old hustler Ash Fisher, a half blood darkling who'll do whatever it takes to survive, including selling his addictive venom Haze to support his dying mother. When he meets Natalie, hatred soon turns to a love that could be punishable by death.