I can still hear him sniffling. It has been almost five minutes since I absorbed the last of the vampire souls. Yet, he is still sniffling. I can understand the terror of tripping over the guts of someone you may have known. But, five minutes is long enough to get over it. I am probably being irrational by thinking that, the crying is just annoying me. Maybe I can say something to shut him up, before I lose my patience and strangle him. Luckily, a hooded crossbowman climbs off the platform, and helps the crying boy to his feet. The man looks to be in his mid-forties, with a wrinkled face and droopy eyes.

“It’s okay lad. They knew —We knew, what this sort of life could lead to. I never liked the others in the circle, they always wanted a war. Now look at them, dead.” The crossbowman said, to the young, crying man. He said it soft enough to avoid the others from hearing. However, my hearing is extensive, so the words are clear. On closer inspection, especially the man’s voice, I believe it is the same one who fired the arrow into the talking vampire. But, I previously mistook him for an archer. I check his glow, to make sure his not a vampire. He is not, which means not everyone in the Flutes inner circle is a vampire, or maybe it is just him. The young man is still sniffling, he stops after taking a quick glance at Thea, Cassandra, Isabella, and finally me.

The Flute cutters, now Shrouded members, are still wiping the blood off of their blades, on clothes of the dead vampires. Based on the words of the crossbowman, I can guess that there is little love for the vampires. The crossbowman takes several steps forward to me, but is stop by Thea. She moves forward, blocking him before he can get closer to me. He steps away from Thea, nodding to show her he understood.

“We did what we were told mate. We all,” The archer looks at the men behind him, then to the young boy besides him, “I think I speak for those here, when I say that it is good to finally be in a crew with a strong leader. Their ain’t no coming back for the Flutes, this was most of the inner circle. We would like to be taken under your protection, Don of the Shrouded.”

“Isabella, welcome our new members.” I said, casting a quick speech thread. I still do not trust these men. It’s equivalent to a slap on the face, to be greeted by Isabella, she after all just killed quite a bit of their highest-ranking members.

I know that these men, are hard and experienced, but they lack any sense of comradery, or fighting as a unit. I guess I can expect that from thieves and assassins. I will need more men like these if I want control all the syndicates in the city. My own little army, but I will have to build loyalty among them. The crossbowman’s eyes widen and he sighs.

“Yes Master!” Isabella replied, a bit too excited. She is still a bit giddy from all the death in the room. The sadism is strong in this one.

“Isabella Crawford, so you are here, that explains a lot.” The archer said, he obvious knew Isabella. The new Shrouded members in the room, take five steps back, after hearing the name.

I remember her mentioning something about the Flutes when I first met her in the alley. The door to the far right of the room gains my attention, I walk towards it, knowing that it must lead to the next part of the headquarters. It turns out that it is not a door, but instead thick jail bars. To right of the bars, next to a lever on the wall, is a small hole, with metal plate around it. It looks like a key hole, but no key I know of matches it.

“You know how much I don’t like that name Sill. Looks like the Flutes are going to need a new emissary now.” Isabella said. Thea moves out of the way to let the two acquaintances shake hands.” Welcome to the crew, it’s been a lovely shade of red tonight don’t you think?”

“Still the same old Isabella, if things continue like they are, we—they won’t be needing one. Sometimes I wish I left with you, and took you up on that offer. But that was thirty years ago, I’m too old now.”

“Well, at least one of us has not changed, and you’re never too old for the gift, Silly. But you have to be ready to die.” Isabella said. Sill avoids her gaze, her words were obviously a slight to him turning into a traitor

“I am prepared to die Ella but, death should’ve meaning. I’m not going to risk my life for some foolish Don.”

Sill looks back at the others, who are patiently waiting. They still look very much scared and worried that I might make them turn on each other. However, their expressions are no longer as grim as before. I assumed that Sill’s friendship with Isabella reassured them.

“You will be leading us to Jax, then to your Don,” I said casting a speech thread, as I walk back where I previously was. Isabella is disturbingly friendly with Sill, despite them trying to kill each other ten minutes ago. I finish casting another speech thread to continue, “But, first, get me the key.”

“As you say, I don’t have a choice.” Sill says, muttering the last part. He turns to the cutters. and starts to bark instructions at them. Within seconds he has all of them searching for the key. They obey Sill without question, which leads me to believe he has some influence within the Flutes. Not killing them turned out to be a good choice, at least for now.

The two vampires I brought along stand behind me, they occasionally exchange words. Thea is to my right, and has taken on the job of being my guard, without asking. I do not think I need a guard, but Thea has saved me from an arrow to my face, which could have been the end of me. And, as much as I did not want to admit, her presence made me feel more like a leader.

I lost two vampires tonight, two strong, ruthless vampires that died fighting for me. I did not know them personally, but they were mine, and someone took that away. It makes me angry just thinking about it.

“I know the prisoner. In the dungeon, near the fat ones’ room. That’s where he is.” Sill said.

“From now on, you will address him as you would a Lord of the realm, you are not his equal,” Thea said, her hand reaching to rest on her dagger. Knowing how skilled Thea is as efficiently killing men, made him raise his hands in submission.” And I hope that you have not hurt Jax.” Thea adds.

Thea is fiercely defensive of me, enough to risk her life without a though. I can tell that Thea is impulsive and ruled by her emotions. A dangerous trait at times, but not this time.

“He’s high nobility?” Sill said. He did not know about the First King, so obviously, Thea’s words would make him think I am a noble. His hands return to his side, but only when Thea moved her hand from her daggers. Thea did not correct Sill, and I was fine with him thinking that I am some noble.

“I mean, no, he isn’t hurt, the fat—The Don, wants him alive. The cook still sends food, so I know he is alive, my Lord. Though, I have not seen him since he got captured.” Sill quickly replied, after noticing he would not got a response. Thea’s words made him a bit tense. It reminds me of a good cop, bad cop interrogation.

“Tell me of your Don.” I asked, I tweaked the speech thread so the voice sounds harsh. I must have gotten it right because he flinches at my words.

“He is a huge man, my lord. Razan has us clear the hallways when The Don walks through the headquarters. No one has seen his face, we just know that he is huge, and he eats a lot. And, just last month he had the previous cook killed. Some of the men believe he is a nobleman. But, I heard his voice once and I know who it is, Council Demir. I don’t know much else my lord.”

“He knew we were coming tonight, how?”

“We have been doing this for three nights, my lord. That’s all I know.” Sill said. Their leader, Councilman Demir, probably was not sure if I would attack. Burning down the bars was to get my attention, but I was still inside my soul. However, he did not know that, and must have thought I was ignoring it. Jax tried to settle matters peaceful, and by kidnapping Jax, he wanted to force me to attack, so he could set this well-planned trap.

Honestly, I would have eventually attacked him even if he did not instigate this war. After all, I plan on bringing all the syndicates to heel. If anything, I can now use this unprovoked attack as a casus belli for my future attacks on other syndicates. It feels good to be both undead and ruthless.

Having that amount of power and influence in the city, should make gathering information about this world much easier. So, I can maybe one day return, or at least to better understand my place in this world. And, I would not have to worry about being attacked if there is no other syndicate left. But first, I have to deal with this current problem.

“Who is Razan.” I said, casting another speech spell. The men ordered by Sill to find the key, still have not found it. The young man next to Sill looks like he wants to say something, but Sill shushes him.

“He means no disrespect, my lord” Sill said. I shift my skull to take a good look at the young man besides him for the first time. He is a bit shorter than myself and has curly dark brown hair. His height and leather armour hide the fact that he is a bit chubby. Which personally, I think is odd for a thief or an assassin. Sill continued, in a hush tone, “Razan is Demir’s right hand. He used the be the Don, but Demir took his place about nine months ago, now all he does is follow Demir’s orders. He captured Razan’s wife, and that’s how Demir is controlling Razan. The poor fool loves his wife too much, would do anything for her. Only the inner circle knows about his wife, we were all forbidden of speaking about it. Razan can be severe at times, but just and impartial. The real Razan would not have let this fight between us happen.”

I care little about someone’s wife being captured, or what type of person they are. I hoped that Sill would have given me information about his skills or abilities. This is actually not much else from what I already know. Sill is still of use to me, so he can stay alive, for now at least.

“Sill, weren’t you to one who Jax met with?” Isabella said, a devilish smile across her face. Sill turns towards Isabella, a look of betrayal on his face.

“I-I had no choice my lord, direct orders. I didn’t want to help capture him, but I couldn’t do anything with the mage around- “Sill blurted out.

“You are lucky that my lord has already spared you.” Thea said to Sill, callously. She must have been holding back her worry for Jax, but as we got closer it looks like she can no longer restrain her emotions. I am starting to notice the habits in the people around me. Understanding their strengths and flaws is fundamental if I want to have influence over them.

“Tell me about this mage.” I said through another speech thread.

“He-I don’t know much about him, my lord. We all stay far away from him. He used his magic tricks to capture your man. The earth moved when he did some things with his hands, sorry, it’s hard to describe.” Sill said, moving his fingers and hands to replicate the mage’s movements.

When he mentioned the hand movements it made me back to my fight with Vicktor. He had also used his hands when he cast that fire spell. It must be something related to how mages create their threads. I could not think of any other reason for it.

Sill’s group is still looking for the keys. I am usually a patient person, but I want to move on to the other part of the headquarters, before someone notices that everyone is dead.

“Where is the keys?”

“I’m sure we have almost found it, my lord,” Sill replied, while shushing the young man that is still trying to tell him something. He turns around, then shouts quick orders at his group. At Sill’s command, they hasten their search of the bodies piled in the room.

“He has something in his hand.” Cassandra said, with her unemotional voice. She points one of her arrows, which she had just taken out of a body, at the young man next to Sill.

“It is what I have been trying to tell you!” He said, after noticing he is now the centre of attention in the room. He holds out his right hand, and exposes the key in the palm of his hand. The key is shaped like most keys, except the shaft has no cuts and the tip has a circle ring that is twice the size of the shaft.

“It was on the ground, my lord. I found it when I fell,” The boy said. His voice is more articulate than the others in his group. He is no longer sniffling, and seems well acquainted with the current situation he is in. I snatch the key from his hands, and smile when he flinches.

I turn around and march back to the metal bars, accompanied by Thea and the two vampire guards. Cassandra soon follows after, while Isabella keeps an eye on Sill’s group.

I slide the key into the hole, turn it, but nothing happens. I turn the key the other way, and I hear a click, followed by the screeching sound of gears moving. At first, the metal bar recedes slowly, then they rapidly withdraw into the ceiling.

I stare down the passage to find stairs that lead down, lit by flickering torches. I step away from the staircase and turn around towards Sill. I start to create a speech thread to say something to Sill.

“Lead the way.” I motion to the staircase. Sill nods, nudging the young man standing next to him and signalling the others to follow with a wave of his arm.

“It will be an honour, my lord. Let me introduce myself, I am Elon.” The young man said, stepping over two bodies as he walks towards me. He raises his hand to reach out for me, but Thea stops him from coming any closer by placing her hand on his chest.

Initially, I thought he was going to make a run for it down the staircase, or try to attack me. Either would not have ended well for him. It turns out that he wanted a handshake. I contemplate what to do, while his hand trembles from the fear of my reaction.

“It is alright Thea,” I said with the help of a speech thread. I use the stop thread to make a pause in the spell, while I turn to face Elon. “You are either stupid, or brave. I am Laoch. Now get moving before I tell Isabella she can have you.”

I think I have instil enough fear among them for now. Threating Elon badly would not serve any purpose and might have made things worst. Elon looks towards Isabella, she licks her lips at him. I hear him gulp before he quickly scampers down the stairs.

Sill and his group are eager the leave the room. I expected more resistance, there must be a reason these men are so quick to turn abandon their syndicate. I follow behind them, with Thea to my right, and Isabella on my left, the three others trailed behind. We follow a passage after reaching the bottom of the stairs. I can hear Elon and Sill whisper at each other.

“Are you insane lad. You don’t just walk up to a Don, and try to shake his hand. Do you want to die so badly?” Sill said disdainfully.

“Of course not. This is politics, you would not understand.”

“I understand perfectly good that your trying to act all friendly, and suck up to him. Look here lad, Razan told me to look after you. I don’t know who you are, but that was his last order. Just be happy we’re alive.”

“Well, you just betrayed him. And, you betrayed most of your brothers in the inner circle. Nothing makes no sense. I cannot even begin to explain the unnatural things I have seen tonight.”

“Shush,” Sill said. He turns his head abruptly, to make sure the men following him di d not hear what Elon said. Sill continued, “Don’t go sprouting nonsense, I am sure magic has something to do with it.”

It is obvious that Sill is lying, he knew exactly what Isabella is. It would seem that the Flutes are similar to the Shrouded, in the sense that only those in the inner circle know of the ‘The Gift’ a term they use for vampirism.

“Hold it right there!” A voice echoes through the room, that we just entered. The room is a duplicate of the previous room. However, this room had not metal bars blocking the passage forward, but it is guarded by six men. They all have similar armor, except they are hodded. Five of the men had blue mana, while the one in the middle, had a dim burgundy glow around him. He is a vampire, but a lesser vampire, like the ones we just killed.

“Sill is that you, holy Lavita’s tits, I thought you were all dead. The screaming was horrific. You had us-, who is that with you there?” The lesser vampire said. I am now able to fully see the guards, after Sill’s group fans out around him. The six men look nervous. The lesser vampire steps in front of them, and they form a triangle formation, in front the passage way.

“They are all dead, Clive.” Sill said. In unison, the six guards move their hands to their sword pommels. They must have suspected what is currently happening.

“Who is behind you Sill. Where are the rest of the inner circle? Jack the quick, Phillip frostbite, Pale face Emra? Jacob the hand? Where is the rest of the circle?”

“All gone, less than a handful of remain. The ambush failed.” Sill said. He glances behind me, his eyes looking towards me for directions on what to do. I walk towards him with relaxed steps. I form a speech thread as I make my way forward, modifying it to be a whisper.

“Convince them to join you.”

Sill nods at my words, and sighs. He probably did not want to risk having to kill anyone he did not have to. He holds the crossbow in his hands firmly, and points it to the guards. The archers in Sill’s group follow in his example, and also point their bows towards the six guards. Elon, and the other cutters, lay their hands on the handle of their swords. I move away from Sill, stepping back gently towards Cassandra. I will probably have to kill the vampire. For some reason the vampires from the Shrouded hate the ones from the Flutes. I am not sure why, but I intent to find out.

“Traitor!” The vampire in the middle shouts at Sill.

“Look around you, Clive. Think for a second. Razan is a puppet, everyone in the inner circle is practically dead. The Flutes have fallen.”

“Shut up. You broke the code. You swore an oath of loyalty.”

“I swore an oath loyalty in exchange for protection. Not to a Don, I have never met. For crying out loud, the fat fucker has killed more of us, than anyone else. Do you really want to Die tonight? You’re out numbered, and I am sure the others don’t want to die with you.” Sill said.

The vampire looks at the guards besides him, who are all nodding their heads. They obviously did not want to die tonight, and Sill’s words had struct home. I form speech threads after I reach Cassandra. She straightens her posture, after noticing that I want to talk to her.

“Why do you hate the vampires in this syndicate?”

“They are abominations, master. Their blood is too weak, and undeserving of the gift.” Cassandra said. She said it without emotion, you would almost think she is being sarcastic. I already know this much, and to me they were still vampires, though just much weaker. Do I have to kill every other vampire I come across, if they are weak? I may be able to find some use for them. However, vampire souls are always a treat.

“Do the other syndicates have vampires?” I said, casting another speech thread. I found Cassandra to be actually good at whispering, maybe her lack of emotion has something to do with it.

“No master.” Cassandra answered. Having notice that I want more details, she continues. “We were all part of the Flutes, many years ago. Our sires created the Flutes when our previous master went into his eternal sleep. The rules of our order were being broken when lesser vampires began sharing the gift. This caused an internal war, between those who supported the abominations and those who did not. The war left most of the elder vampires dead. Those like myself, who are closer to the immortal’s bloodlines, broke off from the Flutes. We took the humans who wanted to follow, and that’s how the Shrouded was formed.”

That seems to match a few things that I already know. So only the Shrouded and the Flutes have vampires. Which makes more sense, I was beginning to wonder if there are hundreds of them the city. It would be illogical that such a large number of vampires, could stayed hidden for so long, without anyone even noticing.

“I cannot join the Shrouded.” The vampire, Clive, said. He drew his sword and bared his teeth at us. Sill was about to say something, but I interrupt him with a quick speech spell.

“Sill, shoot him.” I try my best to make the thread sound serious, and threatening. If Sill could not shoot, I’ll have to kill him. Disobedience this early would make the others believe they can disobey me as well. He hesitates for a few a second, but then looks back at Clive.

The clack from Sill’s crossbow rings through the room, and half a second later the bolt slams into Clive’s mouth. Sill was a bit off, but it still made Clive scream out in pain as blood flows out his mouth, through his ripped off top lip and shattered front teeth.

The sound of four more crossbows being released follows, and four of them plunge into Clive’s body. However, none hit his head. Useless, all of them are all useless. The man is still standing and screaming, but also still alive. I nudge Cassandra next to me, and made a quick gesture towards Clive.

Cassandra lifts her bow, and reaches for an arrow in her quiver. She twirls the arrow then nocks it to her bow. I hear the bow string stretch, then a twang resounds through the room as she releases the arrow. The arrow glides between Elon and Sill, and slams through Clive’s eye. He goes rigid, and falls backwards.

With the use of my willpower, I pull the soul in, and absorb its mana into me. I feel my body grow a bit stronger with the added mana.

“I take it you all want to join?” Sill ask. The guards repeatedly nod all at once.

“Once I get paid I don’t care who I work for Sill. If I don’t make no coin, then I’m good as dead anyway.” The guard on the far right says.

Once again Sill looks back towards me. I am unsure how much they are paid, it just never crossed my mind. Of course, fear alone would not be able to convince them to join. I turn my head towards Isabella, who is less than five feet away. She is currently the underboss of the Shrouded, surely she must know how much everyone in the crew is paid. I start to form a speech spell to ask Isabella, but promptly notices my dilemma, so I have to disperse the mana I was using to form the speech threads.

“The last treasurer died, master. He would have known; he was also real stock up bitch and a prune. It’s where Cass gets it from. I am sure we can pay them, though.” Isabella said. I am starting to think she did not like any of Vicktor’s first thralls.

“Not everyone can be as loose as you.” Thea said, rolling her eyes.

“Well, you wouldn’t know what that means, little miss virgin.” Isabella retorts, with a soft voice.

“I-I, you are deplorable.” Thea said, a blush appearing on her face.

“I know darling.” Isabella responds. Thea gives up, and turns away from Isabella with a grunt. Cassandra stays quiet, not saying anything to defend herself. I hear one of the vampires behind me mutter something about ‘strange generation’. Cassandra takes advantage of the silence to finally say something.

“Five silver a week. Guards are paid five silver a week master.” She said, emphatically, and loud enough for everyone in the room to hear. The guards appear to have found the price worthy, because they move their hands away from their swords.

“Then file in and form ranks. Don’t be doing anything foolish now boys.” Sill said. The guards did as Sill commanded. Sill’s group walks forward to meet the approaching guards, then the two groups merge together. The guards, move to the back of Sill’s group.

“We’ll be moving to the dungeons.” Sill said. He waves his crossbow forward, to signal the men to move. They follow him, leaving behind the dead vampire. I turn around, to look at the two vampires who were marching behind me. I form the threads of a speech spell with my mana, and cast it.

“Both of you, guard the passage. No one enters, no one leaves, until I say otherwise.”

“Yes Master.”

“It shall be done.”

They eloquently move to the side of the passage, no fussing, just obedience. The four of us, follow Sill’s group deeper into the headquarters. I expected it to be fill with Flutes, but we did not come across any, despite several forks through the underground passage. Well, it is night, maybe they are just sleeping. Nevertheless, they are assassins and thieves, the night should be when they are most active.

I may have thought too soon. Eventually we do come across small groups of either patrolling guards, or those who are strolling around the headquarters. They were dressed in the same armour, except these had hoods as well. A few try to run, but they never made it far, because Sill’s squad shot down with arrows. I anticipated more resistance from Sill, but that was not the case. Either he truly did want to join the Shrouded, or he had an agenda of his own.

With quick words from Sill, combined with the fear of being shot, is enough to convince those who did not run to join. The morale of the Flutes must be low, if a piece of silver and the threat of death, can make them abandon their syndicate. But, then again it was either that or die, and like Sill said, the most of the inner circle is dead.

I enjoyed reaping the souls of those who ran. It made me feel like the grim reaper, all I need now, is a scythe. We are nearing a room that Sill calls the mess hall, with thirty new Shrouded members in total.

Once the headquarters fall, I will have to maintain some of the previous inner circle. Sadly, most of the inner circle is dead, which means, I will have to convince this Razan to join. Though, if what Sill said is true, the councilman has control over him. I cannot spear the councilman, he has to die. Maybe killing the him, and freeing Razan’s wife, will make him accept my rule.

“There were maybe ah, twenty, or twenty-five when I left the hall.” One of the newest members of Sill’s group replied, after being asked from Sill, how much people were in the mess hall. Which was something I asked Sill to do. Respecting the chain of command is important.

“My brother, Visash, is in there. I-I don’t want him to die.” Someone from Sill’s group said. The passageway is crowed, so Sill orders his group to form two lines along the stone wall. Thea and Cassandra are talking about archery, and Isabella would sometimes occasionally input with something sardonic.

“Same here Sill, my sister is in the mess hall.” Another person said. Sill begins to walk between the lines towards me. He eyes Thea, as she steps in front of me, a warning to Sill, that he should not come any closer.

“I know what you’re trying to do, my lord,” Sill said in a whisper. He looks back at the men, who are gazing at him, while he talks to me. He turns his head back towards me and continues, “They know they can’t turn back now, and I can’t change my path either, but we can’t kill their family. They’ll turn on you, my lord.”

Sill is right, though, I will never admit that to him. I form the necessary threads to make a speech spell, and cast it. I modify the speech threads so that the sound would not go beyond Sill. I could have also used a stop thread to do that, but it would be less accurate.

“They will be spared once they join. But anyone else who even draws a sword dies.” I form another speech thread of the same kind to say, “Let them know that new members of the inner circle will be chosen. And they have a key chance to impress me.” A few extra souls would never hurt, especially when I meet the mage. Maybe I can even convince the mage to join…Nah, I am going to kill him, and consume his soul. Who knows of the things I could learn when I go through his memories.

Sill sighs, and nods his head at the compromise. I rather not have his group turn on me, it would be bloody, but it would be thirty fresh souls. Sill turns around, and walks between the line of men, his crossbow firmly raised in his hands.

“Alright lads, anyone else who has family, know that once they aren’t stupid, and are willing to join, they will be spared. Anyone who else that attacks, will have to be killed. We can’t turn back now fellas, for better or for worst, we have cast out lot with the Shrouded.” Sill said. The men look grim. They are thieves and killers, maybe money and power will motivate them. I begin to form another speech thread.

“Also lads, The Don says those who impress will have a chance to be made men.” Sill said. All of the men turn to look towards him. Joining the inner circle was obviously an achievement that came with power. Sill’s group being to mutter, but Sill quickly, in a hush tone, demanded silence.

I wait until silence had once again return to the passageway, before waving Sill onward. I admit it did make me feel powerful, making their own people turn against them. I wonder if this can also happen with the Shrouded? I may have to do something to build up their loyalty. I know little of the people in my own syndicate. Except for the inner circle, who I knew for a day at best. However, the loyalty of the vampires is unquestionable now.

Sill begins to march his group forward, Elon tracing behind him. We come across dual wooden doors, this must be the door which leads to the mess hall.

“You lads open the door” Sill said, in a hush voice, to the two nearest to the door. One of them looks like a woman, but it’s hard to make because of their hood. They are about to push open the doors, when I stop them with a hastily casted speech thread. Whoever is in the room would need to be stunned by what is happening.

“Wait.” I say softly, through the use of the speech thread. I form the threads to cast another speech thread. “Cassandra, kick the door down.”

A few smiles, and a couple laughs erupted from Sill’s group. The only ones who did not find it fully, are Sill, Elon, and the other fourteen men who first joined. They had seen what Cassandra could truly do, and to them, it is no laughing matter.

The laughing did not bother Cassandra, partly why I sent her. I think Isabella would have killed them if they had laughed, and Thea was too valuable to risk. I am still interested in those eyes she has. But, now is not the time to ask her.

Cassandra walks peacefully between the passageway, her gown swishing on the stone floor. Some of the men leer at her as she passes by, but Cassandra pays little attention to them. Thea just rolls her eyes at them, and I had a feeling that Isabella is smiling.

Cassandra stands in front of door, her bow tightly grasped in her hand. She kicks the door, it was a slow kick, but that did not mean it is weak. Cassandra’s ankle boot, slams into the door with a heavy, and violent impact. The kick is so fierce that the hinges on both doors burst away from the wall. The two doors fly forward, slamming against a wooden bench and table twenty feet away.

Jax sat on the cold floor in his cell. He does not know exactly where he is, only that it has to be somewhere within the headquarters of the Flutes. The mage has poisoned him, and even now he can feel the poison flowing through his body. Seekers are by nature, through their training, resistant to most poisons. Except this was no natural poison, the mage had used some magical concoction.

Let the wisdom of the First King shine on Thea, Jax thought. He knew Thea would be quick to attack, and unless something has changed, her first move would be to come here alone, to rescue him.

I have failed the Prophet Laoch, and in doing so, I have failed the First King. To think that I could have created peace between two criminal gangs. I should have been more aggressive. His conquest of the world has begun so soon. Maybe the First King has instructed him to being his conquest in preparation for his arrival. Is the prophet trying to reborn the Albion empire, here in Talon?

However, he was in a coma when Jax left. Even if it takes the rest of his lifetime for the prophet to awake, Jax had promised to himself, he would not abandon the Shrouded. He would protect what his lord has acquired by conquest. But, that was before he failed, and now his promise meant nothing.

Then again, this could all simply be a test, Jax thought. It would be the perfect test, even for a full fledge seeker of the Church of Night. To protect a sleeping prophet, during both external, and internal conflict would require skills that only the seekers of old could master. Jax thought the fact that he had been captured by the enemy in such a test, is the not only a failure, it would be a shame to even call him a seeker now. Even if he died, and was sent to Uffern Dam, Jax did not know how he would be able to look at the First King in his eyes and say that he failed his only prophet.

The only regret that he has when he dies here, is that he would not be able to pass on his skills to a new seeker. He knew Thea found her way, and she would soon tell him that she could no longer be his apprentice. Ever since they left the village, he has been expecting her to one day say that. And the look in her eyes told him that it would have been soon.

All Jax could do now is pray. And, that is what he did, every waking moment that he was not talking to the pregnant woman. Jax once again bowed his head, and said the devotion.

“We live only to serve. In your presence, we are humbled. Through your threads we thrive. In your darkness, we are sheltered. First King, guide us, teach us, and let us follow you. Forever our souls shall be yours.” Jax whispered, over and over again, until his mouth was dry and his throat turned soar.

“Yuh’ll kill yourself, if yuh keep that up.” The woman said. Jax stopped his devotion, his concentration broken. He looked up at the woman, and found her blue eyes gazing down at him.

“Mayhap, that may be better.” Jax said, with a weak, dry voice. The pregnant woman is tied by her feet to the wall, by metal chains. Similar to how he is, except both his hands and feet are chained. She even has the privilege of being able to read a book by the light of the torch.

“Does this god of yours really want yuh dead.”

“That is only for him to know, but I have certainly failed him. And, he is not a god. He is a king, a true king, the First King.”

“Certainly he does not want yuh to hurt yuhself. Not even the lectors would go so far, and they stand for hours preaching the word of Nehron.” The dark skin, pregnant woman, replied.

“Then you have never seen a seeker, if I am even that anymore.” Jax said, weakly. The woman closes her book, and looks at Jax, rubbing her stomach as she smiled. How long has she been here? He thought. She must have been here for some time, to have grown use to her chains. She behaves as though she was not chained at all.

“Yuh have been this depressing way since yuh arrived. You have told me amazing things about this First King of yuhs. And, your true king is right, the only way you can do some good in this world, is to walk the path of evil. Freedom, is not free. However, the only thing I believe in right now is my child.”

Jas was about to repeat a quote from one of the scrolls he often borrowed from Amrita, but the creaking hinges of the dungeon door, stops him.

“Afia!” A strong voice called out.

“Razan!” The woman before Jax called out. She laid the book on the ground and was about to stand. All this time, and I never thought to ask her name, Jax thought.

“Don’t stand my love, I will come to you.” Razan shouted, as he quickly slides the key into the lock of the cell. The gears on the lock turns and the cell opens. For the most part, Razan ignored Jax. He rushes and kneels before the pregnant woman. Tears slide down Afia’s cheeks as Jax watches her embrace the man. They kiss each other, and the woman tries desperately to wipe her tears away.

Razan, noticing the woman’s tears, tries to help her wipe the other side of her cheek, and kisses her again, but she cries some more.

“Here quickly, the antidote,” Razan, opened his palm and the glowing vial in his hand brightened the cell. He presses the vial into Afia’s hands and said, “Drink.”

Jax watches as the woman uncorks the vial, and pour the glowing content into her mouth. She swallows it quickly, and sighs after.

“Don’t worry Afia, things will not stay this away. I promise you, our child will be born, and she will be free, and beautiful like you.” Razan said. They embrace again, and Afia is now smiling.

“Or, he, will be as handsome as yuh.” Afia said, with a soft laugh after.

“Hopefully, our looks are the only thing he may have.” Razan said. They both hug and laugh with each other. The sight of love made Jax feel a bit better, but it did not last for long. The dungeon doors slam open, and armed men in armour began to flood into the dungeon. What is going on, Jax thought.

“Razan! You’re a worthless piece of shit,” A fat man, dressed in expensive clothing said. He has a cloak, with a hood that covers his face, and is followed, last into the dungeon, by the mage. Jax watches the man with contempt, the mage is the reason Jax is inside the cell. Though, Jax knew the only person he could really blame is himself.

“What is it.” Razan said. He lets go of Afia, and quickly steps out of the cell, and into the circular room, that served as the dungeon. The room has twelve cells, but the others all currently empty. Afia, who is just as worried as Razan, stands up, and presses her body against the cell. In his rush, Razan leaves the cell open.

“The fucking, Don of the Shrouded is here, with his magic, and his gifted. Not only that, our people have turned on us. They were your responsibility, have of them Razan, half of the fuckers turned on us. The plan has failed, and I have been told the mess hall if running with blood. I should of have known you would fail me.”

Could that be true? The prophet, here to save me? But why? Why come himself, why risk eons of waiting, to risk everything on me? Does…does that mean he finds me worthy to be a seeker. I don’t understand, I have failed him. Jax tries to find a reason for the prophet’s action, and suddenly Jax knows why, and it all makes sense now. He showed Thea her path, his first words to her were practically a choice. Follow me or not, find your own path. That was Thea’s test.

This is…this is, could it be? The first test of the Lord Seeker? It must be, who else would it be for, and what better of a time than now. A test of failure. Does the First King find me worthy enough to give me a chance to become the Lord Seeker? Strong emotions arise within Jax, there has never been a Lord Seeker since the first age. All those before him, that would have risked everything for this chance, and now, it is being given to him.

“They are dead? But, the entire inner circle was there. That is not possible, their syndicate should be in chaos from the recent take over. Their inner circle should be fighting each other.” Razan said, he was about to continue, but was cut off by the fat man, who now eyed Jax.

“I don’t care, you one eyed fool. Your information was obviously bad; their syndicate is well under the influence of the mage, and their inner circle seems intact. You said that any attack they mount would be pathetic. Now do something you worthless fool, they are coming this way!” The fat man said.

Jax could see Razan’s patience for the man fade. As a seeker, it is important to be able to identity emotions and feelings, to explain current relationships. However, Jax wonders why Razan did not kill the fat man. He has seen hate like that, it often led to murder. The fat man, who must be Demir, The Don of the Flutes, could not stop walking in circles. Occasionally, Demir glances at Jax

“We hold up here, Razan, get the men in order and do not fail me again. Or else.” Demir said, looking towards Afia. The threat works well, since Razan quickly began to organise the dozens of men, into proper formations. The men with crossbows, or bows, he put in the middle, flanking those on both sides, are men with swords, or daggers. Jax watches as Razan made them draw their weapons. Jax thought that Razan, must have some military background.

“Can you do anything; this place is not exactly fortified.” Razan said to the mage, who is behind the formation of men, next to Demir. At first, the mage shows no signs of even hearing Razan’s words, but soon after his hands lift out of his robes, and his fingers began to move.

A yell erupts from the woman inside the cell and grasps the attention of all in the room. Jax cares for the woman, and he was about to jump and rush towards her side, but he is chained to the wall. Jax watches the woman place her hand on her stomach. Razan is already by the cell, the worry on his face is palpable.

“The baby,” Afia said, the pain on her face is clear. She continues after a deep breath, and said with soft words, “It’s coming.”