One hour later, Chloe finally arrived at her dorm room with her dinner in one hand and her satchel of books in another. Chloe immediately kicks off her high heel boots and shuts the door behind her. She goes to her workstation and sets her bags on the desk.

Today was brutal for her and not because of what happened with Selena. She had to go to three classes in the morning, including the one she came back from. It exhausted her, but it was all worth it finishing her acceded studies. Now she is going to spend at least a month backpacking all through Europe in October. But first, she had to get her credentials in order and send them to Interpol to become a full agent. For Chloe, this couldn’t come at a better time due to all the nonsense that is happening around the University. Especially with the murders six months ago.

But she didn’t want to think about that. She had a piping hot cart of chicken cacciatore and a pint of vanilla ice cream in the fridge. It was time for her to put on some Netflix movies and decompress.

Chloe wasted no time turning on her high-performance laptop and connecting herself to the Internet. Routinely, Chloe checks her email, and one of the messages is from a friend in high school she is still in contact with. Chloe reads the letter carefully:

From: Andrea Mercy [email protected]>

To: Chloe Serpentine [email protected]>

Date: Tue, Sep 5, 2014, at 6:03 PM

Subject: “Springtime for Oleander in Spain”

Mailed-by: yahoo.com

Dear Chloe,

I know I should have contacted you earlier. I have been busy with part-time jobs and school. I've heard a lot of shit went down last year. Some whack ass anime magical female knock-offs saving everybody. I know it's not my place to label anyone, even though you and I are smarter than all those people down there in Europe. Plus, I've heard he got your hands full, Chloe, so I didn’t want to bother you.

Anyway, I can go on and on about everyone’s life instead of my own. But there is a lot of shit I had to deal with back home. I had to deal with those fuckers, the Apex Predators and Oleander Syndicate feuding. Something about a forgotten coalition of dark agencies battling one another over some blood vendetta or whatever.

I want us to team up again like old times, Chloe. Since high school, I never seen you face to face. Don’t worry; it’s entirely understandable. With you and me going to Spain next month, it'd be good to catch up with you about everything. I have a YouTube video to share with you. I took it over to my friend to refurbish the video a little bit. For some odd reason, we can’t encode it. The video is messed up.

I also bought a new smartphone from Apple. I bought a purple case with it to match my new hair color. Fortunately, I kept my old phone number so you can call me. Plus, thanks for the birthday present, Chloe. My mom really loved the lobster you imported from France. Too bad, Dad discovered he was allergic to shellfish. And by the way... change your weak-ass handle ID "2ndGenConstantine.” It’s so lame.

Sincerely,

Andrea Mercy

Chloe laughs as she clicks on the attachment and views the video. The video had no sound, and the picture was fuzzy. From Chloe’s perspective, it showed an authority figure was ordering five others who were wearing a dark green and dark blue uniforms holding machine guns into a rundown mansion. Or was it five?

Suddenly, the video’s sound kicked in as it was nothing but distinctive screaming and hollering. Too garbled and grainy to make out the noise. The video only lasted for 30 seconds, but that was all she needed to make her decision: the video was a waste of time.

You and your YouTube videos, Andrea, Chloe thought.

It would be a good idea to call Andrea first, just to catch up with her. However, Chloe needed to call Revan Zayne, her mentor in magic and demonology. She goes into her satchel and pulls out her cell phone. She immediately calls Revan and in a couple of seconds, her mentor answers on the other line. “Chloe, hello!”

“Hey, Mrs. Zayne. What’s up?”

“Nothing much on my end, darling,” Revan answered. “I just received a letter from your childhood friend, Andrea.”

Chloe had to laugh a little. “Yes, she sent me one as well. Another one of her YouTube videos.”

Revan sighs gravely, “The things people put on the Internet just to get noticed nowadays is rather humorous to me.”

“I think it’s just a desperate call for attention, Mrs. Zayne,” Chloe suggested. “By the way, I have heard the Syndicate has issued a cease-fire between your family and themselves.”

Revan took a pause for a couple of seconds as she collected her thoughts on the entire situation. Then, she answered, “It appears the coalition has been more fragmented than ever before, darling. Ever since their leader has died, which was a decade ago I might add, many have finally broken away from the Dark Nebula Coalition and formed their own independent groups. I warned him, his sister, and anyone who would listen. I warned them about a civil war that would inadvertently and directly engulf the entire world. And what do they do, his psychopathic sister and her friends tried to kill the messenger?”

Even though they may not pinpoint a particular group or individual as they are just as dangerous as the other, The Dark Nebula Coalition is a loosely knitted organization cause more panic and more strife consisting of mercenaries and spell-casters who specializes in using the unforgiving energy source called the Nether. While other lawmakers who are in the back pocket that want to seize control of the Crux Nexus for themselves through sheer force or political ties, they have been a constant threat.

However, over the years the Dark Nebula Coalition has gained most of the upper hand through their consistency and their effectiveness of seeing their plans go through. Even taking smaller victories other than making big ones have benefited them in the long run. Now more than ever the Crux Nexus and all their affiliates must band together and try to cripple the Dark Nebula Coalition once and for all.

“Sometimes telling the truth isn’t worth it, Mrs. Zayne,” Chloe regrettably added.

“And tell nothing but lies so I can keep myself alive. Meanwhile, live a bigger lie myself?” Revan counterpointed with a laugh. “Look, darling, I cannot help myself to tell the truth. I guess you can say we were all born that way. Yet, that remains a definite. If you tell the truth you pretty much die in this world nowadays.”

Chloe had always worried about her mentor and her family. True, most of the situations could have been utterly unavoidable if they would of mind their own business or have played along. But it was the sense of their Cavaliering attitude that has consistently gotten them into trouble, “Mrs. Zayne, don’t say such things…”

“It’s okay, darling… You know, my eldest son asked for you.”

“Is he doing okay?” Chloe eagerly asked.

Revan didn’t want to be hesitant in her eldest son’s condition. This was a lie or her covering up for her son. She told Chloe the truth, no matter how bad his friend may have taken it “He’s recovered already. All he needs now is time. He was in a horrible way we found him over a year ago in the Sahara, fighting off the red arrow. Sadly, I wish I can say the same for his friends. The whereabouts of his lady friend are still a mystery as the other is suffering badly emotionally. I just don’t understand it.”

Chloe felt her heart sink into her stomach, as she felt a significant amount of grief for her close friend, “Rahkaze…”

“He’s a tough kid. He will bounce back from this. Trust me. He has everything that he needs to redesign, to rebuild, and reclaim. Remember who taught him how.”

Another thing from Revan is that she has a way with words in which gives many people comfort. She’s not too blunt yet doesn’t sugarcoat her meanings. That’s what makes Revan so likable amongst her peers and her students.

“I know. As stubborn as he is brave, I believe Kaz is more pissed off than sad,” Chloe contemplated.

“Story of his life,” Revan regrettably agreed. “Oh, I must be going. I’m picking up Mordechai from the airport. He received his Doctrine’s two days ago.”

Hearing about her youngest son, Mordechai always brightened up her day. Mordechai is a sweet and kind little kid, who is also incredibly smart. Even far more intelligent than her, but she preferred not to say that to him, “Oh, little Morrie? Tell Morrie I said ‘hi’ okay?”

Revan giggled softly knowing she is always infatuated with him, “Don’t worry, I will tell your ‘boyfriend’ you said hello.”

Hearing that, made Chloe blush, “now that’s just sick, Mrs. Zayne.”

“Well, you should know me by now,” Revan blows off. “And I will see you real soon in person.”

Chloe nodded in agreement, “Okay, Mrs. Zayne. I will see you--” it was right then and there she had to catch herself. She didn’t understand the last thing Revan said to her, but she had to clarify for herself. “H-hold on, Mrs. Zayne, what do you mean by that?”

Revan took a long pause. However, in this case, she didn’t really have to think about what to say, “Whatever you make of it, darling.”

Abruptly, Revan ended the call, leaving Chloe dumbfounded and frightened. Chloe and many others already knew the cruel and unforgivable nature that Revan has with others. She didn’t want to jump to any conclusions or make any kind of possible scenarios on what just happened to her friend, Rahkaze.

Revan played it cool and collectively throughout the whole process. She took her time taking care of her son, rather than going out there and tallying up a body count that would make anybody from the Oleander Syndicate jealous. But with Oleander Syndicate and the Apex Predators, along with the Valentina family, the last thing the world needs is another “reminder.” Fortunately, or unfortunately, whoever you are, Revan would be the one to be fully capable of giving everyone a reminder.

Mrs. Zayne, I hope you know what you’re doing, Chloe prayed.