The next morning things became a bit weirder as the local news talked out the standoff taking place in Askham Grange. There was nothing serious report, but it was indeed embarrassing for the four wolf girls who had their worst moments recorded and posted on Twitter and Instagram.

The Firas family, it was a bit exhausted themselves with Suerte still asleep at a luxury hotel suite she and her father were staying.

There was a nearby coffee shop in downtown London, Bĕhēmōṯ finished up a phone conversation with his senior royal advisor who was staying with his daughter, “I wouldn’t worry about it anymore, Noel. I know for a fact Renfield and her division understands now… Sounds good. I’m getting breakfast for the ladies, and I will pick up Rosa from the hospital. See you soon.”

Walking down the street, Bĕhēmōṯ went to the nearest coffee shop. The interior decorating was beautiful, and it smelt like strong coffee.

Of course, it smelled like strong coffee because it was a coffee shop, he thought. However, the sweet aroma of Mediterranean coffee beans being roasted and ground up took him back to where--

“Alastair Copeland?” A low garbled female voice called out.

This sent shivers down Bĕhēmōṯ’s spine. It has been years since anybody haven’t called him by that name. Instinctively, he turned around quickly to see a tall female human with long salt and pepper hair with green eyes. She had a medium build to her, very fit. She was wearing casual clothing as she approached the alleged Alastair with a coffee cup in her hand.

With a smile, she introduced herself, “you may not have remembered me. I am Gabriel Flay, one of the orderlies in that hospital in Toledo?”

Bĕhēmōṯ quickly remembered her. Immediately, he acted coy like Alastair had been, “yes, the Solaris Sanatorium. I heard the government seized that god-awful hospital after the Oleander Syndicate was burned to the ground.”

Gabriel nodded, “They wanted to keep me on as one of their psychiatrists. However, I declined…”

“You leaving after the disbandment was a good choice…” Bĕhēmōṯ agreed.

Gabriel was amazed by his physical transformation of this alleged Alastair, “I see you’ve been hitting the gym. And no, I’m not hitting on you either. I can sense a loving husband a mile away.” She teased.

Bĕhēmōṯ nervously laughed off the flirtation, “yes, but I feel I’m the one catching up with her…”

This made Gabriel smile hearing the good news, “Well, I can see she makes you happy… You have no idea how many former members of that syndicate I run into who are now broken and miserable.” Gabriel reflected, as her happiness turned to sadness.

“Most of them either died during that nonsense… While others survived, only to die slowly. Kind of like that, Daemon Knight, who lost his mind… I heard he was a hero to his own people. He wants to be a Senator now in the States. They used to call him Oedipus. Very fitting… Such a shame that the older generation like us take the younger generation for granted,” she ranted.

This had been an ongoing issue with former members of the Oleander Syndicate either committing suicide or abusing drugs beyond a point where they overdose. Even many others who opposed all sides and fought for equality and freedom, no matter what race they were.

Bĕhēmōṯ couldn’t help being the one responsible for extensively exposing not most but all of their menacing secrets, deals, conspiracies; causing the syndicate itself to erode from the inside out slowly.

“I’m just glad you are the ones who found a way out of the darkness.” Gabriel praises.

“It’s easier said than done, Doctor,” Bĕhēmōṯ said.

“Here. Let me give you my card. If even your family needs anything, give my office a call.” Gabriel offered.

Couldn’t hurt, Bĕhēmōṯ thought as he took the business card from Gabriel. “Thank you. I will keep this in mind.” He accepted.

Gabriel walks away from Bĕhēmōṯ and out of the coffee shop. He had to take a deep breath from that unexpected encounter. Many people don’t know that he is the Empress of the Nether, and his real name is Bĕhēmōṯ Firas. He is indeed the most powerful monarch of the entire Royal Nephalem Order. Although he does have his challengers as they would rather work with the young and new instead of fighting against change.

For now, all he wants is some coffee. He went up to the counter and gave his order as he read off a list, “I will have one large hot cocoa, two large French roasts with two sugars each, a medium white chocolate caramel cappuccino and medium strawberry vanilla latte-- Oh! Also, a dozen scones.”

“You might as well have a seat, your Majesty. That order could take a while.” A familiar voice beckoned.

He remembers that voice from his days being Alastair Copeland. She sounded older, but the pain in her monotone voice is still there from last time. He slowly turned around to see the same dark-skinned, raven-haired Crucis Sentinel from five years ago. This time, she was taller and filled out quite nicely in her new uniform. Yet, the stoic look on her face, along with her no-nonsense personality, hasn’t changed.

Bĕhēmōṯ took his ticket from the barista and sat in one of the booths, as the Crucis Sentinel followed him. They sat across from one another; the Crucis Sentinel kept her eyes on Bĕhēmōṯ as he did the same.

Then the waitress handed the Crucis Sentinel her hot drink, “I have one orange spice oolong tea for a… Uhm… An ‘I’ll Pa Crew Sis?’” Reading the ticket.

The Crucis Sentinel was annoyed by the young waitress’ mispronunciation, “For the umpteenth time, it's Alpha Crucis!” she accepted the drink.

Intently, Bĕhēmōṯ saw Alpha Crucis pour some honey into her cup of tea and stir the drink with a cinnamon stick. She then tasted the tea herself. It was to her satisfaction.

Oddly enough, this was the first time that Bĕhēmōṯ ever really spoken to a real Crucis Sentinel or even encountered one. He heard stories about their strength and intelligence, also about their serene and graceful personalities on how they carry themselves.

The only time he would ever experience something remotely was with the Holy Mother, who is a former Crucis Sentinel herself. However, with the young woman across from him, she was an angelical wonder. Not at all like the Holy Mother who put on a show.

There wasn’t a greeting or beating around the bush; Alpha Crucis focused on why she was here, “Maria Boutonnière dropped all of her charges against Walter Dunne a couple of years ago. She is now telling the authorities and her psychiatrist that it was her own doing, and she blackmailed Walter for sex and cooperation. She then went on to say that what she did to her was ‘consensual.’ This admission exonerates Dunne for rape and assault.”

Bĕhēmōṯ knew about Maria’s admission from the conversation he had with the warden at HM Prison Askham Grange, “why are you telling me this, Sentinel?”

“Because I’m waiting for the other shoe to drop.” Alpha Crucis demanded. “You may have known Maria as only the Holy Mother of The Third Revelation. However, I’ve known her all my life as the ultimate opportunist in the Crux Nexus. That woman wore many faces...”

Bĕhēmōṯ didn’t want to show that he was nervous, “you think she changed?”

Alpha Crucis scowled, staring at her own reflection in her tea, “no, your Majesty. Maria's rage quitted. Besides, she has no use for him anymore. Walter is still a fugitive for his other charges. He may even face the death penalty. Meanwhile, Maria will spend the rest of her life in that country club nut house singing cover songs from alternative bands that nobody gives two squirts a piss about for commissary. If only she weren’t pretty enough…” She looked away, shaking her head in disgust. “If there is anything that I’ve learned from Maria Boutonnière, is that true evil takes shape in many forms…” She concluded.

Despite all of their power, Bĕhēmōṯ learned like many others that the Crucis Sentinels are only young women. They were well trained-- not pushed or pulled-- to handle the worst of the worst.

Bĕhēmōṯ sympathized with her, “she deceived many people in her life that put their faith and trust in her. There were times I tried to wrap my head around why she would do such a thing? I never gave it such a simple thought on why she wanted to be proved right all the time. A part of her was still righteous. You say she’s evil, Sentinel, but I beg to differ…”

Alpha Crucis stared right in the Emperor’s slitted eyes, finding sincerity, “obviously. However, you don’t know her as I do. Neither you nor your uncle had no idea whom you were dealing with.” Alpha Crucis snickered at Bĕhēmōṯ’s logic.

“You had no idea how many times Maria had to go to her Majesty with these outlandish ideas about how Nether users and Nephalems of any kind were monsters,” Alpha Crucis continued. “Continuously poking that bear, trying to get a rise out of all of you… She is both brilliant and depraved. She had many of our own, including her fellow sentinels killed because they didn’t agree with her or didn’t follow her plan… She hated all of you, and she still does. She was going to win by any means necessary. Even if it meant sleeping with the supposed enemy.”

“I thought you hated the Royal Nephalem Order,” Bĕhēmōṯ wondered.

Alpha Crucis blinked out of confusion, “Personally, I never did. Neither does my team. To be honest, the Crux Nexus never hated or wanted to engage a confrontation with the Royal Nephalem Order, the Stygian Society, Nether-users, or nephalems in general. Just like any other royal circle, we wanted to know more about how you guys worked together and with others outside of your kind. We never wanted a war with anyone. All we ever wanted to do is to keep the balance and protect the innocent no matter who they are, but Maria Boutonnière wanted to be the savior of humanity after the 9/11 terrorist attacks,” she explained.

Bĕhēmōṯ’s jackal ears shifted as his eyes grew large with amazement, “so that’s what psychologically triggered Maria.”

“If you want to call it that.” Alpha Crucis debunked.

“After 9/11, people were scared all over the world. The fear, the chaos, the pain. It wasn’t just statewide or nationwide. It was worldwide. Maria Boutonnière wanted to be that ultimate solution to purge such fear, to bring harmony to such chaos, and to relieve the pain of many others. She just went about it the wrong way, because Maria lived in fear all of her life. 9/11 made it worse.”

Alpha Crucis was indeed taken aback by the hulking Emperor’s logic. His assessment was unprejudiced, unbiased, and fair.

Bĕhēmōṯ took this time to reflect as spoke his true feelings with Alpha Crucis, “Her being a self-absorbed psychopath, she belongs in Askham Grange for the rest of her natural life… As for my uncle, he has to own up for what he has done, as well. Like I did… He could’ve easily refused to go along with any plan Maria had cooked up in her mind and asked for sanctuary within in his order. He didn’t…

“Looking back at it now, my uncle could have gone to the Royal Nephalem Order, eat crow and still would’ve kept his sovereignty and did at least ten years in prison, but he didn’t. He chose his own brand of justice and ran like a coward.

“However, I understand that he was going through a tough time in his life losing his fiancée. Her family was rejecting him because of who and what he is. And on top of that, having a woman like Maria Boutonnière use and abuse you for her own gain. Only to throw him away and cast them aside when she was done with him…”

Alpha Crucis wanted to ask where the former Daemon Archduke is hiding, but that would’ve been a waste of time. Even if Bĕhēmōṯ is still checking up on him, is not like they could do much with it anyway since Endspiel is continuously on the move.

So, instead of treating him like a suspect, Alpha Crucis treated him like he was an ordinary citizen. Even though he was more than ordinary, “so what brings you here in London, don’t tell me you are here to see Buckingham Palace?” She deadpanned.

“My wife is doing some important work. So, I decided to visit her and bring some comforts of home with me to cheer her up…” Bĕhēmōṯ smiled.

“That reminds me, how is your life now being the Emperor of the Nether?” Alpha Crucis asked while taking the sip of her tea.

Bĕhēmōṯ blushed as he smiled, “I went from being a bottom feeder at the Oleander Syndicate to now having everybody chasing my tail for a seat at my table for Sunday dinner. If there were such a thing, I would be reveling in it. However, this is a great responsibility that needs to be handled with care, intelligence, and integrity.” He answered sincerely as this earned a smirk from Alpha Crucis.

Finally, the waitress brought Bĕhēmōṯ his drinks. He even tipped the waitress handsomely with a fifty-euro banknote.

“I have dealt with many monarchs in my day, but never seen one as you doing a coffee run,” Alpha Crucis said.

“I know many men in my circle would say the same thing. However, I’m not like any other monarch. I’m just me!” Bĕhēmōṯ happily stated with a genuine smile as he left the booth, heading back to his hotel room.

Like many others, Bĕhēmōṯ gave up on having a healthy life after the events of the holy firebombing. After the Daemon Archduke Endspiel was taken into custody, Bĕhēmōṯ tried his best to flee Cabo San Lucas. The Royal Nephalem Order later discovered him shortly after.

Tracing his bloodline, Bĕhēmōṯ was fully recognized by the Royal Nephalem Order as the next and long-awaited Emperor of the Nether. However, that’s a long story for another day…

For now, be had to hurry up and go back to his hotel suite where his family is waiting for him. He was very cautious with his beverages and scones, as Alpha Crucis looks on.

As for the Nether Elite, the three wolf girls decided it was best not to bother Natalia who was still in her hospital apartment. She was so exhausted and slept all day yesterday when she came back. Suddenly, her smartphone rang that early morning. She didn’t want to answer it, but she had to. She looked at the caller ID, and it reads “Mi Amor.”

Immediately, she answers it while she was lying down, “Hey! N-nothing… I was just thinking of you…” She responded as she even spoke in a different tone and accent. It’s like she had passion and enthusiasm, nothing like her monotone demeanor she portrayed with her team. She was genuinely happy.

Then Natalia’s wolf ears shot up in excitement, hearing the caller’s news. “Estás tanto?! ¡Ahora?!” After hearing the caller’s explanation, she blushed and embarrassment. “B-bien... No sabía... You and she always love sneaking around…” This made Natalia chuckle. “Sí… Interpol has me grounded while giving me some days off… I don’t know, but Adrian isn’t happy what Kayla did yesterday either!” Natalia slowly sets up on the bed. “Of course, she’s not! I’m too ‘valuable’ now, and she knows that…”

Natalia’s eyes widened a bit when she heard something that interested her, “okay, sure. I’m probably going to be checked out since this is my last day—” Natalia stopped talking as the caller interrupted her. She groaned at the offer, “No, sweetie, you really don’t have to make a reservation at our usual spot. Besides, I want things to be a bit subtler since I am technically on the job. But I do want to see both of you later today.”

Natalia even lustfully giggled as the caller was giving her indecent propositions, “Por supuesto, mi amor. I definitely want to see you tonight as well…” She flirted while happily wagging her tail back and forth.

“So, is Fate asleep…?” Natalia happily asked as she laid back down. “Oh, I know she had fun doing a lot of sightseeing… Knowing her, she wanted to fly in those wingsuits…” She laughed out loud. “Excelente, I know just the place to feed that little adrenaline junkie. Okay, I have to get situated and check into a hotel. Te amo, mi preciosa bestia. Thank you for everything yesterday, Bĕhēmōṯ, and take care,” Natalia concluded the call with a kiss as she hangs up the phone.

Natalia was right about one thing; a lot has changed, and for her, things have changed for the better. Before she didn’t really have much to fight for, but now she definitely does.