“That fucking bitch!” I growled and stomped down through the cavern. “Just she fucking wait. And that insolent Awakened.” I ground my teeth and marched on. We hadn’t seen nor fought much as we passed through the cavern, only more weak wolves and obvious wire traps. I glanced behind me at the three members of Raymond’s team. They were a pathetic lot, even Raymond who walked along beside me was pathetic.

My father had tasked me with infiltrating and subverting the command of various guilds and groups, who were rising in the ranks. I didn’t know why, and I didn’t ask. As long as father let me have my toys, I would do as the Sembrane house bid. Raymond was one such toy and among my toys, he owned me a sizable debt. We had already agreed to kill his friends and take whatever loot they dropped for ourselves, when the time was right. Then we would’ve turned on the others, and with Matilda within my thrall I would’ve accomplished that already.

I didn’t give a shit about the Gateway or its time limit. That bitch and her friends had undermined me and now they would pay. A deep growl rumbled through the cavern and Raymond had his spear out in a flash. I twisted the ring on my pinkie finger and was awarded with the soft distant glow of Mana within the wolf up ahead. I sniffed and waved a hand at Raymond, “kill it.”

“Me?” Raymond asked with surprise, “I- uh, Drake? I don’t-”

He cut off at my glare and cautiously stepped along the cavern. His friends arrived shortly with the luggage and I ignored them, though the dark green-haired girl with them had a nice body. Unfortunately she had ruined her looks with piercings. “Skank,” I muttered yet licked my lips at the thought of pulling those piercings out of her as I-

“Drake…?” I scowled as I turned back to Raymond. He had a pathetic fresh slice across his forehead and was panting heavily.

“Well?” I asked and held out my hand. He looked at it and winced, “where is the Mana crystal?”

“I uhhh…”

“You uh?” I asked him and raised an eyebrow.

He swallowed thickly and backed away, “I’m – um just getting it now.”

“Dog,” I muttered with a laugh and caught a glimpse of Raymond’s friends glaring at me. That just made me laugh even harder. None of these idiots understood what it truly meant to be Gifted. We were gods, though to a lesser degree, but still godly compared to the scum of Humanity and the weak willed Awakened. Even my own mother was nothing more than a human mare, father used to breed. I was his legacy now. Everything we did now to further ourselves, meant less work for me when it was my chance to take over.

The Sembrane house and our allies had been privately working with the corrupt priests of the Mothers church, buying up properties and neighbourhoods throughout the city where Gateway openings had been numerous. We recruited and bought out various faction and had them set up in those areas, with the intent that a Gateway would open.

Sighing I leaned against the cavern wall, I would have to have my maids scrub me most verily later when I returned triumphantly with the spoils of an easy day’s work.

It was a shame I wouldn’t get the chance to fuck Matilda, maybe I could offer the slut a chance to spend the week strapped in my bed, begging for forgiveness. Of course I would have to get another infatuation charm cast on her, I couldn’t have her disobeying me after all. None of my pets would dream of doing so. I could even take that poor human school girl, the sister of that Awakened trash. The very thought of that slime irritated me.

“Oh, how I’ll enjoy skinning you alive,” I breathed and felt a stir from my crotch. I eyed the green-haired skank, tempted to walk over and claimed her in front of her friends. But that wasn’t my way, I nudged those that would be my pets along, breaking them too quickly wasn’t fun at all.

Raymond returned shortly after, bloodied and carrying a crystal with an inner soft green glow. I grimaced in distaste, everything here was so weak it was ridiculous. That included the people as well. “Come,” I commanded the group and set off again. My foot pressed down on the ground and I heard a compressed hiss. A second later the floor underneath us all fell out, and we were swallowed down by the darkness.

This novel is the work of Rhys Thomas. If you are reading this and it has not been published by Rhys Thomas, then this work has been stolen. Please report this to Amazon and me at email: [email protected]