Chapter One

CHAPTER ONE

Evil Leader

We've lost our biggest resource, which was our spies within the islands.

But there's no loss without gain.

When I revived the Black Wreath Organization, I bore many sacrifices. 

"We all have to," I murmur, looking down at the woman kneeling before me, her expression blank. Her shirt has been altered to fit her new missing limb.

"I know it upsets you to have lost your arm, Susan, but you should feel happy that the Blood Moon Hybrid's blood only spilled on your left arm. That blood is more precious than that most rare jewel in the world. It's our only key to accessing the remaining vaults."

I have never questioned Susan's loyalty to me or the cause, but I can feel her tension.

"You are right-handed, Susan," I approach her. "It will take you time, but you will get used to having one limb. You made a sacrifice. We've all made them."

My hand goes to the side of my face, covered in the silver mask. I slowly remove it, allowing her to see the vicious scarring from the hellfire I came into contact with, "I ruined my face, and half my body to retrieve the Book of the Dead from the Hell Flame. Once the Hell Flame touches you, it will never stop burning. I live with that suffering every day, and I am proud that I was able to give half my body to the cause."

My fingers touch her chin and tilt it, forcing her to meet my gaze, "Be proud of your sacrifice, Susan."

Her voice is bitter, pain in her eyes, "I lost my squadron."

"So get stronger," I advise her. "Get stronger so that you can reclaim your rightful spot again."

However, while she looks away, I don't miss the dissatisfaction in her eyes. I just smile, putting my mask back on. She's still young. 

She's lucky that I just took her arm. I could have kept her corpse.

"How do we know if it will even work?" Susan suddenly asks.

She's been quite outspoken these past few weeks. Bitterness stemming from the fact that her missing limb has forced me to demote her into one of the lower tier members. In our organization, only the strong and powerful hold leadership positions. Even if it was my decision, losing a limb makes Susan weak. The weak cannot lead. 

I study her now, feeling a tinge of annoyance. If she keeps up this behavior, I might reconsider changing her into a corpse full-time. She's lost most of her value now. However, her question does make me ponder.

"It might work. Or it might not. But for your sake, Susan," I lean forward to stroke her cheek, my voice cool. "You had better hope it does."

When she shivers in fear, satisfaction flows within me. 

"We will find out soon enough," I murmur. 

Just then, there's a knock on the door and I call out, "Enter."

Three of my top generals walk in, clad in black, wearing only the group's insignia on their shirts. 

"How are the preparations going, Rufus?"

Rufus is in charge of the West part of the country. He recruits potential candidates and has gotten me plenty of strong individuals with whom our purpose has resounded. He's also been whipping the new recruits into shape, his expertise military techniques and training.

"We will need a couple of weeks, Sir. I've summoned our strongest warlocks. We intend to test a certain part of the barrier first before we go for a full-body assault. Since there is only one piece left, we have to assume that the Director is guarding it fiercely."

My eyes flicker towards Zackery, my spymaster, "And what do you have for me?"

"I've sent in my rats, but there has been no sign of Taylor Knight. Her companions have been moving around without her."

I frown, "Do they have her locked up in the vault?"

"No," Zackery shakes his head. "My rats checked. The vault has been sealed. They've not had any movement for days."

I press my lips together into a thin line. 

Zackery is one of the few forest guardians who has chosen to side with us. In this world where supernatural beings like us are being pushed out by these ignorant humans, Zackery's small home was razed down by these pesky humans who only know how to breed like rabbits and take over territory that isn't theirs. Zackery's animal has always been rats. He can control them, and they are his faithful companions. I offered him my hand years ago when he had no place to guard, no home to call his own. He's not very violent, as most forest guardians tend not to be. However, he makes for an excellent spymaster, and he has helped me build up an entire spy network over the past few years.

I interlock my fingers behind my back, hiding my frustration, "What about the other girl?"

"She's not at the camp either," Zackery murmurs, quietly. "No sigh of her. I've had all the islands searched. I had to pull back my rats because Morrighan Yearwood has been noticing them."

I watch a rat peek out from under his shirt collar and then crawl up the side of his face, disappearing into his bushy hair.

"Mateo?" I look at the third man, who is a bit more relaxed than the introverted forest guardian, and the grim-eyed soldier. From the three of them, Mateo with all his smiles, is the one who I would consider the most dangerous. 

"The younger girl didn't go home. I've checked every surveillance footage from around the islands, but there is no sign of any of them. Taylor is also in the wind. I checked the younger girl's house but from what I could gather, the vampires who were looking after her, burnt the house and disappeared. Taylor's old home is also gone, as is the stepmother. My intelligence agents discovered that the relationship between Dolores, her stepmother, and Taylor was never good. She wouldn't go to her."

"But she went somewhere," I stare at him. "They both did."

Mateo raises his brows, "My guess is, either the Director killed them or sent them somewhere to hide."

"She wouldn't kill them," I murmur. "Her heart is too soft."

My eyes are dark, filled with anger at being thwarted once again.

Mistfall Wildnerness Camp, a camp and school for young ones who need guidance to grow into their abilities, is also known as the last resting place of the ancient evil that once fought for dominance on this earth, the evil that is known by many names.

The organization refers to it as Belruth. 

The founders of the island could not kill Belruth, so they subdued him and cut him into pieces, hiding them into several vaults, underneath the islands, sealing those vaults with a magic so strong that they could never be opened. On top of those islands, under which Belruth's dismembered limbs lay rotting and sealed, they started up Mistfall Wilderness Camp, after disbanding our organization, those who had followed Belruth. 

But they never foresaw that prophecies would be revealed by the Seers who still roamed the death, prophecies that indicated that there would come a time when blood would come into existence, blood which would have the ability to unseal those vaults.

That prophecy has been misinterpreted numerous times. There was a time when it was rumored that the a hybrid and a Blood Moon Hybrid born from the same parents would be the key. However, when rumors did fly about the birth of two such children, they were never found. I then believed that perhaps only the blood of those children who had not yet transitioned would be able to open those vaults. But Taylor Knight's fortunate presence helped us re-examine the prophecy, and the initial interpretation stood, and her blood did the rest of the work. 

My jaw tightens. 

If her dried blood that stains Susan's severed arm doesn't help us open those vaults, then that will give the Morrighan Yearwood time to call in more reinforcements and protect the last vault to an extent that we might not be able to get through. 

"Find the girl, both girls," I order, harshly. "Till we know where they are, especially Taylor, we cannot launch an attack. This is going to be our last chance at infiltration."

My anger echoes within the stone walls of the chambers and I hear murmured 'yes''s before all of them retreat. When I look over my shoulder, Susan is among them.

My jaw is tight with anger. 

Where has that woman stashed those girls? How is there no trace of them?

The younger one, I need her for her blood. She's weak, unlike Taylor, and therefore easier to subdue. 

Taylor's powers are too unpredictable, especially so after the seal on them was broken. 

I can't take the risk of her standing in our path. She needs to be eliminated. 

Now.