CHAPTER ₁

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The wheels rolling on the smooth carpet fill the calm morning air of the house as Emerald approaches her sleeping mistress. Today was special as it marks her nine years of serving Wynter's household. Emerald smiles at the special breakfast she has prepared for Wynter and wipes her hands on her apron before she knocks on the crisp, white-colored door.

Upon, hearing the gentle knocks Wynter slowly rose from her peaceful slumber and props herself up against the large headboard. Wynter smiles as she suddenly remembers what today was.

She has grown to love the woman who has taken care of her when she was at one of the lowest points in her life. She opens the nightstand next to her plushy bed and takes the peach-colored diamond necklace out and closes it back.

She wants today to be a special day for both of them. Despite all the troublesome times, Emerald takes care of her and stays loyal.

"You may enter Emerald," Wynter beckons the patiently waiting-maid in.

Emerald briskly walks in with a cheerful smile pushing her cart, "Ma'am it's time for you to get your day started! I've brought breakfast and since today is a special day, I've prepared a special breakfast-"

A loud bang sound resonates in the air as Emerald slowly descends towards the off-white carpet.

Wynter jolts out of the comfortable bed and onto the soft and now bloody carpeted floor. She becomes face-to-face with her unconscious maid with a bullet in her chest with blood seeping out of her wound.

Emerald's cheerful face is now pale-like and decorated with specks of blood. Wynter trails her fingers down her face as she wails in discomfort, "No no no no not now!"

This is what happens when you open up your heart to other people, you get fragile and sensitive. She had thought she learned her lesson when the two most precious things were taken from her.

Nope.

Whoever was outside was not waiting for her to let the death sink in, as two more bullets fly through the right window shattering it completely. Wynter, who is still stunned by the sudden death of her precious friend she dare say, does a backflip onto her bed barely dodging the dangerous pieces of lead.

She can't let the saddening situation and the person outside get a hold of her, so she finally regains focus and makes a dash for her closet. As she turns the corner, a bullet misses her ankle by a hair and she's able to enter the huge space. Moving her clothes out of her way she stands before her secret door, which is disguised as an oddly big mirror.

Tapping the middle of the mirror twice a robotic voice fills her ears as it asks for the password for entry. Wynter, obviously annoyed and frustrated, whispers the password quickly.

"Correct, you may enter."

The mirror detaches itself from the wall and opens up to a small elevator. Hurrying in, Wynter looks to the side to see the up and down button. Wynter presses down and collapses dramatically to the floor as the reality of the situation sinks in and the sorrowful tears slowly fall.

A loud thump is heard and signals that she has reached a corridor of the underground headquarters. Not wanting to show any sign of weakness, Wynter stands up quickly and wipes her tears.

The elevator doors glid to their sides to open up to a dimly lit hallway. Wynter starts to slowly walk to put on a facade, that she is fine. You don't want to look vulnerable in this place, especially when all people want to do is get better than you.

And with the mindset to pretend she begins to see the two-person guarded door that leads her into Mermaiden's headquarters.

The armed guards around the entrance look Wynter up and down. The guard posted on the left moves to the side so that Wynter could be scanned. Going up close to the iris scanner, she opens her eye widely waiting for the green light.

Hearing a satisfying beep and seeing a shiny green light, the guards slightly bow as one types in the code and opens the door.

"Welcome back to headquarters."

She bows back to them slightly and walks through. The first thing was to go change into respectable wear for the headquarters. She goes into the changing room and opens up her locker and pulls out a long, black turtleneck and a pair of dark green cargo pants, and black, sleek combat boots. Satisfied with her look, she shuts her metal locker and heads up to Master Sergei's office.

She knocks on the black-coated door with a golden nameplate. Hearing her master beckoning her in, she opens the door and walks in bowing out of respect. Closing it behind her she sat down in a leather maroon chair positioned before him to relay him the news. "Greetings Master, this morning I was attacked and whoever was assigned the job, ended up killing my maid. I suspect it was The Golden Empriss."

Master Sergei shakes his head with a small chuckle, "So it seems that they have made the first move, that's no trouble at all. They've merely started a game that they won't win. I won't allow it."

No one knows why or when The Golden Empriss and The Mermaiden's quarrel with each other started. All that is known is both heads of each agency hold a deep hatred for each other.

"I give my condolences for Emerald, I know you cared for her deeply, but better her than you. I can't lose one of my best assets. But I have a mission for you and your team, our informants have picked some information about an upcoming ball. So, I want you to infiltrate the ball and poison President Sanity. No mistakes. Your team is already waiting for your arrival."

Wynter is stunned, he hands over the job to them and not the other countless teams they have. They have no choice but to carry out the order smoothly, or else they would be humiliated in front of their agency. That can't happen, their reputation and pride will suffer and drift down the gutter.

Getting up from the leather chair she slightly bows, "Thank you, master, we won't disappoint." She walks out of his office gently closing the black door behind her. She walks in a rather fast manner to the room assigned to her team and where Rogue and Envie were awaiting her arrival.

Hearing the door unlock both girls turn their heads to the once-closed door to face the white-haired woman. Envie rises up slowly from her seat, "I heard the news I send my condolences." Rogue nods her head towards Wynter's way in an apologetic manner.

Wynter ignores the pity and explains the mission with a slight grin.

"It's about damn time!" Envie chuckles. She will finally be able to retrieve her while killing the people responsible for snatching her away.

They go to grab weapons to which Wynter grabs her icy blue katana and guns. Envie grabs her signature uniquely colored shotgun, which she had bugged Master Sergei about for a month until he finally gave in and had it custom-made for her, and she swipes some daggers and a handgun. Rogue grabs her snipper along with two handguns.

Nearly about to leave the room Envie taps on Wynter's shoulder handing her a vile slightly laughing, "Oh wait we wouldn't wanna forget this huh?"

Wynter grabs the poison and opens the door to walk out leaving the two women behind her.

"She's so mean," Envie fakes hurt feelings. Rogue rolls her eyes at her laughing as she follows Wynter's lead. Envie shrugs her shoulders closes the door and follows her two partners out to the garage.

The agency just had a new shipment so they get to choose which vehicles to bring along with them on their mission. As it is a three-man mission they choose the red and black colorized motorcycles.

Now they began their journey to end The Golden Empriss.