Present Day127Please respect copyright.PENANAI6KN5Gbr6e
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Narrator's P.O.V:127Please respect copyright.PENANAsK6OlNF80Q
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Rondon sat at his station, tapping his index finger onto the hard, cold, grey metal table. He just received word of an incoming call. He wanted to be far away from everyone else in case any sensitive information is relayed to him. It’s why he had a separate tent meant only for him.127Please respect copyright.PENANASwgKWNl3n0
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Judging by the agency of the call, something big is going on. He looked on at the dark computer screen in front of him and wondered what the Golden Elite have for him. 127Please respect copyright.PENANAEf18ALliYd
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The entrance of the tent flapped behind him and a recruit in his black mask walked in with Brian. Apparently, Rondon had to have him around. The Elite's orders. 127Please respect copyright.PENANA4TM5qtbqe4
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"The call will be coming in shortly, sir," the young recruit reported. Rondon gave a nod of his head and the recruit quickly left the tent. 127Please respect copyright.PENANAL7GY3CK1ys
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A few seconds passed before Brian asked, "any idea what the call could be about?" 127Please respect copyright.PENANA3u4PPgnPvM
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"I've no idea," Rondon replied. "I hope it relates to our mission." 127Please respect copyright.PENANAauTfISIfF2
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"It definitely does," said Brian as he got an empty chair at the corner of the tent and came to sit beside Rondon. "Why else would they call?" 127Please respect copyright.PENANAmAPuO68vQX
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Rondon didn't know how to answer that. Right now, the mission is at a stand-still with the shadow monster now roaming the area closest to Diana's grandmother’s house. And Mutale's GPS shows that he is with Diana. And the way he sees it, she must have taken him hostage. What better timing for the Elite to ask to speak to him. 127Please respect copyright.PENANARPDyyoRnbX
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"Well, whatever it is, it better be good," said Brian, folding his arms. 127Please respect copyright.PENANAh2TMbRD3v8
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"I hope so too," Rondon agreed and just seconds later, the screen in front of them flicked on. There were two pairs of headphones on the table. Rondon got one and gave the other to Brian. They both wore them over their heads. 127Please respect copyright.PENANAztuwvt36yb
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The person on the screen wore a gold mask. Rondon expected to see the lion mask of the Head of the Golden Elite. He glanced at Brian through the corner of his eye and he could tell Brian felt the same. But they looked stoic and professional as they faced the person on the screen. 127Please respect copyright.PENANAsqRJZDTBQG
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"Good evening, gentlemen," came a woman's voice. "I take it that everything is going on well on your end." 127Please respect copyright.PENANARoD6nCOxpM
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Rondon cleared his throat before saying, "evening. Everything was going well, but we've run into a situation that might hinder our plans." 127Please respect copyright.PENANA1SYQBm96A6
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There came a long, unsettling pause from the person on the screen before she asked: "What situation?" 127Please respect copyright.PENANAN8YU5MH4P9
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"Well, for starters," Brian started to say, "one of our troops sent to capture the target, ran into an unexpected foe." 127Please respect copyright.PENANAnxGSwi94ny
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"And what foe do you speak of?" 127Please respect copyright.PENANAJF6dxdpR0E
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"A level one shadow monster," Rondon answered. 127Please respect copyright.PENANAxCKSU3UwAz
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The person on the screen shifted a little in her seat. "The Superior won't be happy to hear this. Are you positively sure it's a level one?" 127Please respect copyright.PENANAZVWpqDKgfB
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"No doubt about it," said Brian. "Our people confirmed it." 127Please respect copyright.PENANAcQuwmMlT2F
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"And what have you done to solve this issue? We need our target tonight, Rondon." 127Please respect copyright.PENANAQ1m06epXo2
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"For the moment, going in with the squad we have will be risky and pointless. Many of them have never dealt with a monster of this calibre. Not to mention that it will be difficult to capture our target because the shadow monster is after her too." 127Please respect copyright.PENANApGSqyfs9hj
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"Are you certain of this?" 127Please respect copyright.PENANAqqfvoIorTa
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"Yes, we are," Brian answered. 127Please respect copyright.PENANAlG4mma990i
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"And what of the person assigned to capture the target? What will become of him with that shadow monster hanging around?" 127Please respect copyright.PENANADjcJeCOPYO
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"We're keeping a close eye on him. He knows taking it on will be foolish," Rondon answered. "He made sure to carry the necessary weapons and protection in case anything happens. He is with the target as we speak, but they can't move because of it." 127Please respect copyright.PENANAZknRnKNWFE
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"Mmm. You say he is with the target. Does that mean he has her captured, but can't reach you because of the shadow monster or is it the other way around?" 127Please respect copyright.PENANAdhwxUvy9dS
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That's a question Rondon was afraid she would ask and he didn't know whether he should answer or let Brian do the talking. 127Please respect copyright.PENANA7XSlxU8YO5
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"For now, we can't be too sure," Brian quickly answered. "But we hope he has her captive." 127Please respect copyright.PENANAoa9AypoZX8
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"I hope so too," said the woman in the gold mask. "This mission must be successful, Rondon. You know we're all depending on you. If it means sending some of our squad members to help their fellow out and face the shadow monster to bring in the target, then so be it." 127Please respect copyright.PENANAyNKuQMoAj5
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Rondon swallowed and he heard Brian let out a little murmur of surprise. 127Please respect copyright.PENANAxDO3b8sHqS
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"If you ask me," said Rondon, finding his voice, "going there with the troops we have will be suicide." 127Please respect copyright.PENANAwKJ7HD4twK
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"If that will be enough to bring our target in then, they would've sacrificed themselves for the greater good." 127Please respect copyright.PENANAheWH2DRYSi
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"Or, we can easily just wait for the morning," Brian suggested. "Shadow monsters can't stand the daylight." 127Please respect copyright.PENANAPq0i6FlrdT
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There came a long pause as the woman on the screen continued to look at the two men. 127Please respect copyright.PENANAddAuPIFAu1
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"Very well, that seems fair," said the woman. "But it's a long time till dawn." 127Please respect copyright.PENANAykCYGqFFfW
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"If we have to wait, then we'll do just that," Rondon answered. 127Please respect copyright.PENANA5OGWgccO4o
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"Alright, but I have some urgent news. Which is why I called."127Please respect copyright.PENANAGLf0MjOXDe
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Rondon felt his heart almost beat out of his chest and he wondered if Brian felt the same way. 127Please respect copyright.PENANAt60fGaiFqy
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"I just received word from our sources that apart from us, someone else is after Diana on this very same day." 127Please respect copyright.PENANAInVzIwKGae
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Rondon now turned to look at his comrade. A sudden thought soon came into his mind. 127Please respect copyright.PENANAmhpt86HXgy
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"Is that why the shadow monster is here?" Rondon asked. 127Please respect copyright.PENANAvrHKLYZLkN
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"I don't follow," said Brian. "Are you saying that someone sent that thing after Diana?" 127Please respect copyright.PENANAJ4Lcj1UZyr
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"It's a possibility." 127Please respect copyright.PENANATmQlT4ZFbv
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"I agree," came the lady on the screen. "It's why I wanted to know the status of the mission first. To see if anything like this has come up." 127Please respect copyright.PENANAw5ztFx6lK0
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"But aren't those creatures hard to control?" Brian asked. "I hear no one can control those things." 127Please respect copyright.PENANA9rPKsT21wv
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"That's not true," said Rondon. "Apparently, only one person is known to have control over a level one." 127Please respect copyright.PENANAavDraWlNK1
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"The Devil, himself," said Brian. "I thought that was a myth." 127Please respect copyright.PENANA5wbFwiDVtb
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"Those things are so dark I'm not surprised that he can control them." 127Please respect copyright.PENANA6cnRusX1aQ
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"But can we be sure that he's the one behind this? I mean, he can't be the only one, right?" 127Please respect copyright.PENANAWxWKarL6oQ
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"To be honest," came the woman on the screen, "I see no one else apart from him." 127Please respect copyright.PENANAmWjY1x9KAn
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"But there is someone else," said Rondon. 127Please respect copyright.PENANAnqZ88kZhQP
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Brian leaned in closer to look at Rondon. "Really? Who?" 127Please respect copyright.PENANAnTxgQE5nHp
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"Well, for this one I'm not too sure myself," Rondon paused for a bit. "I hear, even the Most Divine can control it." 127Please respect copyright.PENANAdVGxvbh0Gw
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There came a deadly silence in the tent. And the woman in her gold mask, shook her head.127Please respect copyright.PENANAJbcMF2gM1d
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"That's not possible," she said. "And if anyone hears you, it will be considered blasphemous. Even the Superior won't tolerate it because you know we're doing this for the Most Divine." 127Please respect copyright.PENANA0dSZxxR310
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"Of course, I didn't mean to offend anyone. I'm just saying what I've heard, that's all." 127Please respect copyright.PENANAHEehue5Jcp
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"Since the Devil is our only suspect, we've no choice but to try and get into contact with him and ask." 127Please respect copyright.PENANAw8U1Rl4a0i
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"That's the best way to go," said Brian. 127Please respect copyright.PENANAxVF32zMmrJ
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"Keep me informed if anything happens." The screen went black and Rondon with Brian stayed in silence. 127Please respect copyright.PENANAQrsGiGdr9c
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"Well, that was some briefing," said Brian as he stood up from his seat, removing his headphones and placing them on the table. 127Please respect copyright.PENANAA0iLdmBNU7
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"Tell me about it," said Rondon, as he also removed them. "It makes sense that the Devil could be after Diana. Everyone wants her for the same reason." 127Please respect copyright.PENANATPuZLPOVFg
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"So, we wait till morning to storm the house?" 127Please respect copyright.PENANADIISYHvsTT
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"We don’t have much of a choice, do we? But I fear that if we do so and Diana does have Mutale hostage, she might slip through our fingers before we even realise it." 127Please respect copyright.PENANAkuQpiaIiIV
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"I agree. But isn’t there anything we can do?" 127Please respect copyright.PENANAQbhVvHQmM3
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"With the team we have, and as experienced as a few of them can be, many have never had the chance to take on a shadow monster. We could put them at risk for nothing when we could simply choose the best course of action." 127Please respect copyright.PENANA3cLrb2ZCJA
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"But you’ve taken one on before, haven’t you?" 127Please respect copyright.PENANACXtIEDEyba
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"And got away by sheer luck. Don’t forget, Diana was there that day. And if it wasn’t for her, I wouldn’t be standing here with you right now. She might have fought it, but even she had a hard time taking it on." 127Please respect copyright.PENANAi2O17tTcg9
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"Explains why she ran when she saw it. She stood no chance." 127Please respect copyright.PENANAq8bGsdDpcv
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"That's true." 127Please respect copyright.PENANAoZYBLVeodO
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Brian folded his arms as he continued to look down at Rondon. "Has there been anyone brave enough to have taken it on and succeeded?" 127Please respect copyright.PENANAauNY5S4p8V
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"Apart from Diana, who at least had the decency to survive, I haven’t heard of anyone who has actually defeated it." 127Please respect copyright.PENANAuO2mKdkLco
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"That’s why the use of light has always been necessary. Too bad we didn’t carry enough flood lights." 127Please respect copyright.PENANAChshg6r6zL
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"No one anticipated to find it here, so I wouldn’t feel too bad about it." 127Please respect copyright.PENANAnUW4IWlYKR
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"We better go back and see how things are going." 127Please respect copyright.PENANAUsaBKaMacQ
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"Good idea." 127Please respect copyright.PENANAGKNZM9GTpa
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As soon as Rondon stood up from his seat, a recruit came rushing in, catching Rondon and Brian by surprise. 127Please respect copyright.PENANA8Y7SuugFDk
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"I have an urgent problem to report, sir," said the rookie, watching Rondon.127Please respect copyright.PENANAy6Nwt7Qqxz
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By the sound of his voice, Rondon could tell something didn’t feel right. Did something happen to Mutale and Diana? 127Please respect copyright.PENANAmi8iudHtvS
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"What is it?" Rondon asked. 127Please respect copyright.PENANADOeMJODLvb
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"Another reading apart from Diana's and the shadow monster's has appeared," answered the recruit. "Whoever it is, they just appeared out of nowhere." 127Please respect copyright.PENANA3IsW95LtDw
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"Someone must have teleported there," said Brian. 127Please respect copyright.PENANA7sa4uXV77x
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"Or Diana summoned someone," said Rondon. "This means she does have Mutale hostage and has the upper hand." 127Please respect copyright.PENANAWjR9Tc6Lhl
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Rondon rushed out of his tent with the recruit and Brian following behind him. There isn’t much of a distance between his tent and the main one. As soon as he entered the tent, he could already feel the nervous tension in the air. The presence of someone in that house only spelled trouble.127Please respect copyright.PENANAOZCiMtoJP1
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"What time did this person appear?" Rondon asked as he went to the main monitor.127Please respect copyright.PENANAVz626Zow0s
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"A minute ago," answered the recruit who sat in front of the monitor. "And judging by their aura, whoever it is is also a big deal."127Please respect copyright.PENANAoGW5zD85Au
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Rondon looked at the map. Mutale’s red GPS is still on, but it could clearly show that he isn’t alone. Diana’s slightly large aura still shown on the screen, but there’s another slightly bigger than hers. He looked around the map until he realised something else. 127Please respect copyright.PENANAWKrKjT9fYn
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"Something doesn’t feel right," he said. "The shadow monster is nowhere nearby." 127Please respect copyright.PENANAucdv5PT4JP
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"It went away as soon as the newcomer appeared in the house," came the female recruit to his left. 127Please respect copyright.PENANAMJr8tNJQTI
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"Widen the area," Rondon instructed. "It couldn’t have gone far." 127Please respect copyright.PENANATNoiyhnl9G
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"Ummm, sir," came a voice of another recruit behind him. "You need to see this." 127Please respect copyright.PENANABA5Eooy8NC
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"What could it be now?" Rondon asked as he turned around to check the monitor behind him. 127Please respect copyright.PENANAzFZ48E29Rg
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"Someone else is also out there," the young male recruit who had visited his tent answered. He had just sat down on his seat after coming back with Brian and Rondon. 127Please respect copyright.PENANANEqf2zWKzO
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Rondon saw what he meant when a green aura appeared on the screen adjacent to the house. Just by the green colour, Rondon could tell what’s on the ground is a different kind of supernatural: from the underworld. 127Please respect copyright.PENANAdWv3Q1tU9L
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"Could this be the person after Diana?" Brian asked as he also came to stand beside Rondon. 127Please respect copyright.PENANAVrd0LzhrDn
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"If it’s the Devil himself, that aura would be bigger than anyone else’s," said Rondon. "Whoever it is, maybe he’s come to do his master’s bidding." 127Please respect copyright.PENANAvlyPwihJ6L
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Rondon continued to look at the green aura and now started to wonder. What could anyone from the underworld be doing here when the shadow monster will obviously take Diana to its master? Since the Devil himself is known to be the only one who can control it, there wouldn’t be any need to send someone to see if the monster will get things done. Unless… 127Please respect copyright.PENANACwa0PVWRqb
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"He didn’t send the shadow monster at all," Rondon muttered.127Please respect copyright.PENANAKCEwsgu6AK
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Brian, who stood next to him and the young recruit on his desk heard him. Brian took Rondon by the arm and dragged him away from the work area. Everyone looked at the pair, confused with what’s going on. Brian took Rondon to the entrance of the tent where there wasn’t anyone nearby, but had a clear view of the workstation in the tent. 127Please respect copyright.PENANADf2Jf7ZYwC
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"What do you mean he didn’t send it?" Brian asked in an angry whisper. 127Please respect copyright.PENANAqtYWYQRTDl
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"Why would he send his henchman or legion to the house?" Rondon asked. "If he did send the shadow monster after her, that thing will do as ordered. He couldn’t just send someone to see to it that the job gets done, that’s if the creature that’s capturing her isn’t a shadow monster." 127Please respect copyright.PENANA381QVP6jUN
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127Please respect copyright.PENANAjhhxQPU7fI
"Maybe whoever it is, is doing exactly that. Let’s watch their movements first." 127Please respect copyright.PENANAOyAWXYMWgs
127Please respect copyright.PENANAM5WAlAOgx4
127Please respect copyright.PENANAm62oNQJhxu
Brian went back the way he came, leaving Rondon standing by the entrance. He could feel a few recruit’s eyes on him and they quickly looked away when he set his eyes on some of them. He took a deep breath. As much as Brian might be right about it, he had a strange sense that his assumption stood out the strongest. 127Please respect copyright.PENANAf4ZTMZoZy6
127Please respect copyright.PENANAhiuwyuyERV
127Please respect copyright.PENANAWkrupbxxuR
"I don’t envy you so much, Rondon," came a woman’s voice behind him. 127Please respect copyright.PENANAOUDDXaP33Q
127Please respect copyright.PENANA2grCmhc5R2
127Please respect copyright.PENANAxcDAdWy1WR
The woman in her white mask and clothes came in from the entrance to stand right beside him. Judging by her statement, Rondon knew she had eavesdropped on his conversation with Brian. 127Please respect copyright.PENANAKhQ0wyJTZ8
127Please respect copyright.PENANA8yu0upRv49
127Please respect copyright.PENANA4SHofXTUuv
"I know you don't," he said. 127Please respect copyright.PENANA2QfKVE32bu
127Please respect copyright.PENANAuZHUEdVLKj
127Please respect copyright.PENANArVvCsSFVo3
"The others have already been updated about the situation," the woman had her sharp eyes on Rondon. "You don't think the Devil sent that shadow monster, do you?" 127Please respect copyright.PENANAjDc69cvsPe
127Please respect copyright.PENANAXDVF4RHze2
127Please respect copyright.PENANAem6l2Dp0Fv
Rondon didn't say a word as he continued to look at the busy work station. The woman didn't have to push him any further as she said: 127Please respect copyright.PENANA6MAO4PGwwV
127Please respect copyright.PENANAGsYOMtbCHu
127Please respect copyright.PENANAA1po1wrGVP
"So many things have gone haywire since this mission started. If you really think you need to act now, do so. You are the one in charge."127Please respect copyright.PENANANmv1txgkHV
127Please respect copyright.PENANAK3dgHdkK3f
127Please respect copyright.PENANAy0fMOL0ceA
Rondon turned to look at her. "You also didn't approve of me when I was first given this mission." 127Please respect copyright.PENANADHEEqLt2g6
127Please respect copyright.PENANAFlVnxFYgZT
127Please respect copyright.PENANAB6vXxneYlI
"I know. But we’re comrades and nothing good will come out of this if we start to bicker. And Brian always likes to act like he's in charge when we all know you've really pulled through with your instincts a lot more times than we can count." 127Please respect copyright.PENANAHqMxKfk14O
127Please respect copyright.PENANAgNS4GEHsni
127Please respect copyright.PENANAmykTGidJGd
"Will do the best I can," said Rondon. 127Please respect copyright.PENANAbmtQzrrLs5
127Please respect copyright.PENANAZRiT1HvuuT
127Please respect copyright.PENANAxp1012Z09b
He walked back to the centre of the huge work station. "Any movement from the one from the underworld?" he asked as he turned towards the recruit in charge of looking at such super naturals. 127Please respect copyright.PENANAnVwPgi5ZU3
127Please respect copyright.PENANA4JY3nKoPlg
127Please respect copyright.PENANAyuYD1s8JAz
"Judging by his movements, he moved a little further away from the house," the recruit answered. "Wait a minute, now he’s approaching again." 127Please respect copyright.PENANA1MWAnLgs3F
127Please respect copyright.PENANAajVEnOI9MO
127Please respect copyright.PENANAD9shonrCgL
"Sir," came the female blonde on the other side. "The shadow monster is within a few metres from the house. For some reason, it’s keeping its distance." 127Please respect copyright.PENANAINcUgdHY4V
127Please respect copyright.PENANAh3pqUHqvNS
127Please respect copyright.PENANAr9MmJhLu33
Rondon thought for a bit. This is getting trickier and confusing by the minute. What is going on? Who could be inside the house with Diana and Mutale that they could scare the shadow monster away? And who is it from the underworld? Was she or he sent to be there? If so, then for what? Rondon had to come up with something quickly. He was scared that if he doesn’t, something might happen, especially to Mutale. 127Please respect copyright.PENANAjCzQcP7Mev
127Please respect copyright.PENANAQFHkF4OpC7
127Please respect copyright.PENANA3b24CrN0Cg
"Sir," came the recruit looking at the green aura. "He or she just entered the house." 127Please respect copyright.PENANAxZXlVZuKcO
127Please respect copyright.PENANAMjmxgxNIuP
127Please respect copyright.PENANA10cxi3nzp3
"Any exchanges?" Rondon asked. 127Please respect copyright.PENANADLwh5XY9GY
127Please respect copyright.PENANAt5tosNI2Hi
127Please respect copyright.PENANA9QL5ug3lfE
"Nothing," came another female recruit. "Whatever is happening in that house, it’s definite that they aren’t fighting, though there was something that happened before that." 127Please respect copyright.PENANADbmEZHXNlQ
127Please respect copyright.PENANAhI4zuEeebC
127Please respect copyright.PENANA4jjO9j7nCk
Rondon turned to look at the female recruit who spoke. "What is it?" 127Please respect copyright.PENANAnMMyNUclD3
127Please respect copyright.PENANAuZkzO7Fcj8
127Please respect copyright.PENANAsPoqKzJ7fx
"Well, something around the house appeared on my map," said the recruit turning to look at Rondon. "There was some mystic energy, but it was pretty faint, and it didn’t last for long. I thought it was something quite minor, but now that the person from the underworld is in the house, he might have something to do with it." 127Please respect copyright.PENANAnIIEfqWMak
127Please respect copyright.PENANAWczVnCGQgj
127Please respect copyright.PENANAxR5vvnGjGw
Brian now came to stand next to Rondon. "Could it be that the person cast a barrier around the house?" he asked the recruit almost angrily. "If he or she has done so, getting in there will be difficult if we plan to storm the house. Why didn’t you say anything sooner?" 127Please respect copyright.PENANA2MTwj0H2BN
127Please respect copyright.PENANAT1EOQ27ULi
127Please respect copyright.PENANAZoUt8OeZGX
"Well…, uh," the recruit tried to respond, but Brian’s voice scared her a little. Rondon had to place a hand on Brian’s shoulder. 127Please respect copyright.PENANAwBGgyPw18R
127Please respect copyright.PENANAw8qFsuWwEJ
127Please respect copyright.PENANAStlOEusDq5
"Hold it, Brian," said Rondon. "Let her explain first. There must be a reason why she didn’t bring this up the first time." He turned to the scared recruit. "Go on." 127Please respect copyright.PENANARCcYo3JxaA
127Please respect copyright.PENANAElx2WJRIom
127Please respect copyright.PENANA9fHZdPbcKI
"Well, like I said," continued the recruit, "it was something minor. When someone casts a strong barrier, the power radiated on the map comes out differently. This one looked pretty weak, making it difficult for us to detect on the map if it was ever cast in the first place. And the barrier wasn’t being cast, it almost looked like it was being sucked up or something." 127Please respect copyright.PENANA9f3a7QLkiE
127Please respect copyright.PENANAFw2Z18tsLy
127Please respect copyright.PENANAYK4TLNgjM6
"Diana must have already had a barrier put in place that our satellite couldn’t detect it as it was a weak one," said Rondon. "I’m guessing that whoever came from the underworld must have broken down the barrier by sucking out its energy to get inside." 127Please respect copyright.PENANAxnaFb3Vv2L
127Please respect copyright.PENANA9iLnV0DWlo
127Please respect copyright.PENANAv44k6jk8z0
"But who from the underworld could do that?" Brian asked. 127Please respect copyright.PENANAE8O2gL9RIm
127Please respect copyright.PENANAOlIPaLkHYk
127Please respect copyright.PENANA59jmky1392
"That’s what we’re about to find out," said Rondon. He looked around the room until he noticed the person he was looking for at the far-end and beckoned to him to come over. 127Please respect copyright.PENANAaPsDHoiXxI
127Please respect copyright.PENANAaN7EJi2htJ
127Please respect copyright.PENANAfMIBZ2sYTr
The person coming over isn’t a recruit like the others, even when he wore a black mask. Rondon knew the young man as he was in his third year of training. 127Please respect copyright.PENANALQnI3xHswM
127Please respect copyright.PENANAtWLkApiqWI
127Please respect copyright.PENANAzyV44o9pVK
"I want you to narrow down people from the underworld who have the ability to suck the energy around them," Rondon instructed. 127Please respect copyright.PENANAz71yAuBJ0Y
127Please respect copyright.PENANA3SMEv66bCH
127Please respect copyright.PENANAudtM4xG0ZH
"Yes, sir," said the third-year recruit and he quickly rushed back to his work station. 127Please respect copyright.PENANAkRiRciGGvx
127Please respect copyright.PENANA8RavTLzJfA
127Please respect copyright.PENANAUIRIKCPacP
"If we know who he is, we might be able to figure out if the Devil really is behind this," said Rondon as he turned to look at Brian. "It doesn’t make any sense. Whoever it is would’ve watched at a distance. Instead, he or she is with Diana and Mutale at this very moment without any fighting. This is strange." 127Please respect copyright.PENANAh20VWjXg3S
127Please respect copyright.PENANAsJ9d0RkA6p
127Please respect copyright.PENANAqaRMp2hEQX
Brian didn’t want to admit it, but he knew Rondon was right. He went back to watching some of the recruits until one of them called out: 127Please respect copyright.PENANAwsdBVybvyQ
127Please respect copyright.PENANAFnX6hwLcHE
127Please respect copyright.PENANA2iUL9cHrKU
"Rondon, sir. Something is wrong." 127Please respect copyright.PENANAWHiZ2e11Dp
127Please respect copyright.PENANAiVW0Px6EZI
127Please respect copyright.PENANA4PetX2G452
Rondon and Brian quickly went over to the recruit’s station. And when they looked at his screen, they noticed there weren't any auras or Mutale’s GPS on the map. 127Please respect copyright.PENANAJxu0Xm9p2X
127Please respect copyright.PENANAei9DbOA84Z
127Please respect copyright.PENANAEz5r1InRIa
"What is this?" Brian asked. "Where are they? And how come Mutale’s GPS isn’t on?" 127Please respect copyright.PENANATjjoqju5Xj
127Please respect copyright.PENANAqLYjNOk3D4
127Please respect copyright.PENANAMxfI2gUOY0
This is bad, Rondon thought as he felt a chill run down his spine. Did they do what he thinks they did? 127Please respect copyright.PENANAyBDfgW7AG7
127Please respect copyright.PENANA5IwWUKyzdm
127Please respect copyright.PENANAX6dyWfC8Al
"Sir," came the scared recruit. "It looks like someone opened a portal." 127Please respect copyright.PENANAb7oOyroQ94
127Please respect copyright.PENANArbqD5vL3J6
127Please respect copyright.PENANAhuCoTkhbSe
Rondon closed his eyes and hang his head low. Of course they did, he thought to himself. They teleported. Smart move.127Please respect copyright.PENANAxtK9ED4sMe
127Please respect copyright.PENANAUKkCm5twmI
127Please respect copyright.PENANAnd11LeVk4w
A silence now filled the room, that if something fell or someone coughed, everyone would be frightened. 127Please respect copyright.PENANAJB8QPYIb6J
127Please respect copyright.PENANAeTl6iXkoAK
127Please respect copyright.PENANAAzTZ6tgqwd
"Track Mutale, right now," Rondon commanded, trying to get hold of the situation. "If anything, they may still be on this side of our world and not in the other." 127Please respect copyright.PENANASC1dqe7wNP
127Please respect copyright.PENANAyq49SR20mT
127Please respect copyright.PENANAReoF6lZgla
The room is soon revamped and everyone got busy. Rondon liked what he's seeing. It's useless if everyone is discouraged with what happened just now. And the people with him are all young and it won't help if they easily get downtrodden. Finding Mutale and bringing him back safe is what is important now. Though capturing Diana still remains their main objective. 127Please respect copyright.PENANAFhadVIPpWL
127Please respect copyright.PENANANCftTRrzeE
127Please respect copyright.PENANAq86MGdpGQt
"Hey, what's going on?" the IT manager, Peter appeared. "I hear Mutale has gone missing." 127Please respect copyright.PENANAIm4XiF6JlR
127Please respect copyright.PENANA7eIDUOrkFp
127Please respect copyright.PENANA6mIe6Kp99L
"Not entirely," Rondon answered, turning to look at Peter. "He teleported with Diana and two other supernaturals who were in the house." 127Please respect copyright.PENANAMRLQUdU0Uc
127Please respect copyright.PENANAzZIHDoRs70
127Please respect copyright.PENANAo1f5ljnvWo
"Wow, I really must have my workstation here. I'm really missing out on all the fun." 127Please respect copyright.PENANAIVvv8920Jv
127Please respect copyright.PENANAPrNZT9gDss
127Please respect copyright.PENANAAt6zMURbbt
"Finding Mutale is our main priority," said Brian. "If we find him, we find Diana." 127Please respect copyright.PENANAZtJw7hlkBL
127Please respect copyright.PENANAp6VVbTaWlm
127Please respect copyright.PENANASpGuQMdrTD
"I got him!" came the blonde female recruit. "He's appeared in Florida, sir." 127Please respect copyright.PENANAfyyaDsXHEK
127Please respect copyright.PENANAdmcHgL7Ixe
127Please respect copyright.PENANA91dxkZZ2Kt
Brian turned to Rondon. "What the hell are they doing there?" 127Please respect copyright.PENANAKThGXBsEsl
127Please respect copyright.PENANAurdixp6sqv
127Please respect copyright.PENANA8NyjHJTkQL
"Give me an exact location, please," Rondon ordered. "Maybe we'll know why." 127Please respect copyright.PENANAnDEaJ7MjyG
127Please respect copyright.PENANAXQGpgqFitG
127Please respect copyright.PENANATUIYmtDhqg
"Mr. Rondon, sir," came the third-year recruit. Rondon and Brian turned to him as he approached. "I narrowed down our suspects with such an ability from the underworld, and one of them stood out. Take a look." 127Please respect copyright.PENANASSi1k07lFA
127Please respect copyright.PENANA892sGgij2o
127Please respect copyright.PENANACCH7Ttk7ON
The third-year handed over a sheet of paper to Rondon. He looked at it and the first thing that caught his eye is the picture of a young blonde male, about eighteen or nineteen years old. He didn't have to read the details below for he already knew who he is. 127Please respect copyright.PENANA8CFqtCYhgr
127Please respect copyright.PENANAy23uormUZs
127Please respect copyright.PENANANWh2yv7tR9
"Lucius," said Rondon absent-mindedly. "One of the many sons of the devil." 127Please respect copyright.PENANAzPtMq771DL
127Please respect copyright.PENANAfn4UtU5Kgb
127Please respect copyright.PENANAQuHGq7bEtM
Brian read the paper. "I don't understand. Why would he be there when his father had sent the shadow monster after Diana? And why go with her to Miami?" 127Please respect copyright.PENANAYufQaPW11j
127Please respect copyright.PENANANbAzh0VjIQ
127Please respect copyright.PENANAtBGz4gOhER
Rondon also wondered the same thing and what he thought at first came back to him again: what if the Devil isn't the one who sent the shadow monster after Diana? 127Please respect copyright.PENANA13Fu23AoTg
127Please respect copyright.PENANANwhQEM02RB
127Please respect copyright.PENANAyEOsqrlfJY
"You're right," said Rondon. "This doesn't add up at all." 127Please respect copyright.PENANA1yg6NGPD7N
127Please respect copyright.PENANAukcSvBQPHV
127Please respect copyright.PENANAxTTgCcBLMa
"Sir, we've pinpointed their exact location," came the female recruit. "And you're not going to like what you're about to hear." 127Please respect copyright.PENANARPFj4v2j0Z
127Please respect copyright.PENANA9obuUfBzvP
127Please respect copyright.PENANAdQ50sDQjGa
"I think I have a good guess," said Rondon turning to look at the recruit. "The Devil has a house in Miami, doesn't he?" 127Please respect copyright.PENANAtRzmNapX8k
127Please respect copyright.PENANAINVZVCVTvh
127Please respect copyright.PENANAhWw9NtY1OY
"Yes." 127Please respect copyright.PENANABPS1jYRI6N
127Please respect copyright.PENANAyodsPesZ38
127Please respect copyright.PENANA8iaDOW6lqi
Rondon shook his head. Why would they go there now? Are they going to ask the Devil himself about the shadow monster? Or is Lucius handing over Diana to his father? That's not right and Rondon knows it. There would've been a struggle if that were the case, and Lucifer wouldn't have even thought of sending the shadow monster in the first place. 127Please respect copyright.PENANA0gD575vFNE
127Please respect copyright.PENANAbL8ko3qTLD
127Please respect copyright.PENANAcIdEYO280k
Rondon turned to Peter, who hadn't left his spot from the time he appeared. "Peter, I want you to prepare to open a portal." 127Please respect copyright.PENANAjjvHyMGsRr
127Please respect copyright.PENANAyrbwmsjntP
127Please respect copyright.PENANA6Fe9F6Pfub
"Are you planning to go there?" Peter asked. "That place is off limits." 127Please respect copyright.PENANAiHb1gHjOXH
127Please respect copyright.PENANAYSXpxDoBJi
127Please respect copyright.PENANAPXjySWEmkX
"I know that. We're teleporting to Miami but not in his premises." 127Please respect copyright.PENANAVK9zrbBN32
127Please respect copyright.PENANATQlnDWwP6E
127Please respect copyright.PENANABQM39zPsbb
"Then what do you plan to do after that?" Brian asked. 127Please respect copyright.PENANA3eoetu9rmR
127Please respect copyright.PENANA4gGleqFS3o
127Please respect copyright.PENANA0E8JpyGIaL
"I plan to break in there and get Mutale out." 127Please respect copyright.PENANAzBtyCwmyfF
127Please respect copyright.PENANAbrzAoN3AzC
127Please respect copyright.PENANAk0CRlFzOwc
"Huh? Are you serious? What happened to capturing Diana?" 127Please respect copyright.PENANA1Wsb9qdzui
127Please respect copyright.PENANAVCPYIoKx1H
127Please respect copyright.PENANAF4zxOhnRxt
"Our chances look pretty slim, but if anyone does have the chance to capture her, then luck is on our side. Besides, didn't you say that finding and saving Mutale is our main priority right now?" 127Please respect copyright.PENANAZmffluKLMQ
127Please respect copyright.PENANA20Ad0sPFxU
127Please respect copyright.PENANAhqIXWkuclY
Brian didn't answer as the woman in the white mask said, "I think it's best we listen to Rondon and prepare ourselves to teleport. Do you want me to inform headquarters of the latest developments?" 127Please respect copyright.PENANATytYcGocpW
127Please respect copyright.PENANAUgxWefLWsM
127Please respect copyright.PENANAx2nAr7AQ3O
"Yes, that would be wise. Everyone, pack up. And those with their eyes monitoring what's happening, don't slack off." 127Please respect copyright.PENANA367pLLvsuD
127Please respect copyright.PENANA86aJyFk0Jz
127Please respect copyright.PENANAgOQoFNG3bj
"Yes, sir," the recruits answered him in unison. 127Please respect copyright.PENANA8Q0ppJvSTl
127Please respect copyright.PENANASsowxMFUdL
127Please respect copyright.PENANAvbpBqeGyI6
Rondon told Peter to inform everyone else near his station. He started to make his way out of the tent while the recruits got up and started packing. Brian followed him. 127Please respect copyright.PENANAYFm59Pffn4
127Please respect copyright.PENANAdbAnDzdvkn
127Please respect copyright.PENANASCBG6pNIrs
"Rondon," Brian called out as they went out of the tent and into the darkness outside. Rondon stopped to look at him. 127Please respect copyright.PENANAuVxxAoHxry
127Please respect copyright.PENANAmUPJeSeluF
127Please respect copyright.PENANAxwSZNDYojh
"What is it now, Brian?" Rondon asked. "Are you going to tell me that all this isn't going as planned? Well, yes it is and we just have to deal with it and think of something else if we want to achieve our goal." 127Please respect copyright.PENANA45IrxcMuiX
127Please respect copyright.PENANAcerylpii96
127Please respect copyright.PENANApkgn4TSdFS
"I wasn't," said Brian. "Yes, the mission has taken a turn, but who knows, maybe it's for the better." 127Please respect copyright.PENANAjLjLs9Snn7
127Please respect copyright.PENANAwvPOxJ2Kfk
127Please respect copyright.PENANAm9S8HDgwvW
"Then what is it, then?" 127Please respect copyright.PENANABsXWe1A906
127Please respect copyright.PENANAJ9mi45tRW2
127Please respect copyright.PENANAvzEVQkTXey
Brian drew a little closer so as to whisper. Now that everyone is packing, recruits were now moving in and out of the tent, and might listen in on them. 127Please respect copyright.PENANAtd114wlvMx
127Please respect copyright.PENANAhLhWs6SIJS
127Please respect copyright.PENANASuXGXdOjLO
"I now believe you when you said the Devil might not have sent the shadow monster after Diana," Brian whispered.127Please respect copyright.PENANAGWc5BSh7Wq
127Please respect copyright.PENANAKXJ4RmoJHG
127Please respect copyright.PENANAud2S4CnMVr
Rondon didn't know whether to say anything or not. But he said, "let's just keep this between us. If anyone else hears this, the people up the ranks aren't going to tolerate it. You saw what happened in our little meeting earlier. Besides, what if it does turn out to be him and all this was just a plan off his sleeve?" 127Please respect copyright.PENANAN5iW8W8Hiv
127Please respect copyright.PENANAPoZSMEz2XX
127Please respect copyright.PENANA76roVB4XUF
Brian raised an eyebrow for he knew Rondon was just playing it safe. He gave a nod of his head and soon walked away. Rondon stood for a while and he could already tell that a lot of things were going to go out of proportion in this mission if he doesn't get a handle on it. Even if he thought so, he now had to rely on nothing but luck. 127Please respect copyright.PENANAQXZPyGCuMA
127Please respect copyright.PENANAp6AWdRQIxW
127Please respect copyright.PENANAfinBmArTeE
*** 127Please respect copyright.PENANADsqUc7XHps
127Please respect copyright.PENANAxVIQLzq9Wq
127Please respect copyright.PENANAyYq2ngftX1
Diana’s P.O.V: 127Please respect copyright.PENANAoPgBBRBeND
127Please respect copyright.PENANAIEJxrJRv5R
127Please respect copyright.PENANAImdVO7d5rb
The cool breeze coming from the ocean blew in my hair and I had to brush off the strands from my face with my free hand. Stella and I were still helping Mutale up. Even when we aren't facing any danger at the moment, he is slowing us down a bit. 127Please respect copyright.PENANAOTEjiKZEaV
127Please respect copyright.PENANA8y06YCGp9f
127Please respect copyright.PENANAzuEqItmG2V
Lucius walked ahead of us. With the sun above, I could see him clearly now. It feels like a long time since I last saw him when maybe a year has passed. I noticed his broad shoulders beneath the black hoodie jacket he wore. I can't also help but feel he's grown a little taller. I guess people grow a little differently and a lot faster in the underworld. 127Please respect copyright.PENANA824hkwN9qj
127Please respect copyright.PENANAN19ZFyExmJ
127Please respect copyright.PENANAwZBwrM0MjA
I looked at Stella through the corner of my eye. She's the one whom I haven't seen in forever. When I drew that butterfly symbol on the floor, I'm not sure why I summoned her. I wonder how she and the others on the Butterlfly Island are doing. I've heard stories and rumours that things aren't so stable since I decided not to return there. As much as I've tried avoiding the place, I really miss it. And I hate that the reason I can't go back is because of the tension I had created and continue to create due to my presence. 127Please respect copyright.PENANAIOdjXrqmCV
127Please respect copyright.PENANAGjLp9zOgqG
127Please respect copyright.PENANAcNsuNp5ZNY
"I've heard that your father owns a lot of places on earth," said Stella, as she looked around the beach. "A beach house should've come to mind, but it didn't." 127Please respect copyright.PENANAusoEYEYlBP
127Please respect copyright.PENANA8ij1oPW3si
127Please respect copyright.PENANAyk6TiRbbv2
Lucius scoffed. "When he really wants people to do bad things, a party at the beach house is the best place, if you know what I mean." 127Please respect copyright.PENANAUU2bbsstgk
127Please respect copyright.PENANAzujRszc4Ix
127Please respect copyright.PENANABSLApglpw6
It’s now Mutale’s turn to scoff. "You make it sound like it's normal," he said. 127Please respect copyright.PENANAvWrSG60up9
127Please respect copyright.PENANANNzguNVr6i
127Please respect copyright.PENANAHOG7SgBW0n
"I am from the underworld after all," Lucius turned to look at him as he walked. "And if you ask me, a lot more people do bad things out there and you know it." 127Please respect copyright.PENANA9rca2ojRWR
127Please respect copyright.PENANAwRKBtKdwXc
127Please respect copyright.PENANAkLdMqAowEI
"It’s the reason why I would do all I can to get rid of this evil in the world." 127Please respect copyright.PENANA6dWWsRtcem
127Please respect copyright.PENANA1U9RKzeLcW
127Please respect copyright.PENANAOsHRheJbiQ
"Now is not the time to start blabbering these things," I said. "We're not in the Golden Elite premises." 127Please respect copyright.PENANAG0wuLeCtaB
127Please respect copyright.PENANA4oEblcNKZi
127Please respect copyright.PENANAv1y4HA1luC
Lucius stopped in his tracks to turn around and he jumped when doing so. "Oh, so you’re a soldier of the Elite, huh? My dad will be happy to see what I brought in." 127Please respect copyright.PENANARKp2pPnGEW
127Please respect copyright.PENANAo67oFK5KFJ
127Please respect copyright.PENANAAFmy3uCLRV
"He’s my prisoner, Lucius," I warned him. "And can we get moving? We don’t have enough time." 127Please respect copyright.PENANALJJzPX9kAt
127Please respect copyright.PENANAsPGC3bLpLx
127Please respect copyright.PENANABhw3nFQSHO
"Relax, it’s not like the shadow monster will find us. And besides, it’s daytime here." 127Please respect copyright.PENANAucTvl1OjDk
127Please respect copyright.PENANAG33R2T86BG
127Please respect copyright.PENANAxiA363FCBw
"This is your father’s territory. I’ve every right to keep my guard up." 127Please respect copyright.PENANAW1xfo2YJ2j
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Lucius gave me a bright smile and a wink. "As you wish." He turned around and continued to lead the way. 127Please respect copyright.PENANAv4IhTexrks
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As we slowly approached the house, plastic cups and beer bottles in the sand, came into view. A white plastic flew in our direction as a breeze passed by and almost landed on my face. As we got closer, beach chairs, some upright and lying on all angles on the sand came into view. A few people in swimsuits were found lying on the beach's sand, completely wasted. I couldn’t have thought of a better way for the Devil’s party to end up. 127Please respect copyright.PENANAWCbth6biQ8
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"Sorry for the mess," said Lucius as we bypassed the chairs and tried avoiding the few people lying on the sand. 127Please respect copyright.PENANAw2GJiaFj67
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"Oh, don’t," said Stella with a little amusement in her voice. "This was very much expected." 127Please respect copyright.PENANAoV1gw69Gjz
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I looked at Mutale and a face of shock and disbelief came on his face. If I wasn’t helping him out, I would've slapped him on the head. 127Please respect copyright.PENANAzZ4reUSyhc
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We finally came to the Devil’s white beach house and the place was a lot messier. Lucius had to move a few chairs and other items in the way like beach balls and swim floaters. A few bodies lay around, some on chairs, others atop tables. Some people were lying around completely naked. Mutale couldn’t help but look at the atrocity around him and with my other free hand, held the top of his head to turn it for him to look elsewhere. 127Please respect copyright.PENANADrXt24pguD
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We walked up the wooden steps to the front door. And Lucius had to move aside some bodies and items. 127Please respect copyright.PENANAOMKAZxj5d8
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"I say, this party went well," said Lucius as he cleared the front door for us. 127Please respect copyright.PENANAqIFGEaVt6I
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"More like it was a disaster," Mutale muttered. 127Please respect copyright.PENANAnLAhgcJyPN
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Lucius raised his eyebrow at him. "I should invite him one of these days." 127Please respect copyright.PENANALA9VuNluip
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"Please, don’t," I warned. "You don't want to see the Golden Elite at your father’s doorstep." 127Please respect copyright.PENANANv9TWmDOlz
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"Just kidding. This loser is such a party pooper and the Golden Elite are a pain anyway." 127Please respect copyright.PENANA9rQ3lGEtJB
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"If Diana hadn’t taken my weapons, you and I would’ve sparred with each other," said Mutale.127Please respect copyright.PENANAGAyqjedufj
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"Not in my house you won’t," came a deep, husky voice down the hall as soon as we entered the foyer. 127Please respect copyright.PENANAlE4jGbpIGq
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We all turned to see amidst the mess and mayhem on the floor, stood a tall, well-built middle-aged man with short, curly, blonde hair, with chiselled facial features. He is dressed in only a red bathrobe and wore white bed slippers on his feet. He clearly isn’t wearing anything underneath his robe, and those blue piercing eyes bore straight at us. His presence was both alluring and frightening, that there’s no guessing who stood before us. 127Please respect copyright.PENANAuzCxIZfAuD
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"Oh, Diana," said Lucifer as he came towards us with a smile on his face. "If I'd known you were coming, I'd have better prepared myself and this place." 127Please respect copyright.PENANARXy0WgK6oz
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"Trust me, this is better than your actual home in the underworld," I said. "So, I don’t mind." 127Please respect copyright.PENANAC4pFxSk2wq
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"True. Sorry for the mess. We really took it all out last night. And you, son, left without saying a word." 127Please respect copyright.PENANAOyTLglli9K
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Stella, Mutale and I turned to look at Lucius, who shrugged his shoulders. "So?" he asked. "I had plans." 127Please respect copyright.PENANAQjkIxpHgCx
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"And was one of them to go look for Diana and bring her here?" his father asked. "You must have really missed her that badly. I tried to hook him up with some of the hot girls, but he's been dodging a lot of them lately." 127Please respect copyright.PENANAkp5KwOHbfN
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"Diana was a last minute resort. I had other things to do before I came to her." 127Please respect copyright.PENANAXf0nhEsohD
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"I see." Lucifer raised an eyebrow at his son before turning to look at the three of us standing. "Ah, you must be from the Butterfly Island," he said addressing Stella. "And looking at your robe, you must be part of the High Order, am I correct?" 127Please respect copyright.PENANA4anpT36EXC
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"Guilty," said Stella. "A pleasure to meet you." 127Please respect copyright.PENANAqkhIqSlY0t
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"Oh, the pleasure is mine." He now turned to Mutale and his smiley face turned to a frown. "And you're a soldier from the Golden Elite." 127Please respect copyright.PENANAaicoKZCUxD
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I could feel Mutale tremble a little as he asked, "How did you know?" 127Please respect copyright.PENANAODXXhv4GdR
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"He can smell the residue from the weapons you carried," I said. "A supernatural like him with his sense of smell can detect you from a mile away." 127Please respect copyright.PENANAPtItlntKNj
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"Diana, smart as always," Lucifer turned to smile at me. "When I caught his scent at first, I thought I was going to have a hard time dealing with him." He looked Mutale up and down. "But then you came in with Lucius so, I knew all was alright." He now turned to Iook at me. "I must admit, I missed you too. Now I see why my son went looking for you. He must have thought bringing you here to see me would make me quite happy." 127Please respect copyright.PENANABnEG4LxzkE
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"Actually, I didn’t come here to meet. Lucius just happened to come by at the right time. And given the circumstances, I knew I just had to see you to talk about something." 127Please respect copyright.PENANA8SfHJjLxlY
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"Okay. Let’s talk, then. We can go to my study. Follow me." 127Please respect copyright.PENANAmEJTlRwPel
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Just before he could turn around to lead the way, he looked at the three of us and said, "let me help you ladies out. You don’t need to carry this heavy load of Elite scum. Lucius, haven’t I taught you manners? You should’ve helped them with him." 127Please respect copyright.PENANA2dkQRvikKn
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"Did you just call me scum?" Mutale didn’t like that. 127Please respect copyright.PENANA2mRJqmjiLK
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"What do you mean I don't have manners?" Lucius now asked, sounding upset by his father’s remarks. 127Please respect copyright.PENANAMUMdxeJEHO
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Lucifer didn’t answer as I felt Mutale’s weight lighten on my shoulders. Lucifer had him up in mid-air, but not too high. I could only imagine the number of times I’ve been held up like that. 127Please respect copyright.PENANAvdA8Rpzpeo
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"What are you doing?" Mutale asked, feeling uncomfortable. 127Please respect copyright.PENANAaha2LVWX96
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"Just hush," said Lucifer, giving him a deadly stare. "You’re lucky you came with Diana. I love to feed people like you to my bloody hounds." 127Please respect copyright.PENANAGMo45FRulr
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"Behave, Mutale," I warned. "He’s not kidding about his hounds." He really isn't. 127Please respect copyright.PENANADoWhSL4KjX
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Lucifer didn’t say anything more as he now turned around and started to lead the way through his house straight down the hall. We passed his large, messy, sitting room. You could tell that after a good cleanup, the place would look extraordinary. 127Please respect copyright.PENANA0n1ueWLHXH
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We soon reached his study, which he apparently kept under lock. A gold key appeared in his hand and he unlocked the door. He opened it for us, gesturing with his hand to enter. Stella and I went in first with Mutale floating behind us. Lucifer came in with Lucius closing the door behind him. 127Please respect copyright.PENANAIh7VCNHniu
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I looked around the study and there are huge, tall book shelves. I noticed some books that should never be seen by the human eye - that’s if you’re not a devil worshipper. Some of the titles I read were downright scary. I looked away, trying not to feel uncomfortable about it. At the end of the room in front of a huge glass window stood his desk, and behind it, a large red chair, suitable for a man of Lucifer’s standards. There were red armchairs around the place and two facing a fireplace. It looked like a comfortable place to go sit and read. That’s if it’s a book aside from those in this room. 127Please respect copyright.PENANAJyK5fnq5A1
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"Make yourselves comfortable," said Lucifer as he went to his chair behind his desk. He turned towards the floating Mutale and dropped him in one of the armchairs, facing his desk. And he made him land very hard. 127Please respect copyright.PENANA0Si4Ig54ga
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"Ow, that hurt," Mutale winced in pain.127Please respect copyright.PENANAfK6zB6Wgkf
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"I'm clearly not apologising for it," he gave Mutale a judging look. He now turned to Stella and me. "Please, ladies, take a seat. Lucius, can you ring the house help to bring in something for our guests to eat." 127Please respect copyright.PENANAfc9rPD2PFI
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"I already did," said Lucius as he stood behind the armchair I was about to sit on. 127Please respect copyright.PENANAVOjsb2TkBO
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Lucifer rolled his eyes and shook his head. He sighed before saying, "for once I would like it if you were to act like a real human being and walk over there to tell her yourself." 127Please respect copyright.PENANAOnkronRfZK
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"Not this again. Don't forget that you do it too. It's not my fault that I'm your son." 127Please respect copyright.PENANARo7eSiRhvX
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"I take it that the use of powers aren't allowed in the house?" Stella asked out of curiosity, as she sat in the chair next to mine. 127Please respect copyright.PENANAIUjFXjmBrG
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"The help here is human so we try to keep a low profile. But someone here likes to send a message through silly means," Lucifer threw a stern look at his son. 127Please respect copyright.PENANAtwyopmx5hl
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"Okay, you can talk about it when it's just the two of you," I chided before Lucius can say anything. "Now, we've something very serious to talk about, Lucifer." 127Please respect copyright.PENANAcOssXTlfgQ
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Lucifer, brought his hands together on the desk and leaned forward. I can tell that he's taking a good look at me. A smile appeared across his face that any woman would fall for. Sadly, it didn't have any effect on me. I hope it didn't have an effect on Stella, though. 127Please respect copyright.PENANAPlxZ8ggrf7
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"I know it's been a long time since we last saw each other, but you've really grown, Diana," Lucifer commented, still scrutinising me. "And you're much prettier too." 127Please respect copyright.PENANAgB6pqDX2FC
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"Thanks, but that's not why I'm here," I said, leaning back. "I'm here because a creature of yours is after me. And I would like to know why." 127Please respect copyright.PENANA9vDASmSUOK
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"A creature of mine? Which one is that?" 127Please respect copyright.PENANAgNPogrpVJB
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This time it's Stella, who answered: "a level one shadow monster." 127Please respect copyright.PENANAMERxVptThR
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Lucifer didn't look surprised. It got me thinking whether he did send one after me or not. His next response would prove to be crucial. 127Please respect copyright.PENANAtM3jd7D5DX
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He looked at both me and Stella. And a smile came upon his face. 127Please respect copyright.PENANA8TQb0NVkZt
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"I'm sorry to disappoint you, ladies," he said. "But even when people think I don't keep promises, one of the few promises I will continue to keep is yours, Diana. I promised that I would never try to harm you in any way." 127Please respect copyright.PENANAwHovoQct8B
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"Ha!" Lucius clapped his hands. "You see! I told you. I knew he wouldn't go back on his word." 127Please respect copyright.PENANA3tzk0UVLvX
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"Diana, he's lying to you," said Mutale. "Don't believe him. He's the one who sent it. We're talking to the Devil here." 127Please respect copyright.PENANAezzS5rq1uu
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"Can you be so sure that he's telling the truth?" Stella asked as she looked at me. 127Please respect copyright.PENANAC0hKWsh5jM
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I continued to look at the Devil as he smiled mischievously in front of me. And I had no doubt in my mind. 127Please respect copyright.PENANAXkG8C1IUcw
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He's telling the truth.