A bearded man was watching the city from afar, green eyes gazing at the burning Estate which was the home of the De Leon family with a languid look. He's been planning this takeover for months now, seeing the fruits of his labor, he didnt feel accomplishment or joy at having his plans accomplished.
"How goes the mission?" A cloaked figure apporached from the shadows and asked ignoring the annoyed look he got from the bearded man.
"Everything is going according to plan barring any unforseen circumstances, we should have the boy by dawn." the man answered.
"I'll relay your news then." The cloaked figure said, slowly stepping back. "Just so you know, the masters don't want any surprises." It said before slowly fading from the background. "For your sake, Thomas." It echoed.
The beared man grimaced before nodding, "I made the right decisions, I know I did." He took one last look at the territory before looking up at the sky, dawn slowly approaching.
...
Esbern frowned, slowly opening his pack he took out a notebook. "Miss Sherry gave this to me before we left." Handing the notebook to Curtis he added. "Said everything you need to know should be in here."
Slowly taking the notebook he gave a curious look at Esbern who nodded to him. "I don't know what's inside."
Curtis gave him a look and examined the notebook. It was a small red notebook, one you used to write quick notes in and kept in your breastpocket, it had a small ribbon around it and sealed with candle wax, along with a seal of the De Leon family.
He steeled himself then broke the seal and started reading. It took him a few minutes to read the first few pages but overall what it contained was shocking. It was written by his father, it contained the events that started from when he first awakened his power, he also found a clue on who their attackers were. Their enemies were the beasts that started to appear, and they've colluded with multiple families across the continent, and the main point is that they already control the underworld. They've started a nasty business of trading people, what they wanted with said people was uncertain, but they needed a lot. His father tried to put a stop to it by rallying some loyal families but they were met with a lot of political resistance, some siding with the beasts for peace, ignoring the please of the common people. Another piece of news is that the barrier around the territory is powered by their blood, the blood of the De Leon's and as long as once of their kin lives and is near the territory the barrier will stay up. His father set it up using one of the rituals in the old book that he found in the study, and it proved to be useful in cowing the beasts.
What happened next was quite unnerving, people missing from their territory, raids by slave traders, houses burning in the middle of the night. Their territory being harrased by humans, not the beasts, but humans they thought to be and should be on their side. Beasts as they are but smarter and more cunning than humans.
Taking a break from reading the notebook, he took a look at Esbern, bloodied and worn out from fighting, and resting from their night of running, Millie looked even worse, grief and distraught can be discerned from how tears stained her face.
Then it hit him, what about his parents? How was Jacob doing? How was his Mother doing? What about his siblings? are they ok? What about Sherry? They left her behind, guilt came onto him, he should have conviced Sherry to come with them. He was too busy trying to figure out what was happening he forgot about those close to him.
Curtis decided. He shouldn't let fear, guilt and chaos overcome him. He channeled his desire to live, to not fall to the darkness like he did before, he needs to find a way out. Owing to his experience of living two lives he is aware of what he needs to do to stand up again. He. Needs. Power.
Power to stand up, Power to take back what was taken from him, Power to protect what he holds dear.
Then he felt it, calling out to him from within. His heart beating, his mind going wild, power coursing through his body, repairing what was lost in his One year of sleep. Curtis saw the walls of the maze he was in, the cracks going through the walls, the dirt on the floor, he looked around taking in everything, previously what was nigh unnoticeable was now as clear as day. Looking at his hands he felt full of power. Smiling to himself Curtis knows what to do.