Silent as he walked in, Stephen let out a deep sigh as the doors cracked open and the council came to view. The court was so tranquil that only the sound of the footsteps hitting the floor could be heard. The six elders of the Colossal sit aligned in the long table facing them as they approach. Yuri Magnus, the chairman of the council and one of the founding fathers of the organization gestured Stephen to take a sit on the small chair in front of them, guarded by two lightkeepers side by side.
He looked firmly at them. Sitting erect as a sign of high respect and honour. One of the council cleared his throat.
"Stephen Stern of the Black Pentagram, the nothingness of his gift. The council needs a word from you", He demanded with his thundering voice that echoed through the walls of the court.
The term "nothingness of his gift" had struck Stephen to his core that he gave a shard glare at one of the council member but was held back another throat cleared.
"You were a part, and the only survivor of the Task Force Darwin Raid last night, State the happenings and the events all though the duration of the mission", Yuri calmly nodded at him.
Stephen closed his eyes and opened his mouth.
"The plan was to lure him out of the darkness using a dummy human, then we raid him with all the forces that we got until we catch him so we cab take him here. But as we went on, things went on differently from what was planned. It seemed like he'd been moving a few steps ahead of us. That's when things get so ugly. The signal suddenly disrupted and we heard a head-cracking pitch that almost roasted our brains and broke our ears. Out of the nothing, the atmosphere became heavier and we don't understand, we feel so scared and dreaded that it looks like air has been poisoned by death. I picked up the radio and heard a screaming voice from the other line, one of the lightkeepers said that there is this shadowy creature that chased him, the same being that killed everyone in the divisions including Randall...and Randall, his head towered into the pile of corpse stashed like rotten meat in the middle of the road. That was the most horrifying thing that I've ever seen my entire life", Stephen's voice filled the court.
"Now tell us the most exciting part", One of the council went on as he finished his words.
"I don't think it is that exciting to hear but...I came face to face with the shadow creature that killed them all. It was him, The blood winter, Darwin Frost. I've never met someone so powerful and savage like him before", Stephen looked up to then with a dreaded look on his face.
The member turned to each other and exchange words that are not audible to Stephen considering his distance from them. Yuri nodded as the other member pulled away his hands on his ears whispering the words.
"No one gets away from an apex predator like you did. But either way, he must have been up to something that he let a vermin slid out of his grip," Yuri went on. Stephen just nodded at his words, "I understand that you bravely clashes with a monster that put shame of all the aspects of hell, but with your actions we were convinced that you had the slightest idea of the enemy that is we are chasing", He gestured his hands on one of the lightkeepers.
Four glass screens rose around us, locking us in four sides just enough for us to have a 360 view of the screen. A small flicker flashed before a clip was played.
"I highly apologize for the lack of knowledge upon carrying my mission. I believed that I put so much risk not just to myself but for the other lightkeepers then to the organization. All punishment or retention from the constitution to be put upon me, I shall accept it in the name of service as lightkeeper and a member of the Black Pentagram", Stephen looked down to his feet as the presentation around them started.
"The consequences can wait, but right now you have to see this", Yuri moves his around. I followed his gestures to the screen.
"Not everyone is born evil. But you can make an exception with this one. Darwin Alexander Hughes, born June 12, 1864, second born of Peter Hughes and Malia Roosevelt and sibling to Dahlia Monique Hughes. His father, a regent of an ancient vampire tribe of Valhr and his mother a first born witch of the Red Realm. He was naturally born half vampire and a witch and spent most of his life feeding on human blood. Growing up, he learned the art of darkness and inhuman practices that made him so powerful that even the gods of Vultoire cursed him, making him live all of his immortal life feared and despised by all sorts of living creatures. This gave him the opportunity to proclaim himself as the apex of all predators. His first strike as a savage deformity of nature was the gruesome murder of an entire family, his own family to be exact. Until then killing became and addiction, that he lived most of his life in bloodshed and violence", the screen flashed so fast that Stephen cannot keep up his eyes.
"How did he became the famous 'Blood Winter' in the first place?", Stephen asked, still looking at the images flashing around him.
"Blood Winter referred to his physical features, for he looks like an apple sitting in the middle of a blizzard", One of the council members interjected in the conversation.
Stephen, still skeptical about the information he just acquired looked around one more time before turning to the council. He wore a confused expression as he faced them once again.
"All I knew is that the enemy is cloaked like air, lurking in the darkness for centuries, in an abyss of his own evil. But how did these information came into our hands? Sorry I never meant to offend the capabilities of the Intels but I was just confused", Stephen tried to explain.
"The Intels are cursed with advance intelligence, enough to say that they are always a few steps ahead of the enemies", Yuri defended.
Stephen just nodded at his words. Still confused about the information that the council gave. Then, he looked up to see another clip flashed to the screen.
"Here is why you should have have faced the apex predator unprepared", Yuri gestured once again.
Stephen's eyes filled with shock as he watch the clip of him pulling the trigger on one of the lightkeepers. He saw his face lose expression as he blasted off the gun into his mate's head. The clip then transitioned to another clip when he dragged Darwin into his car. Then the next clip when he pulled the adamantine dagger from Darwin's heart.
"There's so much of the scene that you need to see", Stephen turned to them. Wearing a pleading look to hope they listen to his explanation.
"I see two strikes in a row, murder and treason", the same guy who insulted Stephen went on.
"Wait, you don't understand. I was fighting the worst of all the enemies that I've ever encountered and he has an ability beyond any explanation", Stephen tried to defend himself.
"For a lightkeeper and one of the Black Pentagram, you should have known better not to engage in a mission that you don't fully understand. The plan was to lure him out, then we immobilize him with adamantine and bring him here. But it seems that you let your co-lightkeepers be killed all at once and you face him yourself", Yuri's voice rolled like a wave to the walls of the court.
Stephen dropped his jaw in disbelief, shaking his head as he looked around in full misunderstanding.
"Look your honor, I did what I have to do to carry out the mission but the enemy is sharper than we already thought he is. I admit that my rage consumed me and I fought him instinctively. But what would you do if you were there? Face to face with a devil that no one ever dared to counter for centuries? I had to fight out of my duty to defend myself and bring justice to my mates", Stephen defended.
"The council hear you out, but defending yourself from the actions out of your 'emotions' will never bring back the lives of your mates", The same man who insulted him snapped at him.
"We understand that you fight for what is right, but as one of the lightkeepers and a member of Black Pentagram you carry the reputation of fighting the darkness bringing the light as it is. Somehow your actions since the start of this part, of your mission, had tainted your dignity as one of the trusted agents in this organization. You've mistaken the objective, you faced Darwin alone, you killed one of the lightkeepers and you conspired with the enemy. All of these are weighted to the grounds of treason and murder that is punishable by law", Yuri explained their part.
Stephen cannot believe on what he just heard. He looked at the ground in total defeat as Yuri said another word.
"For offending the capabilities of your mates, murder and treason, you Stephen Stern, Officer 1 of the Lightkeepers Division, The third vertex of the Black Pentagram shall be reprimanded for violating the law with several offences. As a consequence of your deeds, you will be banned out of the institution until you hunt Darwin Frost and bring him here. You will be charged to a lifetime mission to hunt the enemy down with everything that you have and without the internal support of the organization. Until then, you cannot breach the contract that you have signed with the Colossal until your mission is fulfilled, or else you will be considered as fugitive by the government and we have the right to track you down and submit you to a further punishment. Also, you will be stripped down of the seal of the Black Pentagram and will be removed from one of the vertices and as one of the lightkeepers", Yuri declared the banishment speech.
The room went silent for a moment before one of the members cleared his throat.
"You may now exit the hall officer Stern, goodluck with your journey", he said.
Stephen dusted his suit and turned his back against them. Clutching his fist in rage and frustration as lump formed in his throat. He slammed the door shut and went straight to his vault. He met Gavin on his way.
"Hey hey hey, bad day?", He gave him a weird look.
"Bad century!", Stephen snapped at him before shutting scratching his temple.
"Oh? What happened?", Gavin leaned on the wall.
"I'm banned...banished out to hunt a demon for the rest of my life", Stephen sighed in frustration.
"Hey wait, I'm coming with you!", Gavin said easily.
"Sure! You want to be banned like me?", Stephen lift his eyebrows at him.
There was a silent in the line.
"So what's gonna happen to you now?", Gavin asked him in concern. Stephen just shrugged his shoulders.
"Gotta go back Abaratt. Stay there a little while for good", he pulled turned his back at him then took small paces, "You take care always buddy", he turned to him again and gave him a hug before walking away.
Gavin sighed at the fate of his buddy. They've been together for years and now they are about to fall apart. Just in a sense.
On his way to his vault which a few blocks away from where Gavin is, Brandon crossed his path with a playful smile on his face.
"Looks like some bad heaven crashed down to the bad earth", he put his fingers on his chin.
"Damn dude. I don't belong here anymore", Stephen replied with a smile.
"Of course you will always be a part of the Black Pentagram, I've heard about your banishment and I gotta admit that it sucks. The council sucks, just like always", he rolled his eyes upon finishing his words.
"Dude, they might hear you", Stephen teasingly warned him.
"Who cares about them, we worked out our asses so hard to keep balance in the vicinity", Brandon threw his hands, "So what happens to you now?", He asked him in concern.
"Go on with life, Still in contract though so I gotta hunt that 'Demon' until I bring him here then I'll have my position and reputation back", Stephen looked at the window next to them.
"Dude, I'll never get close with the rest of the Arrogant Pentagram", Brandon rolled his eyes once again.
"Black Pentagram...", Stephen corrected him with a soft laugh.
"The council is really good at sucking people, the only thing they cared about is their image and dignity. Remember that I was one of the people that they fucked up," Brandon leaned at the wall behind them with a careless expression.
"But anyways, I will wait for you dude. I know hunting down demons wouldn't even cost you a month or two. You'll be back again", He assured him before tapping his back.
"So I wish you all the best in your new journey. Maybe I'll join you when I decide to fuck them up. It's easy", He added as he gave him a hug once again before going passed by him.
Stephen gave him a little smile as he waved farewell to his mates. He took a deep breath and walk straight to his vault, stripped down his clothed and took a shower.
His thoughts, racing like pinballs going in different directions as the water touched his hair down to his body. Closed his eyes as he felt the cold drip of the shower running down his skin. He stayed there for about 15 minutes, trying to hold a grip of his thoughts.
A sharp throbbing pain hit his head inside. He grabbed his temples screaming at the excruciating pain. He went out of the shower and grabbed a towel. He felt like his eyes are burning but somehow feeling cold. Keeping up his composure , he managed to make it to the mirror and opened his eyes. Shocked to see that his eye color changed into blue, two rings of blue flame circling around his eyeball like a snake biting its own tail. Suddenly he felt a burning sensation in his back, he turned to see a more shocking and strange image tattooed on his skin.
A snake biting its own tail. Circling around an inverted pentagram and edged by symbols that he was never familiar with.