People littered the busy street as tall skyscrapers raised to the sky from one end to the other. This city was fast progressing by just looking at their latest vehicles and the new technologies.
Adam was about to enter his car after exiting the hotel where he had stayed when his friend appeared at his side. Ignoring him, he rode in the driver's seat, but his friend took the other side without waiting for his invitation.
"Are you sure about this plan?" Isaac asked as he revved the engine while his hands managed the steering wheels, and his eyes studied the street.
Ditching his friend seemed to be out of the question. He would not be able to get rid of him anyway. Eventually, his gaze focused on the extent of Grego Dumont's Empire instead.
In his observation, the Orsha Pack had flourished and established its dominance in this city. Their influence was evident in the numerous buildings they owned and the enormous billboards showcasing their success.
He could only wonder what else had changed with their enemies from the last time he had encountered one. Could he still effortlessly kill them with his bare hands?
"Nope." Adam gripped the wheel tighter, doubting his sanity for agreeing to this plan. "But I am doing this anyway." Not backing out since he already gave his word.
His focus turned to the numerous mountains surrounding the place, then one particular magnificent peak. It was on the farthest side of the city, one of the highest mountains in this area. It was also the most challenging and dangerous trail to climb.
Then, his eyes returned to the road, sensing that they were exiting the city proper and transversing to the assigned place where they were meeting tonight. It was supposed to be just at the outskirt of the city.
"Why do you have to do this?" Isaac could still not understand the logic of his friend. "We could easily take down all of them. Just give the word, and I will gather all our men."
His friend sat uneasily on his seat, clearly not favoring this plan. His eyes kept checking the road while his hand played with his knife, preparing for any threat.
The twilight was quickly fading fast. Soon, the dusk would take over, and darkness would swallow everything, sparing nothing in its path, dominating the night sky and the land.
The road ahead had finally turned black as the city lights barely covered the area. Soon, they would be turning away from the highway, treading on the rough road to their destination.
"I don't want to risk it. Through the years, you witnessed how those werewolves had changed." He still remembered the last few werewolves who died in his hands.
They were not the same as the ones they had effortlessly killed before. Somehow those creatures had evolved and increased in size and strength. They might have acquired new abilities that might be more difficult to defeat.
"Well, you are right about that?" Isaac nodded in agreement, still sitting restlessly in his seat as if ants were attacking his pants.
Adam could only assume that his friend recalled his near-death experience in one of those beasts that almost escaped from their captivity because he transformed even without the powers of the moonlight.
"I think it would be wiser to study and learn more about our enemies before plunging into another war." His hands finally steered the wheel on his left, following a dirt road path that led to more greeneries and what seemed to be an abandoned road.
His eyes scoured the place for a possible ambush, remembering that although many feared him and his people, his enemies might not hesitate to kill him if they saw a chance.
Witches might say they were an ally, but he would not trust them with his life, prophecy or not. He had learned his experience against dealing with those kinds. Caution was a must.
"Is this the right place?" Isaac also looked doubtful as the grasses stood taller than them, almost covering their car and the rocky road they were heading.
If they would travel in the same direction, a little furthermore, he also wondered if there would be a passable road ahead that would lead them to their destination. But that woman had told them that this was the way.
Fortunately, his eyesight was unobscured even in the darkest night, but it was not an x-ray vision that could pass through all those blocking their path. He still had to strain his eyes to see where they would go next, using only the bright light in front of his car.
After a while, something seemed to catch his eye beyond the darkness, an image, but it also abruptly vanished. Then, instinct suggested that he stop the car, suddenly pressing on the breaks.
He was not speeding on an open road, so the impact was not that strong. But still, the incident caused him and his friend to jerk forward in their seat.
"What was that?" Isaac turned to him, questioning his reason for suddenly stopping.
Without giving his friend an answer, he went out of the car, slamming the door, wondering what he saw. But when he stared at the open space, it was only darkness. The mirage seemed to have disappeared. He pondered if it was just his imagination.
But when he stepped a few steps forward in the front of the car, he discovered that they were just a meter away from a stiff cliff. If he did not stop, they would have plummeted to the pit.
He doubted they would die from such an accident, but still, it would have been one painful experience before they could recover.
Then when he turned to his left, he saw the hidden road, covered again by the tall grass. He believed it was their final destination.
Quickly, he made his way to the narrow road that was almost unpassable. Darkness dominated the entire area as only their headlight lit the way.
It seemed that the road had no end, obstructed by the tall grass, unsure if they would once again end up in a ditch.
Then, a small clearing finally opened up, and situated in the middle was a medium-size dilapidated wooden house. Nothing else could be seen from miles away beside the forest surrounding it.
He gradually stopped the car when they had neared what seemed to be an abandoned house in the middle of nowhere. But he remained still in his seat as he parked the car and let the motor run. He only wanted to check first, staring at the old structure.
"Is this the place?" Isaac asked as both finally stepped out of the vehicle to check the perimeter.
He sensed movement besides the small fire dancing on the small window. He concluded that candles illuminated the inside. The witch could be waiting already for them.
"Yes." He finally answered his friend, then the door opened, but nobody came out. "Shall we get this over with?"
He had no idea what the witch had planned for him, but he had his friend who would deal with her if she tried to double-cross him. It would not take much to snap or cut her neck. After all, Elisia was not like them. Witches were not immortal beings.