Karthika's POV
All I think about is how it is too early for this nonsense. Also, we need a security system. The only people who will be willing to rob us is another gang. Police are scared so we do not worry about breaking the law and well, people in general are afraid of us.
Who are these people?
I slowly walk down the stairs to stand near my inner circle. The sniper laser follows me. There is too few of them to be a gang.
Is this a new gang of some sorts?
Well, I feel that it is time they get taught their first lesson.
There are two guys flanked to the side of the foyer, one holding the sniper at me. As well as two more people standing the closest to the stairs. There is also a middle guy just standing there alone on the marble tiles. This isn't a smart set up.
Who attacks with only five people? Am I missing something?
Their masks are not even real robbery masks but rather they are each shaped into an animal, I believe it is a horse.
What kind of pathetic show down is this?
My inner circle looks towards me. I communicate with them using my eyes. In my head, I count to three. 3…2…1…
My team disperses to the different corners of the foyer spritely. They each go for a guy and I take my shot with the person the middle. I take out the knife from my boot and I go to strike him. He aims and shoots in a poignant manner. I slit his arm and the gun clatters onto the floor. I grab his wrists, pressing the middle of them making him kneel down to the floor. He shoves his hands against my body and I am pushed back with a tremendous force.
Maybe he is not weak after all.
He jumps and straddles me while choking me. My arms flail, trying to grab a hold something while simultaneously gasping for breath. I can feel him smiling underneath his ridiculous mask. I feel a rush of adrenaline coarse through my body, causing to me to reach forward and poke his eyes. Due to the unexpectedness, he falls back and I sit up, sucking in all the oxygen I can manage to suck in. I turn around going for his gun but he drags me by my foot.
You've got to be kidding me.
I slam my arms against the tiles, trying to get a grip on them. It was a really bad idea to get tiles. I feel a sharp, stabbing pain in my leg. I inhale, not wanting to scream. I stand up to face him, my breathing is heavy and I can feel my body burning with anger. I turn around and I see the door wide open. He is gone.
I turn back to my inner circle and they are holding two guys in capture.
"Where is the rest?" I ask, still trying to catch my breath. I need to work out more clearly.
They hake their heads at me.
"Everyone pick a corner and scan the area to see if they have left anyone behind," I command.
I take the upstairs and I check the bedrooms.
I enter my room. I see my large, queen sized bed laying with a white blanket on top. To the right is my desk, that has an overview of the ocean and there are bookshelves mounted to the wall, from the ceiling to the floor. I go to the bathroom and I sit on the steps to the bathtub. I look at my leg and notice I have left a trail of blood. I look at the wound, and it is cut in deep, most likely going to leave a ghastly scar. I take out the first aid kit and I put a string through the needle. I bite down on a piece of polystyrene and I carefully poke the needle into my skin. The pain is unbearable as I swiftly move the needle from either side of the gash. I feel my body shudder every time I poke my flesh. I come out from my bathroom and I look in the mirror of my walk-in closet. I see my tousled, dark brown, curly hair. I grab my hairbrush from the vanity and I smoothen out my hair, opting for a neater-than-before ponytail. I have one of the cleaners clean up the blood I have spilled while I check the other rooms.
The only other room on the top floor is Brian's room, the office and the balcony. But we also have a secret hatch that opens from the garden outside onto the balcony. I walk out to the balcony, and I see the carpet left in the wrong direction.
Maybe the cleaners put it the wrong way again. It is a common error. I slide of the carpet, and I open the hatch. I walk down the rungs of the ladder and I am in the theatre room. It is dark but I manoeuvre around the luxury, leather couches and make my way to the door. I open the door and it leads to what I like to call the fun part of the house.
There is a huge pool with a fireplace in the middle and there are floating marble steps that lead to it. There are lounging chairs that decorate the wooden platform and backyard is covered with different flora, like palm trees and Osteospermum. The waves crashing against the rocks are so harmonious, it makes one's heart slow down to the point it barely beats. I take in the sweet, salty air, feeling it move through my body, rejuvenating my body. This is one of the reasons I took over Validus.
I walk around the house to the front steps of Maristella. I meet up with the rest of my inner circle.
"Found anyone?"
They shake their heads.
"Take these two to the holding cell," I command, "We will have to force them to give us answers later."
"But for now, let's get to school."
Phoenix's POV
"For the last time, Anny, get a grip," I shake her with all my might.
"But you don't understand, Alpha," Anastasia sobs, "You don't understand how I feel."
She falls to the wooden floor. Her brunette mane seems to flop as she silently weeps. Her knees are tugged, close to her body and her hands wrap protectively over them.
There has got to be a way for her to see logic. I didn't do anything wrong. I swear by it. I would never make someone as strong and resilient as Anastasia cry, but it seems like cookies found a way.
Yes, cookies.
"They didn't come out right," she wails.
I slide down next to her, and my arms comfort her as she cries onto my shoulder, tear-staining my collared shirt. Only one thing can make women like this, it's the 8th wonder of the world. Its magnificent and horrible at the same time. It's called a period.
"We will try again after school, I promise," I say.
"Really?" she looks up with me with tears streaming down her face.
I nod silently. I can't stand to see her cry, even if it is something ridiculous like cookies.
"What did you do?!" I hear Evelyn's shrill voice over the beeping alarm in the kitchen.
She fans the air with a cloth, opening the kitchen door to let the smoke out.
I should have probably done that first.
She moves to the oven and with unusually bright red oven mitts she pulls out the tray of now, severely, probably suffering from the fifth degree burn victims.
"Now, we are all going to smell like burnt cookies," She huffs out.
"Now, I made everyone smell like burnt cookies!" she screams, running away.
I glare at Evelyn as the smoke clears out. She is dressed in a crisp collared shirt, tucked away by her mid-thigh skirt.
I shake my head at my underboss.
"I am sorry" she mouths as she exits the kitchen. The cleaners enter and I let them do their job.
I go to the meeting room where the rest of my crew are.
Nick is swinging on the chair, doing full donuts. Wouldn't be difficult to guess that he is the driver in the group. Seth, my strategist, is sitting on the opposite side of the mahogany table, dwindling with a rubrik's cube in his hands. He will do anything to keep his hands busy. My consigliere or as we call her Beta, Anastasia, walks into the room with a stoic look on her face. Glad to see she is feeling like herself again. My hacker or better known as Delta, Daniel, is not here. Everybody acknowledges the hole we all feel without him but we are going to get him back soon enough. Evelyn waltz into the room with a huge smile looming on her face.
"What are you so happy about?" I ask her.
"Oh, somebody got a little note from her boyfriend," Seth teases.
She flips him off.
"Yes, but that's not the reason," She pauses, sitting down on her designated seat.
Everybody leans in closer.
"We got approved by the North side to continue with our mission."
Smiles climb on everybody's faces as we all celebrate.
"Gaia's or also known as Prithvi's Lux Brumalis Sword is going to be ours soon," I announce to my pack.
"What is our strategy?" Nick asks eagerly.
"It is not a simple task," I say, "But I dare to say what good comes from easy beginnings."
"Looking at the best possible way to attain this sword," Anastasia starts, "We need to cross through the realms of Yggdrasil."
"The thing is that we are basically sitting ducks till we find the Oracle of Delphi," Evelyn chimes in.
"I am getting there," Anastasia says patiently, "The first most important step for us to complete this is finding the last one of Apollo's Oracle of Delphi."
"Now considering the fact that we have no idea in which of the realms the Sword is actually in. I would say we are looking at a 0.1 % chance of actually getting the sword."
"But let's remain hopeful," Anastasia says.
"So you basically telling us you have no strategy and are free-balling right now?" I ask with a hint of disappointment.
"Well, I haven't worked out the specifics-"
"Yes, Alpha, we are free-balling," Evelyn says deadpan.
Seth groans.
"Looks like y'all need me after all," Seth says annoyed.
They aren't really in a good position right now because for some reason trying to get along is not working out for them. They are so lucky that I am a mature and patient leader.
"What in the world is WRONG with you people?" I raise my voice.
I watch as everybody crawls into their chairs, trying to take up as little space as possible.
"There is only one thing I ask, and that is for everyone to get over their little dispute and work as a team. We are one pack. Act like it, for goodness sakes."
"I am not included in their fight," I hear Nick whisper under his breath.
"What did you say," I ask rhetorically.
"Nothing, Alpha," he answers quickly.
"I want a plan before the end of the week," I say to them, "Everybody is dismissed."
Everybody leaves the meeting room. It is so quiet you could even hear a hair fall to the ground. We grab our blazers and all get into our cars. I choose my cerise Ferrari Enzo and I lead the procession to the Serenity School.
As we reach the entrance of the Highschool, we all park next to each other, showing off our slick cars as they gleam in the sunlight, almost as if they are gold. We walk together in an unified V-shape. Evelyn and Anastasia are by my sides while the men fall in the back.
We walk to the middle of the hall where we meet Validus.
I see the smirk form on Karthika's lips.
"Hello, Brother," she says.