"What happens when the herd knows about the demise or the absence of the shepherd? Disarray! That is what will happen if you leave and that is what will end us," Aaron said and turned to face the window. He placed his hands on the frame and huffed.
"I have to," Sonya's mild voice projected.
"You are the shepherd of the herd. You are the captain of this team," Aaron said and turned his face.
"A lot will happen, a lot, bigger and scarier than the disarray, the wolfs will come for us and we will be defenceless. We stand a chance when we fight together with you on our side than without you."
"So that is why I have to go into the fold. I will know about the attack plan and I will communicate with you from the inside. From the inside, we will make them rot and when we attack from the outside, they won't have the strength to hold us from within. We will attack once and we will win," Sonya said and took a step close to Aaron who looked away as she stepped close.
"This will work, Aaron. Even if it won't we have to try and it has to be me. I can withstand the confessing ability. I have control over my head and my soul. I also can go as far as my wings could carry me if the plan gets botched. I can survive," Sonya said and pulled Aaron by his jacket till the space between them was removed. There they stood, a heightened slim redhead with hairs that continued to the small of her back and a turgid male with short-length hairs that hung on his nape. His jaw was wide and he had sprouting moustaches on it.
"Apart from winning this eternal vendetta which is the goal of the team, still, there are greater benefits for us," Sonya added.
"You mean in the afterlife?" Aaron asked and Sonya shook her head.
"The afterlife war is still tied to the team and the eternal vendetta. When I speak of benefits, I mean right here. As we have planned. Our futuristic daughter; Aurora. We have seen it. We have felt it and we will actualize it. But duty comes first and I am about to play my path in making it come to pass. Play yours too," Sonya said and rested her head on Aaron's chest and he slowly wrapped his hands across her waist.
"Yes. As you have asked, I will do my part. I will fold my hands and watch the mother of my unborn kid go into danger. I will do my part willingly," Aaron said.
Sonya detached from the grip that held her close to Aaron and looked into his face.
"So as the captain of this team, I order you to…"
Sony was barred from completing the gentle order in her mind as Aaron kissed her and she mumbled the rest of the words.
"Win, Sonya. Win for me. Win for you. Win for her," he said and made eyeing gestures on her tummy."
"Then, win for us all. For the team."
"I will. We will," Sonya said and returned the kiss.
She felt hoisted in the air and in the respite that followed, her back was on the wall and Aaron pressed his hard body against her. Sonya held his head in place as their lips were married in the heated moment. Aaron's hand travelled beneath her jean. He caressed her groin and Sonya hypocritically wrestled to stop the furtherance of his hands in her jeans and she giggled.
"Captain!" the voice came and they detached at the instant.
Sonya tucked her exposed panty back into her jean and used her hand to wipe off the perspiration on her face while Aaron suddenly turned to face the direction of the sound.
Mason showed up and stuttered and looked sporadically into their faces.
"Captain, Wendy discovered a new mark close to the tomb. It may be a recruit," Mason said.
"What? A mark?" Sonya asked.
"That is strange, isn't it? It is not the season of marks," Aaron argued.
"Wendy is sure. We have to go before demons find her," Mason said again.
"Ready the van, get the leaders ready, get five recruits too, get the weapons, and get masks for us all," Sonya ordered.
"Masks?" Aaron asked.
"Yes. Masks. We are not sure what it is and it may be a trap. We go in masks," Sonya repeated and Mason walked out.
"Do you think he saw us?" Sonya asked when Mason left and there was silence.
"Oh. I should have known. Boys, you would say it proudly. You are the one banging the captain. Sure they should know," Sonya teased and relaxed her body into the hands of Aaron who took her carefully.
"No, I ain't the one banging the captain of the team, I am the one rocking with the hottest girl on the planet. Yes, I am proud. Although we can't show it yet, it is a rule against the team but Wendy sees everything, she knows, and so does Mason. But Chris, I am not sure," Aaron explained.
"Good. Be careful out there," Sonya said.
"Why are taking many precautions?" Aaron asked.
"I only have a bad feeling about this. That is just it, be careful."
"You too," Aaron replied and held her lips in a kiss again.
"They are ready," Mason's bass voice came again and they slowly detached from the kiss knowing that they had been caught.
"Okay, arm up," Sonya ordered as she led the way out of the room.
Sonya showed up on the stage where Wendy and Chris were, armed in their hunting kit and waiting at attention. The stage was six feet elevated while the floor was the training ground that harboured the recruits who were undergoing training. The stage had different hunting accoutrements that were hung on the wall and was extended from one side to the other and the width of the wall also housed the training kits for the recruits.
As Sonya walked to the edge, two of her chosen hand help walked close to her and pulled out her jacket, revealing her crop top. They began the attachment of her personal kits.
"We have a task at hand. Our signals have picked up a high tension close by and we are going for it. A mark has been located and it may be a new recruit. There is only one way to find out and there we are headed." When Sonya completed her statement, she had transformed from the hottest woman that Aaron knew and was a gladiator. From being a redhead who heightened in stature to being a dark gladiator with black armour on, two daggers by her side and purses around her waist which contained poison in powder form, smokes, and sheathed darts, filled with killer instincts and a bit of magical backup that comes with being a huntress and the captain of the fated cleansing team. Mason handed her a mask and she covered her face with it. Mason did the same, and Aaron, and Wendy.
"Ailey, Edson, Ian, Otis, and Ullix, I hereby named you the VOWELS as you have shown prowess in the training section. Consider this your first outing and kit up," Sonya said and there was a shout of joy and clapping in the training ground as the listed names celebrated their graduation amidst their mates and walked to the sides to get themselves a kit and weapons.
They were strutted as ordered within five minutes and they joined the leaders' group that was on stage. Mason handed them their masks and then they all followed Mason and took the exit.
"We'll be back soon, get them to relax, it has been a long day," Sonya said to Chris who was to wait and secure the recruits.