As Daemon hurtled toward the car below, his heart pounded like a war drum, yet his mind remained as calm as the eye of a storm his Tenebris Lacerna sensing danger enveloped him, aiming to cushion his fall and soften the impact,
The Tenebris Lacerna will absorb the impact, it has to. I can't afford to be injured now. Not with the girl clinging to me and the authorities closing in. I need to be at my best, no matter the cost.
With a deafening crash, despite its protection he slammed into the roof of a car, from his momentum the vehicle buckled under his weight, crumpling like paper as he pierced through, landing heavily within the vehicle
Inside the car Daemon struggling to regain his bearing as the Tenebris Lacerna unwrapped itself as Daemon struggled to move, hindered by the cramped space and the girl clinging to his back, his breath was heavy and ragged, and he gritted his teeth to suppress any groans of pain. "I thought I'd surely die," he muttered, though he didn't fear death itself knowing he would simply be reborn. Still, he preferred to savor each moment of his actions, avoiding the easy way out whenever possible.
After extricating himself from the wreckage, Daemon felt the lingering weakness in his limbs, though adrenaline kept his movements sharp. He cast a glance over his shoulder at the girl still gripping him and asked, "Why are you still clinging to me?" his brows frowned in frustration, he didn't know her or her motives and was determined to get rid of her.
I need to get out of here and reassess. Who is this girl, and why is she so stubborn?
He reached around, trying to pull her off, but she didn't budge. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn't dislodge her. Realizing he wasn't strong enough, his curiosity was piqued by her unexpected strength.
Of course, they'd show up now. Just when things are starting to settle. They're so predictable. If they think they can catch me, they're sorely mistaken. I've come too far to be stopped by a few officers.
However, he had no time to dwell on it, civilians were approaching, and he spotted officers among them, he had to leave now, before they could apprehend him as it would expose his identity and jeopardize his plans for revenge.
Also he understood that he was apprehend the people will not kill him and try to find out why is he alive so he won't stop until he seeks to avenge his family's death and clear his family name.
Without hesitation, he sprinted away before they could reach him, unaware that the officers had already spotted him and were reporting the incident.
...
Before the explosion occurred inside the auction house, Detective Adriana, along with several armored officers, moved cautiously through the halls of the building, their footsteps echoed ominously as they searched the rooms, heavily armed and vigilant.
Adriana reached the last room and stepped out onto the balcony to survey the scene below. "There's nothing here; everyone is gone," she murmured, frustration tinging her voice. "They prepared for this... how did they know this was going to happen?" she wondered aloud.
While Adriana paced around the room, the other officers continued their search, her instincts tingling with unease then suddenly, she heard a beeping sound her eyes darting around with increasing urgency then she heard it coming from outside the room, near the balcony, when she stepped out to investigate, she saw nothing immediately suspicious. Raising an eyebrow, she concentrated on the sound and realized it was coming from beneath the balcony.
Thinking quickly, Adriana tore a strip of cloth from a nearby curtain, fashioning it into a makeshift rope, she shattered a mirror, tying a shard to the cloth, and carefully lowered it beneath the balcony, then there was sudden flash of lightning illuminated the sky, revealing the reflection of a large bomb in the mirror's surface.
She dropped the makeshift mirror in shock and sprinted out of the room, shouting at the top of her lungs. "There's a bomb! Evacuate immediately!" She didn't waste time calling the bomb squad—she'd seen the timer, and it read a mere three minutes.
As she escaped in the elevator, she heard a loud crash resounded from above, followed by the ominous sound of multiple beep and footsteps. Her heartbeat quickened with the descent, and she couldn't help but think about Daemon. She wanted to save him, primarily to arrest him, but since she helped him before she lost her wings, she couldn't fly off the building if she did find him.
'I hope he somehow escaped.' Adriana thought, desperation clinging to her mind as the elevator continued its descent.
...
While Daemon was running through the town, he used his Tenebris Lacerna to cloak the girl, avoiding unwanted attention. Despite his efforts, he could sense the relentless pursuit of the police closing in on him.
'Shouldn't they be focusing on what's happening at the auction?' Daemon thought, irritation simmering beneath his calm face.
With no particular destination in mind, Daemon found himself on a lively street, alive with the sounds of revelry, multiple bars lined the road, and hundreds of drunk partiers. Seeing an opportunity, he decided to blend in with the crowd.
As one of the officers followed him into the throng, Daemon grabbed a beer bottle from a nearby table and wrapped an arm around a drunken man, mimicking the behavior of those around him, he took a swig and slurred his words to the man, acting convincingly inebriated.
"Hey, buddy! This is some party, huh?" Daemon said, attempting to blend in with the revelers while keeping an eye on the approaching officer. 'This is my first time drinking cant say if i dislike it or enjoy it' Daemon thought.
The drunk man raised his arms. "Party? More like a revolution, my friend!" He raised his arms, nearly losing his balance, and spilled some of his drink.
"A revolution, you say? Sounds like my kind of night!" Daemon chuckled, keeping an eye on the approaching officer.' What is this man even talking about' he thought.
"Yeah! I've been telling everyone... listen, listen..." the drunk man leaned in closer, eyes wide with intoxication. "The secret to life is... is... bacon and jazz!"
"Bacon and jazz, huh? That's deep. Really makes you think." Daemon nodded sagely, taking another swig of beer to maintain his act.
Daemon couldn't help but find the situation amusing. Bacon and jazz? If only life were that simple. For me, it's about survival and vengeance. But for now, I'll play along. A little humor in a high-stakes game might do me some good.
"Exactly! I mean, who needs rules when you have a saxophone and crispy bacon, right?" The drunk man laughed heartily, slapping Daemon on the back.
"You, my friend, might just be a genius." Daemon glanced at the officer, who was momentarily distracted by another commotion in the crowd.
The dunk man looked at Daemon. "Genius? Nah, I'm just a regular guy with a love for life's simple pleasures. Like, uh, what's your name again?" he asked.
Pausing, unsure how to answer "I'm... uh... Bacchus! Just a regular reveler like you." Daemon said
"Bacchus! The god of parties! We're blessed to have you here!" He raised his bottle in a toast. "To Bacchus, bacon, and jazz!" The drunk man said
Lifting his own bottle, feeling oddly amused "To bacon and jazz!" He clinked bottles with the man, who promptly tripped over his own feet and started laughing hysterically.
"You know, Bacchus, I think I love you, man. You're like... like a brother from another mother!" he continued
"Right back at you, buddy." Daemon grinned, giving the man a playful slap on the back as he subtly maneuvered away, leaving the officer lost in the crowd.
As Daemon spoke, the officer scrutinized him for a few seconds before walking away. After waiting a moment to ensure the coast was clear, Daemon released the drunk man and maneuvered through the crowd, dodging between people and passing bars, he continued to blend in, dodging between bar patrons and swaying partiers, feigning sips of his drink but maintaining a clear mind.
With officers covering every side of the street, Daemon reached the other side just in time to spot an approaching night bus. Without hesitation, he hopped aboard, because he heard a rush of footsteps echoing ominously behind him.
Once inside the bus, he glanced out the window and saw Detective Adriana standing in the crowd, her eyes fixed on him. Their gazes locked for a brief moment before the bus began to pull away, leaving her behind.
Yet, even as the bus pulled away, leaving the bustling street behind, Daemon felt a flicker of admiration for Adriana's tenacity, he knew she would not give up easily, but for now, he had gained a momentary reprieve.
While on the bus he had time to think about the booming, he knew the stakes of the auction and the bomb are significant but nuanced, the auction house, known for hosting high-stakes bids on rare and powerful artifacts, represents a critical hub of underground transactions., the destruction of the auction house would typically be a major blow, causing financial loss and disrupting crucial trade for many in the shadowy world of secret societies and criminal organizations.
However, for the Iron Chain Cartel, the auction house is only a minor node within their extensive network. While its destruction might cause temporary inconvenience and financial loss, it will not critically impact the cartel's operations or overall power, their primary concern lies in the potential exposure of their more secretive and valuable dealings that could arise from the bomb's destruction.
The destruction, while inconvenient, is a calculated risk the cartel is willing to take to safeguard their greater interests and ensure their continued dominance.
Daemon then glanced out the window, thinking about Adriana. She's persistent, and I'll give her that. But she's also a potential threat. I need to stay one step ahead, keep my focus on my goals. My revenge is the only thing that matters right now.