The castle staff were setting up the vehicles that would be used for their mission. Like Sloane had requested, they had grouped themselves in six, with eight staff members in each group while Nathan, Priya and Timothy had cloned themselves.
The people on the streets were a bit confused as to what was going on, but there was no point to them having to know, since they weren't allowed to leave the settlement without Sloane's permission.
Putting on a pair of black leather gloves and a black poncho jacket, the original Priya had a frown on her face when the thought of having to head to Greenwood Springs crossed her mind.
"What are you thinking about?" Sloane asked as she placed her hand on Priya's shoulder
"Something annoying" Priya said while crossing her arms over her chest
"Clear your mind. It's not like you're heading to the town to stay" Sloane said as she made a clone of herself then and there
"I know" Priya said "However...is this really alright? Once all the other humans in the town have been evacuated, then what?"
"When we get to that lane, we'll know" Sloane's clone answered "Can I have the maps?"
"I've already distributed the maps. So everyone already knows which location they're headed" Priya's clone stepped in and said. She took out one last map and handed it to Sloane's clone "This is the address in Greenwood Springs that houses the mechanism's control system. Mackenzie has already marked everyone and is currently waiting in the car with Kayden and the other two staff"
"This seems like my cue to leave" the original Priya said as she turned to the original Sloane and curtsied with a smile "I shall bring you the best results, your majesty"
"Priya, what you just did is far more embarrassing than our clones talking to each other in front of us" Sloane said with a sigh
"Well then, good bye, me" Sloane's clone said
"Protect those four as if it's the last thing you'll do in the world" Sloane said
"I understand" Sloane's clone said before taking her leave
"Priya, you and everyone else should be safe, but make no mistakes" Sloane said
"This almost feels like something out of a fantasy book" Priya's clone said
"Right?" Sloane agreed with a smile "However, this life that we're living right now, is very much real. That's why I don't want any of you to throw it away"
"We'll be safe. Don't worry" Priya said before leaving with her clone
As soon as Priya and her clone separated and entered inside different vehicles, all seven vehicles parked in front of the castle, took off with lightning speed.
'It took several back and forts some weeks ago, two years in the spirit world and experiencing the memories contained in my bloodline, for hundreds of years in the realm of the soul, for me to stand here now without a shred of fear for the unknown' Sloane thought as she stared at the leaving vehicles 'Although I keep saying, 'my eyes simply opened up to the world around me', I guess it's more right to say I changed. My personality completely adjusted itself to this chaotic environment I was suddenly tossed into'
"This is so not like the past me" Sloane murmured before realising the vehicles were now completely out of sight "Time for me to go tend to my own matters" she said as silver light swirled around her and she was instantly teleported.
******
Inside the car with Sloane's clone
Two male butlers sat in the front seats of the car. One was driving and the other was overly prepared for any incoming form of communication. While seating in the back seats were Sloane's clone, Mackenzie and Kayden.
"Mum, why did you-"
"Kenzie, during this mission, please don't call me 'mum'" Sloane's clone said, interrupting Mackenzie "It's too dangerous for you if the North figure out you're my daughter. Plus, I'm not even the real one, so it'll be hard for me to protect you since I only have a quarter of the original's power"
"Oh...then I won't call you mum the entirety of this trip. I'll call you Anne" Mackenzie said
"Just because she's a clone doesn't mean-"
"It's fine. Good girl" Sloane's clone said, interrupting Kayden while praising Mackenzie "Also, speed up and get past those in front of us. Then, make a right turn after passing through the town gates. Avoiding human eyes is the best way to get this done quietly, in the afternoon. Too much attention will give the devil more options to escape" she said with crossed arms
"Yes, ma'am" the driver said as he hit the gas and got passed those up front without slowing down for one second
"Anne, why did my mum stay back?" Mackenzie asked
"She's not going in the same direction as the rest of us, so it was pointless in her perspective, to enter any of the vehicles" Sloane's clone said "She just teleported a few minutes ago to her destination and has given us, the team captains an order to protect everyone and return back"
"Anne really speaks a whole lot different from your mother" Kayden whispered to Mackenzie
"Well, that's simply because I'm a clone" Sloane's clone replied "Although we clones have the same thoughts and emotions as the originals, our perspectives are quite different. Because we're clones, we know that there are boundaries we shouldn't cross when faced with the original"
"Oh" Mackenzie said
******
City Hall
Detective Norman and Officer Owen's squad car pulled up in front of the building and they both got out
"It seems like lately we're always meeting up with each other" Norman said
"Weird things keep happening, Detective" Owen said "Just as Sloane Michelle left our town, it suddenly began to snow. Now, the townspeople say that she cursed them with eternal winter"
"The townspeople are truly hilarious. Here in Greenwood, where superstitions rain supreme, it's no wonder the younger generation refuse to go to church here" Norman said
"According to them, the priests reminds them of witch-hunters ready to go on a purge" Owen said
"I'm starting to think that our town needs to take one step back and relax. This is getting too much" Norman said "An innocent person leaves town and because tragedy tends to swarm around her, everyone believes she's a witch and has cursed them"
"What if I'm not innocent?" the two men heard and looked up, there, Sloane was looking down at them.
More than half of her hair's length had been dyed white and her gunmetal blue eyes had an inexplicable mystery to them.
'She...how did she get there?' Owen wondered as he took a step back
"You don't need to run. I don't harm humans" Sloane said and Norman's expression froze on his face "I need to speak with the Mayor. It's something very troubling"
"What are you?" Norman said "I for sure know you aren't Sloane Michelle"
"The whole Michelle family are demons. Do you really think that I, who has the purest bloodline out of all, isn't one?" Sloane said in a mocking tone "If you knew half of the things I've been through, then this minor change in behavior would seem more like a joke" her eyes glowed "Where is the Mayor? This is a matter of life and death"
"The mayor's health is deteriorating" Norman said while slowly taking a step back due to the pressure she was extruding "He's in no condition to step out of his home"
"He's a human with no magic power, whatsoever, who signed a contract with an otherworldly being. It's no wonder his health is bad" Sloane said as her eyes stopped glowing and she walked towards them "Who is the second in command when the Mayor is down?"
"The Vice Mayor, Mr Xavier-"
"Xavier is currently out of commission. He's with his wife who just woke up from a coma" Sloane said, interrupting Owen as she stood directly in front of them.
"Mr Grey- how do you know what he's doing right now?" Owen asked
"He's one of my people. Of course I know everything about him" Sloane said briefly "Is there any other person available?"
"Unfortunately, there's nobody after that...other than Dian Rodri-" Norman said
"I guess I'll have to leave this matter in your hands, Detective Norman. Don't worry, I'm on your side" Sloane said
"How can we even trust your kind?" Norman asked
"Gather everyone in Greenwood, here. There's not much time" Sloane said "In two hours, this place will be attacked by our enemies. For the sake of damage control, if you want me to explain further, do as I have instructed" she said as she walked passed them and teleported
Owen immediately fell to his knees as he began to cough. The whole time Sloane stared at them, he felt like prey before a mighty predator. As though he wasn't allowed to breath unless permitted to.
"She disappears and returns as a monster" Owen said "That thing she told us about moving to the next town was all a lie. What are we going to do?"
"According to her, this town is about to be involved in something shitty" Norman said as he turned around and headed back towards the squad car
"What if she tries to kill everyone?" Owen asked as he took to his feet
"I doubt that" Norman said "She might hate this town, but I'm sure even in a world filled with monsters, she at least would have a human heart" he opened the car and reached for the radio in it
"You're going?" Owen asked
"I'm need to make a deal with a demon in exchange for us all, to be saved from other demons" Norman said as he adjusted the radio "Dispatch, this is Detective Norman"
"Copy, this is Dispatch" a man's voice rang over the radio "What's the situation?"
"It's a code black" Norman said "Escort every citizen to City Hall without causing panic. At most, we have only two hours to do this"
"What's going on over there, Detective?" the man repeated
"Our worst nightmares have come to pass. Those being have finally decided to leave the forests and attack the town" Norman said with a sigh
"Detective, is this a joke?" the man said over the radio
"Listen carefully. I just had an encounter with a witch and buddy, I almost pissed my pants. In fact Owen still can't walk properly" Norman said
"How is that-"
"Sloane Michelle is a demon. She appeared in front of us out of nowhere and warned us about this herself before disappearing" Norman said, interrupting the man "I literally just saw her use magic with my own two eyes. Stop wasting precious time arguing with me and help me save the town"
There was silence for a while, "I'll dispatch some people to the radio station to make the announcement and dispatch others to help escort the townspeople to City Hall" the man said over the radio
******
"I'm glad that, that man is at least competent" Sloane mumbled as she walked down the streets "To think he'd use my name to spook his subordinates into listening to him" she chuckled
'It should be around here. The Mayor's house' she thought as she turned her head and stared at a large duplex 'I need to terminate this contract in order to kick these people out. So my plan can succeed' she thought as she approached the gate to the compound of the duplex.
She opened the gate and entered the compound before approaching the door to the Mayor's duplex. She knocked on the door, however, to her surprise, it was opened by Jake Rodik.
She didn't know who he was, but he smelled a bit like Priya which was enough information she needed.
However, this wasn't the case with Jake who was staring at Sloane's unimpressed face. He knew who Sloane was because she was popular in the whole town for the wrong reasons. In Greenwood Springs, it was common knowledge to know what Sloane looked like, but Jake only ever saw her back and never her face due to her always keeping her head down.
"What's keeping you?" A young man in his twenties said as he stood behind Jake "Sloane?" the man let out