Flashback
2003
Blue Cross Hospital,
Lagos, Nigeria.
Wednesday, April 9.
Aaron grinned as he entered the hospital. He was getting a little hungry with the scent of blood everywhere but swallowed it. Picking up her scent, it led them to the children's ward. He was a little dumbfounded by the sight they all beheld.
The priestess, the same one that had jumped into the water to escape them, was lifelessly sprawled on the floor, and he then gestured to one of his men to check on her.
"She's not dead, sir!" he confirmed on checking her pulse.
"Check her basket for the pearl!" he ordered, when he caught a strange scent from amongst the babies.
He was just about to investigate when one of his men called out.
"S-s-s sir...?" he stuttered.
"What?"
"It's empty. The pearl is gone!"
"What?" he exclaimed, snatching the basket to confirm it.
"Sir, we have to leave they are coming!" said one of his men, keeping a lookout.
"Who?
"Spirit Warriors!" he sneezed.
I wrinkled my nose in disgust as I tried to suppress a sneeze.
"Sir?"
"What?"
"What about the priestess?"
"Take her body." he ordered half-heartedly. "Let's get outta here before they show up."
And with that they exited the ward,one of them wieghtlessly carrying the priest3ess on his shoulder fireman style; all of them oblivious of the golden glow emitting from a baby girl in the corner.
...
Opposite the church,
Inside the surveillance van,
Sunday , February 13
9:20 AM
Dr. Lu
I struggled against the ropes as my captors, unperturbed, continued to plan their attack on the church. There were about at least six in each of the three vans but I couldn't recognize them due to their red face masks on their complete ninja outfit, but only their silent leader wore a blue mask.
He had been writing for over an hour in an old journal, until he stood up not long ago to get a drink from the mini fridge.
"What's the area report?" he said, after a gulp, turning to the agent using the periscope.
"Main targets have just arrived sir!'' he replied, smartly "three SUVs...the tigers have been separated from the preys with a civilian leading them away."
''No need for rhymes, rookie.'' another agent muttered, assembling his gun while their boss was busy whispering on the phone.
"You'll never get away with this!" I spat. "Whatever it is you all are planning..."
"Shut up!" the rookie roared, silencing me with a punch.
"Make me!" I dared, ignoring the blood that was trickling down the side of my mouth.
He raised his fist to punch me again but it was held back by the senior Agent.
"Touch him again and boss won't hesitate to rip your head off, rookie." the older Agent warned.
"I'd do as he says, rookie." I taunted.
"You're one lucky Doc." he sneered, going back to the periscope.
''Alright men, listen up!'' their leader barked, joining them on the table, oblivious of what had happen. ''There's been a slight change of plans; we're dealing with a Situation IV, so Operation Storm has been swapped with OG..."
"What's OG?" some newbies inquired.
"Operation Graveyard." was the swift reply.
"Bummer!" another agent murmured.
"We'll be spanning the perimeter. Total stealth, rookies!" he warned. "Don't get caught; whatever you do don't shoot without a silencer or till I say so. Any questions... let's roll!"
He ignored the few hands that were up as he led the way. The others quickly picked their weapons and ammunitions from a big green box. The rookie tried to keep up, but on getting there he found it emptied clean.
Cursing, he scanned the bus for another till his eyes fell on a small purple box. Satisfied with the darts in it he pocketed it and left.
When he was out of sight, I continued cutting the ropes that bound me with a dagger I had swiped from the rookie.
I didn't know how long it took but soon I was free and I quickly hastened to the door to escape.
But just as I reached to grip the handle, the door opened to reveal their leader eerily grinning at me.
"Nathair! I was..."
"Going somewhere?"
"Looks like I am not so lucky after all!" I thought with a gulp as he cracked his knuckles.
...
The Chaos Conference Room
Demon Realm,
The Underworld.
At the same time,
Crown Prince Carson
I lazily sipped my wine as Aiden, Belial and I silently watched our fellow Crown Princes bickering and hurling insults at one another from across the table. Sometimes, I wonder whether we were truly fit to be the next heirs to the Ten Thrones of Hell when we still behave like preschoolers fighting over candy.
Well... most of us.
Our fathers were quite busy on earth so they made us represent them at this meeting, alongside their Gammas, as part of our "training". Alex, the chairman of the search committee, was currently being grilled by the rest, and trust me you'd not want to be in his shoes.
"I told you it would be a wasteful venture!" Ethan roared. "I would have used the money instead to buy a new Mercedes Benz Maybank Excelo."
"Tsk, tsk tsk..." I thought, "What else do you expect from the Crown Prince of Greed?"
"Why? You have seventeen already?!" Dennis exclaimed.
"Classic Envy!" Aiden muttered.
"There's nothing bad in looking good!" Memphis smirked, his eyes glued to his mirror.
"Classic Vanity!" Belial muttered, lazily.
"Have patience, Ethan!" Alex said. "Our men are still searching..."
"And, yet they've found nothing!" Aaron interrupted.
"Like seriously, do you have to always dampen hopes!" he snapped.
"What else do you expect from the Prince of Despair?" Dennis muttered darkly, rolling his eyes.
"Besides, we've been searched everywhere"I
"Our fathers were this close to getting it if not for that b***h who covered her tracks well."
"My fellow princes bear with me..." Alex began.
"We've searched everywhere what more do we have to do?" Aiden complained.
"Give us more time and support."
"Hell no!" Ethan roared, slamming his fist on the table so hard it crumbled to bits.
"What the hell, man!" Belial grumbled, as he was being helped up.
Due to boredom, he had propped his elbow on the table which was why he fell face-first into the debris. Rolling his eyes, Aiden muttered something under his breath and the table slowly reattached itself back.
"I can do better!" Dennis retorted.
"Then, what do you suggest we do?" Aiden said, ignoring Dennis.
"How about we call off the search?" I said softly, turning to face the rest.
"What?!" Alex snapped, flabbergasted to the marrow.
"Like you said we've searched everywhere yet we can't find it so how about we devote our time and resources to our main essence in life? File X!"
I paused letting my words sink as several gasps erupted.
"We-we've never done that before!"
"There's no harm in trying."
"What about..? But we need it!" Alex whined.
"Not necessarily... I say we forget about it." I said.
"How can we just abandon something so priceless after decades of investment?"
"Is it just me or has anyone noticed that the Dragon Shifters have been inactive for decades?"
"That's true!" Memphis reaffirmed, looking up from his mirror for the first time since the meeting began. "Our men haven't clashed with them in years."
"Let me guess... you're out of dragon skin, again." Dennis said, rolling his eyes.
"So?"
"If Long Mu's soul is as priceless as you claim Alex, why haven't they been on our necks to prevent us from finding it? Has it occurred to any of us that this might have been a wild goose chase to distract us from our main mission?"
I smirked in victory as I was replied by subdued silence. Alex only muttered something unintelligible and averted his gaze on me.
"Carson's right!" Aiden said, breaking the silence.
"But..."
"Let's take a vote." I suggested. "All those in favor of executing File X, say 'Aye'..."
"Aye!" Aaron, Memphis, Ethan, Aiden, and I chorused.
"Those against say, 'Nay!'"
"Nay!" Dennis and Alex chorused.
"The ayes have it!"
"Belial didn't even vote!" Dennis complained.
"You should know me by now, dude," he murmured lazily.
"Take heart, Alex," I said, patting his shoulders. "It's best we all forget about her. Maybe it's even a lost soul."
"Maybe..." he murmured stubbornly.
"Lagan!" Aiden barked.
"Yes, my prince." said a young man who appeared beside me with a bow.
"Get me File X!"
"As you wish my lord!" he said lowly, with a bow before disappearing.
I felt more at ease as we settled down to focus on more serious issues...
Our essence since creation...
Our way...
Destruction and Chaos...
The Demon Way!