A snake with its head cut off is still a snake.
Without Him
Alex was tied to the bed. As soon as he woke up, his first thought was to go after Shay — which was difficult enough when he couldn't even move. When the doctor finally came after getting fed up with his shouting, he questioned whose lunatic idea it was to immobilize him.
The doctor shared with him that it was the kid who had declared that he refused to rest in his room until he had finished tying the wolf.
"You're a doctor, aren't you?" snapped Alex. "How could you let him tie a patient to the bed?!"
"Actually, I think it's necessary," the doctor declared.
"What?!" growled Alex.
"You're in no condition to fight, you're not even well enough to leave the hospital," the doctor shared his opinion.
"Don't bullshit me, doctor," the wolf growled, "I have to go, and I have to go now! I don't want to spend one minute..."
"Do you really think that would make sense?" the fae interrupted, and the other was stunned into silence "You'd get yourself killed for nothing."
"But..." the wolf began. "I... have to..."
He hadn't noticed when the tears started to flow.
"Don't forget this feeling, Alex," said the doctor, "It's called bitterness, despair even — those who let it get the better of them are rushing to their death. But he who keeps them deep within himself, and nurtures them patiently, may become victorious. If you really feel it was your fault, I could say otherwise, but you wouldn't believe me, so I won't even try. Instead, I'd rather say, if you really feel it was your fault, remember these feelings and become stronger instead of getting yourself killed."
With that, the doctor left the room with the elegance and superiority of a fae. Alex covered his eyes with his arm and was now sure that every word the doctor said was true. He was determined to burn into his heart all the things that had made his chest ache so painfully so that he would remember them forever.
A week had passed since then — it must have seemed like an eternity to Alex. Promising the doctor that he would at least wait until most of his wounds had healed, the fae removed the straps that held him to the bed.
Since he was condemned to lie down, he could do nothing but stare aimlessly at the sky stretching outside the window. It was on one such afternoon that there was a soft, awkward knock at his door.
He sighed deeply and pretended not to hear it. He heard faint sounds of speech from behind the door, and then it opened. The half-angry-half-confused Coffee entered first, followed by Mose.
"Why didn't you say anything?" hissed the vampire girl.
Alex slowly raised his eyes to her. "It's far better that you came here than going after Shay."
Coffee was so stunned by what she had heard that, unworthy of a noble vampire, her lips parted slightly. Did the wolf really say that? Was he that beaten up? Was his brain permanently damaged?
"Don't...," she began quietly, "Don't you want to go after him?"
"Don't get me wrong," Alex said immediately, as he turned his gaze to the vampire girl again.
It was the first time Coffee had seen him so serious. The intensity in his eyes was hauntingly familiar, evoking the cold, calculating gaze his father had worn before striking back against those who wronged him — a look of a man bracing for the battle ahead, a warrior preparing for the inevitable clash.
"The Crosspherat will regret that they ever incurred our wrath," he continued, "They thought Shay was the real threat, as he is the leader of our famiglia... but I think we ourselves can be as much of a threat as our leader."
The vampire girl nodded.
"Well, then, I guess we'll need a safe place to plan a counterattack," Moses interjected as he piled a large stack of books and scribbled notes on Alex's bedside table, adding casually that they were his books and his photocopied notes from school.
Alex didn't quite understand why he needed to catch up with school at such a critical time, but he left it at that and asked what he was a little more concerned about.
"What do you mean by 'we'?"
Why is Moses even here? And why does he even know about the existence of monsters? Why is he so calm about it?
The boy chuckled, and then his lips settled into a slight smile as he spoke.
"I thought Shay would keep my secret," the boy said, "In any case, I'm a mage. I know a trick or two."
Alex frowned in puzzlement as he glanced at Coffee, hoping she would shed some light on why Mose was crazy — but the vampire ice princess did nothing of the sort, merely nodding her head.
"What?!", Alex sat up immediately in bed, but immediately regretted the abruptness of it, and fell back into the pillows instead. After about two seconds of malfunctioning, he asked the question rather resignedly "How is that possible?"
"Well, I can explain my family tree, but I don't think you'll find it too interesting," Mose interjected, and Alex just gave a tired little nod.
"And what's the plan?" asked Coffee.
"Bring Roli over," said the wolf, "He's probably already got some sort of a plan."
Rolo just sat on the bed, his back against the backrest, fidgeting with a marble in his hand. Then, fed up with his unnecessary preoccupation, he got up and started to dress. He was no wiser, he found no solution, and he only knew who he had to go to in order to find it. He was about to leave when his door opened unexpectedly.
"We're having a meeting," said Mose with a slight smile, "Care to join us?"
Rolo was stunned. Who is this? He raised his eyebrows questioningly as he looked at the vampire girl.
"I'm a friend of Shay," the boy replied, "If I had to classify myself, I'd say I'm a mage. Pleased to meet you."
"A mage?" Rolo was shocked. "That's impossible."
"Well, to be precise, an unmagical mage," corrected Moses, and Rolo burst out laughing.
"Believe me, I know more about magic than you think," Mose said in a calm voice.
Rolo looked him over again. A smile played on his lips, but his eyes... his eyes were mysterious.
"Hm, we'll see," the kitten murmured.
They wandered over to Alex's room, where Des sat visibly grumpy while Alice tried to soothe him, barely noticeable.
"So, what's the plan?" asked Des skeptically.
Everyone glanced at Rolo.
"Hm," the boy was thinking, "First we get information. Everyone should research through their own contacts. We need to find out everything we can about Acheron and its weaknesses. In the meantime," he glanced at Mose, "we'll prepare a hideout."
After that, Rolo left the ward without saying goodbye — he felt he'd wasted too much time already.
"This kid," Des began in an ominous tone, "pisses me off."
"You're not alone in that," Alex agreed, oblivious to the fact that for the first time in his life, and surely unrepeatable, he agreed with the mad hunter.
Des stood up.
"I'll be back," he said as he left, followed by Alice.
"I'll ask around my father," Coffee said and started to leave, but she took one last uncertain look at the wolf. Finally, she stepped out of the door.
"Are you going home?" asked Mose.
"Hm?" the wolf looked up at him, "Well, I was planning to visit the Goblin first, why?"
"I thought your house would be perfect for a hideout," Moses said, "I'd start securing it."
"Er, okay," agreed Alex, "Then let's go home first."
Moses nodded.
(...)
Ruben stared at the paper thrown on the edge of his desk with a scorching gaze as if hoping that his annoyed look would set them alight. Well, that didn't happen, even after a week of active staring. He nervously recalled when, a week ago, the rat he'd tasked with watching the demon returned with a message.
[He'll be visiting soon, get ready. — Shaytan]
The mere thought of it made him shudder. When he had first encountered the demon, he had realized there was no chance of escape. It wasn't just that the demon was stronger than he was—he had faced many monsters who surpassed him in brute strength. No, this beast was also incredibly cunning, a trait that made it even more dangerous. He was constantly on edge, watching every move the demon made. Of course, the demon was fully aware of his vigilance and even took advantage of it. The day before his imprisonment, the demon had sent a cryptic message to Ruben.
And as the demon had predicted, he finally came to him. The cat transformed back into its human form in the corner of the room. He dressed swiftly, but didn't bother with shoes. His footsteps were slow and deliberate as he approached Ruben, stopping just a meter away from him.
Ruben grunted in acknowledgment. "I expected a little more than this," he said with a hint of disdain, "A kitten, really?"
Rolo suddenly couldn't decide whether to giggle, attack, or simply sulk.
"I'm not afraid of you," the rat declared.
"Maybe you should be," he said in a light, yet ominous tone, "It's in nature for cats to devour squeaky little mice like you."
Ruben laughed. "Unless rats eat the cat first!"
At Ruben's threat, a multitude of tiny, glowing eyes suddenly appeared in the darkness, revealing the horde of rats lurking in the shadows. For some inexplicable reason, Ruben chose not to act on his threat, instead focusing his attention elsewhere.
"I'll make sure you regret coming here later," Ruben said as he turned back to his computer.
Rolo shook his head in amusement. "These threats of yours… If you're not careful, you might actually scare me a little."
"Shut up and come closer," Ruben said, his fingers flying over the keyboard as he worked intently on his computer.
Rolo approached Ruben's chair and watched as the glowing eyes danced across the massive monitors, their reflection flickering across the screens.
"Quite good," Rolo remarked, though his eyes widened as the monitor suddenly turned blue after the rat pressed 'Enter'.
The screen was filled with a chaotic blur of letters and numbers flashing so rapidly that even Rolo struggled to make sense of it. Ruben's sly smile only grew wider. He was acutely aware that no one else could decipher or sequence the information racing across the screen —except, of course, for him. Ruben admired the cat's skill, though he didn't think the time had come for him to be a worthy rival.
"You need information on the Acheron," Ruben said. "Everything, eh?"
"Exactly," the kid nodded.
Ruben couldn't help but think that if Rolo were anything other than a cat, he might have been more likable. But that was a thought Ruben quickly dismissed as absurd.
"The prison building is divided into four sections," Ruben began, "The first section is for fae only, the second is for shifters and vampires, the third is for mages... and the fourth is for the most dangerous criminals." He paused, letting the gravity of the information sink in. "It's impossible to enter the building without permission, and even harder to get out. The protective spells were created by Ágota Rosenstein herself—one of the strongest and oldest defenses."
"Is there no loophole?" Rolo asked.
Ruben fell silent as Rolo repeated the question, his curiosity palpable.
"My rats can get in," Ruben finally admitted. "But they can't bring anyone in or out. They can't even deliver a message."
Ruben sighed heavily. "Your only chance of escape would be the stadium, but even that seems impossible. The spells there are so formidable that no monster, no matter how strong, can breach them."
"Could you copy all your information for me?" Rolo pressed, "Maybe I can find something useful if I go over it repeatedly."
"I'll leave that to you," Ruben said, resigned, and handed Rolo a pendrive already loaded with files.
The boy's eyes narrowed.
"You knew I was coming," Rolo said with suspicion. "And not just from your rats."
Another deep sigh escaped Ruben. "You think I'd have helped you? Don't make me laugh."
"Did he send you a message?" Rolo asked eagerly, "When?"
Ruben pointed to a crumpled ball of paper on the edge of his desk. Rolo snatched it up and read it quickly.
"When did he send this?" he demanded.
"The day before his capture," Ruben replied wearily.
Rolo's face twisted in confusion and anger. "He knew I would come to you," he whispered, grappling with the realization.
Ruben's eyes glinted with a dangerous light. "You shouldn't be so surprised, kid. You've known for a while that the demon is exceptional. People like us don't usually follow those below us — but sometimes, not even those above us."
"What do you mean?" Rolo asked, his voice edged with frustration. "I understand, but—"
"When I encountered that beast, I realized something crucial," Ruben interrupted. "The bastard has a truly irritating ability. He makes cunning plans, and once he understands you, he can predict your every move. That's what makes him so dangerous."
Ruben leaned forward, pressing his index finger to his temple as he glanced up at Rolo. "As if he could read your mind."
"I thought you hated him," Rolo said, "Why are you helping him?"
Ruben's laughter was cold and unsettling. "It's quite simple," he said, a dangerous light flashing in his eyes. "I wonder what he's planning. Will he succeed? Most of all, I wonder what he's set into motion."
Rolo' understood. He understood fully what the other meant.
(...)
Meanwhile, Alex arrived at the entrance to the Goblin. The bell above the door rang softly as he pushed it open and stepped inside. Zénó looked up from behind the counter, his expression betraying a trace of expectancy. A black coffee sat waiting for him in a porcelain cup, a silent acknowledgment of Alex's arrival.
"Good evening," Alex said, his voice steady. Zénó greeted him with a small, knowing smile.
Alex's gaze roamed the room, assessing the old man behind the counter.
"I suppose I don't need to explain why I'm here," Alex said, his voice carrying a hint of cold authority.
"Indeed, I've been informed," Zénó replied, his tone reflecting the gravity of the situation.
Alex took a seat, nodding his thanks to Zénó for the coffee.
"So, you'll help me?" Alex asked, his tone edged with impatience.
Zénó's eyes grew serious. "I must warn you, there's a significant risk of provoking a full-scale war between the monsters and the hunters."
"Zénó," Alex said, his voice chillingly cold, "The hunters have already started this war. We will finish it."
The bartender's eyes widened at the intensity of Alex's anger. At that moment, Zénó realized the Crosspherat had made a grave mistake. They had incited the wrath of a formidable pack of monsters.
"You must understand, Alex," Zénó said calmly, trying to defuse the situation, "We cannot jeopardize this fragile peace for the sake of one monster."
Alex rose to his feet. "Whatever you decide, we're going after him."
"Kid," Zénó hissed, his voice taking on a dangerous edge that had not been heard in years. His golden eyes, with their vertical pupils, narrowed into a predatory glare.
Alex met his gaze steadily, seemingly unaffected by the change in the room's atmosphere. Yet, Zénó's presence was overwhelmingly imposing. The aura of menace that enveloped Zénó felt like a suffocating weight on Alex's shoulders. Even the act of breathing became laborious under the oppressive atmosphere. It was clear why every shifter except the cats had once fallen under this old fox's control.
Simultaneously, Alex unleashed the fury he had been nursing for the past week. The air in the room seemed to heat up with the intensity of his rage. Zénó, though resolute, felt the pressure of Alex's anger and fought to maintain his composure.
The wolf's dominance was undeniable.
"I suggest you remember, Zénó," Alex said in a low, ominous tone, "Even if I'm not the leader of our famiglia, I am an alpha."
"Thank you for the coffee," he added curtly, leaving the cup untouched as he turned to leave.
As Alex stepped out, Zénó's hand trembled slightly on the glass he was polishing. The reality of the situation was sinking in. He had long been aware of the famiglia's power. Besides Shaytan, there were two other alphas: the wolf and the cat. Not to mention the paladin, who, though not a direct member, would do anything for his brother. Initially, Zénó did not even consider the influence of the vampire girl and her inherited power from her father. He had been gravely mistaken in thinking that Shaytan's alliances with Titania and the Sorcerer Lord had been the source of his power. No, Zénó now realized that if Shaytan's plans succeeded, he might rival, if not surpass, the other four kings in power.
Zénó continued to wipe the glass, his hands moving mechanically. Until now, he had believed that Shaytan was the most dangerous member of the famiglia. He had forgotten that there were other monsters among them who, without their leader, could be even more perilous. Shaytan was like a beastmaster, holding them in check. With him gone, they were now a loose, unpredictable force.
Zénó's thoughts turned to the two alphas. How had he failed to see such power hidden in plain sight? And what if they decided to join forces? Who would replace Shaytan as the leader? But the most pressing question remained: would they really need Shaytan at all?
Zénó knew one thing with certainty: after this, nothing would ever be the same. As he was contemplating this he was unaware of the unearthly presence leaving his bar.