The Rouge,
Onyx Bay
Styx Bratoviae
Styx skillfully emerged from the dilapidated building, his umbrella in hand, and the captured masked man trailing behind him. The rain had subsided as he stepped onto empty street, the aftermath of either the rain or the earlier chaos. Seeking refuge under a shed attached to the building, he engaged in a telepathic conversation with Rudiger.
"Rudiger, make your way to the rendezvous with a car," Styx urged. Rudiger, occupied, replied, "I'm currently engaged; I'll delegate the task to someone else." Pressing the matter, Styx insisted, "I need your personal presence; things have taken an unexpected turn." In response to Styx's plea, Rudiger inquired, "What transpired, cousin?" Styx, his hands clenched, disclosed, "There was an assault at the rendezvous involving dark magic."
Expressing concern, Rudiger responded, "Damn, I'll be there shortly. Are you unharmed?" Seeking to reassure, Styx asserted, "I'm not a child; I can manage." Acknowledging Styx's authority, his cousin respectfully affirmed, "Yes, your grace."
While anticipating the imminent arrival of his cousin, Styx engaged in a series of deliberate actions, he pulled up the sleeves of his white shirt, now stained with the deep scarlet color of blood, until they rested neatly at his elbows. His fingers searched the back pocket of his pants, retrieving a pack of cigarettes and a lighter. From the pack, he carefully extracted a single cigarette, situating it between his lips, The flame from his lighter danced gracefully as it met the tip of the cigarette, and Styx, with a measured composure, drew in a drag.
Leaning his head back against the wall, fists securely clenched by his side, Styx immersed himself in his thoughts. The recollection of the earlier panic surged through him, triggered by the sight of Rania wounded from the battle. He found himself questioning his profound instinct to protect the amber-eyed human.
Lost in thoughts about her, Styx's keen perception detected Rania in the distance, with her long curly hair swaying behind her, his jacket draped around her, trailing behind due to its oversized nature. She earnestly assisted a wounded Zola out of the rouge. Unbeknownst to him, the tightly clenched fists at his sides instinctively loosened upon sighting her. His gaze lingered upon her until she faded beyond the limits of his vision, leaving a trail of thoughts in the wake of her departure.
A few moments later, he found himself squinting against the sudden glare of headlights illuminating his face. Instinctively, Styx raised his hand to shield his eyes from the luminous onslaught. With deliberate care, he discarded the half-smoked cigarette onto the rain-slicked pavement. His boots extinguished its ember with a quick step.
Observing Rudiger's swift approach from the sleek black car, Styx wordlessly maneuvered the captive man, seated by the shed, towards the vehicle. Opening the car door, he effortlessly deposited the captive in the back seat. Satisfied with this development, Styx then took his place in the passenger seat. Rudiger seamlessly returned to the driver's seat, igniting the engine, driving towards the castle.
As they navigated the roads, Rudiger broke the silence, inquiring, "Who's that?" Styx, eyes scanning the passing scenery, responded, "During a discussion with the agent, a group of traffickers infiltrated the rouge. He was among the assailants." Rudiger nodded, focused on the road. "Why is he here?" Styx, tapping his hand on the dashboard, explained, "The agency is planning to have an elaborate exhibition. I hope Aunt Sylvia can break the discretion curse so that I can extract information from him. By the way, instruct the men to be on the look out for any form of correspondence between vampyres and the MeaWarld Procurement Agency."
Styx went into details of the rouge attack to which Rudiger says "Working with the human places you in a precarious position. It's necessary to keep your interactions clandestine and secret, as our kind perceives it as a vulnerability. Exercise caution; their trustworthiness is dubious," he added, a slight grimace accompanying his retort. "Procure a property in Renduim using an alias. The Rouge is no longer a secure venue for our meetings," Styx instructed Rudiger. The latter nodded in agreement as they continued their journey towards the castle.
Upon reaching the imposing Bratoviae Castle, Styx soundlessly guided the captured man into an underground cellar, a secluded area that would serve as his temporary prison. Urgency propelled Styx forward, hastening his steps as he sought out his aunt, Sylvia. Upon spotting him, Sylvia couldn't help but express her shock, exclaiming, "What a grotesque sight," her gaze directed at Styx's blood-dyed appearance.
Sighing, Styx settled onto a sofa within Sylvia's cottage, his weary frame finding a moment to take a breath. "It was a stressful evening," he admitted, the weight of the night evident in his tone. Carefully, he began recounting the details of the tiring evening he had while Sylvia listened attentively.
As the stiry unfolded, Sylvia rose gracefully from her seat, her silver hair catching the moonlight's glow. Golden jewelry adorned her, each piece resonating with a subtle melody as she moved. Notably, the anklet composed of delicate bells on her ankle emitted a soft, rhythmic clinking. Styx rose to follow her.