" When darkness falls, the shadows reveal their true face"- Anonymous
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Somewhere Faraway...
"Cadmus, have you found him?" a man asked, sitting on a throne made of skulls, adorned with strange symbols that seemed to pulse with a malevolent energy. His figure was hidden beneath the darkness, shrouded in mystery. The air was thick with the stench of death, and the shadows seemed to writhe like living things.
"No, my Lord," a figure appeared out of thin air, as if he had been there all along. Cadmus's voice trembled, and he took a step back, fearing his lord's wrath. His eyes darted around the chamber, searching for an escape, but the walls were lined with dark, imposing figures, their faces hidden behind twisted masks.
"Incompetent!" The man roared in anger, his voice echoing through the dark chamber, causing the skulls on the throne to rattle ominously. The figures hidden in the shadows trembled, even Cadmus was noticeably shaking, and fell to his knees.
"My Lord, please forgive me and give me one last chance," Cadmus begged, his voice cracking.
"Enough of your pleading, I have granted enough mercies. I think you are not fit for this job," the man said, his voice cold and calculating, his words dripping with malice. The darkness seemed to grow thicker, more oppressive, as if it too was waiting for Cadmus's fate to be sealed.
"Excuses," the man spat, and with a swift motion of his fingers, Cadmus was reduced to nothing but dust.
"No!" Cadmus shouted as his body slowly disintegrated, his screams echoing through the chamber. "I don't think you're fit for the job," the man said, his voice devoid of emotion.
The men in the dark expressions didn't waver; they were used to their lord's method of doing things. Still, they had a tinge of fear. Who's next? Curiosity lingered in the air like a challenge.
"Karl," the man called, his voice commanding attention.
And like before, another man appeared out of thin air, as if summoned by the darkness itself. But he looked more fierce and ruthless, with a scar running from his left eye down to his cheek, giving him a fearful look.
"My Lord," the man said, his voice deep and hoarse, laced with respect.
"I want you to find that boy, that mere half-blood," the man said, his eyes gleaming with intensity. "Don't come back until you have found him and bring him alive. I need him alive."
"Yes, my Lord," Karl replied, his voice unwavering.
The man's gaze lingered on Karl for a moment before disappearing into the darkness, leaving the others to wonder about the half-blood's significance. The shadows seemed to grow longer, darker, as if they too were waiting for Karl's return.
Karl's eyes narrowed as he turned to leave, his mind racing with the task ahead. He knew the risks, but he also knew the rewards. He would stop at nothing to find the half-blood and bring him before his lord.
As he vanished into the shadows, the remaining figures exhaled collectively, grateful to have escaped their lord's wrath. But they knew it was only a matter of time before they would be called upon to face the same fate as Cadmus.
Meanwhile, at the Gravill house, Kylie returned home to an unsettling silence. "Gravill! Gravill!" she called out, but her voice was met with only echoes. She checked the time and frowned, concern etched on her face. "Isn't he back yet? It's already past midnight."
Curiosity getting the better of her, Kylie walked towards Gravill's room, her footsteps quiet on the plush carpet. She pushed open the door, expecting to see her son fast asleep, but the room was empty. A chill ran down her spine as she whispered, "Oh my God."
She hastened to Georgios's room, her heart racing with fear. "Georgios!" she called out, trying to keep her voice down.
Georgios groggily opened his eyes, rubbing the sleep from them. "What's wrong? Why are you shouting? It's 12 in the morning."
Kylie's voice trembled. "You're sleeping, and our son is not yet back. Something must be wrong."
Georgios sat up, his expression cold. "I think you should probably say 'your son,' not 'ours.' He's not my son, and therefore, his affairs are not my business."
Kylie's eyes widened in shock. "How could you say that? He's your stepson, and you're supposed to care for him."
Georgios sneered. "Oh, now you're asking? Is he my son? No! He's not. Rather, he's the son of Poseidon, a demon."
Kylie's face reddened with anger. "How dare you open your mouth and spout such nonsense! You know nothing about his father or his heritage."
Georgios threw off the covers and got out of bed, his tall frame towering over Kylie. "I'm fed up with this bullshit. I'm going back to sleep, and please, don't disturb me or the neighborhood."
Kylie's voice cracked. "But Georgios, what if something's happened to him?"
Georgios turned his back on her. "Not my problem."
Kylie's eyes welled up with tears as she watched Georgios dismiss her concerns. She knew he had never accepted Gravill as his own, but to hear him say it out loud was like a slap in the face.
"Fine," she said, her voice trembling. "But know this, Georgios - if anything happens to Gravill, I'll never forgive you."
Georgios snorted. "Save your dramatics for someone who cares, Kylie. I'm going back to sleep."
Kylie's anger boiled over, but she knew she had to keep a level head. She couldn't let Georgios's indifference get to her. She took a deep breath and tried to think clearly.
She decided to check Gravill's room again, hoping that maybe he had returned while she was arguing with Georgios. But the room was still empty, and Kylie's fear grew.
She began to pace back and forth, trying to think of what to do next. She couldn't just sit around and wait for Gravill to come home. She had to take action.
As she paced, Kylie noticed a piece of paper on Gravill's desk. She walked over to investigate and saw that it was a note, scribbled in Gravill's messy handwriting.
"Mom, I'm sorry. I had to go. I'll be back soon. -G"
Kylie's heart sank. Where had Gravill gone? And why had he left without telling her?
She felt a surge of determination. She would find Gravill, no matter what it took.
Just then, Kylie heard a knock at the door. She rushed to answer it, hoping against hope that it was Gravill.
But to her surprise, it was a stranger - a tall, dark-haired man with piercing blue eyes.
"Can I help you?" Kylie asked warily.
"My name is Karl," the man said. "I'm looking for Gravill. I was told he lived here."
Kylie's instincts told her to trust Karl, but she was cautious. "What do you want with Gravill?"
Karl hesitated before answering. "I've been sent to find him. He's in danger."
Kylie's heart skipped a beat. "What kind of danger?"
Karl's expression was grim. "I'm not sure. But I have to find him before it's too late."
Kylie knew she had to trust Karl. She had to find Gravill.
"Come in," she said, stepping aside to let Karl enter. "We have to talk."