Skye
Present day.
An unknown cave found by sheer luck and divine guidance.
I stood in front of the cave we almost missed for the tenth time and unwrapped the ancient scroll to look at the faint text again.
Ἀπόλλων, Φοῖβος, ὦ λαμπρὲ θεῶν,
Ἀκούσας ἡμᾶς, ἐλέησον πόνους.
Σὺ φῶς ἀνθρώπων, ζωὴ καὶ φάος,
Ἀποκατάστησον ἥλιον, δὸς ἰσχὺν ταχύ. Loosely translated to…
Apollo, Phoebus, oh bright of gods,
Hearing us, show us mercy.
Light of humans, life and radiance,
Restore the sun. Strengthen us with your might. Apollo, according to the mythological history, was the last sun god left standing out of so many other gods that had previously possessed that title. Therefore, our beacon of hope was a myth, a legend whispered in hushed tones to contain the essence of the last standing sun god: the Rod of Asclepius. A symbol of healing but deeper lore suggested it held dominion over life and death. I believe it was our key to breaking this sun god's hold over the sun, so it was gonna have to heal our world. My inner spirit flittered inside me, with anticipation, as a hummingbird. Easy girl, I thought to her in mind.
I glanced at our small crew of four held together by shared purpose and desperation. Our appearance reflected the conditions we've survived… rather clearly. Derrek, former agent, now our crew dad, was a towering figure, marked with the scars of countless battles. Derrek was the official team captain, but I was the unofficial leader in all but name, and they all listened to me. I suspect the reason I wasn't given the position was my complicated history with the man we were trying to stop. Derrek wore a leather jacket, once black, now faded to a muddy brown. Beneath it, layers of worn cloth provided warmth and protection. His boots were heavy and practical, essential for travelling on the harsh terrain. Strapped to his back was a worn rucksack filled with supplies, and at his sides, scary claws with tips sharpened to a deadly point. You wouldn't believe it, but his hair was a rich, dark brown when we started. Now it was bleached honey blonde, pale by the endless sun and dust.
Beneath his imposing stature was Lara, my wiry bestie, queen of snark and badassery whom I respected for her strength and resilience. Her face was a map of survival, bags under her eyes from countless sleepless nights, surrounded with a curly, spiky, short, black hair resembling soft feathers. I had only ever seen her laugh or smile. I had never seen her express frustration or in a sour mood. She focused only on the job she was assigned to do and did it. Lara's outfit was simpler: loose-fitting pants and a tunic made from roughspun cloth. She wore a leather belt that held several small, shiny daggers that always found their targets and always seemed to have backups. And even if they did, she produces deadly spikes from her own body (it's a story, long and dark). If she were held upside down and shaken, I sure there would be a large heap of small daggers on the floor as tall as Derrek. Her feet were protected by sturdy sandals, tied securely to her ankles.
Then there was Kodi, our tech wizard, looking very different from the rest of us. Tall and slender built, with his afro hair in protective cornrows, with glasses that covered half his face, he seemed more at home in a library than a warzone. Yet, his eyes held a fierce intelligence, and his fingers danced across the worn tablet that was his lifeline to the outside world. His attire was a strange blend of the old world and the new. He wore a long, dark coat, its once sleek fabric now frayed and patched. Though Kodi's inner animal was a chameleon, he was no prey. Beneath his coat, he layered a series of high-tech undergarments and at his side hung a peculiar device, a hybrid of ancient craftsmanship and advanced technology, capable of both long-range communication and lethal force. I had no idea what it does but I wasn't worried about him. Contrary to what he looked like, Kodi could hold his own in a fight.
I studied my own reflection in the cracked surface of our broken-down van, and a stranger stared back at me. My hair, a midnight black, was tangled, dusty, and knotted, and my eyes, usually filled with a quiet curiosity, now held a steely resolve. I wore a practical tunic and pants made from a tough, woven material. A worn leather satchel hung from my shoulder, filled with essential items. My weapon of choice was the magic in my veins. As a descendant of her bloodline that got the good genes, I wielded the power of Isis, goddess of magic, protection, knowledge, and healing.
The search for the Rod was a series of dead ends. Ancient temples, forgotten libraries, perilous expeditions that led us across the world, all while trying our best to stay out of the sun god's radar. We were instructed by the leaders of the Shadow Resistance that this was the only way to strip the sun god of his biggest weapon. The sun. Finally, at the mouth of this labyrinth Egyptian tomb, covered in similar runes to the map, I believe we've found it.
"So..." Kodi broke the silence. "Who's going first into the cave of wonders? Ladies first?" he says, facing me.
"We're going in together, Kodi." I sighed, continuing forward.
"Of course. Right behind you ma'am." He said, gently pushing me forward. "Exactly three paces right behind you."
"I thought you said you laughed in the face of danger, Kodi," Lara spoke in that sweet singsongy voice of hers that she uses to flay people alive. It had no effect on Kodi, though. He was entirely shameless.
"Yeah, maama. The trick is to make sure the danger doesn't see or hear you." He said, slinging his arm around Lara and wiggling his eyebrows.
"Oh that's what you were doing when your gun ran out of charges yesterday? I thought you were shitting your pants while constipated." Lara said in mock affection, picking a leaf out of the cornrows of a sputtering Kodi, struggling to come up with a comeback.
Kodi gasped. "La-
"Please, everyone!" Derrek interrupted, whisper-shouting. Uh-oh, dad was mad. "Be quiet. Stay active, guys. Ears peeled and eyes open." Easy for him to say, he had super hearing because of his wolf side. Wolf Chimerae were very rare. In fact, there might only be three in the world. I had a fun theory. The lycan lore was likely based on him. I can't believe the fate of the world was entrusted into our hands. A while ago, we used to be more. A literal army raised to oppose the sun god. We lost most of them in a hurricane. He doesn't take kindly to uprisings, I guess. We started to head into the cave, and then I heard something snap.
"Wait." I said "Do you hear that?" Derrek, ever vigilant, was already scanning the horizon, his face tightening with a growing sense of unease.
The first sign of trouble was a subtle shift in the air, a tension that prickled at the back of my neck. A moment later, a cacophony of snarls and growls erupted from the dense foliage ahead. We were ambushed.
My awareness heightened, my eyesight sharpened to that of a crow, and my inner spirit shifted. They appeared out of the foliage – Chimerae in their attack form, claws, teeth, fangs, talons out, depending on their inner beast. They called themselves the Knights of the Sun god. We called them a cult. Their movements were fluid, inhuman, and their eyes feral, their bodies rippling with muscle and their limbs flexed in resting, fighting stances. All legal systems had been destroyed, and these were the enforcers now. By deploying troops to the affected areas under the guise of peacekeeping, Maahes' new government established a military presence and exerted control over the region. They offered resettlement only to those who agreed to pledge allegiance to the sun god. The new laws he created offered less imprisonments and more permanent punishments. Funnily enough, crime drastically reduced after a few enforcements.
Fine, I could use the fight, I thought, instinctively reaching for the power inside me.
A figure stepped forward from the group, taller and more imposing than the rest. His voice, when he spoke, was a blend of menace and disgust. "You're a long way from home, Miss Skye," he declared, his voice echoing through the dense foliage as he stepped closer to me making a show of raking his gaze from my head to my toes. "Your defiance has gone on long enough." I've met the leader, Andrew, a couple of times. He's one of those people you hate at first sight. Although, in this case, you could say the feeling was mutual. He was convinced I'd seduced his master with bad woman mojo and wanted to kill the bad, bad witch. His master was constantly hunting me down, with the intention of killing me. I really hoped Andrew was single if that was his definition of romantic gestures.
Derrek's response was immediate. "Are we trespassing?" he growled, his voice low and dangerous. "…because I don't think your false god owns this part of the world yet."
Andrew laughed, a harsh, grating sound. "Ignorant fool," he sneered. "Maahes is the sun, the lifeblood of this world. You are mere insects, basking in his light without gratitude."
"Maahes can kiss my dusty, perky behind," Lara interjected sweetly. Sometimes, I really loved her bitchiness. Behind the leader, Andrew, I saw movement. One of the cult members, his body more feline than human, crouched low, his eyes fixed on Lara. He probably mistook her for an easy target. Good.
"You will lose this fight, Andy." my voice steady despite the rising adrenaline within. Tapping into the reserves of my power. It taken a lot of it to lead us to a cave that wasn't on any map. The only way, they could've found us is if they had been following us. "You should walk away." I said giving him a chance. I didn't want him dead. He was just looking for a place to belong to and a purpose. They all were. "What's the worst that could happen?" I asked him. "Maybe you could finally live without fear. Determine your own fate."
He seemed amused. "Freedom is an illusion, Skye. Only through servitude can true peace be found." He said. His expression, a bit crazed. He was too far gone. "Come back to him." He said, extending an offer of his own. "Despite your defiance he still wishes to welcome you back into his embrace. Your defiance is futile. Resistance is pain and death. Surrender is peace." He said even as his face betrayed that he was disgusted with the possibility that I would take him up on that offer and would really, much rather I didn't.
Sigh. What a terrible wingman to have. "Enough of this." I shifted into a fighting stance. "Put 'em up, already. Who's throwing the first punch?" I replied bored. "Because we would rather die on our feet than live on our knees. You all have a choice. If anyone of you wishes to live, leave now." A low growl erupted from the ranks of the cult members, apparently insulted. They always were, after that warning and they never heeded it, I don't know why I tried. Andrew raised a hand, silencing them. His eyes, cold and calculating, swept over us one by one for dramatic effect.
"Very well," he said, his voice a promise of death he knew he couldn't keep. We've tangled so many times in the past, he literally couldn't surprise me anymore. He knew what we were capable of and yet he always brought new men to give their lives for the measly reward of distracting us a while. "You have made your choice."
The moment the last word left his lips, hell broke loose. The cultists surged forward, their movements a blur of unnatural speed and strength. Derrek was the first to engage.
Derrek growled, his voice a thunderclap in the still morning air, and let out his wolf to play. He lunged forward, his claws, a blur of motion. But before he could land a blow, a hulking figure emerged from the undergrowth, a flash of mottled green skin, and eyes glowing with an unnatural light. They slammed into each other like battering rams.
Lara's new friend stalked up to her. Lara winked at him then dropped a smoke bomb directly beneath him and vanished. The minute I saw the glint of her daggers through the smoke, I knew the fight was over and she was moving on to the next victim. Lara's beast was a dove. Due to an unconcluded, inhumane experiment she underwent with scientists playing with forces they barely understood, Lara could produce and expel an infinite amount of deadly, metal spikes from her finger tips whenever she moved to protrude her talons. And though she was a dove, she was neither peaceful nor gentle. She was however, graceful. She gracefully soared over our enemies and gracefully took of heads. The acrid smoke obscured our vision, but the snarls and grow continued. I could hear the crunch of bone and the thud of bodies hitting the ground.
Kodi, eyebrows scrunched together in concentration, fumbled with his device. I heard the rapid-fire clicks of a weapon charging, followed by a blinding flash of light. A moment later, there was a deafening explosion. His gun shot out something I can only descried as a giant sized laser, taking a red hot quarter chunk out of the overwhelming force arrayed against us and was getting ready to take another, adjusting the charges so he doesn't take us out as well especially since the enemy was not so neatly separated from us anymore.
What could I do? I was descended from Isis. Mother of magic. I could conjure anything I could think of, as long as I knew the spell for it and it wasn't too large. For some reason, I preferred stones, it was as easy as a thought. It was also very effective. I could also fly to them and use my talons to pick out their eyes but I that was very messy. I found myself facing a creature that resembled a monstrous hyena. His eyes burned with a predatory hunger as it lunged, His claws outstretched. He looked daunting, feral, I visualized some pebbles in various parts of his body, including its brain and its heart and then, he stopped looking like a threat. I turned from his limp, stilled form to face the next and the next and the next. Bodies dropping dead over the desert sands, Stones appearing inside whoever I was looking at.
One Chimera in particular caught my eye. She was a scary amalgamation of human and serpent, her lower body ending in a sinuous coil of scales. Her movements were fluid and deadly, her strikes as swift as a viper's. She slithered through the undergrowth with a scary speed, her forked tongue flicking in and out like a venomous dart.
Her human upper body was lean and muscular, with sharp, predatory features. Her hands, ending in long jagged spikes, seemed to be tipped with deadly poison. Her venom, dripping and sizzling on the ground promised a slow, agonizing death. I watched as she engaged with Lara. Lara fought fiercely, but she couldn't keep up with the creature's speed and agility. The serpent-woman dodged Lara's swipes with annoying ease, retaliating with lightning-fast strikes.
Then, the chaos around me intensified, a new threat emerged from the shadows. A creature that seemed to blend seamlessly with the environment, vanishing in and out almost entirely from sight. Must be a chameleon like Kodi. I caught glimpses of it as it moved, a blur of color against the desert floor. Its eyes were large and reptilian, with pupils that dilated and contracted. He moved with a sinuous grace, his attacks were sudden and unpredictable. He struck me with a blinding speed that Kodi hadn't learned yet, his claws raking at my back and then, just as quickly, he disappeared, only to reappear moments later from a different angle like a phantom.
The chameleon Chimera seemed to delight in the terror he inflicted. My crow eyes scanned the battle field, talons at the ready, waiting for him to reappear at any moment. He reappeared and "Son of a bitch!" The piece of shit slashed at my thighs and disappeared. That was really deep. Okay my leg was out of commission, I thought as I unfurled my now black, raven wings to take the weight off my legs and hovered a little above the ground. His laughter was a high-pitched, hysterical cackle that echoed through the forest. It was toying with my teammates, striking and retreating, keeping us off balance to distract us in the fight. Some of these guys signed up for the thrill of causing pain. I felt the healing process begin, the flesh and muscle, slowly drawing to each other, sealing the tearing in my thighs. I needed a timeout to heal. My friends could handle the nuisance. I landed on a rock and summoned a scorching wall of flames around me. I caught a glance of Derrek, fighting with a ferocity that bordered on madness. He had subdued his earlier opponent and several others.
Then, I saw the Chameleon creature turn to Kodi. You'd think a seeing someone that was practically kin would give him pause in attacking. No. One moment, Kodi was fighting off another creature, the next, the chameleon was upon him. With a swift movement, it wrapped its long, scaly arm around Kodi's neck, hoisting him off his feet. Kodi struggled desperately, his face turning a sickly shade. His device sputtered and sparked, but he was no match for the other Chimera's raw, animalistic strength in close combat. He was losing ground fast. I needed something to end this battle quickly. There was a strategy I used that usually worked. A terrifying display of strength followed by a bluff. At least, the chameleon was still and in sight now. I summoned small sized stones in eight Chimerae charging forward, specifically, in their brain. Then, as they all dropped, I summoned the chameleon's heart in my hand. He twitched, seized and went limp and dropped off Kodi. Everyone including Kodi paled, he nodded at me, and then joined my teammates as they returned to my side, sensing I wanted to end this.
The cultists were relentless, their numbers seemingly endless. But that got their attention. Andrew recovered first and sneered, "That bitch can't kill all of us!" He yelled. Raising a sword in the air like a coked up Braveheart. He had spent the entire battle dishing out order from a safe spot. Pathetic. "If we die, Maahes will welcome us to eternal paradise!!!" Screw them and the depths of their fucking delusion. Then, all of a sudden, they all stopped, stood up straight, fear on all their expressions and to my surprise, started backing off. My companions, took the opportunity to gather around me. "Yeah, run off to Daddy!" Kodi yelled. "What? Are you past your curfew?"
"Kodi, shut up." I ground out through clenched teeth just quietly enough for him to hear. They gave no reply, anyway. They just continued to leave silently.
"Awww, so romantic." Lara chirped.
"I'm sorry?" I said turning to meet her mischievous expression.
"Your boyfriend probably summoned them back." My eyebrows shot to my forehead at the word, 'boyfriend'. She continued, "Probably giving them the how-dare-you-attack-my-woman lecture." She said mimicking one of Leo's regal poses. Chin up, barely bothering to look down to address people who were mostly shorter than he was; eyes forward and nearly unblinking; hands clasped in front of him against the walking cane we always had for some reason(he walked just fine). Okay, she nailed it too well even though it looked ridiculous from a woman with her height.
"Lara." Derrek warned, shuffling uncomfortably as we stalled at the mouth of the cave once again.
"What? She continued unfazed, hands dropping from the clasp and now gesturing wildly. "The hurricane that nearly took us all out, only happened the day you happened to be off on a mission… on your own… far from site."
"Yeah… That is true, Cap." Kodi agreed, scratching his head.
"Okay, what the fuck is happening right now?" I asked my crew. This felt like mutiny.
"Nothing." He says. "It's just… We barely get attacked when you're with us. When we do, the soldiers always attack to capture, not kill. It's not usual they show that much restraint. Just like now and it seems these soldiers weren't following orders to attack us as they just got summoned back. Your life seems to have value to him, maama." He sure had a lot to say for someone who initially said, 'nothing'.
I looked at Derrek for support, he just sighed and shrugged his shoulders.
"Do you all have point?" I asked them.
"Yes, actually." Lara said smiling, hugging me for reassurance, I didn't relax into the hug or return it. Maahes was the reason we were here but he the one subject I didn't want to discuss and they knew that. I felt explosive. But these were my friends, I reminded myself. They mean well and I was just feeling triggered. "If you can find a way into his home without us fighting our way in, when we have that rod, it would be super helpful. Also remember, He is homicidal, egomaniac with a literal god complex. He is not boyfriend material."
"Excuse me?!" I take it back. I wanted to fight someone. She tightened her arms around me as if sensing it.
"All due respect, Captain Skye." She continued in a placating tone, as she moved away slowly, hands now in the air. We've seen the magazines, we know what he looks like and we know you too have history."
"Don't take this as an expression of any doubt in you, Skye." Derrek spoke up. Oh so they all agreed on this. Did they all discuss this? "Have you spoken with him recently?"
"Have I- No!" I sputtered.
"Has he tried reaching you? Maybe you should hear what he has to say." Unbelievable. Ah headache, a familiar friend.
"Don't teleport me into space, babe. You know I love you and I'm right." Lara said clinging to my arm and walking inside the cave.
I didn't ask for this, I thought as we entered the mouth of the cave. Any of it. Five years ago I was just a medical student who researches conspiracy theories in her free time, visiting my family for the holidays. Pondered on how different my life was back then...
Five years ago
The Harris Residence
An official confirmation of my conspiracy theories was the last thing I expected from the news, this evening. Human-animal hybrids. All sorts of theories had been whispered about them for the past few years, dismissed as ramblings of the jobless. But now, it was official. And the government has provided a term for them. Chimerae.
I, on the other hand, felt a cold satisfaction. For years, I'd been collecting pieces of a puzzle that others couldn't see. The strange abilities of certain individuals, the unexplained events, the hushed whispers. I mostly kept it to myself but the few times I expressed them, I was labelled eccentric if they loved me and were feeling kind. Crazy, if they didn't. And yet, the world was just catching up to me.
I was also content with the knowledge that I wasn't alone. There were others like me. My spirit animal ruffled her crow feathers, bored, as if to say, I told you so. I could do things others couldn't. I hadn't told my parent but sometimes, I thought of things and they appeared. Oh and I had an inner spirit that took to form of various birds but that might be a schizophrenic hallucination.
My gaze turned to the TV, focusing on the faces of exposed Chimerae. Politicians, celebrities, business tycoons, security guards, dancers, students with inhuman stamina, unnatural beauty, with a predatory reflexes. My satisfaction didn't last long. The thrill of discovery was mixed with a new sick feeling of unease.
The television flickered with images of chaos and confusion. Newscasters, their voices laced with a mixture of fear and fascination, were dissecting the latest developments. Chimerae were real, they were among us, and the government was scrambling to contain the situation. My eyes scanned the screen, searching for familiar faces among the identified.
There they were - a senator, a reclusive billionaire, a mom of three, and a McDonald's employee. But something was missing. The few faces should have been there. One celebrity in particular. Gabriel Leo. Something about him always seemed... otherworldly. I know this for a fact. I always suspected it and then I met him in person and I am sure. That man is not human.
Leo Gabriel was mostly known as a model. He also dabbled in music and film. His celebrity image was carefully crafted perfection. Outrageous outfits in pageants and appearances tempered down with humble and relatable replies during interviews. A mansion that costs millions of dollars and then jogging on the street looking extremely casual or homeless, but hot. Never not hot. A golden boy, a heartthrob, a symbol of unattainable but seemingly attainable desire. The boyfriend of your dreams beyond your wildest dreams.
I understand that men in his line of work are fit and perform stunts with ease. Why was I the only seeing that it was with too much ease? Matter of fact, it was barely a strain much less an effort and I've seen some of them up close. Perks of being the nepo baby of a business tycoon with his fingers in several pies including high end fashion and luxury retails. I've had the opportunity to see him in person in parties that I accompanied my father to or attended myself. And no, I didn't come up with this because I had too much time on my hands. My brain does all this dissecting on its own without my consent.
My attention drew back to the news that ended with a warning. Chimerae, they claimed, were devoid of empathy, incapable of love and loss. They were mimics, masters of deception. The sick feeling grew. I hated being right sometimes. The government's message was clear: fear. Fear them, distrust them, and report them. They now casting a net of suspicion over the population. - All were now under scrutiny. It was a chilling echo of the witch hunts of old.
"Skye"
My brother poked his head inside, taking a breaking off chasing after women for the moment. He does have a brain, I'm sure, somewhere underneath that over-conditioned, shoulder-length hair. But it might be the size of a walnut and all the thought process overworking themselves to add to his body count.
"I told you." I said without turning to his direction. There was only one thing he could be talking about.
"I can't believe it. 50 percent of your ramblings were actually right." He said running his hands through his thick long hair that was due for a trim but he was convinced, it made him look like a sexy k-pop star.
"Listen, Ape." His name was Abraham and that was the only childhood trauma he has ever suffered through except for when he was dropped on his head. Maybe my parents named him Abraham when they foresaw he was on a mission to be the father of many nations, with as many women as possible.
"Though, they're not all proven yet, all my-"
"Are they gonna take you away?" He asked looking concerned. "You should tell Mom and Dad about the… y'know. Stuff you can do." My brother is the only one I'd ever trusted with my secret. I don't wanna tell my parents. They won't handle it well, and they didn't need to know. "You know they don't like surprises." I replied sighing. They have a picture they've worked hard to maintain, and I don't want to be the stone that causes a ripple in their perfectly clear pond. "Plus, there is no need to. No one knows except you." I told him.
"Hmmm" He nodded, probably not understanding my reasoning but accepting it anyways. "Hold on a second, I gotta text some friends." He proceeds to put the phone at his mouth to send a general voice note sending as breathy and gravelly as possible. "Don't forget to dream of me, baby" and sent it to all his female contacts. Ugh.
"Slug, this is amazing. You were right about the other hybrid people." He continued, distractedly smiling at his replies. "You might actually be... less mentally challenged than I thought."
"Oh thoughts! Have you began to have those?" I replied sarcastically. "Good for you. You might be evolving! Get out of my room."
His smile fell and he flipped me off. "Slimy Slug!" He called out as he left my room.
"Dusty Ape!" I called back and opened my laptop. I would kill for him though. I started to look through reactions on the internet. It was mostly shock, some disgust, and sexualization for some reason. I shut my laptop down and walked out.
Even though I never shared my findings with anyone of consequence, I couldn't help feeling guilty for even researching the truth about these species that were about to be put through hell. The world had changed and so had I. I went downstairs to join my family for dinner.
The evening sunset filtered through the grand bay windows of the dining room, casting a warm, golden glow over the scene. Our dinning room was a blend of elegance and comfort, with high ceilings adorned with intricate moldings and walls lined with tasteful artwork. A large, polished mahogany table dominates the center, set with fine china and gleaming silverware.
At one end of the table, my dad, Mr. Harrison, sat reading the news on his tablet. His salt-and-pepper hair, neatly combed, wearing a tailored robe over his pajamas, exuding an air of relaxed sophistication. Beside him, my mum was similarly dressed in a silk, pouring herself a cup of fresh tea from a silver pot. The aroma of the richness mingles with the scent of freshly baked pastries, creating an inviting atmosphere.
I and my siblings were back from college for the holidays, bringing a lively energy to the room. My brother, Abraham, had recently returned from his semester abroad in Paris, and was trying on a new personality. He was wearing an obnoxiously chic outfit as proof of his time there. Next to him, Alex, the youngest child, was engrossed in a conversation with him, Abe, about the latest advancements in technology. Alex' enthusiasm was palpable, his hands gesturing wildly as he speaks. Abe looked like he was listening intently, but I could guarantee he heard not a single word out of Alex' mouth.
I could smell yummy delights coming delights coming from the kitchen. A crystal bowl brimming with fresh fruit—juicy strawberries, plump blueberries, and slices of ripe mango— already sat at the center of the table. The family's chef was bustling gracefully to bring out dinner to the table. My dad shared a fond memory from his own college days. My mum listened with a serene smile, occasionally pointing out inaccuracies and exaggerations. The atmosphere was relaxing and I was glad I made the decision to spend my holidays here. I've missed this. That is until the evening turned into a disaster.
I got a call from a friend and I was on going to take the call outside away from the harmonious backdrop of clinking of cutlery and the soft murmur of conversation. I opened the door and the first thing I saw was a torn, bloody, shirt. My eyes trailed up the mess to the same face I stared at through a screen a couple of minutes ago, making eye contact with intense, semi-glowing, half crazed golden eyes. Leo. Looks like they've got him after all.