The night was deep and quiet, with only the occasional flicker of a distant streetlight piercing the darkness. Tranquility was soon disturbed by the low, rumbling growl of an engine. Emerging from the dark gates of a grand residence, a military vehicle cruised down the deserted forest road leading out to the city.
Its black finish gleamed under the moonlight, luxurious and ominous. The high ground clearance and large, multi-terrain tires rolled effortlessly over the asphalt. As it passed beneath a streetlight, the gleam illuminated its armored body, revealing sharp lines and reinforced panels.
The vehicle's tinted, bulletproof windows were impenetrable, hiding the occupants inside. Amena, the beautiful but taciturn maid with brown hair, gripped the steering wheel, her expression betraying the foul mood she was in.
Beside her sat Argint, her red hair tied into a ponytail, her expression grim and focused. In the back, Carrisa and Elizalina were equally tense, their thoughts consumed with finding Alicarde, who was still missing. Armed with tools and equipment, the group had chosen this military SUV for its power, speed, and maneuverability.
Carrisa broke the silence, her voice cold and formal. "We shall begin our search at a hospital. Alicarde mentioned something regarding a young girl at one, though he never elaborated. I regret now that I did not pry further into the matter."
"As you wish," Amena replied curtly. "Afterward, we can check the bar and restaurant where his tracker is currently located."
Argint frowned. "Okay, but which hospital are we heading to?"
"There are numerous hospitals within the city, and identifying the one Alicarde visited would prove challenging within a short timeframe," Elizalina remarked, her voice equally formal as she chimed in from the back.
Argint scowled, clearly not wanting to engage with the vampire but acknowledging the truth of her words.
Carrisa nodded. "Indeed, we are pressed for time. Evergreen City boasts over ninety hospitals and medical centers, each spread across various districts. It is improbable we could locate him without narrowing our search."
Amena remained calm, her stoic demeanor barely concealing the anger simmering beneath the surface.
"We must consider all possibilities, but the odds are slim," she said evenly.
Argint sighed. "She's not wrong. Looks like we've got our work cut out for us."
"In that case, we do not search for the hospital itself, but rather for the patient," Elizalina suggested thoughtfully.
"Quite right," Carrisa agreed, her hand resting on her chin. "Amena, run a search for the patient—Lily Walker. Based on Alicarde's description, she should be between the ages of ten and thirteen."
With a quick nod, Amena complied, and soon after, they arrived at their destination.
The hospital, a large structure nestled in an affluent neighborhood, towered over the surrounding high-rise buildings. The luxurious nature of the area was undeniable, but it made Elizalina uneasy for reasons she couldn't quite place.
Inside, they approached the reception desk, where Argint wasted no time.
"We're looking for someone," she said, holding up her phone to display a picture of Alicarde to the nurse on duty.
The nurse, a young woman with her hair tied in a bun, smiled. "Oh yes, I recognize him. He's been here several times this week, always by himself. Poor guy looked downcast most days. He was here earlier today, but he left not long after."
Elizalina's voice was calm and measured. "What time, precisely?"
"Shortly before noon," the nurse replied. "Is he a friend of yours?"
Argint nodded, her face softening briefly. "Yes, he is. Thank you for the information."
Amena, who had been silently observing, leaned toward Argint and whispered, "Buy me some time."
Without hesitation, Argint continued the conversation. "Do you mind if I ask a few more questions?"
The nurse seemed unfazed. "I don't mind, but I can't disclose any patient information."
Argint waved it off. "It's nothing of the sort. Just a few more general inquiries."
While Argint kept the nurse distracted, Amena quickly hacked into the hospital's security feeds. The footage confirmed the nurse's statement—Alicarde had indeed been there earlier and had left shortly afterward.
Amena studied the images closely, but something gnawed at her. The nurse's words lined up with the footage, yet something still felt off.
Carrisa glanced at Amena, who gave her a subtle nod, confirming the nurse's story. Yet, despite the apparent validity of the information, doubt lingered in Amena's mind.
'Could this footage have been forged?' she pondered. Given her tech had been tampered with before, creating false imagery wasn't beyond the realm of possibility.
Without waiting for further discussion, Amena turned on her heel and headed out of the hospital, leaving her mistress behind. She was eager to uncover the next clue. While her suspicions remained, she wasn't ready to blow the hospital to kingdom come—not yet, at least. All she needed was a reason to doubt them. That alone would be more than enough.
The bar was a dingy establishment, nestled deep within the heart of the district. Amena parked the SUV, and the group entered, the air thick with the stench of alcohol and stale smoke.
The bartender, a middle-aged man with grey hairs peeking through his disheveled mop, eyed them warily as they approached.
He had good reason. The women before him were deadly flowers, their beauty otherworldly. They would have been a feast for the eyes if not for the hostile aura they radiated.
"We're looking for this guy," Argint said, holding up a photo of Alicarde on her phone. "Was he here?"
The bartender squinted at the picture before shaking his head. "Nah, never seen 'em. What, did he play you beautiful ladies and flee or somethin'?"
Argint smiled, her eyes alight with a dangerous glint. "Yeah, something like that."
"Sorry, ladies, never seen the guy. Happy hunting," the bartender said, offering them a small, nonchalant wave.
With a nod, Argint led them out of the bar.
Their next stop was a popular restaurant near the university. The cheerful chatter of students filled the air, blending with the rich scents of food and drinks. The lively atmosphere and bright lights created a vivid contrast to their task.
Elizalina, cautious of her and Alicarde's reputation, discreetly showed the photo of Alicarde around to avoid stirring rumors.
After receiving nothing useful, the frustration began to set in as they returned to the SUV.
"His car should be around here somewhere, at least that's what the tracker shows. We should search the area," Amena said coldly.
"There's also a chance it's been tampered with, and we'll find nothing," Argint added, her skepticism evident.
Ignoring her, Amena strode toward the distance. After thoroughly scanning the large parking lot, they were about to give up when Amena's sharp eyes spotted something in a nearby alley.
Alicarde's car was there, parked and seemingly abandoned. They approached it cautiously. Despite her attempts to track both his phone and car, the coordinates had bounced erratically before leading them here.
"His car," Carrisa whispered, her eyes cold.
"Amena, check for any clues—fingerprints, DNA, anything we can use."
Amena's eyes glowed faintly green as she methodically opened the car door, accessing its systems. Inside, she found Alicarde's phone resting on the passenger seat. But before they could investigate further, a violent explosion rocked the alley.
The car erupted into flames, throwing them backward. But before the fire and shockwave could touch them, Elizalina swiftly waved her hand, encasing them in a sphere of blood.
Uninjured, thanks to Elizalina's hemomancy, they rose from the ground as the smoke cleared, revealing the charred remnants of the car—and Alicarde's phone.
"Damn it!" Argint cursed, brushing dust from her clothes.
Amena surveyed the wreckage with her cold, calculating gaze. "There goes our only lead, along with months of Ali's game data."
Undeterred, Amena knelt down, examining a piece of debris. "This might give us something." She produced a portable scanner from her apron, morphing part of her hand to connect with the device. After a tense moment, it beeped.
"I've got a match. The print belongs to a middle-aged doctor. Whether it's a coincidence or not, he works at the hospital we visited earlier. He has the answers we seek."
"Very well. Find his current location, and we will proceed from there," Carrisa commanded with icy calm.
Amena quickly found the doctor's home address, and they drove to a modest neighborhood. Upon arriving, they were greeted by a teenage boy, no more than fourteen years old. The moment he laid eyes on the beautiful group of ladies, he stumbled backward, falling to the floor in a daze.
Carrisa took the lead, holding a rapier, entering the house uninvited with Amena behind her, lugging a massive Gatling gun. Elizalina and Argint followed. Argint, an expert in unarmed combat, needed no weapons, and Elizalina's blood magic could produce weapons as needed.
A man's voice echoed from deeper within the house. "Who is it? Are we expecting guests?"
Amena wasted no time, barging through the doorway. She grabbed the man—clearly the doctor—and slammed him face-first into the wall.
"Where is Alicarde? What have you done to him? Tell me now, or I will make you wish you were dead," her voice was even, but her eyes held a murderous glint.
The doctor stammered, his face pale with fear. "I-I don't know who you're talking about. Please, I'm just a doctor! Let me go!"
Amena tightened her grip on his collar, her patience worn thin. "We know you're involved. You'll tell us everything, or I will take your family hostage. No, better yet—I'll kill them all, one by one. Your choice."
She hurled him onto a nearby table, which splintered under the force. Without hesitation, Amena turned her Gatling gun toward the boy. The barrel began to rotate slowly, the ominous hum filling the air. Paralyzed with fear, from the weapon and Amena's fear ability. The boy could do nothing but watch as his fate drew closer.
"No, please! Don't! He's just a boy!" the doctor begged, struggling to rise.
Argint tensed, prepared to intervene if things escalated. Carrisa and Elizalina, on the other hand, remained indifferent to the scene unfolding before them.
Before the gunfire could begin, the house's interior door swung open, revealing a blonde woman and a little girl. The woman, upon seeing Amena aiming the massive weapon at her son, rushed forward and fell to her knees, tears streaming down her face.
"Please! Spare him! Take everything we have—just don't kill my son!" the woman pleaded, her voice raw.
Amena kicked the woman aside, sending her crashing into the wall. "I'm not interested in anything you have," she said coldly.
The doctor's resolve finally crumbled. "Please, don't hurt them. I'll tell you everything. Just don't harm my family."
Amena approached, her expression stoic. She pulled a pen from her maid outfit and pressed it into his hand. "You're coming with us. And if you try anything, this pen will ensure you never see your family again. It's rigged with a bomb powerful enough to take out this entire block. One wrong move, and you go boom."
Argint scowled at the sight, her anger barely contained. Elizalina remained detached, while Carrisa regarded the proceedings with aloof pity. But none of them could deny one thing—whoever crossed Amena would deeply regret it.
With the terrified doctor in tow, they drove to the hospital where he worked. The building loomed ominously against the night sky, its sterile facade hiding the dark secrets within.
They entered through a side door, the doctor leading them down a series of dimly lit corridors to a secluded wing of the hospital.
"This way," he said, his voice trembling. "He's being held in one of the underground labs owned by Director Stein."
Amena pressed her hand against the doctor's back as they walked. "Remember, no tricks. If you make one wrong move, you'll live to regret it. But your family won't."
They reached a vaulted elevator. After knocking the doctor unconscious, Amena connected to the hospital's systems, accessing it through her wrist device. A hologram flickered to life, showing a layout of the facility.
"This place is heavily secured," she said. "There are six underground floors, and Alicarde is on the fifth. Security is tight, and there are chimeras. A lot of them."
Carrisa's lips curled into a smile. "Then it's settled. Ladies, we shall commence a bloodbath and rescue our dear prince in distress."
Argint clenched her fists. "Oh, I'll make sure Alicarde never hears the end of this."
"Don't get in my way you lowly parasite" Argint added glaring at Elizalina.
Elizalina shot Argint a disdainful look. "That is my line, you bitch in heat. Step aside, or I'll handle you myself."
Amena, her eyes glowing blue with chilling resolve, morphed her hand into a blade and sliced through the metallic doors with ease. The hunt for Alicarde had begun.