On the other hand, Mr Frank, in his office, his frustration boiling over. He kicked his desk in a fit of rage, a sharp pain shooting through his leg as he screamed. The anger, combined with the overwhelming stress of the lawsuit and the revelation about his son, had pushed him to the edge. Hearing the commotion, Miss Maria rushed into the room, her eyes wide with concern. "Sir, are you alright?" she asked, hurrying over to him. She placed a gentle hand on his shoulder, guiding him toward the bed. You should take it easy, she continued softly. You're the mayor of this city, and whatever you say is final. Don't let them get to you like that. Her words were meant to comfort him, but Frank could barely contain the storm of emotions swirling inside. As she helped him to sit on the bed, cooling down his leg and easing the pain, Frank's frustration began to shift. His hand, still trembling with anger, reached for Maria's waist, pulling her closer. She hesitated for a moment but didn't pull away. The heat of the moment consumed them both, and soon Maria found herself sitting on Frank's lap, their bodies intertwined as the world outside faded away. It felt as if the pressures of the lawsuit and the chaotic life of Uptown vanished in the warmth of their embrace, the unspoken bond that had developed between them. As they lost themselves in each other, Frank's hands explored Maria's back, feeling the tension slowly dissipate as they surrendered to the moment. It was a reckless abandon, a brief reprieve from the weight of the world that pressed heavily on Frank's shoulders. Amidst the chaos and impending legal battles, this connection felt like a sanctuary, a place where he could momentarily forget the mounting pressure. But as the haze of passion began to clear, reality crept back in. Frank pulled away slightly, searching Maria's eyes for something, perhaps an understanding. "What are we doing?" he asked, his voice a mix of confusion and desire. Maria's cheeks flushed, and she bit her lip, a blend of uncertainty and excitement in her gaze. "I don't know, but I needed this, and maybe you did too," she replied softly. Frank sighed, running a hand through his hair, a gesture of frustration mixed with vulnerability. You have no idea what I'm facing. There's a storm brewing, and it's about to get worse. Mrs. Clinton won't stop until she takes me down. Maria's expression turned serious, her concern for him outweighing the intimacy they had just shared. You need to be careful, Frank. If she has evidence against you..."I know," he interrupted, shaking his head. But she's not the only threat. If Richard finds out about this... His voice trailed off, a new layer of worry etching itself into his features. Maria leaned closer, her voice barely above a whisper. Then we need to act fast. Together. You can't let her win this battle. You have to take control of the narrative. Frank nodded, her words igniting a spark of determination within him. They both understood the stakes had been raised.
On the other hand, Deborah and her pack hid beneath the city in a vast underground tunnel. They heard the approach of a group of drink blood walkers fleeing on the site of the Knight warriors. The sight of these creatures triggered a surge of fury in Deborah. "You monsters are the reason we're in this mess!" she shouted, commanding her pack to attack. In moments, a violent clash erupted. Deborah herself engaged their leader in a fierce hand-to-hand battle, her superior speed and combat skills overpowering the walker. As she plunged her blade into his throat, she thought the fight was over. But before dying, the walker latched onto her leg, transferring a strange dark energy into Deborah's body. The following day, Deborah's body was wracked with pain as she struggled to control the foreign energy coursing through her veins. Marcus, her second-in-command, noticed her distress. Dominus, you're bleeding! What's happening to you? He asked. Despite the blood dripping from her nose and the exhaustion on her face, Deborah waved him off. I'll be fine. But something is inside me, something powerful, and my body's rejecting it. Their conversation was interrupted as five Knight warriors suddenly entered the tunnel, drawn by the uncovered entrance. Marcus instantly drew his sword, barking orders to prepare for battle. Deborah, still weakened and unfit to fight, retreated. As the fight raged on, it became clear that the pack was losing. Fueled by a new surge of rage, Deborah's control slipped, and the dark power overtook her. She rushed forward, releasing a gravitational force so intense that it slammed the Knight warriors into the walls, killing them instantly. One of the surviving warriors managed to call for reinforcements. In a moment, a fresh group of Knight warriors appeared, but this only provoked the dark force within Deborah further. The power consumed her once again, lifting her into the air. With a single motion, she suspended the warriors in midair, choking them as she mimicked the gesture on herself. Just as their lives were slipping away, a portal opened, and out stepped Tamara and Sarah, shocked by the scene before them. Deborah is the one wielding the dark power? Inconceivable, Tamara muttered in disbelief. Deborah, her mind clouded with anger and power, immediately hurled a magical attack at Tamara. But before the attack could strike, Sarah swiftly intervened, effortlessly neutralizing the energy with a flick of her hand. What are you doing here, traitor? Deborah snarled, her voice laced with venom. Tamara stood firm, her eyes unwavering. You have something that doesn't belong to you, Deborah. It's killing you from the inside. It's time to let it go. Over my dead body will I release this power! Deborah hissed, the dark energy intensifying As her fury rose. You will, because, Sarah began, but before she could finish, Deborah, catching them off guard, released another wave of her gravity magic. The sheer force sent both Tamara and Sarah flying, slamming them into the tunnel walls. Deborah charged forward, her twin swords gleaming as she ran through the air with supernatural speed, aiming to finish Tamara off. Tamara, still disoriented, saw Deborah descending upon her, the sword aimed directly at her chest. But before the blades could pierce her, Sarah shot a powerful blast of magic from behind, freezing Deborah in midair. Tamara scrambled to her feet, breathing heavily as she stood before a motionless Deborah. She raised her sword, ready to end it, but hesitated. The weight of the moment pressed on her as she looked at Deborah, frozen and vulnerable. Sarah, shocked by Tamara's pause, called out, She's right in front of you! Finish her and end this madness! But Tamara lowered her sword, her voice steady. Not like this. Not when she's defenseless. I know I wanted her dead, but not like this. Frustrated, Sarah shook her head but stayed silent as Tamara touched the bangle on her arm and whispered "Henry." A portal instantly opened, and Henry stepped through, his presence filling the tunnel with a powerful, magical aura. He walked calmly toward the frozen Deborah, his eyes taking in the scene, before turning to Tamara. You have the situation under control. Why summon me? He asked, his voice calm but curious."I brought you here to free my sister," Tamara replied, her tone firm but filled with concern. Henry sighed, turning his attention to Deborah. He placed his hand on her chest, his fingers glowing with a soft, warm light as he began to extract the dark power that had been corrupting her. As the energy poured out of Deborah's body, it coiled and twisted in Henry's palm like a living entity. When the last of it was drawn from her, Deborah collapsed into Henry's arms, unconscious but alive. Gently, Henry laid her down on the ground and gestured for Sarah to hand him a container. Sarah complied, handing over the small, enchanted vessel. Henry carefully sealed the dark power inside, the container glowing faintly as it locked away the dangerous energy. He handed the container to Sarah, his expression serious. Keep this safe. It cannot fall into the wrong hands. Then, without hesitation, he opened another portal and pointed through it. Go find the last piece of the dark power. You know what to do when you're done. As Sarah nodded, and they disappeared through the portal, Henry turned back to Deborah. His hand hovered over her for a moment, and with a flicker of magic, he healed the damage the dark power had done to her system. Deborah's breathing steadied, and her body seemed to relax as the healing magic worked its way through her. Once finished, Henry glanced at the rest of the vampire pack who had been watching in awe. They immediately bowed before him, their faces lowered in respect and submission. Without another word, Henry vanished, leaving the pack and an unconscious Deborah lay on the floor. But a few minutes later, after Henry had gone, Deborah woke up with her eyes glowing blonde. Slowly, the glow faded as her vision cleared, and she saw the rest of her pack surrounding her. Feeling strong and okay, she sat up and asked, "What happened?" They exchanged glances before someone said, A lot has happened. Henry was here. Henry? She asked, surprised. Yes, he was here. And he removed a dark power inside of you and also healed you. Remove what? And you all allowed him to do that? Marcus stepped forward and replied, Henry isn't the Henry we used to know. He's in a terrifying state. I don't think he's... just a vampire anymore. His appearance terrifies everyone. Deborah remained silent, processing this new information, surprised but also angry.