The city was alive with whispers. In the dim glow of streetlights, the underworld stirred like a beast waking from its slumber.
Ochieng sat in the back of the car, his fingers drumming rhythmically on the leather seat. His mind was racing, dissecting every word Nathaniel had said.
"They found out."
For years, he had lived in the shadows, carefully constructing an identity that concealed his true origins. But the past had finally caught up with him.
Magdalene glanced at him through the rearview mirror. "Where to?"
Ochieng's voice was calm, but there was an edge to it. "To the Den."
Magdalene's grip on the wheel tightened. The Den. A place that existed outside the reach of law and morality. A sanctuary for ghosts of the past, and a graveyard for those who failed to adapt.
Tonight, it would be a war room.
---
The Den was hidden beneath the ruins of an abandoned cathedral. No signs. No address. Only those who belonged knew where to find it.
Ochieng and Magdalene walked past the reinforced doors, where two heavily armed men stepped aside without question. Inside, the air was thick with the scent of burning incense and old wood.
The room was filled with power.
Seated around the massive oak table were some of the most dangerous individuals in Emerald City. Their names were whispered in fear, their influence stretching across borders.
At the head of the table sat Jeff, the oil magnate with an empire that bled wealth. Next to him was Linet, a woman whose businesses controlled half the continent's underground markets. Wendy, the silent strategist, observed everything from the shadows.
And at the far end stood Tielen—the executioner.
Ochieng took his seat, his presence commanding silence.
"We have a problem," he said, his voice cutting through the air like a blade.
Tielen leaned forward, his gaze sharp. "The Seven Titans?"
Ochieng nodded. "And more. They know who I am."
Linet exhaled slowly. "That complicates things."
Jeff smirked, his fingers tapping against the table. "Complicates? No. This is an opportunity."
Ochieng's eyes flickered. "Explain."
Jeff leaned back. "They've moved first, revealing their intentions. But that gives us the advantage. We're no longer playing defense. We attack."
A slow smile played on Ochieng's lips. "Exactly."
The room pulsed with energy.
A storm was coming.
And Ochieng would be the one to unleash it.
---
As the meeting ended, Ochieng stepped out onto the balcony overlooking the city. Magdalene stood beside him, silent.
Finally, she spoke. "What's the plan?"
Ochieng's gaze was cold. "We send a message."
Magdalene nodded. "Who's the target?"
Ochieng turned to her, his voice unwavering.
"The first of the Seven Titans. Let's remind them who they're dealing with."
The night stretched before them, vast and endless.
And in the heart of it, war had begun.
--