Nightblade (Darkest night)

‎Conrad and Damien exited the interrogation room in silence.

‎The alloy-reinforced door slid into place behind them, sealing off the room.

‎The two men remained silent for a while, in contemplation.

‎After a while, Damien was the first to break the silence.

‎He turned his gaze to Conrad, scrutinizing him for a while before speaking

‎" What do you think ?"

‎A slight grin formed on Conrad's face.

‎He shrugged helplessly, wrapping the long coat around himself.

‎" Well, she really looks like she was kept out of the loop on this one. If it's all an act, then I'd have to admit that she's an outstanding actress. I'd also have to add that if that's the case, then this whole situation is no longer salvageable."

‎Damien stared at him for a while, then ran his hand tiredly through his hair.

‎"Why does everything just continue getting more and more complicated?" he thought inwardly, suppressing a grimace.

‎Damien let out a weary sigh, his calm facade slipping momentarily.

‎He quickly smiled, straightening out invisible creases in his suit jacket.

‎" If Vincent actually planned to join up with this mysterious individual, then this means we're going to have a war on our hands. Come."

‎The two men strode briskly through the underground facility, heading deeper underground.

‎The deeper underground the cells were, the more reinforced they became.

‎The cells below had been made to contain maestros and possibly beings stronger than maestros if the time ever came.

‎The lower levels of the facility were dimly illuminated, but that would only pose a problem if the personnel were mundane.

‎Security on the lower levels was managed solely by novices and the few Maestros available.

‎Damien paused mid-stride, turning to Conrad.

‎" What happened after you went back to retrieve Luke's body?"

‎A slight smirk appeared on Conrad's face.

‎" It was a trap, obviously., I knew I was walking into one. But I had the element of surprise on my side. The fact that the masked man didn't know about my mirage technique. But that cat's out of the bag now."

‎The two men arrived at a solitary unit guarded by two men in dark suits.

‎From the umbralis around them, Conrad could tell they were on the verge of becoming maestros.

‎Damien stepped forward, placing his palm on the biometric pad next to the door.

‎" These cells will only admit a McAllister or Thane. I can't risk any more surprises."

‎Conrad smiled faintly, turning his gaze to the door.

‎"Can't argue with that, rather be overly cautious than risk the chance of having traitors in our midst."

‎The large reinforced automated door slid open, admitting them inside.

‎The room had crisp white walls that reflected the light throughout the chamber.

‎A dark metallic contraption sat at its centre.

‎The contraption was fashioned to work like an examination chair. Several restraints jutted from its sides as well, linking around it and even flowing down into the metallic floor.

‎The room smelled faintly of blood and antiseptic.

‎Despite the sharp lingering scent, the chamber was spotless

‎Conrad frowned slightly, his face wrinkling up in displeasure.

‎"I certainly didn't miss this place."

‎Damien let out a chuckle, his eyes narrowing in amusement.

‎"I understand that. But what can we do

‎This is the man you captured."

‎The man was tightly strapped to the metallic chair, with his limbs completely wrapped with a reinforced straitjacket.

‎Several tubes ran through the jacket, entering his body, delivering streams of fluids and nutrients directly into his body whilst ferrying the wastes out.

‎An old, grey-haired man in a white coat entered after that, closing the door behind him.

‎" Dr Manfred, how is our special guest doing?"

‎The old man jotted down a few things on his pad while checking the man's vital signs.

‎" We've been able to stabilize his condition. While the wound was quite grievous, he should be able to speak any moment now."

‎Damien nodded at the old man.

‎" I'm glad to hear it, doctor. Can we speak to him now? You see, he'll soon be taken to a different facility."

‎Manfred adjusted the flow of the fluids in the tubes, then stepped away from the masked figure.

‎"For the next part, I'll move to the next room. I'll decrease the dosage of drugs we're using to keep him sedated significantly; he should be able to answer your questions after that."

‎" Thank you, doctor."

‎Damien stepped forward and removed the mask covering the man's face, then turned to Conrad, with a thin tight tight-lipped smile.

‎

‎" Does his appearance ring any bells? Have you by chance met him somewhere before?"

‎The face beneath the mask was of a fair-skinned youth with long dark hair and high cheekbones. An aquiline nose and square jaw completed the image.

‎The man was unconscious, his eyes closed.

‎Conrad frowned slightly, shaking his head.

‎The smile on Damien's face widened, his eyes narrowing in amusement.

‎" Fortunately for us, I have met this man before. Allow me to introduce you to Regius Snow."

‎" Snow?"

‎Conrad echoed, his eyes widening slightly, disbelief flickering across his face.

‎Damien nodded, his expression turning grim.

‎"This man was one of the operatives of House Snow that went missing in Tenebris a few months back."

‎Conrad palmed his face, groaning slightly.

‎" This day couldn't get worse.

‎Damien shook his head.

‎"But it does get worse. Se, Regius here was a novice when he went missing and now, inexplicably... he's a maestro. While it's not completely unheard of, it's extremely difficult to become a maestro in such a short period of time. Unless..."

‎Conrad threw Damien a questioning look.

‎"Unless?"

‎"Unless someone else or something sped up the acclimatization process."

‎

‎****

‎At the same time, outside the Thane estate, a motorcade of vehicles rolled up in front of the gilded entrance to the plush estate.

‎The automatic surveillance systems whirred, scanning the vehicles and passengers.

‎A moment later, the motorcade rolled through the estate, making its way to the main mansion.

‎ The vehicles circled through the sprawling courtyard, stopping at the entrance to the mansion.

‎Several men clad in black robes filed out of the vehicles, making their way to the front of the mansion.

‎A moment later, a beautiful redhead clad in a dark formal suit appeared in front of them.

‎Rebecca calmly scrutinized the newcomers, her eyes roving over the group.

‎The leader of the group stepped forward.

‎He was a tall, lithe man with a small, unassuming smile.

‎The most striking feature about him was his eyes, which were a startling black.

‎Rebecca bowed slightly.

‎" We've been expecting your arrival, Lord Samael."

‎Samael Dark was the current leader of the guardians of the seven Shadows and one of the only guardians who ever appeared in public.

‎The man emanated power with every fiber of his being. Umbralis pulsated towards him and off him in waves.

‎It took everything Rebecca had to remain standing in his presence.

‎" And you are?"

‎" Rebecca Kingsley."

‎Samael nodded slightly, tilting his head to the side.

‎" And where is Lord Damien?"

‎" He'll be with you shortly, sir. Allow me to escort you inside."

‎Samael stared at her for a while, his bewitching eyes intensely boring into her own.

‎" Very well then. Lead the way."

‎****

‎" Do you think House Snow is involved in this mess, too? " Conrad asked quietly.

‎Damien slowly shook his head.

‎" At this point, I'm not even sure what to think anymore."

‎A faint smile tugged at his lips.

‎" Fortunately for us, Regius here might be able to tell us something. "

‎Right on cue, the man's eyes fluttered slightly then opened.

‎He groaned, stirring slightly, then a wave of pain coursed through him

‎His body instinctively spasmed, his back arching awkwardly into the air.

‎Regius' mouth opened in a soundless scream.

‎Conrad and Damien watched him in silence.

‎After a while, his body visibly relaxed, his chest rising and falling rhythmically.

‎" Regius, welcome back to the land of the living."

‎Regius' eyes widened slightly at the unfamiliar voice.

‎He slowly scanned the room, taking in the unusual surroundings, then leaned back with a sigh.

‎"I guess I have you two to thank for my small predicament," he muttered quietly.

‎Regius pierced them with an icy glare, his grey eyes hardening.

‎"You don't know what you're up against. You cannot win against what's coming."

‎Damien raised an eyebrow in surprise.

‎"I didn't expect you to sing so quickly. I thought you'd make it a bit more... difficult."

‎Regius snorted derisively.

‎" I'm not one to waste time. And neither are you such a man, Damien."

‎A slight smile curved Conrad's lips, his eyes gleaming in amusement.

‎" You've forgotten your manners, dog. Your time outside the Brotherhood must have eroded your brain. Allow me to reeducate you."

‎Regius grinned, a wild gleam appearing in his eyes.

‎"And what could you possibly do? I'm a maestro."

‎Conrad chuckled lightly, then the chuckle turned into a laugh.

‎"That means you're still human, well, somewhat human. And like all other humans, you're capable of feeling pain."

‎Conrad's irises ignited, turning an ethereal golden.

In the next moment, a blood-curdling scream rang throughout the underground chamber.

‎

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