The sun was high but the air was still cold. It must have been the elevation, fog was still faintly visible creeping through the overlooking woods. Stratus clouds frequented this place as this mountain held a thick rainforest. The headquarters manor was equally breathtaking during midday. Weekends bored me at home, but not today. Today was equally exciting and frightening, Excited to visit the headquarters again in the daytime, probably meet new members, and frightening for what happened last night. Kane might have discovered Maria’s glowing eyes, but the thought that Maria knew Kane bugged me. Almost left me sleepless last night. She did not respond to any of my texts last night. She was also worried for sure.
Mum knew that I had not properly slept, my eyes were sunken and droopy as she had observed. We had our breakfast right before Collins fetched me from home. My training day, as I was informed.
Edward was injured last night’s attempt. I aided him immediately and
I was surprised to see the backyard, it was more vast than the front yard. The headquarters manor was fenced with concrete blocks and iron railings that extended far from where I stand – the back porch.A large space in front and the landscape was of formal design, plants placed on symmetrical patterns. Well-pruned trees and bushes were placed strategically to invoke serenity. The space held Trainees like me. There were about four of them and a senior member seemed to be demonstrating advanced hand-to-hand combat. I could say it was advance because their moves were different than the boxing and defending that my dad trained me for two days.They were locking heads, wrestling, slamming bodies to the ground. They even rarely threw punches. I watched them in astonishment. Beside me was Collins who had shown me the place. Introduced me to some senior members of the Keepers and led me to the training circle.“This is Luke Mason.” Collins introduced
The training circle was now getting crowded, even my dad came to see me. I was not embarrassed for our first round, Kane had a lot of fighting experience and was considered to be one of the best. I looked up at the sky and even considered the majestic stratus clouds watching our friendly spar.I was overthinking again. This time, it could not help me. My father was standing behind the crowd that encircled us and I saw him smile at me. But he did not see our first round, it should have embarrassed him, his own son beaten like a girl and by a puny assassin.My heart raced again and I felt tremendous pressure in my mind. I could hear my breathing. I could tell my lungs were exhausted, somewhat deflated balloons. I challenged Kane for a second round but my body was stiff like rocks, I could barely move.“Find you peace.” It was Collins’ voice, whispered from behind my ear.What did it mean? There is no peace in fighting, I thought as Collins
Medellin City, Lapaz street1961 - 60 Years before – Before the Keepers was foundedThe rain’s downpour was heavy. Everybody hurried to shelter and raindrops crashed to the pavement like knives. The streets were nearly unpopulated and the street lamps faintly illuminated the place and the moon’s light gave no contribution at all, the nimbus stratus clouds covered the skies.Two men stood before the street and found shelter in a bus stop station. One lit a cigarette to compensate for the frigid air. They were on the place for about an hour or so, looking before a three-story building. On the third floor, a single apartment was rumored to hold a witch. She lived alone and was suspected to have conjured black magic.“Are we going to proceed as plan, or just freeze here to death,” said the man who had a cigarette, the early forties, and was an ex-military but became a fugitive of the municipality.
Uncertainty was the feeling the three pursuers had. The uncertainty of life and death. It hit them, the moment they entered the room. It was never what they had expected. The deteriorations they witnessed in the halls were not evident in the room, it seemed the apartment was not housed by a witch. The first sight made them question themselves that maybe they were not in the right place, maybe it was the other room. But the inexplicable feeling made them concluded that the information was accurate.The feeling of depression, the feeling of sadness, the feeling of death, invaded their emotions. The living and dining room combined had no evidence of witchcraft, all mundane. Furniture, chairs, tables, were arranged accordingly.But the stench they smelled did not connect with what they saw. It had to be something, something dead lingered around the corner. They took gentle strides further inside. The lights were turned on and they heard rustling in this room before, thus t
Tim stood up and groggy. He leaned his one hand to furniture nearby to leverage his stand. He rubbed his eyes and glanced at Greg.“What happened?” Tim asked sheepishly.“It’s the witch. He mind-controlled you,” Greg replied while he scowled in distaste upon looking at the apartment how it transformed into.Ray stood up, shook the pain he felt on his shoulder. They were astonished by the room, the powerful witch had played illusions in their mind. The neat and organized apartment was now turned into rot and ruin. Dust was all over the place and wooden floors were dampened like soaked in water that probably came from a leak in the ceiling. The lights were faintly lit up, and everything was dilapidated and old.It looked like it was inhabited for years. The foul stench came from the master’s bedroom. It was closed and Greg knew the smell. He had experienced it before some police cases. It was a smell of dead rotting human
Present time – Keepers Headquarters, BusayGenes? Maturity? Slow-motion? Bullet time? He was making sense. I thought that the triggers were only I see Maria smiles. I thought it was only me and the sight of her triggered the bullet time. I did not know that genes were a part of it.“How do you know dad?” I asked.“I have that skill son. Some witches are stronger and faster, some could manipulate time, and your skill, my skill, is a great help,” my father said, “Your great grandfather had the skill, it seemed inherited.”“I thought it was only me when I see Maria.”“Maria? Is she one of your classmates,” My father leaned on his desk.“Y-yeah. She is. I mean, she is my new friend,” I stammered. I do not want to dwell on the subject any longer. One is for her safety and the subject was awkward for me. I gave an ex
‘Cruz.’ The name I feared that my father would say. It was our oath, our obligation my father emphasized, but I could never imagine me killing Maria. I leaned on the bookshelf and stared at the floor. My thoughts drifted to her beautiful smile or the time that she saved me. Compromising herself just to prevent me from dying and risking her secret identity and their Coven.It was unfathomable as of the moment. I even considered quitting.“If we stop the Cruz bloodline, then we will win the war.” He uttered. It was the emphasis of his lecture. The Cruz bloodline. The bloodline of Larissa, the Coven Queen.My father continued to talk about Larissa’s doings and killings, about the history. But everything seemed blurry momentarily. Then I forced myself back presently.“…Edward had suspected a few Cruz’s in your school and they are monitoring them as we speak,” my father continued. My eyes widen and my hear
Maria decided on a meeting place that we could converse privately, a memorial garden for dead witches. Walking briskly, gave me goosebumps as I passed by a faintly lit pavement across the cemetery. The place was high-end, arranged neatly and some other witch’s families had constructed decent houses that held two to three coffins of their loved ones.The place was expectedly quiet and the breeze carried frigid air that added to my chilled bones. There were properly planted trees blocking the faint moonlight that blanketed the place. I brought my dagger in case Maria had planned for my ambush. Maybe I was compromised, she might know during the apprehension attempt with Lance.Many possibilities rushed my thoughts, challenging my bravery and confidence. I continued to press forward until the last block of the cemetery. Glancing afar, I saw a dark figure sitting down by the curb of the cemetery road. As I was nearing, the figure appeared to be Maria. Her face was anx