Chapter 2 - The Order of the Sabbath

It has been a week since Eden started her internship and she still isn't used to their Chairman's constant disregard of her presence. He's always just so apathetic and barely even smiles at all. She wondered how Lyall could endure working with him. Given that they're cousins, but still.

Eden's main responsibility is to closely work with Lyall– with his schedules, his meetings, even making sure that his dates never overlap each other. But he's more often than not with Remus. Which means Eden has to constantly bear his patronising gaze.

It was late on a Friday night and Eden was preparing to go home when Lyall tapped on her table. He was holding a thick rim of paper and had a puppy-dog look on his face. He only ever looks like that when he needs a favour which often involves facing Remus. 

She pointed at the thick set of papers he had on his hand, "Did you by any chance forgot to have Remus sign that?"

"I did…" Lyall breathes as he falls on the chair in front of Eden. He looked exasperated and worn out despite the fact that Eden only sees him fooling around all day and flirting with anyone with a face.

She knows exactly what he wants from her. And she doesn't like it. "Can we have him sign it on Monday? I just feel like he's really going to be mad that we gave this to him so late."

Lyall shakes his head gently as if what Eden said was unthinkable. "Unfortunately, we can't." He smooths out the paper, and traces the words written on it, "You see little lady, this document should actually be submitted today. If we don't, we'll lose the client. And we don't want to lose this client."

Eden felt her mouth drop. Lyall is unbelievable. Though he may be so much nicer than Remus, he is also not very good at his job. Sometimes Eden thinks it's only through nepotism that he got to his position.

Lyall sighs but he doesn't look troubled about this at all, "Now, I've got Ruel, our trusted Liaison Officer on standby to have this delivered to the client as soon as it is signed. The only thing left to do is for you to get Remus to sign it."

Eden wanted to roll her eyes but she is but a small fish in a really big pond. All she can really do is comply to not get eaten alive.

Remus knew that Eden was behind the door before she even knocked. He can smell her scent of lavender and fresh pines. He can also hear her fussing for five minutes before she gently tapped on his door.

"Hi Sir…" she trailed, voice soft and weak. 

It's not that he doesn't like her. He just doesn't like how much of a pushover she is. It's like she's trying her best to make herself small, to be invisible. A little fight, a little fang wouldn't really hurt. 

As she entered, Remus immediately noticed the papers she was holding. He has made it clear that any document that needs to be signed should be done before 3 o'clock pm and it was already a quarter past six. "I'm not signing that." He told her before she could even speak.

Eden faltered. She wanted to run away. Lyall should be the one handling this and not her. She took a deep breath and tried to speak despite the quiver in her voice, "Uhm, Sir… you kind of really need to sign…"

"Do I now?" Remus said. He didn't look at Eden but there was a deep growl with the way he said it. As if he was challenging her to change his mind.

"Hmm hmm," Eden replied. She felt smaller by the second. Her heart was pounding on her chest. "This is the contract with Reeds Weeds Inc., and we're due to submit it today. If we don't, we'll lose them."

This got Remus's attention. "And why am I only receiving this now?"

Eden contemplated on what to say. She could tell him that it was Lyall's fault. But could she really snitch on her boss like that? And what would that make her look like? 

"It got buried with all the files on my desk. I'm sorry, I should've known better."

“Yes, you should have known better.” Remus wasn’t frowning. But his eyes were dark and there was a sharpness in his voice that made Eden jump. “Give it.” He commanded.

Eden walked towards him, her knees shaking. Tears threatened her eyes and she felt her throat closing up. All she wanted to do was impress, but she just kept on failing every time she tried. Remus snatched the contract out of her hand, making her gasp.

As Remus started to sign the document, exhaling loudly with every turn of the page, Eden felt irritation slowly rise within her. She wasn’t really one who often loses her cool, but it was already late on a Friday night and she was exhausted from doing all of Lyall’s work and now this… this guy in front of her has the nerve to be mad over something that was entirely not her fault.

“Do you have a problem with me?” She asked suddenly. 

This seemed to have amused Remus. There was a sudden change in Eden's tone– even the way she stood also looked different. From where he sat, she looked almost domineering.

“Not much, really.” He replied. He was looking at her intently this time. “Apart from the fact that I can’t seem to understand how you were able to pass our extensive screening process.”

Eden cracked immediately from his gaze and was back to being the meek, shy and hesitant girl that she is. She stuttered as she answered, “I– I’m– rea– really trying.”

Remus wasn’t surprised– none can really endure his piercing gaze, but he was disappointed– he really thought he’d be seeing Eden actually fight back. “Then try harder.” He replied.

Eden didn’t know where the sudden confidence was coming from. But she stood taller and looked at Remus' intense glare. Despite the tears already filling her eyes, she replied in full conviction, “You know I’m really good at this.”

“Well, I’m not seeing it.”

“Then let me prove it to you.” Eden’s tears had started to fall. But her face remained firm and her conviction unshakable.

Remus looked pleased, a sly smirk forming on his lips. “Fine,” he growled. “Beginning on Monday, you’ll be working for me. Are you ready for it?”

Eden stood straighter, determination palpable on her features. She wipes the tears that had embarrassingly decided to show up she said, “Let the games begin.”

. . . . .

The Order of the Sabbath was formed a century ago, when the very first Prime Minister made a deal with the Volkov Pack’s then Alpha, Neoma Volkov, that in return for no longer hunting down Werewolves and Lycans, the pack will protect the people from the other children of the moon– the Vampires. 

The Order will live on as long as both parties continue to agree with the terms– protection for the people and secrecy for the Wolves. 

Humans might be weak, but if faced with a threat they can bound together and the Volkov’s will fall. And somehow, this idea has made the humans– at least those that know about The Order, greedy and arrogant. And nothing pisses Remus more than a weakling acting like they hold all the power. So tonight, he decided, he’ll put them back in their place.

The Volkov Pack was requested by the Prime Minister and his Council for an emergency meeting. The fall of the Dragon Gate has reached their attention and they cannot wait to use this moment to exercise their power over the Wolves.

The current Prime Minister– Winfred Humpfrey, a small and pathetic excuse of a man, stood at a platform accusing the Volkov’s of negligence. Despite Remus and his Betas being seated, they still looked every bit daunting. They look at this Winfred as nothing but a poor copy of his father– to whom he inherited the position from, and even that guy was an embarrassment for their race.

“How could you have let this happen? You had one job!” Winfred yelled while banging his fist on the podium. He made his voice sound deeper and louder and yet it still lacked the power. 

Amarok was trying his best not to laugh, “What a puny boy.” He whispered to Fridolf, who shot him a warning look but even he was having troubles in keeping it together. It was just hard to treat Winfred seriously when everybody knows he earned nothing but his last name to get him where he is.

Remus cleared his throat before speaking, “It was an unprecedented event. We all know that we have driven the Vampires into extinction not more than twenty years ago.”

“So you admit it! You’ve eased out your protection! You’ve been compliant!” Winfred accused.

Remus’s face remained impassive. A marble sculpture filled with restrained rage. “We admit nothing. We’ve never lessened our Guards and we’ve never been complaint. What we’re trying to have you understand is this kind of enemy is something we’ve never encountered before.”

Winfred waves him off, “Maybe you’re getting weak. Maybe you’re not cut-out to be the Alpha. I want to speak with Conri. You, new bloods are just a death sentence for us waiting to happen.”

This irked Remus. “A death sentence for you?” He growled. Winfred paled immediately. All his pretend masculinity vanished into thin air. “When has one of your kind died because of a Vampire attack in the last two decades?” He glared at Winfred who looked like a prey cornered. “And how many of ours were killed just to save your pathetic asses?”

Winfred tried to recover. Tried to look like a Prime Minister. But his shaking voice failed him, “I– I don’t th– think that’s how you sho– should speak to m– me.”

Remus scoffed and that seemed to have embarrassed Winfred more, “If I abolish The Order, you’re finished!” He said, screaming again.

“Go on. Do it.” Remus challenged. “End your race’s agreement with the Wolves. See if we care.” The Betas started laughing at this which added to Winfred’s increasing shame. He wanted to show his power, but it seemed like power was being shown to him.

“Watch how you talk to me, you disrespectful dogs!” He screeched.

Remus’s eyes darkened. He stood up and slowly walked towards the podium where Winfred stood, “Call. Us. That. One. More. Time.” He said, enunciating every word carefully.

“You cannot kill me–” Winfred shook to his boot. Even the guards who stood on each side were unable to move, “–it’s against the agreement… you– you cannot kill a human.”

“Or can I?” Remus lets his eyes glow golden– the beginning of his transformation. “You have what? Two guards here and three more outside.” His teeth sharpened until his fangs were fully shown. “I can have Lyall kill all of them before you can even scream.”

Winfred looked over the Betas and to his horror, all now had glowing eyes and protruding fangs. Remus continued to speak, “It’ll end The Order quicker. And your race will be on your own. Left unguarded against the other children of the moon. And if another war is brewing, we’re pretty sure we’ll survive. I just can’t say the same for your kind. We all know the undead has an affinity for your blood.” 

Remus’s voice is sounding more and more like a snarl than of a man. And Winfred caved. “No… I don’t want that. The Order continues. The Order of the Sabbath continues.” He said, shivering.

And just like that the glow of Remus’s eyes subsided and his fangs rescinded. “I’m glad we’re finally on the same page.” He said calmly, straightening himself up. “After all, if it weren’t for us, you wouldn't even be Prime Minister. You’d be food.”

“Yes of course.” Winfred replied, his voice still shaking. He wipes the sweat that has pricked his forehead and upper lip. Now he looks exactly like the small man that he is. “We don’t want that.”

Remus squeezed his shoulder, “We have reached an understanding Prime Minister. I guess now you should be watching who you are talking to.”