Chapter 9: Emerging from the shadows

“ stay away from me,I mean no harm”pleaded Jewel with fear. The figure walked out of the shadow and as it did,its eyes were gradually turning green. A man emerged from the shadow. He was tall and lean. He had very long hair that fell over his broad shoulders. They highlighted the his eyes. His jaw bone protruded and he had perfectly curved lips. He was a handsome man . Jewel never expected a man to lurk out of the shadow. She was on her guard. It was strange that he could see her,hear her and talk to her but what scared her the most was the transformation of the colour of his eyes. He was a mystic being she thought. Stepping back wards as he moved closer to her,she asked” who are you and what do you want from me? He did not utter a word. He kept up closing up on her and swiftly,his teeth became very sharp. They were very sharp as daggers. Jewel screamed as she ran away from him. She had ran a good distance before she decided to turn back to see if he was following her and she was relieved that he was not behind her. She remained at a spot gasping for breath. “Why do you think you can run away from me?” it was a voice from no where. Jewel feet trembled in fear. She knew that she needed to run but she did not know which direction she needed to run towards. “i am everywhere”said the voice again” who are you?“cried Jewel. He appeared from nowhere. It was the man that had emerged from the shadow. “I thought it would be nice to scare you a bit before I introduce my self. It is one of my bad habits” he said. “How can you see me?I am a ghost” said Jewel. “Have you not heard about me? asked the man.  This question puzzled Jewel. She did not know if she ought to have known anything about him or not. She wondered if it would cost her for not knowing who he was and she felt sorry for not being able to know this strange man. With a little bit of disappointment worn on his face,he said” I am the demon Prince ".“ The demon…” gasped Jewel. She had indeed heard of him. However,she did not imagine him to look like what he did standing in front of her. She had heard that he had very sharp claws that could cut through wood. His teeth were discribed to have been sharper than a Knight's sword and he had blood gushing out of his mouth. Rumours had it that it was so because of how he continuously took lives. The demon Prince was known to show no mercy. This scared Jewel so much but she was ready to beg him to spare her from his wrought. She knew she was already dead and he would not be killing her again but she  wondered why he had come to her. “ you happen to have an assignment to do for me dear Jewel” he said. It puzzled Jewel even more to know that he could read her mind. Hence forth she would be very conscious of what she thought in her heart when ever he was around her.“ What assignment ?“asked Jewel. She wondered why he had followed her to give an assignment and she was curious to know what the assignment was all about. “As the demon Prince, I do what ever I want. Your little moment of thinking has done proper introduction of who i am. Is that not so?“  Asked the demon prince chuckling. " for once,I have decided to be kind to humanity. Even as it pains me so much I wish to do it”. Said the demon Prince. Jewel felt a bit relaxed but she was still confused. She did not know what business she had in his decision to show mercy to humanity. " it is up to you Jewel. If you can destroy the seven Alphas of the house of midnight,I will not trouble humanity again”. Said the demon prince.“all seven of them!“exclaimed Jewel. "I could not even survive in the hands of one and you are sending me to so many of them. I lack physical strength and I have no idea of who they are. I only know the Alpha of the North,Alpha Rick.“ I knew you would say all these things you weakling”  teasing Jewel” I am not a weakling “ retorted Jewel.“Mind your tone with me young lady. Believe me,it won't take me anything to make you vanish into thin air. With a  snap of my finger,you could be gone out of existence completely” said the demon Prince. This threat had effect on Jewel. It made her subdued. Lowering her voice,she said” but why does it have to be me? There are better persons out there who would deliver this assignment with ease”. The demon prince brought forth his hands as if to receive something from some one and immediately, a silver dagger appeared on his palm. It was an exciting sight for Jewel. She wondered how much more he could do. “ its a mere coincidence. I chose to use the last person who came into the world of the dead”. He used his fingers to run through the dagger observing it critically as if to spot an atom of dirt perched in the handle.“do you know what this is made off?“ He asked. He did not wait for a reply but continued. " it is a dagger formed out of a pool of wolves bane. Its your weapon against your targets”. A necklace appeared on Jewel's neck. It had seven pendants. It was a beautiful necklace  made from very rare gems. She used her fingers to feel the necklace”what is this for asked Jewel.“ For every alpha you kill,a pendant will be stained with blood . it will mark your achievement he said as he handed the dagger over to her. Jewel hesitated to collect it from him. She was being too careful with it because she knew how sharp the dagger was.“Rick knows me. How can I relate with them. I pass through almost everything that comes in contact with me”.said Jewel. "You will go in form of different persons”. He replied. Jewel stood transfixed. She was thinking of all possible questions to ask him. She knew how dangerous this mission was and she to wanted make sure that there was no vital information that she would need  left out. “ mind you, you will be complete human. I am implying that you will have no wolf blood in you. You will be as weak as a human” he said grinning. " how am I expected to cope then?“ Asked Jewel. This  was the peak of it. It was nice to know that the demon prince wanted to spare man kind but she did not see any reason why she should be involved in it. She would return the dagger and the necklace and would tell the demon prince to do whatever he liked. This were the thoughts going through her head” I seems you have a short term memory. I heard your thoughts”said the demon prince with a dry smile across his lips.“but I want to be nice for once. Won't you like to be with Asher again?“.asked the demon prince. Jewel did not expect him to mention Asher. She became scared at once.“ What will you do to him? Keep him out of this please I beg you” she pleaded.“ do this assignment and your life will go back to the way it was. You will come back to life and be reunited with the love of your life”.he said. This was too good to be true. However, he was the demon prince and he had the power to do things like this. She wanted her Asher back and who said that good things come easily. If this was the sacrifice she would make for love, she would do it. Walking away from her, the demon prince said” you have made a good decision for your self. However, you have just twenty seven days to complete this mission”. Jewel exclaimed " twenty seven days only?! How am I going to meet up?“. He walked further away from her "wait!, What do I have to do?“ Asked Jewel.

“ lights,camera, action. It all goes down in the Detroit club. You get the finest,sexiest and loveliest girls here and our cocktails can not and will never be compared to that gotten from anywhere else. I don't tolerate mediocrity. I accommodate only the best. This is the best club in Cuba if I must say” said Miguel a fat man with swollen cheeks and blood shot red bulging eyes. He wore an expensive suite embroidered with golden yarns interwoven with silver ones. He was known as the 'bling bling boogy man'. He happened to own the Detroit club. It was a high classed club meant for the elites of elites. The bar had the finest girls and courtesans. Miguel was a man that would use every opportunity he had to boast of his achievements. He would emphasize on the money he had invested in the club. He was talking to Alpha Rick. He had wanted to impress him with his talk and luckily be able to convince  Rick to partner up with him. It would be an accomplishment. It would take his business to a very different level. With Rick being so successful in his own dealings and introducing his drugs to the Cuba market, he would experience a new dimension of wealth. He was also aware of the fact that Rick was too dangerous to cash in on and so he was trying to be careful with his negotiations and was smart to keep watch for any foul play. “  your bragging is boring, where is the entertainment you talked about. I am not enjoying my self”. Said Rick in an unimpressed tone.“uhmm… Definitely… we have courtesans today and I am sure that you would find them interesting ".replied Miguel.signalling a bouncer, he continued” be rest assured that your partnership with Detroit will not bring you regrets''.Ricks change in mood had made Miguel quite uncomfortable and he was doing everything he could to impress him and regain his own personal composure.

The demon prince knew Alpha Rick too well. He knew the kind of girls that Rick would take interest in and as such fashioned Jewel to suite Rick's taste. Jewel was a well endowed lady with all the curves nicely fitted on her petite body. A slender neck,'C cup shaped breast' sitting on a tiny waist and nicely curved hips. Her skin was rich. It glowed and screamed radiance. Her hair was pulled back into a pony tail and she wore a short loose fitted gown. She would perform as one of the courtesans to entertain their guest who happened to be no other person than Alpha Rick. She had tried to play scenarios of how she would succeed in stabbing him. These thoughts had brought anxiety and made  lumps to form in her throat. She analysed the entire environment. Who Alpha Rick sat with, how drunk he was, and how to get his attention amidst the performance. She was going to be the lead singer and choreographer of the song to be performed. She had insisted on 'Hovana by Camila Cabero'. It would give her the perfect opportunity to flaunt her curves and nice skin in rhythm to the music. She had practiced so many times to perfect the arts. She knew that getting Ricks attention would come at a high price. They got on stage and she started singing. She sang seductively prolonging syllables and lowering her tone at some point to create and alluring effect. She swayed her hips and raised her dress few inches upwards when ever she got the chance. She was not going to give up. She continued to apply all tactics and it might have attracted the wrong attention . Men had eyes on her. They would pay anything to get her in bed with them. Some cheered and others mad flirting eye contacts. This development worried Jewel. If Alpha noticed that she already had a lot of attention from other men,there was possibility that he would prefer to spend the night with another girl. Jewel was determined to use this opportunity. She stepped down from the stage amidst the performance and moved towards Rick. She was bending at sharper angles now and she made sure that her cleavages where very visible to him. The moment they made eye contact, she bit her lower lips and blinked one of her eye lids. She hoped that her actions where enough to pass the message to him. “She wants you” said Miguel giving a very wide smile. “ I  make the choices”replied Rick. She adjusted on his seat and decided to study the courtesan closely. He let his eyes fall on her cleavages down to her hips and to her perfectly curved buttocks. There was so much this lady could do to make him a happy man for the night he thought to himelf.“bring her to me “ he  said as a faint smile crept  up unto his lips. This was Miguel's chance. He would give the courtesan to his client and would not mind to do more than that. He was Swift in coordination signalling a bouncer to bring the girl to Rick after the performance. Jewel got the message and she was more than relieved that she was able to make it pass the first stage of her plans. She now thought about the next phase of action with excitement born anew in her.

Alpha Rick studied the champagne that had been placed on a table made from very fine mahogany wood. It was a new brand of champagne  and he made it a subject of study while he waited for his fish. By fish, he was referring to the damsel that had tried so hard to win his attention. It impressed him and he thought she would need a present for him. There would be no other appreciated present than that of spending a night with him. He chuckled as these thoughts ran through his head. There was a mild knock on the door and it opened almost immediately. "Sorry sir, I did not mean to keep you waiting” said Jewel as she walked into the room. She was tying to catch her breath. “ what were you running away from?“  Asked Rick. “ I should not bother you with my meaningless explanations. “I am with you now and instead of the boring talk, we could get down to business”. The things Jewel said disgusted her herself. Being in a room with a monster and trying to seduce him was too much for her. It was a heavy burden to that rested on her fragile shoulders but it was something she had to do. There was no other way to get to him. “ I seems that you are very excited tonight. You might have heard a lot about me is that not so?“ Asked Alpha Rick in self praise. “ the ladies talk about you. They say you know how to treat them well. I want my own share” said Jewel. This made Rick to erupt in laughter. She was quite an entertainment. “ then come to me and give me pleasure” said Alpha Rick ushering her to come to him with his hands. Jewel did as instructed walking closer to him and then wrapping her hands around him. He kissed her abruptly and then disentangled him self from her. “. Hmm there is much to be done tonight” said Alpha Rick stepping backwards to have a good frontal view of her. "You should take a shower. It has been a long day” suggested Jewel. She wanted to buy time to her self. The mere thoughts of not suceeding this night and ending up having sexual intercouse with  Rick troubled her. He gave the suggestion a thought and shrugged his shoulders. “ Alright, I will see you in a minute” said Rick as he walked into the bathroom. Jewel would wait till his body was covered in lather. It would be the perfect opportunity since his hands would be slippery. She took a sip from the champagne that Rick was drinking earlier before she came in and waited for few minutes before she adjusted her dress making sure that the dagger was placed properly under her dress. She walked into the bathroom. Using her fingers to run through his bare skin.“ I thought I should keep you company " said Jewel smiling at Alpha Rick. “ then you should as well get undressed “ he replied.“i will wait for you instead” said Jewel. She waited for him to apply soap on his face and when he was sure that Hus face was covered, she carefully brought out the dagger from under her dress edging  closer to him from behind. The raised the dagger but was caught in mid air by Alpha Rick firm grip”i knew something was off about you. How could you think that I would be careless. You said that you have heard so much about me but you still chose to commit your self to danger.speak at once,Miguel sent you didn't he?“ Rick said with rage in his tone. It had surprised Jewel. She never expected that he would be so smart and swift as to resist her strike. She was worried for her own life. She knew too well that Rick would not spare her. Holding her hands firmly,he dragged her out of the bathroom. "I will devour you and send your beautiful dress smeared in blood to Miguel. I won't spare any of you. How foolish could he be to send a girl to.assassinate me “ said Rick. “Miguel did not send me to you” said Jewel. It was all she could think of saying. The mistake had been made and she did not want innocent Miguel to pay a price for what he knew nothing about. Rick turned Into a wolf ready to strike with his claws and sharp teeth. He was extremely angry and would not listen to any plea or whatsoever. He made to pounce on her but Jewel dodged him. She was not thinking but her instincts and reflexes had taken control of her. He made to strike again but this time,she raised the dagger to him” stand back” she threatened. This made Rick to laugh” how hysterical. You have quite a confidence if I must say” said Rick has he hit the dagger off her hands” now where is your strength " he said grinning. Jewel  tried to escape but the door was locked. She was trapped. One of them was going to die and she did not want to be the one. She wished the demon prince would appear from no where and take over the fight or at least make her disappear but he did not.  Rick was closing up on her and she was moving backwards. Jewel slipped and fell to the ground with her back coming in contact with the floor. Rick had settled on top of her eager to bite when so suddenly without Rick expecting it, she stabbed him with the dagger. She was lucky. It was a narrow escape but the dagger had  been close to her when she fell and she had picked it up unknowingly to Rick and had held it firmly ready to strike with all her might because she knew that it would be her last opportunity. I blood stain appeared on the first pendant of her necklace and it gave her assurance that Rick was dead. She got up from the floor panting heavily. She would relax for a while to calm her nerves so that she would not be suspected. She had somehow helped Miguel. Rick had bought shares and now he was dead. If Miguel played his cards well then he would be cashing in on the situation. That was not what bothered her. She had completed her mission and it gave her a  sense of pride. Few hours later, she walked out of the room and the club calm and unsuspecting as she thought of her next target.