“Vengeance is a monster of appetite, forever bloodthirsty and never filled.” - Richelle E. Goodrich (The Tarishe Curse)

  * * * *

  Surprisingly, Lucas and Leonid weren’t able to head to Zalfari immediately, even though they wanted to. They still had a high-priority murder case on their desks to handle. And it only makes things more complicated as it is the murder of a former hunter.

  The political ramifications should things go south is enough to make Lucas’ head spin.

  Hence, this is why Elijah and Taylor both found themselves at the hunters’ headquarters in Helmut and tried to resist the urge to pull out their weapons even as they stood in front of the current head of the hunters, Albert Nicolosi.

  As long as you live in Eldario, you will know the name of Albert Nicolosi.

  The man had taken the position as the head of the hunters nearly a decade or so ago. And from the whispers and rumours that Elijah had heard from his contacts within the underground, it seems like Albert seized the position by murdering the previous head, though that was never proven. Even before that, there were already rumours that Albert was really the one in charge for a little over three decades, and the previous leader was just a figurehead. At least until Albert has no further use for him.

  Don’t trust him, Elijah remembered the words of a certain someone whom he’d met long ago—even before he had joined the ESA.

  And even without her warnings, Elijah knew better than to trust a hunter. He’ll be better off locking himself in a cage with hungry lions.

  Elijah could almost feel how tense his twin was next to him, and he discreetly stepped on Taylor’s foot. His twin looked at him questioningly, and Elijah gave a short shake of his head.

  I’ll handle this, he told her with his eyes.

  Both twins then turned their attention back to Albert Nicolosi.

  At first glance, he seems unassuming. As a man who looked to be in his sixties at least, he still looked hearty and strong, with a head full of white hair that reached to his ears; though with a receding hairline. He had golden eyes like that of a hawk, with a distinct scar running down the right side of his cheek.

  Not for the first time, Elijah cussed Lucas out inwardly for even sending them into the lions’ den. However, he also understood why Lucas sent him and Taylor out of everyone in Team Alpha.

  They’re the ones least likely to fly off the handle, and also the ones able to keep their composure, no matter what happens.

  Not to mention that unlike Lucas and Leonid, Elijah and Taylor aren’t Gifted. Sending a Gifted, even if they’re with the ESA, into the headquarters of the hunters is akin to sending a lamb to slaughter. They might be Normals with highly enhanced abilities, but they’re still Normals at the end of the day.

  Stolen novel; please report.

  As for Allen and Jonan, neither one of them had ever hid their distaste for the hunters. Imagining Lucas sending the pair to hunter headquarters is enough to give Elijah a migraine as he imagines the fallout that would happen.

  Right now, however, Elijah took an almost perverse kind of enjoyment as he watched the myriad of emotions that flew across Albert’s face even as he read the contents of the folder that Taylor had just handed to him several minutes ago.

  A folder that held copies of the investigation and autopsy reports of Walden, and the atrocities and deeds that he had done during his time as an active hunter. Many of the families whose children were reported missing years ago would at least be able to gain closure, since the majority of those children have their skins or even pieces of them found in Walden’s shack, and thus, the ESA could confirm their deaths.

  “I am unsure if I should take this as an insult or as a declaration of war,” Albert growled, his golden eyes flashing dangerously at Elijah and Taylor. The few hunters also visible in the room have their hands reaching for their weapons with those words, and Taylor tensed. “Do you expect me to believe that a renowned hunter like Walden would commit atrocities like this?”

  “Autopsies and evidence don’t lie, Mr Nicolosi.” Elijah’s voice was calm and steady as he spoke, revealing none of his inner turmoil. Because this involved a former hunter, the Forensics team was extremely thorough when examining and investigating the shack and even the secret basement. Team Delta too had offered tremendous support when assisting Team Alpha with the investigation.

  And between Elijah and Louis, it wasn’t that difficult to uncover everything that had happened in Walden’s life.

  “Last I heard, the families of the children who were confirmed to be dead—with pieces of them discovered in Walden’s shack, were preparing for a court case to be brought up against the hunters.” Taylor’s face revealed nothing at all. “And sadly, for you, that is, it will be political and social suicide to throw out this case like you did to so many. The ESA has filed this officially with the court offices of the High Judge himself.”

  The hunters that were in the room all tensed. The unfair laws of Eldario had worked against not just the Gifted, but also for the ESA agents countless times. But this is one of the few rare times when those unfair laws worked in their favour.

  A court case that is brought to the offices of the High Judge can never be thrown out but has to be investigated and see it’s day in court. It is one of the absolute laws of Eldario. And only high-priority criminal cases would cross the desk of the High Judge.

  Thankfully for Team Alpha, the High Judge supports Tiara’s views about the ESA and the Gifted. But again, thanks to the unfair laws of Eldario that were put in place during the chaotic period of the end of the last war, like Tiara, his hands too were tied. From what is said, the High Judge was a former ESA agent himself—a department head even and was even Tiara’s mentor at one point.

  The underground might think otherwise, but Elijah and Taylor both knew that the Gifted and even the underground have more allies than they think. While not many, there were a few reporters for the various papers and magazines in Eldario that didn’t fully trust everything that the hunters told them, unlike the majority of Eldario.

  The expression on Albert Nicolosi’s face had both twins practising every amount of self-control to not let their true feelings show on their faces.

  “Is that a threat?” Albert almost whispered menacingly.

  “As the Goddess is my witness, when have we said a single word of threat towards you?” Elijah’s tone was almost sickeningly sweet and polite as he spoke, much to Taylor’s amusement. “We’re sent by the ESA to inform you of the actions we would be taking as a form of courtesy. Nothing more.”

  “No hunter will do what you’re claiming Walden did.” Albert insisted. Elijah however could see the distinct signs of a lie. This man is aware of what Walden has done. “Even we have rules!”

  “I find that hard to believe.” Taylor couldn’t resist, even though her twin was giving her warning looks. “I saw the aftermath of the hunters’ works over the years, Mr Nicolosi. It turned even the stomachs of some of my teammates, and we have seen things that would give the average person nightmares.”

  A very light sound—almost like that of a human’s groan—too light to be picked up by a normal person, but to Elijah, he picked it up easily. His eyes went towards the air vent in a corner, and he frowned to himself.

  “You…!”

  “We’re just the messengers here.” Elijah grasped his sister’s arm, shooting her a warning look. He has no wish to have to fight his way out of Helmut. “But a word of advice here, Mr Nicolosi. There is always someone more powerful and skilled than you. If you cross the wrong person, you might find yourself by the side of the Goddess sooner than you think.”

  With his piece said, Elijah grasped his sister by her wrist and stalked out of the room without a second look back before Albert or any of the hunters in the room could say anything in response.

  There was silence in the room for several moments after the departure of the ESA agents. And then, Albert Nicolosi grasped a wine bottle on a table near where he stood, hurling it across the room, with the bottle smashing against the opposite wall and spilling the contents everywhere.

  “Sir…”

  “To have the blasted ESA coming in here and questioning me…!” Albert snarled, an ugly look on his face. “And that fool, Walden! I warned him! I warned him, and he still got taken off guard! What kind of hunter is he if he got himself bested by Gifted?!”

  “Sir, if it indeed is Sera Kroix which we assume to be the leader of Aegis, even Walden can’t—”

  “Silence!” Albert barked at the hunter who had spoken, and the latter flinched. “Seems like we need to move our plans up.”

  An almost maniac glint appeared in his eyes.