- Gabriella -

"I'm Damien the leader of S.P.A.D." I watched as Damien stepped out and held out his hand. Every instinct is screaming for me to bolt for the door. I don't comprehend how Damien, a fully-fledged human, isn't running. The only thing keeping me rooted is the presence of the other members who are blocking my way to the exit.

The tall fae stared at Damien's outstretched arm in surprise. But moments later, Damien's hand is engulfed by a larger one. The man smiled with a flash of his teeth, reminding me how much his actions seem to resemble that of an animal.

"I'm known as the Dark Beast." I shivered, remembering the strong suffocating presence and the smell of my own sweat and fear. How is it that Damien is able to stand up to such a presence?

Didn't they say that I have fae blood in me? Why is it that I can't even move? Am I so useless?

"I always thought that the leader of the most elite team would be a demi-fae of a strong bloodline. It seems I was wrong. You must be Damien Ytger." The Dark Beast spoke as he studied Damien through his gold rimmed reading glasses. As they parted, the fae's features hardened.

"This time I have requested an audience because I have a favor to ask. Soren has been the most advanced in terms of technology and it is no surprise that your squad is ranked as the elites amongst the elites. I've heard of your many long-standing achievements. " The Dark Beast paused as his dark eyes perused each of our faces.

I remained silent and looked at Damien. The S.P.A.D. leader's face remained calm but the hand behind his back clenched. He is trying to control his surprise as he signals us with three fingers. Proceed with caution. There is no way the fae is privy to top secret government details. The only way how the Dark Beast knew, is through inside connections.

"Led by a human with the sight, you must be a very capable man and a well-trained leader at that." The Dark Beast smiles wryly as he fixed his unfathomable gaze on Damien. His tone seems to imply more.

Damien swallowed his saliva. The room is deadly silent, each one of us stood very still, afraid that a single move would mean the death of us.

A slight twitch of Damien's fingers behind his back sent us to our toes. If he gives the second flick, we are to call this off. High fae or not.

"If circumstances permitted, I would have sent our kind however I'm afraid I have no other choice but to ask this of you. We, the fae, are currently in a precarious situation. Our war with the Decays has started and in fear of the spies planted in each of our courts, the High King has ordered all of us to evacuate and band together in a secret hideout. I'm telling you this because you are our only hope left."

We traded glances not sure of what to make of the situation.

"We need your help to obtain a prophecy from the Seer that lives on an island. The information obtained from traitors tell us the Decays will also be coming to take the prophecy." The Dark Beast paused to allow the information to sink in. Something tells me I don't want to know the details of how the information came about.

"What prophecy? Is it so important to you that you must risk secretly meeting with us?" Damien asked.

"It is a prophecy that will show us how we can defeat our enemies." The Dark Beast answered simply, not revealing much. "It's important because if we lose this war, it will destroy the fae realm."

"Then why can't you, the fae, who are clearly much more capable than us mere humans, be given this responsibility? This may be something out of our jurisdiction." Damien shrugged. The question sounded curious, however there was a hint of suspicion hidden in it.

"Our wars may not concern you, but the fall of the Faerie World will bring chaos and destruction to your world. As much as you refuse to acknowledge, both our worlds are interconnected. I do not ask that you fight our wars, but at least fight for yours and your people." The Dark Beast spoke, his fathomless eyes never leaving Damien's. "It is not I who asks this of you, but the whole of the fae folk. The Seer's lair is protected with a spell and only certain people can enter."

"Like us?"

"Humans will have no difficulty entering, so do halflings."

"Let's say we believe what you say about the war with this group of rebels called the Decays. Let's say we accept this mission. What then?" Damien raised a brow.

"We will compensate you richly." The Dark Beast promised. "Of equal value to all seven of you. In the case where either one of you fails to return, we will deliver it to your family."

The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.

Damien contemplated in silence and we watched as he seem to struggle to make a decision. Finally, he said, "I'm sorry. I can't make the decision myself. Please give me some time to discuss this with my team mates." With a curt nod from the fae, he turned his back to us to give us privacy.

"He is that Dark Beast of the Night Court right?" Fenrys states quietly as we huddled together.

"Indeed." Damien whispered.

"Suola's Beast? Doesn't that mean we can't refuse his offer?" Vesna looks towards Damien with a worried frown and mined a slash across her throat. "He would have our heads on a platter if we turn him down."

"Maybe he would find another team." Damien whispered hopefully, but Isabelle shook her head.

"He said we are the only hope left. If he's seeking elites straight off the bat, I doubt this time it's that easy. I think... we might be the only ones with remotely any chances of pulling it off." Isabelle's words hit the mark and Damien knew we couldn't walk away.

Sighing, he silently prayed that it would all work out somehow. "This mission might probably be our last. I know the commandments state to only listen and follow orders, but this time, I'm going to do things differently. Does anyone wants out?"

No one said anything as Damien braced himself for our response. "This time it's not hide-and-seek with neighborhood goblins. We are heading into the fae realm, where danger lurks. If anyone wishes to bail out, now's the time." Damien warned as he looked at each of us.

"What? Are you guys throwing your lives away when you barely met each other?" Damien asked us incredulously.

"Don't look at me. I only follow orders." Fenrys shrugged. "Even though this time we're practically breaking the rules."

"Exactly. When have we ever bailed out? If this mission is as hard as you say, all the more we should stick together." Jonathan offered a smile.

"What about the rest? Vesna? Qas? Izzie? Gabriella?" Damien stared at each of us in disbelief. He had hoped at least one of us would say no. Maybe it would have given him a reason to refuse the tall ancient fae standing in the same room.

"Obviously I'm in. You can't go galvinizing third-in-command of course you need me." Vesna huffed without even thinking. "Uhh I need to make sure all you guys are healed up nicely." Qas said fiddling with his jacket button.

Isabelle said nothing, but the determined set of her chin told Damien to go fuck himself if he ever decides to leave her out. So it all boils down to me.

I bit my lip nervously."Er well... I guess if you guys are in, I'm in?" I'm sure Raziel has the same sentiments or would have uttered something along those lines anyway.

Damien sighed as he resigned to his fate. At least if they were to going down, their enemies won't have it easy. Something tells him there's a catch. It sounds too good to be true that the fae are willingly seeking them out and offering to pay compensation.

Still, he stepped towards the tall fae who was studying the soundproof glass in a mix of curiosity and intrigue. Damien knew his appearance was a deception. To trick enemies into letting down their guard in the presence of a harmless aging man. Even the facial expressions could also be an act.

"What sort of... technology did you humans use? How is it that something so fragile can block out the sounds of the music?"

"Um well... we use layers, especially laminated glass and a special interlayer resin. This results in an effect called coincidence effect which gives rise to soundproof glass. Basically material engineering." Damien shrugged.

"Material engineering." The words rolled off the fae's tongue, as if he was trying to understand the meaning behind the seven syllabuses. "And you humans call it technology?"

"Yes sir."

"Interesting. Maybe it's time we learn from your kind." The Dark Beast said deep in thought.

Damien said nothing. He had heard stories of the abundance of natural resources in the Fae World. Inexhaustible, with swaths and stretches of woods, water and air. If they were to impart engineering principles or concepts, he shivered to think that the fae might dominate both worlds. With the amount of resources they possess, it's only a matter of time before they put a stop on human overpopulation and our incessant mindless destruction of mother nature. And if that happens, Damien doesn't know which side he will fight for.

"We came to an agreement, sir." Damien says politely. This person is the legendary Suola's Beast, the one and only Death Reaper. Or aka the Executioner. If he breathed in the wrong direction ever so slightly, all their heads would be presented on a platter for the world to see. The Dark Beast is not someone to be trifled with.

"Indeed. Tell me more." The Dark Beast faced the mortal and stared right into his eyes. The young man met his gaze without flinching. Secretly, he admired the mortal's courage. Usually people grovel and beg for his mercy.

"We have agreed to accept your terms, sir."

"Mm. That is... good to hear." The Dark Beast didn't expect the answer. But then, if they had refused, he would use force if necessary. He wasn't holding back when he let the unspoken threat linger in the air.

For his court and his Queen, he will go to great lengths to attain the prophecy. Threats, blackmail or violence. Pick your poison.

"Take this." The Dark Beast placed a pouch in Damien's hands. "On the next full moon, when the veil between both worlds is weakest, use this to open a gateway. The portal will bring you to Seer's Island. Time will be different once you step into the fae realm. Remember whatever you guys must do to acquire the prophecy from the seer, you must leave before sundown. The portal will only reappear once at the same location. When the sun sets, it will disappear and you will remain trapped. Understand?"

Damien nodded. "We will send back up, but they can only protect you when you are out of the seer's lair. To fend off the intruders and ensure your safe return."

Damien opens the pouch to reveal a clear globe of swirling mist, magic that allows one to open the fae gate. It seems other than communicated allowance, a gateway can also be opened by a "key". We huddled around Damien to study the swirling thing. Up close it looks even more mystifying, translucent and opaque at times. I caught a glimpse of an image of a craggy landscape, but it was gone the second I blinked.

By the time we look up, the Dark Beast is gone and the room is empty save for the seven of us staring blankly at the spot he was standing just a minute ago. His words seemed to echo in our minds. "Remember at sundown. Good luck."