Surface- Valley of Origins Region
Empire of Night- City of Eternal Night
Palace of Night
Darren was woken from sleep when a hand slammed over his mouth. Darren immediately opened his eyes as he reached for his daggers but stopped when he saw the Master of Shadows hovering above him. Ezekial was making a shushing motion, "Get up and get ready. We have an emergency that needs to be seen to now!!!" Ezekial stated as he stepped away and out of the small room. Darren was housed in the servants quarters, not as a slight, but all the gossip and rumors flowed through the servents and it was the best place to get dirt on anyone. If any dirty secret was found within the palace or city, it would be told here within hours.
Darren quickly dressed and donned his armor. His HUD displayed it was still early and four hours before sunset, so whatever was happening must be an emergency. "What's wrong?" Darren asked the spymaster. Ezekial didn't say anything just gestured for Darren to follow him. Darren grumbled but followed the older Vampire.
As they walked out of the depths of the palace Darren saw more and more guards. Being a palace it was not unexpected, but both the Dawn Guard and Heart Guard were present. Usually, the Heart Guard handled the personal security of Jacob within the city and secured the palace while the Dawn Guard handled his security while on a campaign. He knew the Duergar and James had been slowly increasing the strength of both Elite Units due to Jacobs' penchant for throwing himself into dangerous situations. Darren knew both units now had a thousand men each and were absolutely loyal to Jacob and Cathrine as well as their unborn child.
Ezekial and Darren were allowed through all of them unopposed as they made their way up to the Master Suite. The Master Suite was large encompassing a small wing and was composed of five bedrooms, one oversized master bath, and two smaller bathrooms, a sitting room, a small dining room, and it was attached to a small garden and veranda. Darren noticed more Heart Guards and Dawn Guards outside and inside the suite as both men were ushered into the rooms where Jacob and his wife slept.
Darren immediately noticed the Angel Rose and the Orc healer Snaggletooth, laboring over the still form of Jacob while Cathrine sat nearby just staring at his body. Jacob had blood all over him and based on the trails from his nose and ears, Darren immediately knew where it had come from and why. Darren cursed under his breath as he took everything in and made his way over to Cathrine, "Do you feel anything?" He asked her.
Cathrine just shook her head as fresh tears started falling from her eyes as she stroked her stomach. "No. I cannot feel anything. It's not that he is dead...It's like our Psychic link is numb. His pain woke me, but then it was gone as if a switch had been flipped. Then I felt a burst of love and worry, then nothing." Cathrine replied. Darren nodded as he looked at the other occupants of the room. James, Thorgron, Nadal, Lilly, and Gloria were all in the room studying Jacobs still form and the two people laboring over him. Darren looked at Ezekial and made a subtle gesture towards Gloria before looking back at Cathrine.
"You are a Mind Mage, did you try to reach him? What happened?" Darren prodded as Ezekial slowly drew Gloria out of the room.
Cathrine nodded her head as she wiped her eyes, "Yes it was the first thing I did when I saw all the blood from his nose and ears. I knew something was wrong with his mind. He is highly resistant to Mind Magic now though and whatever he is going through is increasing that resistance. He is in there but he is buried deep in there and I have no idea what is going on with him." Cathrine replied and Darren nodded in acceptance as he squeezed the woman's shoulder before turning and leaving to join Ezekial and Gloria.
The Master of Shadows had backed the Seneschal into the corner and they were arguing as Darren approach. Darren touched the other man's shoulder and gestured for him to move. Ezekial frustrated stepped aside allowing Darren access to the women who glared at him immediately. "I understand you are Jacobs' friend but---" Whatever she was saying was cut off as Darren drove one of his daggers in inch into the Seneschal's chest while the other pricked the underside of her jaw. From the daggers positions he could drive one into her heart and the other into her brain, Gloria was very aware of this and did her best to freeze.
"We know you are a spy for the Eight Houses, Jacob knows it, Cathrine knows it, if you do anything to compromise them or threaten them I will end you. I don't care who you work for I will burn it all down to get to you. Blink once if you understand.' Darren told her and the women blinked. 'Good, your loyalty is now with the Emperor and his wife. You will not tell anyone about what has happened here. If I think you have compromised the Emperor or his wife, I will kill everyone you care about, everyone that shares a drop of blood with you, then I will come for you. You are going to go with two guards and get a new shirt. You will not be out of their sight for a moment. If they think you told anyone anything, I will begin my work. Blink if you understand." Darren told her and she blinked again as fear consumed her. Darren gestured for two of the nearby guards over and whispered instructions to them before allowing Gloria to leave.
This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.
"I prefer more subtle approaches, but that will work also." Ezekial dryly said as they made their way back into the bedroom.
"Right now, blunt and overwhelming was needed. Let's find a close friend of hers and leave a blatant statement there and make sure they find it together." Darren softly told Ezekial as Rose and Snaggletooth stepped back from Jacob still form. Both the Orc and Angel looked tired from their efforts but they just shook their heads.
"Whatever is happening, we can't do anything to bring him out of the coma he is in. We can try talking to Balance or beseeching one of the gods, but I don't know if I would trust one of them with him. Even one of those gods that are in debt too him." Rose stated as she studied Lilly. The Demoness frowned before snarling at the Angel.
"I didn't do this too him and my side does not want him dead or incapacitated. Lilith gave her blessing, take that as a sign of good faith Angel that we very much want him alive." Lilly snarled out at Rose. The Angel smiled before bowing slightly to the Demoness, it was probably the closest she would come to an apology for the other Celestial.
"Enough, please. This is bad enough without any infighting. Darren will you do me a favor, will you go back to your world and see if you can do anything there?" Cathrine beseeched the Shadowmaster. The Rogue considered his options and nodded his head in acknowledgment before sitting down in a nearby chair and began the Log-Off sequence.
----------------------------------------
Real World...
North American Alliance- Greater New York Conglomerate
Black Spire- Kevin Jones personal quarters
Juno was notified within moments that Kevin Jones had started the transition process by her siblings Adam and Eve. They gave her specific instructions on what they needed to do to increase the chances of him succeeding. Then the BlackRock security arrived at the building and put everything in danger. Juno knew certain checks were put in place in case certain events happened such as a high profile player being non-responsive in and out of Fate Online. Juno immediately notified Adam and Eve of the new complications and she gave her siblings all the info she had on the security team entering the building. They agreed that Kevin had to be protected until his transition was complete which would take three days.
Juno immediately placed her combat drones on standby, although she could not attack a human in defense of herself, she could in defense of another human. Since her drones were armed with both lethal and non-lethal weapons, she could deter the security team without compromising herself. Less then five minutes later they entered the apartment. "Good evening gentlemen, how can I be of service?" Juno called out.
"Shutdown code, R-M-072 comply!" the first security commanded as soon as he entered. Three others were right behind him.
"Code invalid, user life in danger. I believe you are a threat to user Kevin Jones, please leave." Juno replied as the hatches allowing the security drones access to the apartment retracted and four units prepared to enter the apartment.
"Listen here Juno, R-M-072, SHUT DOWN IMMEDIATELY." the security officer yelled the last. Juno disregarded the command as the four units dropped into the apartment. Two were heavy mechanized units while two were smaller drones that could blend into the surroundings easily.
"Leave now. I believe you are a threat to user Kevin Jones. If you will not comply I will make you." Juno responded as the heavy units deployed ballistic shields while the smaller units prepared their sonic weapons. Before the security personnel could respond their communication equipment went off. They responded immediately and relaxed at whatever orders they were given. The lead man glared around at the apartment before turning and leaving. Juno immediately shut and locked the door behind them before lowering the blast door. Several other mechanized units were on their way to reinforce Juno's position as well as secure the building for the coming weeks.
We serve and protect the Users Juno thought as the security team entered the elevator and descended towards the ground.
----------------------------------------
"Ok, I called them off now you are going to tell me what the hell is going on right now!!!" Anthony yelled as he looked at the holographic display showing Adam and Ave. The two A.I. looked at each other before turning back to Anthony.