“Eve, slow down.” Ace called as he and the others sprinted to catch up with her.
Eve only grunted in response as she continued to march to Chancellor West’s office.
“Are you sure about this Hazel?” Rachel asked quietly, “About leaving…”
Hazel let out a breath before she answered, “What other choice do we have? If they don’t give us any answers then we don’t have any choice but to find them ourselves.”
“I suppose that makes sense.” Rachel said quietly.
“Rachel if you have any better ideas then I’m more than happy to listen,” Hazel said quickly noticing Rachel’s silence.
“Unfortunately, I don’t have one.” Rachel said truthfully.
“We’re here.” Gabriel announced to the two girls as they stood in front of Chancellor West’s office door, “You three ready?”
Before any of them could reply however Eve had already marched inside and announced their presence to the chancellor, “Chancellor West, Hazel, and the others want an interrogation.”
“Eve, Charles, and I were in the middle of a discussion.” Chancellor West said sternly as she and Charles quickly gathered the scattered papers and maps from the table in the middle of her office.
‘Yeah, from invading our privacy I bet.’ Gabriel thought as he folded his arms, “Well, the sooner you answer our questions the faster we leave you be.”
‘He knows something.’ Chancellor West thought slightly glaring at the boy, “And your questions are?”
“The Shatia Dynasty.” Gabriel said quickly as he sat down on an armchair, “Why is it so important?”
“It’s a potential target for Dark and his followers.” Chancellor West said simply.
‘Sort of figured that much out.’ Hazel thought before she sighed, “Let me rephrase that; why is The Shatia Dynasty important TO Max Dark?”
“We’ve yet to find the answer for that.” Charles answered, “But rest assured, our members are working around the clock looking for it.”
‘It almost sounds like you don’t know anything at all.’ Rachel thought as she folded her arms, “Why did you want Hazel and Gabriel to come here?”
“Charles has already informed them of why.” Chancellor West answered, “Dark is planning to-”
“Take over The Council, we know.” Ace interrupted her, “We want to know WHY they were chosen.”
“We cannot answer that right now.” Chancellor West said stoically.
Hazel’s eyebrows furrowed in irritation before she turned to Gabriel and the twins, “Come on, let’s go.”
The other three nodded before the four of them left the room in silence.
Chancellor West let out a sign after Ace had closed the door before she turned to Charles, “Alert the guards, make sure those four and their animals don’t leave this base. We can’t afford to lose them.”
“You’re planning on keeping them here?” Eve asked shocked, “Why?”
“We’ll need them for what’s to come.” Chancellor West answered before she turned to the younger girl, “We suspect that Dark is not only planning on taking over The Council but starting a war as well and he plans on using monsters to win both of them.”
“Then why couldn’t you have told them?” Eve asked still shocked from her superior’s actions, “They would have been more than happy to-”
“Their emotions would’ve made them into a liability.” Chancellor West replied, “That’s one of The Hideout’s biggest assets and greatest weakness. Unlike hunters of The Society, their hunters are encouraged to create bonds with each other AND outsiders.”
‘It’s little to wonder why Mother made me join them rather than here.” Eve thought before she straightened herself with her arms behind her back, “May I leave now?”
“Yes, you may.” Chancellor West said sitting down behind her desk before she turned to look at Charles, “You said that the Oliviero boy can use magic.”
“Yes, Chancellor,” Charles said stiffly.
“Tell the Druids to put up the barrier.” Chancellor West ordered, “If they do plan on leaving then we’ll need to be ready. Whether they do it on foot or by magic, them leaving is not an option.”
“Yes, Chancellor.” Charles said before he turned to leave and grabbed Eve’s shoulder, “Come on Eve, let’s go.”
The brunette only nodded before she left with Charles in tow.
“You can’t seriously agree with this,” Eve interjected.
“I don’t have a choice in the matter Eve.” Charles said before he sighed, “No matter how much I disagree with Ember.”
‘Ember.’ Eve thought as her eyes widened a little, “You, Mother, and your brother all knew her before you all joined The Society, right?”
“Yes, that is correct.” Charles said, “Why are you asking?”
“Then why don’t you say something to her?” Eve asked, “You’re her right-hand man, aren’t you?”
“Believe me, Eve, even if I wasn’t she still wouldn’t have listened to me,” Charles said.
“What do you mean?” Eve asked looking at the man walking beside her.
Charles let out a sigh before he began to explain, “Ember was raised in a family of Monster Hunters, all of them were part of The Society before retiring. As you know members of The Society branch are trained to shut out all emotions and put the mission above all else, as such Ember grew up indifferent and never once second-guessed her decisions even if they aren’t humane.”
“That still doesn’t make what she did to Ace and the others okay,” Eve argued.
“She’s only thinking of the outcome of the situation.” Charles responded, “If Hazel and the others leave then when the war does start, we’ll need all four of them ready for battle if Chancellor West answered their questions, then they would do their best to evacuate any possible victims and that would’ve alerted Dark’s spies within The Council.”
∞
“I’ve seen enough.” Gabriel said before he turned to Ace, “You can break the connection now if you want.”
“It would be my pleasure.” Ace said before he waved his hand, making the drawing disappear, and let out a loud sigh, “Least we got SOME of our answers, even though we had to spy on one of our own comrades.”
“Something tells me she already knew Ace.” Rachel said quietly as she sat on one of the desks before she turned to Hazel who was sitting on her bunk, staring at the floor with Gabriel beside her leaning on the bed-frame, “Hazel what should we do?”
Hazel continued to look at the ground as she thought of a plan before she finally spoke up, “Ace that barrier Chancellor West mentioned, do you think you could get through it?”
“I’m not sure.” Ace admitted, “I have broken a few magical barriers before but from the sound of it, it’ll be ten times as strong as the ones I’ve broken.”
“Then we’ll need help.” Gabriel concluded, “Either that or we sneak out.”
Just as the hybrid said that however, their keys glowed a pitch-black and before they knew it all four keys disintegrated to dust and ash.
“Well, there goes our second option.” Hazel said clearly frustrated, “We’ll need to get another one.”
Rachel let out a sigh before she stood up, “So where do we get one? Last I checked only guests need keys to get in here, so it's either we STEAL one or we find a hunter here that actually trusts us…
If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.
Before the other three could answer however the door opened and Eve Nevermore herself entered the room, “I thought the four of you could use some help.”
“But I thought-” Hazel began.
“Hey, water under the bridge.” Eve reassured smiling at the girl, “Comrades for life.”
Hazel chuckled at the girl’s words before she stood up, “Alright guys I have a plan.”
∞
By midnight the halls of The Society were dead silent with only the light breathing of the slumbering hunters and the quiet footsteps of the patrolling hunters making noise. It was by this time that Hazel and the others were quietly packing their belongings and other necessities, their movements making no sound with only a small candle lighting the room.
“You sure this will work?” Rachel asked whispering as she helped her brother with packing the food, they had nicked from the cafeteria during dinner time.
“It has to work.” Hazel replied, “Which is why we can’t afford ANY mistakes.”
“So, no pressure then,” Gabriel said trying to ease the group’s tension.
Hazel and the twins smiled weakly at their friend’s attempt before a small fire tornado appeared. As the tornado disappeared Phoenix had been sitting down at its place of origin.
“Ms. Nevermore is ready and awaits your signal Mistress.” Phoenix said as he changed into his human form, “Luna and Josh haven’t returned yet?”
Hazel was about to say something when a familiar scent filled his nostrils, “They’re here.”
And just like that the two birds had flown into the room and perched on the chandelier.
“Everything is in place, Ms. Abernathy,” Luna reported as Josh had swooped down and dropped a green crystal in his open palm before joining Luna back on the chandelier.
“On your mark Gab,” Hazel said as she and the twins slipped on their bags.
Gabriel smiled at her before he gently tapped the crystal before it glowed a bright emerald. After Ace quickly blew out the candle, they heard a loud explosion.
“Alright, let’s go,” Hazel said before they all quickly and silently left the room.
As Hazel had predicted the commotion from the Training Deck had alerted all the hunters; allowing Hazel, Gabriel, the twins, Phoenix, and the birds to sneak to the entrance where Eve was waiting for them.
“Thank the Gods you guys made it,” Eve commented as she smiled at them.
“You too.” Ace replied hugging the brown-haired girl.
The two stayed in that position for a few seconds before Gabriel loudly cleared his throat making the two let go of each other, a light blush on both their faces.
“Come on you two, you can hug each other as much as you want later.” Gabriel said, “Maybe when we’re not breaking out of a Monster Hunter base.”
“I’d say you were being a hypocrite but I’d be lying,” Hazel muttered before Eve pressed her key against the wooden wall.
After a few seconds, the door appeared as Gabriel straightened himself and looked warily behind them, “Everybody get out now and start running. We’ve got company.”
It didn’t take Hazel and the others long for them to register what he meant, wasting no time Eve opened the door and ushered them out. Gabriel was the last to leave when he saw Chancellor West, Carlos, and Charles running towards him. Acting on reflex Gabriel pulled his bow forward, nocked an arrow, aimed at the chandelier hanging in the middle of the hallway, and let the arrow fly; making the ornamental lighting crash and block the path.
“Gab come on!” Hazel exclaimed.
Gabriel took one last chance at the broken chandelier and the Monster Hunters behind it before he joined his friends and closed the door.
“Run, that chandelier won’t hold them back for long,” Gabriel advised before the others nodded in agreement.
“Where are we even going?” Rachel asked as they ran.
“The forest’s edge.” Hazel said glancing at her friend, “Eve you said that the barrier only covers the forest, right?”
“Yeah,” Eve replied before something nearly grazed her.
Quickly looking behind her she saw ten or so small figures chasing after them, “We’ve got company!”
Hazel furrowed her brow and glanced behind them struggling to determine the monster that was chasing after them, “Phoenix!”
“As you wish Mistress,” Phoenix said before swiftly launching a fireball behind them and setting one of the figures on fire, revealing them to be…
“Goblins!” Gabriel exclaimed stopping in his tracks and turning the other way, the others following suit.
Within a matter of seconds, the group was already surrounded by goblin corpses, each hunter having killed three. As they were catching their breath Gabriel caught a familiar scent.
“Run!” Gabriel exclaimed, “Charles is coming and by the smell of it he isn’t alone!”
Their eyes widened before they started running again, expertly dodging the obstacles in their path. It only took them a few minutes to reach the forest’s edge and for Ace and Eve to start drawing the ritual circle on the ground.
“Everybody get inside the mothersmucking circle!” Ace exclaimed as he and Eve finished drawing.
The others quickly obliged before the two Druids started reciting the spell, “Jal aur bhoomi ke davata, main tum se praarthana karata hoon, haren aage le aao Cloudspire!”
∞
There was a flash of light before Chancellor West and her two inferiors were met with a burnt patch of grass in the shape of a ritual circle.
“We lost them,” Charles murmured quietly.
“Krit!” Chancellor West exclaimed in irritation before she turned to a Golden Hawk perching nearby, “Alert ALL The Society’s members! Tell them to find and retrieve Hazel Abernathy, Gabriel Pasi, Eve Nevermore, and those Oliviero twins! I don’t care what it takes but it is The Society’s top priority to bring those five back here!”
The hawk gave something similar to a nod before it flew off.
Chancellor West then turned to her two inferiors, “Gather your members, tell them to find those hunters, and inform the other Captains. We can’t afford to lose them nor let Max Dark get to them before we do.”
“Yes, Chancellor West.” The two said simultaneously both knowing the importance and severity of the problem.
“And Charles,” Chancellor West called before the man could leave.
“Yes ma’am?” Charles asked glancing back to his chancellor.
“Tell Amelia that Eve left with Hazel and the others.” Chancellor West ordered, “She’ll want to know what happened.”
“Yes, Chancellor,” Charles said nodding before he started to run back to the Balsa tree.
∞
“Is everyone alright?” Rachel asked as they were all recovering from the spell – all of them sprawled on the ground.
The others only groaned in response before Hazel looked around, “We’re here.”
Gabriel gave her a confused look before he finally asked, “Hazel where are we?”
“Cloudspire.” Hazel answered as she slowly stood up, “The closest village to Cloud Mountain.”
At the sound of Cloud Mountain; Gabriel, the twins, the birds, and Phoenix looked at her with wide eyes.
“How close exactly?” Ace asked.
Hazel only pulled out a Starspark from one of her packs before she threw it. As the small rock exploded into silver sparks the light illuminated the greenery of a great mountain.
“Very close,” Hazel answered with a smirk as she turned to look at them.
“We should look for a place to get some sleep.” Ace advised, “So tents?”
“Tents.” The others agreed nodding.
“Alright then.” Ace said before opening his palm face-up, “Fuego!”
And in an instant a small fireball appeared, illuminating their surroundings a little. The group spared no time in preparing their tents and after a few more minutes, their two tents were pitched and occupied with slumbering Monster Hunters and a lightly sleeping Kitsune as Luna and Josh hunted for a midnight snack. An hour after the sun had risen Gabriel and Hazel had already awoken from their slumber and were currently sitting on the lakefront eating the bread that they had brought with them, a slightly awkward atmosphere surrounding them.
‘Why do I feel so tense?’ Hazel thought nibbling her bread, “Gab?”
“Did you need something, Hazel?” Gabriel asked turning to the girl sitting beside him.
“What are we?”
“…Why the sudden question?”
“This is my first relationship so-”
“Am I being too fast? Answer me honestly Hazel.”
“A little.”
“Why couldn’t you just say so earlier?”
“I thought it was normal.”
Gabriel took a deep breath before he directed her head towards him and smiled, “Hazel if anything in this relationship makes you uncomfortable you can tell me. We can take it slow but from now on you have to be honest with me, okay?”
“Okay.” Hazel said smiling before she let out a quiet laugh, “But that goes for you too, My Alpha.”
Gabriel blinked at her nickname before he asked, “How did you know I was an alpha?”
“I was joking.” Hazel said simply as she blinked at him.
The two stared at each other before bursting out laughing, though unknown to the two hunters Eve, Phoenix, the twins, and were watching the scene unfold from the bushes.
“They are so cute!” Eve excitedly squealed.
“Eve, they’ll hear you.” Ace warned smiling a bit, ‘Gabriel especially… its surprising that he still hasn’t noticed us yet.’
“Sorry.” Eve apologized.
“Its fine.” Ace reassured, “Just quiet down a little.”
‘Just get together already.’ Rachel thought rolling her eyes, ‘I swear Hazel and Gabriel BETTER help me set you two up.’
“They’re coming back!” Phoenix exclaimed before he and the others scrambled to surround the fire they had made and tried to act normal.
“Morning everyone.” Hazel greeted them as she and Gabriel joined them around the fire.
“Hope we didn’t miss anything TOO important.” Gabriel said giving them all a smile teasing smile.
‘He definitely heard us.’ Ace thought his eyes widening a little.