It was 7 in the evening, Jared Faram was hurrying toward his small apartment. Along the way, he looked out through the taxi window and thought of the whirlwind of things that had happened to him in the last two days.
Emily had advised Jared to get what he had left before they left for the city of Ahanne, home of the Ardea family. According to her, the Noctua clan sent an invitation letter only to her, and if they had the knowledge that she was accompanied by a new offspring, the invitation should have been sent to him as well.
Jared was worried about Emily, but he was persuaded not to go with her, he was now her greatest weakness, and it was better that his existence be kept confidential for the time being.
Of course, he had a bad taste in his mouth at the thought of this, but he trusted Emily, and he did not want to be a burden on his last mate.
After 15 minutes, he was standing in front of some buildings, the gray structures showing clear signs of decay caused by the weather and the constant humidity from the port. St Mars Bay certainly was not one of the sights of the city, but it was the place where those who could not live in a better region were evicted.
He paid for the cabbie's run, passed through the rusty little iron door of his building, and, one last time, made his way up the concrete stairs that led to his home.
"What is it?" Clearly someone had broken into his apartment; the old wooden door now flashed a hole with the thickness of a pole where the doorknob was located, bits of wood and small barbs spreading along the corridor that gave access to the apartments of his building. No wonder there was any commotion on the part of the neighbors, it was times of violence, and people simply pretended nothing was happening, afraid to get involved in the problems of others.
He pushed the broken door slowly and peered into the interior of his room.
Everything was in more complete order, its shelves, its desk, its bed. Almost nothing had changed beyond the scattered pieces of wood. Only her comfortable padded chair was now placed in the center of her living room, and seated in it was a black man in dark trousers attached to classic and refined suspenders that came up to his shoulders. The white shirt with clean long sleeves, and the shiny black shoes gave the air of "businessman".
"Certainly intriguing."
Cross-legged, reading one of the manuscripts written by Jared, the man calmly got up and positioned the bound book on the top of the chair. He carefully removed a white letter with a silver owl from his shirt pocket, and then told the writer.
Mr. Faram. I come here just to deliver your invitation to the Noctua tea, feel honored. "The man said, with a smile that was not really a smile.
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Five decades have passed since John Brooke was serving the Noctua house, he performed all the dirty work that his master, Elizabeth Copenhagen, passed on to him. Brooke knew he was the most trusted man among those who served his maker, and who knew secrets which would destroy the newest minister.
This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.
Of course, this was just another work done for Miss Copenhagen, he understood perfectly why and how it should be done, but Brooke was never a man of subterfuge, his gifts were always more physical. As he reached quietly in the doorway of his target, he could see a slender man, probably some mortal, looking frightened at him from a neighboring room, and then locking the door slightly.
His job was simple, catch the writer, and take him hostage, to use as a bargain with Emily Orsh. Yes, the door was locked, but with a single punch, splinters flew in all directions, and Brooke walked quietly through the front entrance.
He sat in the padded chair that stood out in the living room, the only place seemingly appropriate for someone important as he to sit down, and began to read one of the manuscripts left on the table.
"Good, very good ..." Brooke murmured, particularly interested in the story.
It was not more than 30 minutes before Jared Faram came through the door. One more easy job, Elizabeth never misses.
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Jared Faram started to leave immediately the room once he saw the man, but Brooke activated his vampiric gift Regnare. The writer felt dizzy, he knew that Brooke had activated some hidden ability for him, unknown.
"Come to me!" Brooke said reinforcing his command. Jared quickly understood a crucial difference between his Passio and the unknown skill used by the man. While Passio could influence the feelings of the people around him, he felt the ruthless skill of his opponent attacked him directly influencing their fear of death, breaking his free will.
He felt his legs walk alone toward his future captor, he could see the scrutiny in his smile, with open arms, and then he remembered Emily.
The only person left, who believed him. He knew exactly why being taken would be used against her like a weapon. Because he was weak, he felt foolish for thinking that he could live beside her without becoming a burden.
Now he was facing another enemy, certainly much older, much more powerful than he. Not only did Jared manifest only one of his gifts, but he did not know what his focus was, the point of strength from which he would take away his immortal will to continue living.
-No! I will not accept this fate! "He thought, trying to get rid of the hidden chains that held his will. With each step that led towards the man in front of him, with his grin and open arms, Jared felt more hatred.
"No ... dread?" A voice heard.
"No ... no fear ...?" The voice, which seemed to be in his head, became clearer and louder, and then ...
"Are not you afraid of death?" The voice asked.
It was different, not as if Jared still wanted death as before, it was as if he did not care anymore, all he had left was will, the pure will to carry on, to have his revenge, to reach Emily.
"NO !!!" Jared shouted with all his might, breaking Brooke's spell with the purest will, defying the fear of death, as if he were no longer afraid.
Brooke was slightly frightened that Jared had broken his spell so easily, not that it was impossible, but that would require much of the will coming from his focus, something that would not be an easy task even for an elder vampire. Not wanting to get his hands dirty, Brooke pulled out his Beretta and shot the writer twice.
"Baam Baam" And with that, Jared was forced to kneel on the floor because of the pain he felt, even though he was a vampire, that did not mean he could not get hurt anymore. Blood ran down his shirt, and his left arm.
"You understand, new blood, give up and come with me, are you not afraid of death?" Brooke told him, looking down at him.
"Fear?" Jared asked, "No, no, no, NO, NO !!, I'll show you what is FEAR!" Ignoring the pain, gathering all his hatred and his will, he unconsciously activated his ability Passio. But he did not want to captivate his enemy, no, he wanted to cause pain, he wanted him to feel fear, the fear he felt for all this time.
And then, Passio was activated in stage 2.
Fear, Brooke had grown up in the outskirts, through violence, survived by fear and lived as a cause of it; he did not believe anyone knew fear as he did. Not until that day.