“...So I need you to gather the rest of them for me,” Nyx commanded, looking down at the ever excitable Chelsea with her steely gaze.

“Pfft, I got this! Be right back.”

Chelsea's cheerful attitude contrasts her tough biker past. Her light brown hair is always styled perfectly, though the slight tousle adds a rebellious hint. She has the air of a carefree party girl, with her denim shorts, black and green gear-print leather jacket over a ripped white tank top, and knee-high lace-up biker boots. Thin gear-shaped leather bracelets encircle her wrist, clinking with each energetic gesture. The clip holding up her ponytail, the rims of her green-tinted sunglasses, her brass knuckles, the edges of her black and green short skirt and the studs on her jacket all resembled a gear as well. A small tattoo on her bare, fair chest is hidden by the neckline of her shirt. Despite her bubbly demeanor, there's a subtle hint of resilience in her sparkling emerald green eyes, hinting at her capability to handle herself in a fight despite her petite and slender yet buxom frame.

I strode my way to the floor above, looking at each of the doors leading into each room. Standing at 15 members, all but one room was taken, leaving only one empty. Will there be one more new member later down the line? Uh-oh, FORESHADOWING! …Maybe.

I knocked on Gabrielle's door first, hearing a rustling of bedsheets and footsteps heading my way. Opening the door, Gabrielle stared down at me with a tired, annoyed gaze. This wasn't just any mean look, no no no, it was one so warped and kinda hostile that I regretted knocking to begin with, not gonna lie. Doesn't help that she's pretty damn tall with a good amount of muscle beneath those long sleeves. But whatevs, lemme break the ice real quick.

“Uhh, ya gonna say somethin' there, bud?” I asked, scratching the back of my head as a shaky smile spread across my lips. Like damn, girl, say something already!

“It's 11 o'clock,” Gabrielle replied in a yawn, taking her hand off of the doorknob and crossing her arms.

“I mean,” I shot back. “Ain't that ‘round the time people normally start gettin' up?”

“People have different sleep schedules. For crying out loud, we all don't go to sleep and wake up at the same damn time.”

I threw up my hands in mock submission, a sweat drop running down my face as I waved dismissively while laughing.

“I know, I know! I said NORMALLY! Night owls rock though.”

“Cut to the chase. What did you knock on my door for?”

Cut to the chase. Hey, that's Brittany's line!

“Nyx wanted ya, girl. She's gonna lend us powers to control the Depraved!”

Gabrielle raised a brow at this. Finally, that sleepy, low-key murderous look is gone, whew!

“Control the creatures of the Dark, huh? Very well, give me a while to get dressed.”

Without another word, she shut the door in my face. Yeesh, why you gotta be so rude though? Ah well, the next door, which should be the Animal Dealer. The hell is up with that name, the Animal Dealer? What's her real name? Find out next time on Imago Cabal Z, I guess.

Hehe, knock knock, mofo! The doorknob turned and behind it was the Animal Dealer. Hoo, and I thought MY bed head was bad. Instead of PJs, she's still wearing her same ol' light blue dress and all. For a weird nameless gal, she sure can style and look hella fine all the while. Oh hey, that rhymes! Anywho, thank the Goddesses she ain't giving me that Gabrielle stare. Even though, I can also see the tiredness in the mature woman's eyes too. Heh, more like the Night Owl Cabal, am I right?

Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more.

“Young lady, it is still a little too early for me,” the Animal Dealer said with a weak smile.

“Early? Man, I just knocked on Gabrielle's door and the face she made at your girl…oof.”

“Darling, she doesn't get out of bed until 4 P.M.”

I blinked at this revelation. Gosh, no wonder she gave me the stink-eye. Assuming she's getting in her 8 hours, she must sleep at 8 freakin' A.M.

“So anyways,” the Animal Dealer continued after clearing her throat. “What's your business?”

“Nyx is giving us all the power to control the Depraved. Wild, right?”

The Animal Dealer stroked her chin, a smirk spreading across her light brown features.

“A miraculous power indeed. I'll be right down.”

And lastly, Malika. Her sis Iris is already up, so Mal should be rising and shining any second now. Buuuut I'm gonna be a little shit and knock anyway.

The door opened right when I reached my hand up, perfect timing.

“Oh, heya Chel! What's up?”

“Nyx needed ya for a minute. She's gonna give us the power to control the Depraved!”

Malika pursed her supple lips, looking around with curious eyes before continuing, “Well THAT'S a lot to unpack right after waking up. All right, I'll meetcha there.”

I beamed at the desert girl's response and turned to leave.

…

The Cabal members encircled the glowing table in Nyx's room, which glowed with a bright magical energy. Nyx looked at the gathered Cabal members, her eyes calculating. "Now that you're all here," she began, her voice cool and measured. "I have a proposition for each of you."

Gabrielle leaned back in her chair, arms crossed, her expression skeptical. "What kind of proposition?" she asked, her voice low and cautious.

Nyx's gaze turned to Gabrielle, unblinkingly meeting her stare. "A chance to prove yourselves further. To rise above your current abilities."

The Animal Dealer raised a brow, and a corner of her lip twitched in the hint of a smirk. "Go on then," she said, her interest slightly piqued.

Nyx looked around the table, her gaze flickering over each of the Cabal members in turn. "Each of you has something unique to offer," she started, "and I am willing to make an offer to each of you, an offer of power, and the ability to further your potential."

The room was quiet, all the Cabal members listening intently, curious as to what the exact nature of this offer would be. Some, like the Animal Dealer, Iris, and Malika, leaned forward in their chairs, while others, like Brittany, Mathusalem, and Gabrielle, sat as if ready to pounce.

Nyx let her words hang in the air for a moment before continuing. "I can give each of you the ability to control the Depraved, to use them as an extension of your will."

There was a collective intake of breath at the statement. The ability to control the Depraved was not something to be taken lightly. The Depraved were dangerous, unpredictable creatures of the Dark, and the ability to command them was a power few had ever dreamt of possessing.

The Animal Dealer nodded slowly. "And in return for this great power?" she asked, her voice still neutral, yet hinting at an eagerness buried beneath her words.

Nyx's gaze shifted to the Animal Dealer, a small smirk appearing on her lips. "In return, I require your unwavering loyalty. I expect you to follow my orders without question, and to use your new powers at my behest."

The other Cabal members bristled at this, each of them having different reactions to the proposition. Gabrielle sat silently, her expression hardening. Malika leaned back in her chair, a thoughtful frown on her face. The Animal Dealer remained silent, contemplating the offer.

I broke the silence, a skeptical expression on my face. "Just like that? We're supposed to give up our freedom in exchange for power? Seems kinda shady to me.”

Nyx's eyes glittered with amusement. "Freedom is an illusion, Chelsea. You're all bound by something, whether it's your past, your fears, or your desires. And I'm offering you a way to break those chains, and to rise above your limitations."

"But in exchange for loyalty, complete and total loyalty?" Gabrielle asked, her eyes narrowing. "What if we don't want to be just lackeys, executing your orders like mindless drones?"

Nyx's smile faded, replaced by a hard expression. "Then, dear Gabrielle, you will not receive the power I'm offering. As I said before, you can use the dark powers I granted you for your own personal goals and ambitions in your own lives outside of this alliance. The same applies to your ability to control the Depraved. Loyalty is the currency here. You either embrace it, or you remain as you are, with your current inefficient skillset.”

The room was tense. The offer was a heavy one. On one hand, the power to control the Depraved was tantalizing, but on the other hand, swearing blind loyalty to Nyx, a mysterious and dangerous figure, was a big ask.

Breaking the silence, the Animal Dealer's voice was measured, but there was a trace of anticipation in her words. "And if we accept this offer? What then?”

Nyx's smile returned, a sinister gleam in her eyes. "Then, dear Cabal members, you will have the power to shape the course of the world, to bend the Depraved to your will, and to bring the Light to its knees. All you must do is to close your eyes, focus, and pour your aura into the emblem in the center of the table and the power will be yours. Commence, everyone.”

One by one, the Cabal members each closed their eyes and focused their auras, the platforms beneath them glowing in a pillar of enveloping light. All except for me, observing the other members with a li'l skepticism.

Suddenly, I noticed Vilho. I noticed that he wasn't closing his eyes like the rest. With a sly smirk, I bumped him with my hip, sending him off balance. Vilho stumbled but regained his footing in a second. He was probably blushing furiously, but his very dark skin made it hard for me to tell with the lighting in this room.

As Vilho steadied himself, I chuckled mischievously. I leaned in close to him and whispered.

"Heyyy, big and tough guy, why ain'tcha closing your eyes like the rest of us?”

Vilho's frown deepened, and he rolled his eyes in response to my comment and accompanying smirk. He tried to maintain a stoic expression, but his flustered muttering told me all I needed to know as he closed his eyes with a groan. I then followed suit by closing my eyes once more.

The table glowed brighter as everyone's power flowed into Nyx's emblem, making the room glow a myriad of bright colors that represented the souls of everyone in the room.

Oho~, Cassie mumbled under her breath. Such powerful, delicious souls all in one place…in the end, they will be mine!