Luck has never walked by my side.Mica Jaldes: the man they call when no one else can get the job done. The Thirteen see me as their best asset, but I'm not naïve. Their promises of power and loyalty are as fragile as the silver masks they wear.
I stepped into the meeting room. Symbols carved into the masks of those present reflect their ranks, and though their faces remain hidden, I feel their inquisitive stares. One of them nods toward me, breaking the oppressive silence.
"Mica, we all agree you'll be the one to transport our new reserve."The speaker's voice carries authority—but also the threat that comes with failure.
The offer is clear: obey and receive temporary benefits, or refuse and vanish like so many before me. But this mission isn't just a simple transport; I can tell by how they avoid the details. They're hiding something.
They assigned me a car with tinted windows, purring like a sleeping beast outside. I climb in without a word. Inside, the air is heavy—almost suffocating.
In the back seat, a girl in a pale blue dress with a blindfold over her eyes sits silently. The earlier warning echoes in my mind:"She's Enrique's stepdaughter. She carries the blood of the White Wolf. Don't speak to her."
I drive, eyes locked on the road, yet discomfort settles in my chest. Suddenly, the car changes direction.
"Stop the car." I press the intercom, voice firm with command.The vehicle slows for a moment, then continues down its new route.
"We're taking a little detour you'll enjoy," says Lionel through the speaker, his casual tone triggering every alarm in my body."What the hell are you doing, Lionel?" I ask, trying to mask my rising panic.
"Did you really think your betrayal would go unnoticed?" His tone hardens. "You kept something you shouldn't have, Mica. Fallían's journal."
My stomach drops. I had no idea they knew."I don't know what you're talking about," I lie, voice trembling.
"Of course you do," he snaps. "But it doesn't matter. We'll correct your mistake."
Before I can react, gas begins to fill the car. My eyelids grow heavy. Everything goes black.
I wake up on the cold ground, the night air seeping into my bones. I'm surrounded by trees—sentries with twisted limbs swaying with the wind.My muscles ache, and the wet leaves clinging to my body send a shiver through me. I brush off debris, trying to process what happened. Lionel's betrayal burns in my mind.
Then—crack.A sound splits the silence. I turn quickly, searching for the source, but only shadows greet me.
"Who's there?" My voice shakes, broken by fear.
A figure emerges from the trees—tall and menacing. Moonlight catches enough of his face for me to recognize him.My heart stops."You…" I whisper, stumbling back until I hit a tree.
"So, you know who I am, Mica," he says, voice cold, devoid of emotion. "Then you know why I'm here."
I try to step back, but there's nowhere left to go. He advances slowly, savoring my dread. From his satchel, he pulls a bottle filled with dark liquid that reflects the faint light.
"We all pay for our actions. Tonight is your turn."He uncorks the bottle with a swift motion.
"Please!" I beg, knees buckling under the weight of terror. "Don't do this!"
He doesn't listen. With a fluid motion, he pours the liquid over me.It burns on contact—liquid fire tearing through my skin. I scream with everything I have as pain devours me.
"This isn't personal, Mica. It's justice," he whispers before turning away and vanishing into the shadows.
"Hunter…"
Back in the car, Lionel drives in silence. The girl in the pale blue dress, blindfold still covering her eyes, breaks the tension.
"Your obsession with Sanathiel will be your downfall, Lionel."Her voice is calm, but laced with a knowing that unsettles him.
She turns slightly toward him, though the blindfold makes her seem distant—untouched by the moment.Lionel glances at her through the rearview mirror, his grip on the wheel tightening.
"I don't see why I should trust you," he says, guarded.He clenches his jaw at the mention of Sanathiel.
"What makes you think I've allied with you?" he challenges.The girl smiles faintly—but it doesn't reach her eyes.
"I've already seen it… you'll be my ally, whether you want to or not. My gift allows me to see the future."
Lionel keeps his eyes on the road, but his thoughts race.
"There are always ways to push you, Lionel. Your thirst is a weakness."Her voice carries a certainty that Lionel can't dismiss."After all, I am my father's daughter… Cristal."
The name hits like a blow. Lionel says nothing.Cristal lowers her head, knowing the seed of doubt has been planted.
In Romania
Sanathiel stands in a dimly lit room, eyes fixed on Noah, who appears uneasy.
"We're late, sir. Mica Jaldes has vanished," Noah reports, his tone grim.
Sanathiel doesn't answer right away. His eyes gleam with cold determination.
"Cristal… Itzel's daughter," he finally says. "Find her. She carries the blood of Nevri, and if what they say is true, she's the key to what the Thirteen are planning."
Noah nods, aware of the urgency in his command.Sanathiel clenches his fists, thoughts sharpening with focus.
He won't let the Thirteen play with his blood—or with the secrets that are rightfully his.