Midiro sighed once more. He was doing quite well: he was sitting as a
statue and kept his emotions locked up. His sunglasses helped. His
hands gripped his lap in fear.
Manar remained cold. The car rolled up outside the
Vilkon Estate. Manar got out first, then opened the door for Midiro to
get out. Hawk and Siren met them at the gate.
“Welcome to the Vilkon Estate Lord Kirilian,” welcomed Hawk pleasantly.
This amount of emotion surprised Midiro. “You’re Light Citizens?”
“Happily snatched sir,” answered Siren with a smile.
Midiro searched the estate dubiously. “So how is it I’m getting in?”
“We’ll escort you,” answered Siren simply.
Lord Kirilian stared at her. “Is that all?
Wouldn’t someone ask if I had a permit to be there or
something?”
“No,” answered Hawk honestly.
Midiro was even more confused. “Surely a place
as big as this is kept well guarded with strict communication?”
Siren laughed. “With all do respect, half the Dark Kingdom’s secrets are kept in that mansion alone.”
“We really should be getting inside,” Manar almost threatened.
Hawk seemed caught off balance. “Yes…yes, we should.”
The siblings opened the gates and waited for their
guests to come through before closing them. They led their guests
through the dark grounds. A few other guards patrolled the vast front
lawn. They took little notice of Manar and Midiro. The path went
between statues of gargoyles. A small road led away from a square
building some distance on their left.
“Manar, what is that?” asked Midiro quietly.
“That is where they keep all their cars,” answered the bodyguard indifferently.
They went towards the vast mansion. They headed for
the grand steps. Hawk and Siren hurried up the stairs and opened the
grand doors, which were double the size of most double-door entrances.
Inside, the halls and corridors were quite empty. Doors lined the
walls. There were two guards next to the front entrance, who resumed
chatting once Midiro walked in. The grand entrance doors were closed
with a resounding echo. Hawk and Siren led their guests once more.
What seemed like a mile away were grand stairs. A
few of the younger Vilkons were lounging around at the bottom of them.
They took no notice of the guests. Midiro and Manar were led past the
stairs and turned right, into a smaller hall. In front of them was
another set of stairs. Hawk and Siren climbed them to the top and
knocked on the door nearest the stairs.
“Come in!” came the muffled reply.
Hawk and Siren stood uniformly at each side as
Midiro and Manar entered. (Midiro seemed anxious.) “Members of
Sassaren’s Sect, I present Lord Midiro Kirilian,” Siren
announced.
“You’re dismissed,” commanded a
middle-aged woman. She was a few years older than Scythe and wore navy
eye shadow with red lipstick. She had Scythe’s eyes and
expression. She wore a black, short-sleeved cat-suit and her hair was
caramel coloured.
The room was dark. Members of Sassaren’s sect
were either standing or sitting, around the table or away from it.
Korat, Lona and Kirrinis were also there. There were only a few lamps
for light. Hawk and Siren left. A middle-aged Light Citizen came
forward.
“You can take off your sunglasses here
Midiro,” he invited. “We don’t keep secrets
here.”
Midiro took them off, quite uncertain. “You’re a Light Citizen?”
“Yes,” he answered comfortably.
“And in our bonding our children have learnt the best of both
worlds.”
“Or only one in some cases,” corrected
the commanding voice of a middle-aged Dark Citizen. His make-up
mimicked Sassaren’s. His dark eyes looked at her. “Shall we
tell him our plan now, Sassaren?”
The woman wearing the cat-suit looked at him evenly.
“We have to tell him what we found out first, brother.”
“Do you know where Rowan is?” asked Midiro. He had hope in his voice.
“She’s being kept with Kiyor in the
Silver Cathedral,” answered a quiet voice of daggers. Midiro
turned to the side. What shocked him were the dark eyes of stone
staring at him from the darkness, penetrating his actual person. It
took a Midiro a short while before he realised he could see a dim
outline of a man.
“Don’t mind my baby brother
Scythe,” indicated Sassaren indifferently. “The fact is,
Kiyor and Rowan will be sacrificed tonight at the full moon, so we have
to move quickly.”
Midiro looked at Sassaren pleadingly. “Well, what plans do you have?”
Cadell spoke. “We have agreed with my sister
that we need a number of Sorcerers to combat these ones. We’ve
also got substantial firepower.”
“How will you find the Sorcerers?” asked the guest.
“Through our contact,” Scythe answered.
He stepped forward out of the dark. “And you’re coming with
us.” He now looked eerier.
“Why?” asked Midiro in shielded panic.
“You’re my pity card,” Scythe
threatened. Without turning, he spoke to Korat. “Mind if we use
your Cheetah?”
“Only if I drive it,” answered Korat defiantly.
“Fine, start it up.” Kiyor’s
cousin ran out of the room. Scythe spoke again before he had completely
disappeared. “Manar, you stay here. We need a good strategist
right now.” Scythe walked away. Zareen quickly led out the
confused Midiro.
“Just keep quiet, don’t worry about
anything,” she quickly advised the fellow Light Citizen.
They strolled through the corridors and halls. There
were only a few bodyguards and bored youngsters around. The three
stepped outside and walked along the front lawn. The door of the large
garage opened and a sleek car rolled out. The doors shut automatically
behind it. They hurriedly got into the car.