Chapter 301: The Beginning Of The End
Chapter 301: The Beginning Of The End
Ezra Matten parked his police hover car on the side of the deserted street. The soft hum of the engine died out, leaving an eerie silence in its wake.
Stepping out, he adjusted his peacekeeper uniform, the white fabric hugging his athletic frame. His blue eyes glowed faintly under the dim light of the streetlamps, as if his golden eyes were trying to shine through.
He inhaled deeply, taking in the smell of moisture in the air. He looked up to see the clouds covering the night sky. There would be rain before morning.
He turned to look at the building in front of him, an ordinary but old townhouse, its windows dark and silent. He looked around, confirming that the street was really empty. All the human neighbors were in bed, asleep.
Satisfied, he raised a hand, the air around him shimmering as he deployed his black zone. The thick, almost invisible veil descended over the building, locking it in place like a spider's web. No teleportation, no escape. Whatever happened inside would stay inside.
Ezra walked to the door, the hard soles of his boots clicking against the pavement. He grabbed the doorknob, the metal cold under his fingers, and pushed it open. The creak of the door broke the silence as he stepped into the entrance hall, his footsteps echoing through the empty space.
The hall was lit by a single bulb overhead, casting long shadows across the peeling wallpaper. Ezra took in the sight before walking slowly towards the center of the room. When he got there, he stopped, standing perfectly still, his voice cutting through the silence with casual authority.
"Green." He called out, his tone conversational, almost friendly. "I know you're here. Let's not make this difficult."
The response was silence. Ezra's eyes scanned the dark corners of the hall, but there was no movement, no sign of life. He let out a small sigh, waiting patiently.
After a moment, a voice, low and tense, answered from somewhere deeper in the house.
"Coming out means death, Ezra Matten. You know that."
Ezra smiled slightly, his ears straining to catch where the sound was coming from. "Coming out means a chance at a fair trial. You're wanted for breaking the Law of Secrecy, but it doesn't have to end like this."
A bitter laugh echoed through the air, followed by Green's voice again. "A fair trial? You could kill me right now, and no one would question it. No one would care. I'm not walking into my grave, Matten."
Ezra shook his head slowly. "I don't make a habit of killing without a trial, Green. Especially for those who break the Law of Secrecy." His voice softened, almost empathetic. "Look. I know what you're going through. Twenty years ago, I was accused of the same thing.
I'm going to give you the opportunity to prove your innocence just like I was. Okay?"
There was a pause, the silence heavy between them. Green's voice, quieter now, responded, "I don't believe you."
Ezra's eyes narrowed. "You should."
But the air grew still. Green had gone silent again, the conversation ending as abruptly as it had started.
Ezra clenched his fists in frustration, sighing as he moved forward, going deeper into the house. He was on high alert. He moved in the direction he knew the voice was coming from, even as the tension in the air thickened, the darkness pressing in closer around him.
He entered the living room, the space large but sparsely furnished. Dust clung to the furniture, and the curtains were drawn tight over the windows, letting no light in. Even if the window had been open, no light would be coming in. His black zone ensured that.
Ezra took one careful step, then another. His eyes scanned the room, the silence stretching.
Suddenly, Green attacked.
Out of the shadows, Green lunged, a sharp blade flashing towards Ezra's heart. But Ezra was faster. With one fluid motion, he sidestepped the attack and in the same breath, materialized his sword.
The blade whistled slightly as it cut through the air, beheading Green in a single, smooth motion. Green's head fell to the floor with a dull thud, his body crumpling beside it.
Ezra straightened with a smirk. "Still got it."
He extended his hand, darkness pouring off him to wrap around Green's fallen body. The darkness covered the body, draining his vitality and preventing any regeneration. Green would be out of order until they got to peacekeeper HQ.
Ezra retrieved a black body bag, sliding Green's body inside. He left his darkness inside to keep stopping any regeneration.
He hefted the bag over his shoulder, carrying it back to his car without a word. He placed the body in the trunk, closed it, and slid into the driver's seat. The hover car's engine hummed to life again and a moment later, Ezra drove off into the night.
As he finally burst out into the bright lively streets of this area of Faewall, he drove by The Red Veil, a famous restaurant that frequently paid host to the wealthy and powerful. It was one of the prized assets of this territory's Count and Green's lord, Count Hyde.
The neon sign above the door flickered softly as diners inside enjoyed their meals. Ezra paid no attention to it, not knowing that the event currently happening inside would be the catalyst for the destruction of the city.
**********
Inside the restaurant, in a private room, Count Hyde himself sat across from a cloaked figure.
The room was tastefully decorated with dark wood and red velvet, the smell of rich blood wine heavy in the air.
Count Hyde, a tall, dignified vampire with warm yet calculating eyes, raised his glass to his lips, sipping the dark liquid with a practiced grace.
Across from him, the cloaked figure remained still, their face concealed behind a mask. The mask was made of iron and painted red, with a fang inscribed on each cheek. The eye slits were black, hiding any sign of the figure's eyes, creating an unsettling sense of anonymity.
"You're asking for something I can't give." Hyde said quietly, lowering his glass. "Revealing the truth would be my death sentence."
The figure leaned forward slightly, their androgynous voice calm but dangerous. "Not revealing the truth could also be your death sentence, Hyde."
Hyde sighed. "I'll take that chance over certain death."
The figure stared at him for a few seconds before nodding. "Very well. You've already sealed your death by refusing."
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Hyde froze and his eyes flickered with a hint of fear, but before he could respond, his glass slipped from his hand. It shattered on the floor, the blood wine spilling across the polished wood.
Hyde's body convulsed, his eyes widening as fresh red blood, human red, began pouring from his eyes, nose, and mouth.
He collapsed from his chair, choking, gasping for air as all his vitality drained from his body.
The cloaked figure stood, watching with quiet detachment. "Thank you, Count Hyde." They murmured. "Your sacrifice will not be in vain. I will use your death to reveal the truth."
Without another word, the figure teleported out of the room, leaving the dying Count Hyde alone in the private room, his blood staining the fine wood beneath him.