(Present day Virginia 3 days later)
A gentle wind drifted across the Virginia countryside that surrounded the over sized manor house that sat miles from anywhere with a river running along it's northern edge completely secluded. Built in the early Victorian style it was a sprawling property with sculpted gardens and placed between the hedges creepy statues of gargoyles that would put the fear into anyone who saw them. The manor house itself was a dark brick building the doors and windows seemed as though they might fall apart if touched. In every room there were thick heavy curtains in deep reds and browns as well as furniture so old it would be considered antique, or at the very least, ancient. Much of the house was silent most of the rooms laying under a thick layer of dust from years of not being used at all, the occupants only utilized half of the house. Upon entering the main reception hall it was clear which half was being used due to the clear line separating the dusty from the dust free. Following that line you reach a long dark musty hallway with several rooms leading off of it on either side. Down this hallway on the left hand side there was a door open just a crack letting a slim streak of faint light shine across the floor boards. Inside the room the far wall was completely covered from floor to ceiling with book cases that were packed full of old, worn and musty books. The furniture in this room was large,ornate and definitely from the era of 1925 with several small lamps illuminating the room sparsely. In the corner to the right of the door stood an old mahogany Gothic high back chair with carved scroll arms and feet with red velvet seat cushions, a tall lamp stood behind it and a side table which had an antique 1925 European candlestick telephone. Next to the phone sat a small sherry glass three quarters filled with vintage sherry, a ladies cigarette case beside a novelty lighter and a half eaten box of expensive
chocolates. A middle aged looking woman sat proudly in the high back chair a cigarette in her hand, wearing a long tight bodied black and maroon dress. She had shoulder length jet black hair cut straight around the bottom with a matching fringe across her forehead, her eyes were narrow and jade green. As she took a drag of her cigarette the phone rang and her eyes flitted to look at it, after a few moments she picked up the receiver placing it slowly to her ear.
"Yes?" She said flatly.
"Madam Kinzaan, there has been an unexpected development." A man with a Texan accent said.
"Unexpected development? Please explain Mr Rygger." She said calmly not an ounce of emotion on her face.
"Yes ma'am. We located the Taylor house as per your orders. We watched the house and the family for about a week. My men noted that the Elric's were there and appeared to be staying in the house as well ma'am. Three days ago all the occupants left the house, the Taylor's returned...however the Elric's were not with them and we have not seen them since." Rygger told her.
"I see." She said her eyes narrowing more. "And tell me...do you have any idea where they may have moved onto now Mr Rygger?"
"No ma'am I do not. But I have a hunch that Mr Taylor does ma'am. Do I have your consent to carry out an interrogation?" Rygger asked his voice sounding a little eager.
"Hmm..." An evil grin formed across her face. "Yes Mr Rygger. You may proceed how ever you see fit. But...be sure and get me the information or else I shall punish you severely. Understand?"
"Yes ma'am I do. I will update you promptly Madam Kinzaan. Goodbye." Rygger hung up feeling chills down his spine at the thought of his boss punishing him.
Helena Kinzaan put the receiver down moving her hand over to pick up her glass of sherry and bringing it to her lips sipped it slowly. She glanced up at a large hand painted portrait on the wall smiling at the man with the dark hair and moustache. She stubbed out her cigarette into the smokey colored glass ashtray that sat to her right on one of the shelves of the book case and stood up walking over to the books one book case over. She lifted her hand up to take hold of a very old worn out book that looked like it might turn to dust if touched and opened it flipping through the pages slowly. The book contained many odd drawings with scribbled hand written notes, all of which was in German, then stopped on one page in particular...that page had an artists sketch on it taking the entire page and the one opposite it too. The drawing was of a large serpent with teeth bigger than a lions and a strange gateway that hovered in the air with a mystical light emanating from inside it. Madam Kinzaan turned to face the portrait and looked up at it, her hand over the picture in the book.
"Soon great grand father. Soon I shall hold the secrets of this other world in my hands. With those secrets..I shall reshape this twisted world of ours and reclaim that which rightfully belongs to us." She said her eyes widening in a menacing way as she grinned and began to laugh maniacally the low flickering lights causing her face to look grotesque.
"MWAHAHAHAHAHAHA! !"
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After finishing his call to Madam Kinzaan the tall Texan made his way back to the main room of his safe house where his team were sat awaiting orders. Max Rygger stepped through the door his long
black leather coat drifting a bit behind him and headed to the chair at the table pulling it out a little to sit on it. He let out a deep breath reaching for his glass of whiskey and took a big gulp of it before turning his attention to his men. They were all sat around the small room using boxes as makeshift chairs while they cleaned their guns, his number two looked up at him then gestured to the others that the boss was going to speak and they all stopped what they were doing to look at him.
"Well men...it's time to move the schedule up a bit." Max said pushing the brim of his Stetson up.
"So sir what day,time and entry method shall we execute?" His number two asked without blinking.
"Our entry method is as follows men...two from the back, two from the front with me and we take 'em quietly. No fuss no mess." Max explained.
"Sir which member is our primary target?" One of the lower ranking men queried.
"The father is our primary target men. The girls will be used to make him talk. Once we obtain our information...we eliminate them all. Is that understood?" Max looked at them seriously.
"SIR!" The four men answered at the same time.
"We strike at 19:00 hours. That way there is less chance we will be seen." Max went on to tell them.
"SIR!" They answered again like robots.
"This operation will take place in two days time. Be ready." Max finished.
"YES SIR!" A more enthusiastic reply this time.
The men proceeded to organize their weapons and their gear for the upcoming mission as Max stood up and walked to the small window. He stood there looking out at the pouring rain that drenched everything outside, the plants, the black surveillance van, his black Hummer truck and dug into his pocket pulling out his pack of cigarettes. Dragging one out he put it between his lips then reached for his lighter, clicking it on he lit the end of his cigarette and took a long slow drag of it letting the smoke out into the air slowly so it looked like he was shrouded in mist. As his men worked he thought once again about the threat his boss had given him should he fail this mission and it gave him the chills again all through his body, like an electric current. He reached under his coat with his left hand and pulled out one of his guns from it's holster on his right side, he gazed at it, these guns of his were his trade mark his pride and joys...in two days...he would get to use them. His gut instinct told him this was going to be a difficult mission, that his primary target might be a tough one to crack..at this thought Max grinned, he thought to himself how the guy in question is going to tell all to save the lives of his precious daughters and how even after that they were all going to die anyway. He grinned more at the thought of pulling the trigger and sending a searing hot bullet into each of them, watching as they died before his eyes. This man, this sadistic killer...got a thrill out of hurting people and playing around with them until he finished them off. He returned the gun to it's holster as a long piece of ash fell to the floor he walked back to the table and gulped down the last of his whiskey feeling it burn it's way down his throat he grabbed the bottle, poured himself another and sat down again to watch the crappy little TV they had on the counter. This safe house was extremely basic nothing more than a shack really with only the main room, a bathroom and one bedroom that was just off the main room. It was damp with the last remnants of wallpaper desperately clinging to the walls and the lights were nothing more than bulbs hanging from the ceiling rose. No curtains, no lamp shades, no couch, no bed, no fridge there wasn't even a toilet seat to sit on..but..it was remote hidden away close to the Everglades on a dirt road. The perfect place to hide, to use to stash their weapons and gear, to never be found by the police. Their only concerns..was not to get eaten by the wildlife that lived so close by. The Florida rain storms had started three days ago thought Max and they haven't quit yet he smiled liking the current weather, it was to his taste..dark and gloomy like himself. The day of the Taylor's nightmare was fast approaching...but would they see it coming?
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