A/N I don't usual do trigger warnings but this chapter was really rough for me. It was cathartic personally. In no way am I promoting gun violence. I am I firm believer in the 2nd amendment and responsible gun owners. This chapter was needed to move my story on. I am old enough to remember where I was for Columbine and 9/11. I was an adult when it happened. I will not respond to any comments that are not related to the story. Any post regarding the 2nd amendment and gun violence are not welcome.

I also wanted to put in here that suicide is never the answer. The national hotline number is 1-800-273-8255. Don't ever think that you're alone. Someone does care about you. I've lost two family members to suicide.

To Kill a Fox?

The cunning of the fox is as murderous as the violence of the wolf. - Thomas Paine

Sam sat at his desk under a mountain of paperwork that piled up from the Great Tribune after the Red Foxes had a somewhat successful raid on the known establishments for the 12 Crows. He hated this part. He needed to justify to the Tribune why it was necessary to "cull" a dark guild that "wasn't breaking any laws". He snorted at that last part. I guess breaking and entering, threatening the life, cruelty to animals and killing three endangered species of serpents isn't high on the Tribune priority list, he thought to himself. He was frustrated with the bureaucracy of the Tribune. Red tape was good for a few things but not tripping up light guilds dealing with darks guild bullshit.

As he continued filling out forms in triplicate, he heard a knock on his door. He already scented the individual before his little secretary entered with him. Sam thanked her and she left the two men.

Sam let out a low growl and showed his canines to his visitor. In a harsh voice, "Hixon, you better have a good reason of being here because your breaking all kinds of treaties right now just by being in my house."

Hixon moved over to the couch and sprawled out showing no aggression in his body language. He sat there in a very prone position showing Sam his throat. He waited until the growling stopped. He knew he was breaking ancient laws and treaties by being here but he had important information that needed to be shared.

"Talk!"

Hixon took that as his cue, "Cousin, you know I don't want to be here anymore than you want me, but I have come with a warning. We have a pup that works down at the casinos dealing cards. He overheard an interesting conversation between some nasty birdies you've been at war with. Normally, I stay out of Fox business, but cousin when dirty birds plan to kill you out…your cousins will not sit still and allow it to happen. So consider this a boon from your wolf cousin, Sam. Pull your guild back and get out of West Nitespring. These crows have got magic I've not seen before. The pup was telling me that they plan on using shadows, demons, and blood magic." Hixon shook his head. "You've stepped into some deep shit cuz. I'm pulling my kin back to the mountains until this blows over." Hixon got up and left without another word. He'd already over stayed his welcome.

Sam cursed silently. He pulled up his cell phone and sent out a mass blast text. He knew that the Foxes and Wolves have had bad blood for centuries but Hixon wouldn't lie to him about something like this. No, the Wolves wanted to be the ones to take out the Foxes. He had Zosia and Astrid already out of the country, so they were safe.

Guildmaster: Everyone return to guild hall. Drop what you are doing. 911.

He got up and went to the lower floor. As he walked through the floors he heard cell phones going off, saws heads pop out of rooms, felt people gather behind him, following him to the ground floor. When he arrived, he had about twenty mages and non-mages behind him. They fanned out from behind him and filtered into the others that had gathered. Felix and Walker flanked him. He looked over his family. He was so proud of them all. He took a deep breath and spoke with sadness in his voice, "My family I have received some terrible news from a trusted ally. The Crows are moving to strike against us for retribution. We struck a heavy blow to them thanks to all of you, but they are coming at us with blood lust. They are not looking to take you. They will torture you maim you then kill you and with the magic that they have possibly bring you back and do it again. We know that they have one seith mage left that is loyal to them, but I've just learned that they now are in cahoots with a possible demon summoner and blood mages and possible worst magic we have not encountered in Sin before. With this looming magically threat, I'm ordering Felix and the tails to relocate all non-mages out of Sin. Walker is over the Fangs and the Eyes and Ears. Zosia is out of the country with Piper due to an emergency. Get your orders from the respective LTs. Dismissed." He left and went back to his office. He was fucking pissed.

Cat was not happy about the turn of events in the guild. She felt she was responsible for the heat that the guild was taking. She took out that ice mage shadow mage and a few seith mages from the Crows. She also found out her father was the guild master leading the Crows. She went after Sam. She didn't catch up with him until he hit his office door. "Master!" She called out.

Sam knew he was being followed by her. He could sense her. Her magic signature was unique to her. It felt similar to Opal. He found out because they were related. "Come on in Cat. What else is there that's gonna make this day worse." He said in a dark tone.

"Well actually its Riko, sir. He's been off. Not acting right, not eating, and not really connected to reality. I've seen it before while I was a Bloodhunter. He needs someone to talk too. I'm afraid something horrible will happen. I know this is the wrong time to bring this up but…all of this is my fault. I kill those mages to piss my dad off. I triggered memories from Riko's past that has thrown him into this state of depression…" She was interrupted by a growl.

Sam growled. "Its not your fault that this happened Cat. Riko has had something traumatic happen but he would never talk about. We tried years ago when it happened. You know if someone doesn't want to talk about it then they won't. The fact that it's your sire leading the Crows isn't your fault either. I need you to go home and get your family out of West Nitespring. If your father knows you're here, he'll look for them too. Now go!" He watched his blonde hair seith mage leave quickly. He felt like someone had hit him in the gut. He knew she wasn't at fault, he was. He was failing them. He was so afraid he was going to lose them all. He swore he wouldn't lose his family again, but time was a harsh mistress.

Riko had ignored his text. He read it. He knew it was a 911 page. He didn't care. He sat at the bar on 9th street, drowning his sorrow in dark liquor. This was the first time he had been to this bar. He didn't want anyone to find him. He had enough alcohol in him for a decent buzz. The emotions he's been feeling sufficiently dulled. So when a barely contained bosom pressed up against him, he didn't react with a flinch. He looked down at the pair of golden tanned twins and then up and the green eyes and dark maroon lips. Neither said anything as their lips crashed into each other. He felt her guide him out of the bar after a few minutes of mind blowing kisses and a harsh throat clearing of the bartender.

She led him to an ally. He didn't care at this point in time. He hadn't had sex in a while and had an itch that needed scratched. The blonde woman pushed him up against the cool brick wall of the alley. She ran her hands up and down his chiseled chest and then down to his hips as she kissed him. He let a moan loose. "You like that, hmm…let me see your beautiful eyes handsome…" she purred. Riko was in an alcohol testosterone haze he would have done anything this siren asked of him. He opened his yellow eyes to look into her green glowing eyes. He felt the push into his soul but it was too late. She took control of him. He was now hers to control. "Now handsome, let's go get some payback." She laughed as her illusion fell away, showing her plain brown hair and orange eyes, her impressive chest even shrank back to its small size. She loved her illusion magic just as much as her seith magic. It made men putty in her hands. She walked out of the ally with her new pet.

Georgia sat in her little modest home polishing her rifle. She had gone hunting for meat earlier that day. She hummed a tune as she cleaned it. Her phone went off.

Riko: Mama, are you home?

Georgia: Of course, hijo.

Riko put his phone back into his trench coat. He had smeared the glass on the face with blood but he didn't seem to notice it. He requipped his twin Berettas back to their storage. He turned on his heel and left an apartment complex that he had visited often with Piper. He tracked through the puddle of blood that was pooling under the head of one of the mages that lived there. Black and pink hair soaked in blood and brain matter, a look of surprise on a once beautiful face that now had two holes in her forehead. Bloody foot prints lead out of the apartment to his mother home. A maniacal laughter followed him as he went. A tear slide down his cheek. He couldn't stop himself. He was nothing but a fucking puppet.

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Opal and Frank Sinclair had step off the airship with Lex and Nick in Hargeon. They had left two weeks ago, hours after Opal had her dream. Frank put the house on the market that day, call professional movers to pack the house up and place in storage until they found somewhere to settle. Nick mentioned Magnolia, Fiore. He told them that his friend Piper was living there with her fathers. Frank thought it was a great idea. It was close to Bosco but not in Bosco. During the flight to Hargeon, he and Opal were able to find a nice home on the north side of Magnolia that looked over the lake. He was able to get it cheap. He wondered why it was so cheap a 2-story six bedroom home should be costly especially near a mage guild. He bought it quickly and sent the address to the movers.

The party of four moved toward the train station. They waited on the last of their little party, Sylvia. She didn't want to leave her granddaughter, Cat behind. She knew she needed to though. Sylvia was not in the shape she used to be to combat other mages like she was in her youth, but Cat with her Bloodhunter training. She was on top on their art of magic and deadly at hand to hand. Sylvia hated how her granddaughter learned the control she needed to wield this ancient magic and despised what she did while she was possessed by that shade. She was deep in thought while walking with her small family. A warm hand in hand with hers pulled her from her mental berating of herself. Opal always seemed to know when her older sister was mentally beating herself up.

Opal squeezed her sister hand, "She'll be fine, big sis. I'm sure she's been in tougher situation than this. She's a Sinclair. We are survivors." She reassured her.

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Shadows scurried through the tall glass building that stood as the Red Fox guild hall like little mice on Christmas Eve night. The shadows weren't just any shadow. They were nasty ones. Ones that were summoned from the Shadow Realm, shades, greater shades and grim shadows. They had infiltrated the personal quarter floor of the structure. They were going room to room waking occupants that were still here after two weeks of pushing the guild. They had a failsafe was down stairs at the main exit door. Other shadows were at the side exits to herd those that tried to use those towards the main exit.

Mages were awoken from their slumbers by strange sounds, dreams/nightmares, or movements in their apartments. They moved towards the ground floor cafeteria because they all noticed each other. They had decided to do a late night impromptu tea party to calm everyone's nerves. They felt something off in the guild hall. It felt as if their guild had turned into a haunted house. It put everyone on edge. Everyone had a nervous energy to them but they chatted amongst each other as they made their way to the café.

The darkest shadow near the main entrance stood statue still. The two beings that were being concealed made no movement no sound. Four eyes watched people pass by not the wiser of what was about to happen. Orange eyes with green swirls sparkled in delight as they watched the herds of sheep pass by. Yellow citrine one glistened with tears that couldn't fall because of the hold the other had on his soul.

She saw the final two that needed to be down in the trap. She was thinking how master was going to be so pleased with her work. Her puppet had been so effective. He was able to take her to places that no one in the Crows would have been able to access. She had been on a killing spree for two week and this was going to be the cherry on top; Taking out the whole fucking guild. She watched the giant tattooed bald man and cropped auburn hair man make their way over to the rest of her cattle.

Sam had a bad feeling about what was going on in his home. His guild was up in the middle of the night. It wasn't unusual for a couple but every single one of his family that was left…he was concerned. There weren't many left here in West Nitespring. He sent Felix and the Tails to the safe house two weeks ago, Tommy left about the same time, Nick and his family left. Opal and Frank had said something terrible was going to happening West Nitespring and they needed to leave. After what Hixon had told him, he didn't blame them at all. He walked by the main entrance and the hairs on the back of his neck stood on end. He smelled him. He smelled Riko and his fear, his sorrow, his tears and blood. He smelled the blood that wasn't fresh but days old. The tell tell copper scent his sensitive nose noticed. He noticed the scent of another, a female. She reeked of body odor stale sex and adrenaline. He took a few more steps and heard a faint high pitched giggle. He went to yell a warning and requipped into his heavy armor with long sword and shield. He was able to push Walker face first into the tiled floor with a grunt.

She couldn't hold it in any longer. She let out a high pitch giggle. The shadows dropped and she forced her puppet to requip with his semiautomatic rifle. The air exploded with bullets. The mages in the café were caught off guard for a few seconds after several comrades fell to the floor in a pool of crimson. Those that were able to mount a defense did. Gasp of surprise when they witnessed who was their assailant. The hail of bullets stopped momentarily.

Maniacal laughter rang through the silence, "HAHA! Fuckers! Sucks when it your own brother that attacks you and you can't do anything about it or would you strike your own down to save yourself." Laughter continued as the assault continued.

Shadows started to attack the mages from the rear pulling those into the shadows with the blood curdling screams that were quickly drowned out with gurgles. No one wanted to hit Riko but no one had the magic to counter the shadows. Sam was distraught. He didn't need to look at the carnage that was behind him. He could smell it. He felt so small. He felt the failure. He failed to keep his family safe. He watched spelled that were thrown at Riko deflect from him. He didn't want to think of why that was happening. There was only one gunner mage that could do that, Riko's mother. Sam was so over whelmed with grief. He had never been attacked like this. So brazenly and so out maneuvered. He looked back to Walker who had hunkered down behind his guild master for cover. The screams were getting fewer and fewer until he heard nothing. No bullets; no screams. Death itself had come to visit his family.

The laughing started again. "Good job my sweet beautiful puppet of death. The master will be very happy with your work. Maybe he'll let me keep you, he he. Wouldn't you like that." The brunette giggle and she stretched up to kiss her puppet on the cheek.

Riko hated himself. He wanted to die. He just massacred his guild mates. He couldn't stop himself. His body wasn't controlled by his mind anymore. He lost control of it two week ago. Tears fell down his cheek. Everything that had happened to him ten years ago come back to haunt him again except 100 fold. This woman had used him for his magic, his body and his knowledge. He felt like a piece of garbage. He didn't want to live anymore. What person could live after what he had been forced to do.

An animalistic howl broke the standing Fox members' thoughts. Sam and Walker looked towards the sound and saw loose blonde hair flying as the body it was attached to move fluidly over the brunette. They noticed blood running down the face of the brunette already. The blonde kicked off and rolled away from the brunette. She rolled to the brunette's captive and kicked his legs out from under him putting him flat on his back, temporarily stunned.

Cat growled at the dark seith, "Fucking bitch! Let me show you what a real seith mage can do! Oh wait! I took you fucking eyes first. Oh well, you're about to feel it. There's more to seith magic than possession, SOUL RETRIBUTION!" Cat's eyes already glowing brightly green. She saw every single soul in the room that was murdered. She felt them reaching out for revenge. Her magic sought out every single soul that wanted it and connected with it. The souls needed the extra boost from her magic to attack their vanquisher. The small flames converged on the brunette on the floor attacking her, burning her, making her suffer for everything she did to them. Shrieks of pain rang out.

"Sam! Walker! There are nasty shadows in here. Can you make it as bright as you can in here?" Cat called to the two men.

Sam dropped his human guise and stood tall with his tail and ear proudly displayed. He called his foxfire. Bright white light emitted from his hands and filled the room with intensity that Walker and Cat needed to close their eyes. He heard ugly hissing and explosions from all around him. Cries of pain hit his fox ears followed by the hiss and explosion of shadows beings being destroyed and sent back to the Shadow Realm. His anger, grief, and sorrow made his fire burn so bright it started scorching the walls. He started smelling blood cooking. The odor brought his back to reality. He fell to his knees into the sticky quagmire of crimson liquid that was once the lifeblood of his family. His started sobbing, body shaking sobbing.

Riko recovered from having the air knocked out of him. He had control of his body again. He patted down his body, doing a systematic mental check to see if he was ok, physically. Mentally, he was a shit storm. He killed friends, his mother…his heart stopped…he killed his mother. Oh god my mother is dead and I killed her. He killed the one of two women that loved him unconditionally. He started to wail in grief. He felt a hand on his shoulder. "Hey…" the voice said. He knew that voice. He knew what that voice was capable of. He wasn't going to be a puppet again. Fuck this. He killed his mother, his friends, his guild. He didn't deserve to live. The voice talked again, "Riko…Riko…no now let's talk this through…it's not your fault…" The voice didn't know. Of course it was his fault. He was weak. He left that seith mage possess him. He killed his mother. He didn't deserve to live. He requipped a pistol. He heard the voice get frantic. Telling him no. Telling him that that isn't the best recourse of action. He was too quick for her. His mind made up. He placed the pistol in his mouth and pulled the trigger…

Cat tried to stop Riko. She tried to get through to him. He wouldn't listen to her. She seen his soul. It was so dim it was almost burnt out. It had so many cracks in it. He was broken. She was trying to get him to stop what he was doing. She could help him. She could help mend those cracks. Maybe call Vander's brother, Kaleb. Riko was too fast for her. She reached for the pistol but ended up with blood spatter on her face and in her hair. She screamed, "No! No! NO!" She was low on magic as the last spell but she dug deep and was able to coax out the tiny dim flame before it went anywhere. She moved it into the obsidian bead on her bracelet. She had tears running down her cheeks. She stood and looked at the grisly scene of the first floor. She knew her father was responsible for this. It was his signature. He did this to her village in Bosco when she was a child. Revenge burned in her soul. She needed help. She needed more than what was left of her new guild, her family. She needed Vander's help. He was the only one who could combat those damn shadows.

Cat walked over to Sam who was still beside himself. He hadn't even tried to hide the fact that he was a kitsune. Walker was hiding his surprise as he tried his best to console his best friend. "Master, we need to leave Sin. We need to get help. There is no lone left but use three. Everyone is dead. I'm sorry to tell you like this. I've been trying to catch up with Riko and that bitch for a week and an half with no luck. Felix and the non-mages they didn't make it. She got to them via Riko. I know you don't want to hear this. Riko killed himself just know in the grief at that his cause us. He was so distraught. We need to regroup. We need to meet up with Grammie and Opal in Magnolia." She explained trying to keep the emotion out of her voice but failing with the tiny cracks. She extended her hand to her fox guild master. He accepted. The three left the guild and headed toward Fiore to regroup and plan for a war.