Hello everyone sorry this took longer than I wanted it to be to come out, but I have been going over this chapter a few times tweaking it trying to get back into my writing style and long story short I just rewrote this a bunch of times till I got to a point were I felt it was ready. I tried a few things different so i'll get into more with that at the end of the chapter, but I need to give some thanks.
First Thanks to all my readers for sticking with me you guys give me the push to keep going. Second Big shout out thanks to my Beta Mr. Haziq for still helping me out and fixing a lot of errors I miss.
With that said more at the end of the chapter so Please enjoy the chapter!
Hunter of the Void Ch. 16
New Season
Alone, a figure sat in a crystal throne with the broken moon shining above her. Its light was tainted by the land around her, yet it still roamed over her pale body highlighting the red and purple lines along her arms as they tensed and relaxed. Her head rose and fell with each heavy breath she took. Lifting it she saw the red glow of her crimson eyes reflected in the window glass. In that moment the room was still, yet her hands tensed gripping the crystal base her arms rested on cracking it.
Slowly a darkness crept from the corners of the room, covering the floor and walls. Devouring all around it even the light of the moon and candles were swallowed as it passed over. Closer and closer the darkness moved towards the woman. Even covering the window shutting her inside. As it closed in around her it slowed pausing at her throne. The woman clenched her eyes shut shaking as the darkness started to inch closer rather than retreat. Her whole body tensed as purple and red veins popped along her pale skin as she struggled dragging the darkness to her more and more till it made contact with her.
A silent cry came from her mouth as her head flung back. Her eyes shot wide open as the red Crimson was taken over fading until only black lenses remained. Body still tense, she looked around seeing nothing. Hearing nothing.
Yet around her a vortex of shapes and whispers formed nothing she could make out yet, but they were there. Her body suddenly spasmed feeling the darkness try to leave. She tried to force the chaotic nature of her stolen power to her will, but they refused her, rejected her, and struggled against her like a beast on a leash.
A little more push and the darkness stayed. She could still feel its struggle but it was bound. Focusing on a single space she pushed into the darkness. Voices became louder, clearer with blurred images starting to take shape.
Till a voice called her name, stirring her from her trance. As if falling from a great height her body collapsed back into her throne. The burning red returned to her eyes as the darkness subsided revealing the room she was in again. Her back to the voice that called out again she felt her body scream out in pain from the alien action it under went. She spoke softly to hide the fatigue in her words trying to keep her tone level and even. "Yes, Walts?" She called out to the door now cracked open. Using the window as a mirror it reflected a tall but thin man. His posture was straight as he gave a slight bow and entered. He took one step forward when he spotted her hand raised to motion him to go no further. Not noticing it shake as she struggled with the simple motion.
"Apologies Ma'am. But it appears an urgent message from Cinder calls for your attention."
She could tell by the lack of disdain in his words for the half maiden that it was important enough to warrant a serious report. "She seems to have encountered someone tonight, someone that was not effected by your gift to her." The man waited for a reply.
"Tell her to stay hidden and to not expose herself further. She is vulnerable till she becomes whole and learns to master my gift. Send one of your experiments to take her place for now." She spotted the smile that came from the man as if a child was given permission to use a new toy.
With another bow the man left her. She then noticed a wet sensation covering her cheek, shakily her hand moved up to wipe it way. Expecting sweat or a tear she was shocked to see the liquids odd color of silver.
-Present-
"Forever Falls." Junior hummed stroking his beard with his hand. "Locals know the area to be a massive Forest that covers most of northern Vale. All the plants have a red shade to them like Miltiades' dress there." Junior waved his hand up and down highlighting the color of the more polite twin. A faint blush came to her face as all eyes fell on her, but used to such attention she avoided eye contact, more so the more intimidating metal face that sent a silent chill up her back.
Sensing her discomfort, their guest turned back to Junior. He took out his scroll taping on the clear device as he made his way to the fake wall. The screen came to life after connecting to the scroll, a map of the northern land of Vale appeared with sections of the map divided into different reigns. The majority of the map was taken up by the forest stretching out to the eastern mountain range and up to the ocean. On random points across the area had grayed out names of abandoned or destroyed settlements. A thick line could be seen cutting through the connection to the coast and city. A large X over a part of the line marked where the track was broken.
"A few settlements tried to set up there but they never lasted long, which discouraged any recent attempts." Junior motioned to the names. "There is or was a train that ran through on the lower points of the land. Transporting large supplies from the ports on the northern coast to the City that bullheads would struggle to do. But last I heard it was down after the White Fang attacked a SDC shipment destroying the tracks along with the train."
"Destroyed?" The Outsider asked.
"Not entirely, half of the train made it back to the city with the crew. The link was sliced clean as it was detached but the only ones on that part of the train would be the Robots that protect the cargo." Junior and the girls noticed the slight shift to their masked client when robots were brought up. They could not tell the meaning behind it but it still got a reaction from the reserved man so it was something to make note of later.
Without missing a beat Junior continued. "So one of the White Fang must have cut it. On purpose or by accident. A task force was sent out to check out the other half but when they got there the train, tracks, and surrounding area was covered is slashes as if a Grimm went wild."
Junior slid an image of the scene to the wall, showing the ripped up ground with fallen or damaged trees and rocks around the collapsed tracks. "As for the cargo it was found gutted and left bare. The manifest was not released to the public, so only Atlas and the Fang knows what was actually stolen. My liens on more Dust given their M.O. but back to what you're asking."
"With the train being down, the only way you can get into that area without fighting Nature and the Grimm would be with a Bullhead. Now since he White Fang is connected to Roman I understand why you would want to check them out, but," Junior pointed to the mark over the track "Their last move out there was weeks ago. Even if they still had a base in that mess, finding a group any size in that forest would take months even with the resources of Atlas. Would it not be better to find them here in the city, then following a cold heist?"
The masked man paused folding his arms over his chest with his head lowering slightly, debating silently with himself before looking up at the informant. "The train is not the reason why I'm looking into the forest." The Outsider revealed as he walked closer to the map. "After looking through the ledger, Roman and the Fang were using Arancia to move the stolen goods and bring in new supplies. Yet only one location was outside the city walls with a strange request to boot. This is why I want you to look up said delivery being sent to that area." Junior raised an eyebrow as the man continued.
"In the ledger the White Fang did not give coordinates for the delivery but they had to have given them some clue as to where the Bullhead should be in that forest." The Outsider placed a hand at its center and turned to Junior. "I need you to dig into the company and see what that clue is. For whatever reason the White Fang spent a lot of time and resources to make a special delivery to this area."
"Meaning that whatever their doing in that forest is worth all the trouble to be out there and the delivery will lead you right to whatever their doing." Melanie pointed out. "If it's concerning the White Fang that can't be good in the slightest. For the City and themselves." Miltiades finished with both sisters getting involved with the conversation.
Both men turned to the twins who were now right behind them looking over the map. "But what would be worth staying in the forest full of Grimm in the first place? Fighting off Ursa's is one thing but Rapier Wasps are too much." Miltiade said rubbing her arms as if something was crawling on her. "Not to mention all the expeditions the Hunters and Beacon students take there, avoiding them must be as hard as dealing with the Grimm." Melanie added.
"Which is why you will get me to that forest before the drop off." The Outsider said moving away from the group by walking between the Twins and back to the desk with the ledger on it picking it up. With his back turned the twins looked at each other, with a smug grin on Melanie face and a nervous Miltiade shaking her head back and forth at her sister. They returned to their blank masks of indifference as the Outsiders shoulders shifted to look back that them. "If you can narrow down where the drop is made then I can use a scanner to pick up any communications in the area and track them to the base."
Unaware of what was going on behind him, Junior spoke, "So besides the info gathering you want me to do, you want me to track a smuggler shipment than narrow said shipment on where they will be heading, get you transportation close to said location in advance of them and then pick you up and get you back into the city without the attention of the Hunters and Beacon staff. Did I miss anything?" He asked in a tired tone moving to the bar and grabbed a bottle for the long nights of work he would have to do.
"Just how I handed you the keys to blackmail most of the scum in the city." The Outsider replied tossing the ledger to Junior who caught the book with his free hand. Looking at the book he shrugged and turned backed to his desk to get to work placing the bottle on the desk as he accepted the sleepless nights in his future. "Fair enough, I'll send you an update if something comes up."
With that the Outsider left as usual, shifting into the darkness and disappearing with a faint blue glow.
Whatever peace Junior was looking forward to with his organization finally being back on top was soon shattered as Miltiades went off on her sister in the way she only did when her twin did something either incredible risky or stupid. "What possessed you to do something that stupid to the creepy masked Assassin?!"
'Ah so it was stupid this time too' Junior thought falling in his chair to return to the stressful reality of his life. Whatever mess Melanie got them in he was just too burnt out to care right now.
"What?" Melanie replied with no shred of guilt to the years she took off his life. "Look, the freak got us in a corner with how much he has on us and how little we know about him. All I did was simply slip a bug into his coat just to even the playing field a little, get some dirt on him so next time we meet we can act like what we are supposed to be, instead of appearing weak and helpless." She finished curling into herself.
Whatever fire Miltiades was building up went out, as she went to comfort her sister wrapping an arm around her and giving a kiss on her cheek. In turn Junior also lost any anger for the girl. True they got out of a hole that might have been their graves, but they were dragged out by a bigger Grimm that might not leave a body for even a hole. Still, Junior was just as frustrated by the lack of control with his newest client as the twins, and who knows maybe he didn't notice and they get something on the guy he thought opening the ledger.
His face soon fell into his hand with a loud sigh getting the girls attention. Without a word he sled the book across the table to the girls. Both shared a shocked expression for a moment before changing. One of anger and embarrassment, and the other unsympathetic of her twins Dishonor. In the ledger with a note was the bug Melanie had tried to plant with the note simply saying, - Cute.
Miltiade then added more fuel to the flames commenting on the note. This then turned into a regular fight between the sisters, but Junior was not paying attention. His head was still in his hand as he stared down at his lap with his scroll open to an image.
A blade going through two Lien cards. One Red, the other White.
Hello again! So like I said before, I wrote this chapter a bit different and I want to hear what you all think? I'm still kind of rusty with my writing so all your feed back is important if you like this style or my old one better.
Thank you all for reading, I'm still not settled with my out of college life yet, I got some things to take care of before I'm actually set but I am now in a place to focus on it and I will start on the new chapter right a way.