When Zoey regained consciousness, she found herself bound hand and foot, lying in the dim, cramped interior of what she realized must be the van she had seen before blacking out. Her heart pounded in her chest as fragments of memory came flooding back — the van, the glint of metal, a cloth smelling sickly sweet pressed over her mouth and nose just in case the blow hadn’t knocked her out.She jerked violently against her restraints with a muffled shriek, panic clawing at her throat. This had to be a mistake, a horrible nightmare she would wake up from any second now back in Ellis's strong, safe embrace. But her bonds held firm, biting cruelly into her wrists and ankles, and there could be no mistaking the grim reality of her pitch-black, eerily silent prison. She was a bit claustrophobic, and it heightened her panic. She realised that she wasn’t gagged, so she began to scream. "Ellis!" she cried out desperately, tears streaking her cheeks. "Somebody, please! Help me!"Her captors' moc
Ellis's mind whirred frantically, panic battling with desperation and anger. "I got everything on your list. All the money, guns, contraband - it's all there, just like you demanded!"Another chuckle, deeper and more unsettling this time. "Oh no no no, those were just supplementary requirements, let's say. A means to an end, but not the end goal itself."Zoey whimpered softly as the blade dug in just enough to draw a slender bead of crimson against her skin. Ellis's own throat ran dry, heart thundering. "Then...then what?!" He rasped, hands raising in surrender. "What do you want from me?! I'll do anything if you'll just let her go!"He was trying to contain his anger. He didn’t want to use the cultivation his father taught him to start spiralling down a deep hole of vengeance. In his training, he was warned to avoid blood shed in order not to corrupt his Chi, and block his aura. That would lead to him starting the process to becoming a dark mage just like the evil he was supposed t
Ellis's eyes remained open as the sound of the captor's footsteps faded away. He lay stock still, chest barely rising and falling, as he listened intently to make sure the coast was clear. After a few tense minutes of silence, he carefully turned his head to check on Zoey. She was out cold a few feet away, her face pale and her hair askew. Ellis felt a pang of guilt and concern wash over him - she had gotten caught up in this mess because of him. He had to get them out of here and to safety as soon as possible.Moving slowly and deliberately, Ellis pushed himself up into a seated position, wincing at the dull throbbing in his head that felt like he had been struck. He scooted over to Zoey and gently shook her shoulder."Zoey? Zoey, wake up," he whispered urgently. She didn't stir at first, so he shook her again a bit more firmly. "C'mon, darlin', rise and shine. Open your eyes for me so I can know that you’re okay."Zoey finally groaned and her eyes opened to slits. "E-Ellis?" she m
They were being driven to a small building in town before they could head back to their various destinations. This was so that Jerry's friends would locate their suspect, and get him talking. When they arrived at their destination — an unmarked building in a quiet industrial area of town — Zoey felt her nerves returning full force. What exactly did these guys have in mind for getting this information? As if sensing her trepidation, Ellis put a comforting hand on her arm as they headed inside, escorted by his silent crew. She didn’t have to be here for this part, but it may make her feel safer to be part of the investigative process. But he stayed close to her to reassure her that he wouldn’t let her get hurt. One of the men, seeing how close Ellis held Zoey, could tell that the couple were not really given into this exercise. Walking up to them, he said, "You know you ain't got nothin' to worry about. I know this whole cloak and dagger stuff ain't exactly y'all speed, but I promise
Later in the week, Ellis sat in stunned silence as Jerry and his goon friends laid out the evidence they had uncovered about Jaguar's true identity. It had been several dayss of painstaking research, dead ends, and frustrating mysteries since they took down the counterfeiting operation. But they finally had their answer."Your half-brother Marcus...he's been the one pulling Jaguar's strings this whole time," Jerry said solemnly. "We traced communications between Jaguar and an inmate at Citadel Penitentiary. That inmate's name, Marcus Royale."Ellis's head was spinning. Marcus, his estranged older half-brother who he had not seen or spoken to in over a year. The last Ellis knew, Marcus was serving a sentence for his many crimes that even Ellis had now forgotten. How could he possibly be mixed up in this from behind bars?"That...that can't be right," Ellis stammered. "Marcus is locked up in maximum security. How could he be giving orders to Jaguar?"Jerry shook his head grimly. "We're
One of the study's oak doors opened and a tall, muscular man in a crisp black suit stepped through, awaiting further orders from Mr. Cyrus.He looked up at the awaiting man. "My son who is in jail now, has the temerity to threaten the lives of those whom he wronged before going to jail, again. Marcus kidnapped Ellis's girlfriend and is working with men from a goon gang. We don't know the next trouble that he would cause and I definitely do not want to know. So I need you to do something for me. I need you to put an end to Marcus's misbehavior. Tell your men to use any force necessary. If they get a clean shot at neutralizing the threat my son poses, take it. Perhaps a close call will finally make him see the error of his ways."Ellis felt his stomach drop at his father's barely veiled meaning — if the opportunity arose, the team had a green light to take Marcus out for good this time. As abhorrent as his brother's actions were, the thought of outright allowing his death struck Ellis a
Marcus could feel the adrenaline coursing through his veins as he raced down the dimly lit corridors of the maximum security prison. He had been planning this escape for months, meticulously studying the guards' routines and weaknesses until he found his opening. Coupled with the man he had on the inside who was also a guard, he was finally able to have a chance at freedom.With the warden unconscious and stripped of his keys, Marcus was able to make his way undetected through the labyrinth of locked doors and checkpoints. He was a man possessed, driven by an all-consuming desire for vengeance against the man who had put him behind bars - his own father, Cyrus Royale. The man he paid was friends with the prison cook, and most of the guards were drugged with their last meal. That’s what made Marcus’ escape so easy. He only took some of the inmates who had been on his side as he escaped. The only problem they would face would be at the main gates, because those guards weren’t part of th
Marcus blacked out for a moment, his body numb from the shock and blood loss. When he came to, he was being roughly hauled to his feet by two burly officers, his arms wrenched backwards. He still couldn't feel anything below his ruined shoulder."Ellis, you bastard..." he managed to croak out through gritted teeth, glaring at the silhouette of his father's heir illuminated in a plume of smoke.The elder Royale slowly rose to his feet, downing the last of his whiskey before fixing Marcus with a look of pure contempt and disdain."You should have done better if you wanted better, Marc. I gave you the chance. I gave you so many chances before finding someone more worthy. And here you are trying to kill me because I got fed up with your incompetence." A chuckle escaped Mr. Cyrus's lips. "Did you really think you had what it takes to be a man and do what's necessary?" He shook his head slowly. "You're crippled by your own weaknesses and flaws. You never deserved my name or legacy. From thi