“Richard Morgan, it never gets old to listen to your voice,” Hank said with fear in his voice but still able to disrupt Richard. “And all this year I thought you were dead you filthy motherfucker,” Richard responded holding the phone tighter to his ears, “why must you always be a pain in the ass to me?” Richard’s face morphed into a grimace that was backed with a thirst for something beyond just a feud, it was something that echoed years of an unhealthy relationship fueled by hatred and anger. “And here I am thinking you broke out of jail. What a turn of incidence life can throw at us, isn’t it?Richard paused, then looked into the sky and turned back at Corey, “How did you go from working for one of the most prestigious security companies in the nation to becoming a worthless kidnapper?” “The same way you were too weak to take action when you had the opportunity to shoot me on sight?”Hank’s words flooded Richard’s head with memories of the night he lost everything he work
“W-what are… you saying?” Elijah said with a stutter, his eyes betraying the next words that came from his mouth, “This is rubbish. I don’t have a hundred million dollars to give you, neither am I the heir of the West Empire.”Hank rose back to his feet, rolling his eyes into his socket, and whined, “Do we have to go back and forth over this again and again?” he strode back to his seat, “This is not a superhero movie where you have to keep your identity. I know who you are.”Elijah paused with the apple treat Hank gave him, hoping he could just choke on the ones he ate already, to avoid any discussion related to his identity, most especially with Hank or any of his captors. “It could be a trick,” Elijah thought to himself.Hank hoisted his legs on the table, crossing one on top of the other, and tilted the chair backward with his weight, “I can assure you of one thing, this is no trick,” Hank said, staring up into the wooden ceiling of the warehouse, like he’d just read his capti
Two minutes transitioned into two hours, and Elijah still could not get the pain out of his heart, nor the mystery behind the misery Hank told him about. It came to him clean and cynical, just like a tornado swallowing a skyscraper. “He is the one behind all your misery.”Hank’s voice kept on reverberating in his head, unable to erase the memory. His mind could not fathom the truth behind Hank’s voice. His mind provided reasons north of a dozen on why he should distrust Hank: it could be for what he wants from him, or it could be a trick to manipulate him. And a list of other reasons why he should not trust Hank. Nevertheless, his curiosity clung to him just the way a Lion would hold on to the jugular of its prey. “Tell me what you know. What is the truth you are hiding?” Elijah echoed his mind, yearning to know what was hidden behind the awkward smile that glued to Hank’s face.Hank strode toward the door, giving deaf ears to Elijah’s request. “You! Wait, please!” Elij
“I think---” “Let us make the terms clear enough,” Hank interrupted Elijah’s moment of confession, cooking up some more of his underlying tricks to break Elijah completely, putting him under his wings, “if it is not promising, this will be the last time negotiating with you.”Elijah, with an emaciated face, looking dry and frail, forcefully lifted his eyes and summoned every last strength in him, “What do you want? A hundred and fifty?” His words were met with a muffled chortle, as Hank could barely hold his amusement at how tough a man can still be, even in the face of difficulties, in the most trying moments. How bad could it be? “Well, I must say, you are one hell of a strong bastard,” Hank said, and pulled Elijah by the hair, glaring straight into his eyes, “Play a joke on me once again, and that will be the end for you. Do you think I negotiated for a higher price with that thick-skulled Greene boy, only to settle for a hundred and fifty with you?”Hank could no longer be
The dinner table was being set by the time Daniel got home from his visit to Elijah, after a three hour drive. He held his joy within, with hope that he would final be able to get rid of the man causing him pain. “Good evening, grandmother,” he greeted, settling at the dining table with his eyes fixated on his meal.There was a moment of silence at the dining table, until Mrs. Greene peered her eyes at Daniel inquisitively. “You look very busy and stressed out these days, hope all is fine with you?” Mrs. Greene asked, while Daniel was poking at his meal, unaware of his environment.All eyes were fixed on Daniel, with fear skittering all over his face, and beads of sweat forming all over his forehead, he paid little attention to what his grandmother said, or to the fact that his family members were starting to think he was crazy and needed medical attention. Either of the two, there was no doubt or uncertainty that he has been up to something for the past three days. “Da
For two weeks since Daniel sent the proposal of partnership to the West Industries, he noticed something was off with their system of working that has been kept hidden form the public. His itching nose could not keep itself at bay until he got what he wanted. There was an unusual silence from Daniel, scrambling his head for the next thing to do or say. His knees weakened and he plopped onto his bed, with the phone still held closely to his ear. “What else have you gotten?” he said with his face lit up like he had just been struck with a thousand jolts of electricity. “Nothing yet. Some of the board members seemed like they were hiding something, and I was only able to find out the little information I could lay my hands on.” “Has anyone mentioned about a revolt or a takeover of any sort?” “Negative. But…” “But what? Tell me.”At this moment, Daniel’s breath cranked up to the max. An unusual fear gripped him to the core, his mind traversing through a million thoughts
Daniel realized he had struck a cord in Hank’s bone, and decided to walk in like nothing had just happened. He refused to be distracted about his purpose for coming, and only went straight to meet Elijah. He ordered Gusto to set Elijah back at the table, to have a real discussion with him. Hank and the rest of the crew, like always, had to excuse Daniel to have his moment of privacy with Elijah. “So you are now drinking with my men,” Daniel said with a fake smile stuck to his face.Elijah knew what mind games Daniel was capable of, and refused to play into his traps. He kept mute for a while, and every time he decided to say something, the only thing that crossed his mind was the hole in his feet. “Your men?” Elijah scoffed, holding a firm stare on his face, “nobody is loyal to you, don’t butter yourself up.” Daniel sucked in a reasonable amount of air and tutted, “still mad about the hole? Poor boy, this is something beyond your reach, and as a great wise man once said, d
“I have asked the wrong questions all theses while, thinking it was the right thing to do,” Daniel began his questioning, after noticing Elijah’s reluctance to bend to his wishes, “a wise man said, ‘only a fool will do the same thing over and over again while expecting a different result’, is it right or wrong?”Elijah remained silent, unsure of where Daniel was driving at. Just like before, he chose stealth over hastiness. “Am I a fool or what?” “If you call yourself one, then you definitely are,” Elijah muttered, letting the cat out of the bagDaniel responded with a light chuckle, and took another sip from his beer, “well, I am definitely one, I guess.”Elijah shrugged, making no comment on Daniel’s following words. Daniel rose to his feet, and traversed the four corners of the warehouse, and finally settled at the only window that provided illumination to the warehouse, aside from the light bulb hanging down the ceiling. As the rays of sunshine splashed on Daniel’s fa
“ I won't kill you Master Xi'an, instead, I will make it fair. We would participate in a sword fighting, whoever wins, kills the other” Elijah said, making Isabella gasp as she stood up and walked towards him.“ What are you doing? Now is your chance to end him, why are you trying to kill yourself once again?” Isabella was extremely worried.“ Did I ever tell you that I can't die if death isn't natural? So put your mind to rest, this will only make it a fair game” Elijah smiled.“ Kelvin, let him go. He needs to clad his sword with Lotus flower poison, so he can kill me once again” Elijah said in a mocking tone which made Hank and Dracula burst into laughter.Once Kelvin let Master Xi'an go, he disappeared from the board room. All this while, Elijah held Tim so that the members of the board meeting wouldn't know what was going on.“ Don't tell me you hid back time?” Isabella was surprised.“ Yes I did. I practised my powers so much that there is literally nothing I can't do” Elijah sm
“ Hey, Grant. Don't faint just yet, I am not done.” Elijah smirked and walked closer.Everyone was surprised including Hank and Dracula, but Isabella was more surprised than anyone else.Her eyes were as wide as an orange and her mouth parted which refused to close.“ He is not the one, he is a ghost?” Nora stuttered as she spoke but Elijah turned towards her.“ I see you survived from death after what Isabella did to you right?” Elijah smiled but she shifted back.Before Elijah could turn to Isabella she fainted on the ground which caused him to chuckle.“ I guess she is the most surprised one” he muttered and walked towards her.“ Hank,” Elijah called, snapping Hank from the surprise mode he was in.“ Yes…yes young master”“ Get me a bottle of water” Elijah ordered and Hank took one bottle of water from the table, handing it over to Elijah who fetched some into his hand before sprinkling it on Isabella's face.She woke up almost immediately and the first person her eyes met with wer
THREE MONTHS LATERIsabella came down from a Lamborghini Aventador which was driven by Hank while Dracula was her assistant.“ What is on my schedule today?” Isabella asked as she walked into West Empire, her heels clicking on the marble floor as she walked.“ The board members called for a meeting today” Dracula replied looking at his tablet while Isabella nodded.“ Okay, just let me know when it's time for the meeting “ Isabella replied and the trio walked into the elevator leading to the top floor. On getting to her office, she sat down in the swivel chair which belongs to Elijah.She kept touching the chair and table and it felt like Elijah was in the office with her.“ I know you're missing him, but you need to move on” a voice said inside Isabella's head.“ Yeah, I need to move in as prove to him that his Empire is in safe hands” Isabella nodded her head and almost immediately he became business-minded and focused at the same time. She took the telephone to place a call cr
The ambulance sirens pierced through the night’s air as Elijah was rushed to the best hospital in Georgia.Isabella, Hank and Dracula followed closely behind the ambulance, their faces etched with worry and fear, most especially Isabella. She just couldn't accept the fact that Elijah died in her arms. She refused to believe it.As they arrived, the best medical team from different hospitals in Georgia were already present in the hospital waiting for the arrival of Elijah. He was quickly taken into the emergency ward, leaving the trio waiting for the news anxiously. Thirty minutes felt like an eternity as they paced back and forth in the waiting area. Isabella sat in a chair, her hands and legs shaking against her will. Sweat clouded her forehead as he kept biting on her quivering lips.Finally, the doctor walked out of the emergency ward, his expression somber. Isabella stood up from the chair she was seating and rushed towards him, her eyes locked with his, pleading for answers.“
“ Look around Uncle, your disciples are all dead and you will be the next” Elijah smirked as he took slow steps towards Master Xi'an.“ Not so fast, Nephew. My disciples might all be dead but I think you will be the next, I am not dying but you're the one dying” Master Xi'an said as he took his sword from its sheath.It glittered amidst the collision with the sunset.“ Nice sword you have there,” Elijah smiled, but his smile disappeared almost immediately as he positioned himself, ready to charge towards Master Xi'an. Isabella, whose heart was beating faster than normal, wanted to join Elijah in the fight with Master Xi'an but Hank stopped her from going.“ It's his fight, don't get involved” Hank gave her a reassuring smile before taking her to a small house where they stood waiting for the fight between the two relatives to take place. Isabella kept rubbing her two hands together, praying earnestly to whatever god she believes in to help Elijah win the fight... Master Xi'an a
MASTER XI'AN’S TEMPLEMaster Xi'an came out of the temple to the field where all the soldiers were gathered.“ It's time to march. The battle font!” Master Xi'an shouted.“ Yes, Master!” The soldiers chorused before marching with Master Xi'an and Nora behind them As they marched, Master Xi'an had a smirk on his face because he had something to rely on that would surely kill Elijah.“ I am sorry Nephew, but you're dying by my sword” Master Xi'an said inwardly. After ten minutes of marching to the alley where the battle would be taking place, they already met Elijah and his men there. They were standing with a blank expression. That's number one rule in winning your enemies; they shouldn't know your next move or your expression on what you feel at that moment.“ Dear Uncle, have you told your disciples the truth?” Elijah stepped forward with a mischievous smile on.“ Uncle?” Nora's eyes widened in shock. Never in her wildest dreams would she have thought that Master Xi'an is
Dracula did as Elijah told him. Surprisedly, it didn't take long before his father agreed to help Elijah with hope of nothing in return.Dracula kept asking his father repeatedly, maybe he would change his mind about helping Elijah but he never changed his mind.He assembled all his men, as they all prepared for the mission, with their guns in their hands and their faces void of emotions. MASTER XI'AN’S TEMPLEOutside the temple were hundreds of men with their swords in its sheath. They stood in a straight line with master Xi'an as their leader.“ Today, we will take our fate into our hands! We must kill the Lord of the Seven Heavens if not, doom would be brought to the Earth!” Master Xi'an shouted so that the people at the back would hear him.“ We must kill him or he will kill us, I understand!” Master Xi'an shouted.“ Yes Master!” They all shouted in unison. “ Do not move, stay until I give further orders” Master Xi'an said and walked out of the field with Nora behind him.“
After much struggle, Rose kicked the bucket when the poison had affected all her system. Her body turned black because of the poison effect. Almost one hour later, Kelvin and Tristan got back from school only to find the house empty.They were surprised because usually, their mom would already be preparing dinner for them before they got back to school, but she was not in the sitting room, nor was she in the kitchen.“ Mom?” Young Kelvin called but there was no answer.“ Kelvin? Where could Mommy be?” Young Tristan was already afraid.He loved his Mom so much that he would always stick to her wherever they went, so not seeing his mom made his heart skip.“ Hey, don't cry. We will find Mom soon” Kelvin was trying to stay strong because of his younger brother, Tristan. “ Tristan, stay in the sitting room while I find Mom “ Kelvin said and placed Tristan on a sofa before running upstairs to his mom's room. He stood on his toes to open the door and when he did, the sight that gre
“ What? My late wife? How did you know about it?” Mr Ramos started to stutter.“ Why won't I know when you have a son here?” Elijah smiled pointing at Kelvin who stepped forward.“ Why would you say something like that? We both worked hard for this company, it belongs to us both but now that she's dead, it belongs to me” Mr Ramos shouted angrily.“ It doesn't belong to you, Father, because you killed my mother all because you want the company to yourself and want to bring in Gregory and his mother” Kelvin said, his eyes blazing with hatred as he spoke.“ What are you talking about, bastard! Why would my father kill your pathetic mother?” Gregory stood up from the ground and rushed towards Kelvin, but Elijah held his wrist tightly, not letting him take another step further.“ What do you know?, bastard!” Mr Ramos walked towards Kelvin and landed a deafening slap across his face.“ You can slap me for all I care, but I won't let a murderer reap where he didn't sow” Kelvin gritted his te