THE CATASTROPHE MATE

Chapter 5

—Author—

….over in the werewolf world.

The Council of Balance

The room was dark and cold… a single figure stood there right in the middle.

His presence was imposing, his dark red eyes locked on the darkness beyond.

Raegar…

His name alone sent chills down the spines of people and his reputation goes a long way before him.

Five hundred people…killed.

He’s lived two hundred years and still is just as strong.

To most people…he’s the strongest and most powerful being alive.

Now..he is the head and leader of the Council of Balance.

Council of Balance:

A group formed hundreds of years ago..for one task and one alone…

Defy fate.

The silence carried on for a long while before the doors of the room pushed open and another figure entered.

He buried his face on the floor, taking gentle steps into the room.

“Lord Raegar…we have news.”

Raegar didn’t turn when he entered, he just spoke. “What is it?”

His voice was cold.

“A city…Manhattan, there’s been some strange development.”

Strange?

That caught Raegar’s attention as he turned slowly.

“What type of development?”

The figure hesitated, already feeling suppressed by Raegar’s imposing presence.

“We…as…as of this morning, there were several reports of fires…deaths..attacks…and all of this happened on the same day and at the exact time of the day.”

All happening at the same time and day?

There was coincidence and then there was trouble…

…this wasn’t a coincidence.

“So it’s back…”

“We believe so lord..that’s the only reasonable explanation.” The figure replied quickly.

Raegar remained quiet, his thoughts circling..

“The Catastrophe Mate…have returned again.”

He turned to the windows again, taking steps forward. “We must act now.”

“Send the assassins in… the best three we have.”

“Lord—“

“Now!” He cut him off sharply.

“Yes lord..” the figure turned and walked out just as quietly as he came in.

After a short few minutes, three figures entered the room.

Arix Assasins…

Known as the deadliest group in the werewolf world. They do the bidding of the Council of Balance.

Deadly, swift, efficient and dangerous.

Raeger turned away from the window again, taking slow steps towards them.

They were dressed in black…from head to toe.

“The Catastrophe Mate has returned…” he started. “As you know..once in contact, they cause damages unknown to even us.”

“For that, the issue must be handled with urgency.”

He moved closer again, now just a few feet from them.

“You have one mission…” he paused, dropping his tone low and cold.

“…take them out…permanently.”

—Carol—

Regardless of how my life is right now…I have to go to work.

That is the only constant I have in my life right now.

I'm sitting in my office now, just staring down at my desk. I was physically there, but beside that..I wasn’t.

My thoughts were a total mess….

Last night…this morning.. All of it.

Was I going mad? Was it me?

Had I finally lost it and snapped?

Or…was there some sort of creature or whatever he was…stalking me in my house and in my dreams.

…was it a complete coincidence that at the exact time of 12:05 when Cassien and I were together, deaths, fires, attacks all happened…

It had to be, right? But what if it wasn’t…

When my work time was over, I didn’t go back to my apartment…I couldn’t.

Cassien knew my house and as long as I was there, he could come any time he wanted to.

Instead, I boarded a taxi and drove straight for a hotel.

Soon, I arrived at ‘Mel’s and Tels…’

A 3 STAR hotel…

From the outside, it didn’t look too bad.

I stepped out and walked right to confront a young girl at the reception desk.

She looked around my age, maybe a couple of years younger.

“Hi…I’m Carol, I would like a reservation.” I said kindly.

She returned it with a smile, then glanced through a book on her desk.

“Ok ma’am..”

Her eyes scanned through a list, then her expression changed.

That wasn’t a good sign.

“Carol Sinclair?” The lady asked.

“Yes. That’s me..”

My voice was a little strained for good reason.

I didn’t even tell her my surname, but somehow she has it.

“Ma’am..” her voice came again. “It says, OK on your records, that you already have a reservation… a V.I.P one intact.”

“What? No…you must have mistaken me with someone else. I—“

“Actually, we don’t. A reservation was made a half hour ago..”

Half an hour ago? VIP reservation..? Under my name…?

It didn’t make sense.

“Please, can I speak with your manager quickly…?” I asked sharply.

The lady hesitated, glancing at the door behind her and then at me.

“Yes. Follow me.” She stepped out and walked for the door. I followed behind her.

The door revealed a nice office…good conditioning, nice chairs, desks, spacing..everything.

“Sir… a customer has a complaint.”

The manager turned to face me now. He was middle-aged with glasses and a bald head.

The lady turned and excused me as I took a step closer to his desk.

“Good day, Miss. How can I help you?”

“..I think there’s some sort of mistake. I have a VIP reservation that I didn’t pay for..”

“Really?” He asked, popping up his laptop. “Your name?”

“Carol Sinclair..”

That stopped him. He shut the laptop carefully. “Miss. Carol?”

“Yes..”

“A gentleman called and made a reservation for you not long ago..”

A gentleman.. ? My breath caught immediately.

“He also delivered a letter specifically for you..”

The man moved through his drawers. Then pulled out a white envelope.

I didn’t have a good feeling about this, not at all.

He offered it and I took it.

Slowly, I peeled it open and brought out a card.

INVITATION LETTER

It read bodily at the top.

C.E.O of Kranac Technologies and Multi Billionaire Investor…invites you humbly to his home for the 20th Anniversary Celebration.

I felt my heart leave my chest at

that moment.

Kranac Technologies…biggest company in the whole of Manhattan.

How? Why me?

My eyes drifted towards the end of the letter.

Be there…

Humbly, C.E.O

…Cassien Kristof

My breath stilled.

No way…