CHAPTER ONE
1725 Words
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CHAPTER ONE
Italy — The Infernal Syndicate
Silence hung over the empire like a funeral veil.
Hundreds of armed mobsters stood in perfect rows with their heads lowered, none daring to utter a single word. The atmosphere was so tense that even the sound of a falling pin would have echoed through the enormous hall.
At the center of the room sat the man every soul feared.
Azrael.
No one knew his real name.
No one dared to ask.
His crimson eyes glowed with terrifying fury as they settled on the trembling man kneeling before him.
The poor man's entire body shook uncontrollably. Sweat poured down his face, soaking the marble floor beneath him.
Standing beside Azrael's throne was his trusted lieutenant, Nyra. Calm, fearless, and deadly, she was the only person in the empire who could stand close to him without trembling.
Azrael leaned forward, his deep voice slicing through the silence.
"I'm only going to ask once."
His eyes narrowed.
"Were you responsible for the missing shipment?"
The kneeling man lowered his head even further, unable to speak.
"ANSWER ME!"
The hall shook violently as Azrael's voice echoed like thunder, sending fear through every mobster present.
Finally, the man burst into tears.
"Y-Yes, Boss! It was me! Please... forgive me!"
Azrael slowly rose from his throne.
"There is only one punishment for betrayal."
The air turned cold.
Invisible blades appeared from the darkness, surrounding the terrified traitor.
His screams echoed throughout the empire.The terrified man collapsed face-first onto the cold marble floor.
"Forgive me, Boss!" he cried, his voice breaking with fear. "Please... I'll never betray you again!"
Azrael looked down at him without a trace of pity.
"Forgiveness is a gift," he said coldly. "One you no longer deserve."
The room fell deathly silent.
Without moving a single finger, Azrael unleashed his power.
Thin, invisible blades sliced through the air like ghosts.
"AHHHHH!"
The traitor's agonizing screams echoed throughout the hall as the blades pierced his flesh from every direction. Blood stained the marble floor while the mobsters remained frozen in place, too terrified to look away and too afraid to close their eyes.
Within seconds, the screams stopped.
His lifeless body collapsed into a pool of crimson.
A young female mobster suddenly fell to her knees.
"Boss... please show him mercy..."
Before she could finish speaking, a sharp, invisible blade flashed through the air.
Her words died with her.
Her body hit the floor with a heavy thud.
Nobody dared to breathe.
Azrael slowly turned his icy gaze toward the remaining mobsters.
"If anyone else has betrayed me," he said calmly, "step forward now."
Silence.
"I promise you'll receive a quicker death than the one you just witnessed."
Not a single person moved.
A faint smile tugged at the corner of Azrael's lips—a smile more terrifying than his anger.
"Good."
In the blink of an eye, he disappeared.
The throne room was empty.
The mobsters immediately released the breaths they had been holding, several of them dropping to their knees as relief washed over them.
Nyra folded her arms and glanced around the blood-soaked hall.
"Clean this mess," she ordered before walking away without another glance.
---
Azrael's Chamber
Nyra approached the massive black doors with her usual confident smile.
Just as she reached them, her expression darkened.
Kael.
He was strolling toward the chamber with three provocatively dressed women following behind him.
Nyra folded her arms.
"And where exactly are you taking them?"
Kael smirked.
"To the boss."
"Take them back."
"Excuse me?"
"I said they're not going inside."
Kael laughed.
"You don't make the rules, Nyra."
He gestured toward the women.
"Go."
The three women hurried toward the chamber, but the moment they reached the entrance, an invisible barrier pushed them backward.
They stumbled in surprise.
Kael's smile disappeared.
"You created a barrier?"
Nyra shrugged.
"I simply prevented unwanted guests."
Kael's emerald eyes glowed.
A violent gust of wind lifted Nyra high into the air.
Instead of panicking, she crossed her arms and smirked.
"You'll have to do better than that."
Kael chuckled.
"Gladly."
Dark, invisible chains suddenly wrapped around her wrists and ankles, suspending her helplessly above the floor.
Nyra struggled against them.
"Kael!"
"I'm only borrowing a few minutes."
With a wave of his hand, the barrier vanished.
"You may enter," he told the women.
They hurried into Azrael's chamber.
The moment they disappeared, the magical chains dissolved.
Nyra landed hard on the floor.
"Ouch!"
She rubbed her shoulder before glaring toward the chamber doors.
"You'll regret this, Kael," she muttered.
"I swear I'll make you pay.”
The Training Grounds
The sharp crack of gunfire echoed across the massive training arena.
Smoke curled from the barrel of Vesper's pistol as another target exploded into pieces.
She lowered the weapon, her emerald eyes burning with fury.
Scarlet, who stood beside her with folded arms, sighed heavily.
"I still can't believe Draven is gone."
Vesper remained silent.
"He was your best friend," Scarlet continued softly. "But I still don't understand why Lyra begged the boss to spare him."
The mention of Lyra's name made Vesper's grip tighten around her pistol.
"Don't say her name."
Her cold voice sliced through the air.
Scarlet raised both hands.
"Easy. I'm only saying—"
"I said don't."
Before Scarlet could answer, a playful voice interrupted them.
"Both of you need to calm down."
Cassian walked toward them with his usual carefree smile, spinning a dagger between his fingers.
"Draven was my friend too."
Vesper laughed bitterly.
"Then you should know he deserved to die."
"He betrayed us."
"And traitors deserve nothing but death."
A new voice joined the conversation.
"Exactly."
Raven stepped into the arena, adjusting the black gloves on her hands.
"There'll be no mourning inside the Syndicate."
"We have orders to move on."
Zephyra smirked as she leaned against the shooting range.
"Actually..."
"I heard there's going to be a celebration tonight."
"A celebration?"
Scarlet frowned.
"For what?"
"For the death of two traitors."
Vesper's eyes flashed dangerously.
"You think that's funny?"
The air around her suddenly rippled with supernatural energy.
Invisible force shot toward Zephyra.
Before it could reach her, Cassian flicked his wrist.
A shimmering shield appeared between them, scattering the attack into harmless sparks.
"Oh, here we go again," Scarlet muttered.
The heavy doors of the arena burst open.
Azure strode inside with confident steps, her icy blue eyes locking onto Vesper.
"You've got anger issues."
Vesper turned slowly.
"And you've got a death wish."
Within seconds, both women were standing face to face.
The room fell silent.
Everyone knew what happened whenever those two met.
Chaos.
Azure folded her arms.
"If you've got a problem..."
"Do something about it."
Vesper smiled.
It wasn't a friendly smile.
It was the smile of someone ready to kill.
Just as she took a step forward, someone appeared between them.
Damien.
He didn't raise his voice.
He didn't even look angry.
"That's enough."
Only two words.
Yet they carried enough authority to stop Vesper in her tracks.
She glared at Azure for another second before lowering her weapon.
"This isn't over."
Azure smirked.
"I'll be waiting."
Without another word, Vesper turned and walked away, disappearing through a portal of black smoke.
The tension in the room finally eased.
Cassian let out a long breath.
"I seriously thought she'd kill someone today."
Raven shook her head.
"She still blames Lyra for what happened."
Damien looked toward the doorway where Vesper had disappeared.
"No."
He spoke quietly.
"She blames herself.”
Silver Hollow, Greece
The peaceful village of Silver Hollow was nothing like the Infernal Syndicate.
Instead of gunfire and bloodshed, the evening air carried the sweet songs of birds returning to their nests. Children laughed as they chased one another through the narrow streets, while shopkeepers prepared to close for the day.
Selene hurried along the dusty road with a woven basket in her hands.
Her silver bracelet jingled softly against her wrist as she smiled at everyone she passed.
"Good evening, Mrs. Helena," she greeted an elderly woman arranging flowers outside her cottage.
The old woman smiled warmly.
"Back from the market already?"
Selene nodded.
"I sold every bracelet today."
"That's wonderful, child."
"It is." Selene's smile brightened. "Grandmother will be so happy."
She thanked the woman before continuing toward the small cottage she called home.
The cheerful expression on her face disappeared the moment she pushed the wooden door open.
"Grandmother?"
Silence.
Her heart skipped.
She stepped farther inside.
"Grandmother?"
Then she saw her.
Elara lay on the floor, tears streaming down her wrinkled cheeks.
The basket slipped from Selene's hands, sending fresh bread rolling across the floor.
"Grandmother!"
She rushed over and helped the old woman sit up.
"What happened? Are you hurt?"
Elara shook her head, unable to meet her granddaughter's eyes.
"I'm sorry..."
"Sorry for what?"
"I borrowed money."
Selene froze.
Her voice became barely a whisper.
"From... them?"
Elara slowly nodded.
"I had no choice."
"You were dying, Selene."
"There wasn't enough money for your medicine."
"I couldn't just watch you suffer."
Tears welled in Selene's eyes.
"Oh, Grandmother..."
"How much do we owe?"
"Fifty euros."
Selene's face turned pale.
She quickly opened her purse and counted the money she'd earned selling handmade bracelets.
Ten euros.
That was all.
"I only made ten today."
Elara reached out and gently wiped away the tears rolling down Selene's cheeks.
"I've managed to save twenty."
"Together, we have thirty."
Selene clenched the money tightly.
"They'll never accept that."
"I know."
Silence settled between them.
Then Selene suddenly stood.
"I'll go back into town."
"It's getting late."
"I don't care."
"I'll find a way."
Elara slowly rose beside her.
"No."
"We'll face this together."
The old woman smiled despite the fear hidden in her eyes.
"No matter what happens."
Selene nodded.
Together, they stepped out of the cottage.
Neither of them noticed the black SUV parked beneath the trees at the end of the road.
Inside the vehicle, a scar-faced man lowered a pair of binoculars.
"There she is."
A cruel smile spread across his face.
"The debt won't be paid with money."
His eyes followed Selene as she disappeared into the village.
"It'll be paid with her."
The engine roared to life.
Hidden in the gathering darkness, the vehicle slowly drove away.
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