CHAPTER THIRTY NINE
The Hunt Begins
Darkness swallowed the room.
The only source of light came from the fire dancing lazily inside the grand stone fireplace. Its crimson glow stretched across the polished floor, casting long, distorted shadows that seemed to move on their own.
A woman sat elegantly before the fire.
One slender leg crossed over the other.
A crystal glass of red wine rested loosely between her fingers.
The flames reflected off the crimson liquid, making it resemble fresh blood.
Her face remained hidden beneath the darkness.
The silence was suffocating.
Click...
The heavy wooden door creaked open.
A young servant cautiously stepped inside.
Her head remained bowed.
Her hands trembled so badly that the stack of files she carried nearly slipped from her grasp.
She
