Alpha's Secret Vengeance

CHAPTER-5

Shadows Converge

Lila's POV

Tension was thick in the air after the conflict. Mara's hideaway had long, unsettling shadows created by flickering lights. Damon held his gun ready and his foot planted on Mara's boss.

Then Damon yelled, "You have one chance," his eyes narrowing. You will regret not telling us everything.

The room reverberated with the unsettling sound of Mara's supervisor laughing. I spat, "You don't scare me." You are blind to what is ahead.

Approaching, Ryder steadied his weapon. His voice dead calm, he added, "We can do this the hard way, or the easy way." "Your selection."

The manager looked about, calculating. At last, they answered, "Fine," a voice full of contempt. Still, you're running late. There is already movement on the wheels."

Damon gripped harder now. Explain, he insisted.

The manager started, "They call themselves 'The Council of Shadows,'" in a mockingly low voice. "A web of elites driven by power. Plans you are not even able to fathom exist for this community."

Who are these people? Sliding forward, I asked. "Names, places. We must have details.

Laughing, the boss said. You wouldn't ever discover the names I gave you, even. These are ghosts, well visible."

A big crash reverberated from behind us before we could get any farther. Turning, we saw the surviving lieutenants desperately fleeing via a secret passageway.

"Alongside them!" Too late, Damon yelled. Their only legacy was echoes.

Ryder pushed, "We need to move, now," looking back at Mara's supervisor. "Where leads this passage?"

Blood coating their mouths, Mara's employer laughed once more. "You are not going to live. You are only getting started on your demise."

Damon motioned for us to follow ignoring the jeers. You stay here and watch them, Gavin. Try anything, don't think twice."

Nodding, Gavin's face was serious. Think carefully.

Moving quickly through the secret corridor, the walls pressed in on us. It got colder, and in the fluttering light, the shadows appeared to stretch and twist.

The scene in front of us as we came out into the open stopped my heart. The Silverwood suburbs were humming with bustle. Quietly moving among the trees were shadows.

With a widening of his eyes, Ryder said, "They're everywhere." We missed this, how?

Damon clamped his jaw. "We must identify the person operating as their leader."

We stopped still in the bushes at a startling rustle. A darkly clothed person emerged, their face veiled by a cowl. The shadows seemed to react to the figure raising their hand by encircling us.

The figure said, "You shouldn't have come here," their voice resonating uncannily. Now you won't ever go."

We pulled our guns, prepared to battle. Who are you? Damon snarled through the tension with his demand. Want what?

My spine shook at the figure's laughing. Serving The Council of Shadows, I am the Harbinger. Our intentions are hampered by you, hence you had to go."

The shadows came at us quickly and unnaturally before we could respond. We returned the favor, but the darkness seemed to have a life of its own and managed to get past our barriers.

"Retrench!" Urgently, Damon yelled. "Regrouping is necessary!"

The Harbinger laughing reverberated through the night as we withdrew. Dread descended upon us as we approached the edge of the forest. We had not anticipated the significantly darker opponent we were up against.

"Next step, what?" His breathing heavy, Ryder asked.

With determination, Damon looked around him. "We have to locate allies, those with experience countering this kind of evil. And we have to learn all there is to know about The Council of Shadows.

The weight of our goal bearing down on me, I nodded. My voice steady, I promised, "We'll stop them." "Nothing less will do."

Shadows appeared to trail us back into town, telling of the conflicts to come. There were still plenty of fight left, and the stakes were never higher.

There was a pall as we drove back into town, each of us absorbed in our thoughts. Whispering of the wars to come, the shadows appeared to follow. There was still a long way to go and the stakes were higher than ever.

We reassembled at a remote area outside of Silverwood, the pale moonlight creating unsettling shadows on our features. Breathing deeply, Damon looked around him. "We need to find allies, people who know how to fight this kind of darkness," he said in a firm yet hushed tone. "And we need to learn all we can about The Council of Shadows."

Ryder gave a sombre nod of agreement. "But who can we believe? Betrayed before, we have.

Mind racing, I responded, "We'll have to be careful." "But some folks out there still want to see this darkness end."

Damon looked directly at me, his eyes ablaze. You and Ryder should start asking around, Lila. Benignly. Tip off the incorrect folks is something we cannot afford. I'll inquire of any former acquaintances whether they had heard anything regarding this Council."

Ryder said, "Got it," resolve written all over his features. "We'll track down a volunteer."

A loud rustle in the bushes stopped us all as we were about to move. A pale-faced, terrified-looking young woman stepped out. Before her eyes fixed onto us, she scantly peered about.

You are who? Readying his firearm, Damon commanded.

Shaking, she said, "I'm Elise." "I heard you talking to yourself. The Council of Shadows is something I am aware of. They snatched up my family.

The pupils of Damon narrowed. Why ought we to believe you?

Breathing deeply, Elise tried to center herself. "Because I want to put an end to them just as badly. And someone I know can assist."

Just who? With suspicions clearly in his voice, Ryder asked.

"Caleb," she said. "He has spent years opposing The Council. More than anybody, he is knowledgeable with their activities."

I shot Damon a quick look. "We need to find him where?"

Elise urged, "Follow me," as she took us farther into the forest. We trailed warily, all of our senses alert.

We arrived at a little cabin tucked up amid the trees after what seemed like an eternity of anxious silence. Elise tapped on the door frantically, her gaze flitting across the clearing.

The door groaningly opened to show a man with piercing eyes and a worn face. He looked at us suspiciously, then when he saw Elise, his eyes softened.

Quietly, he said, "Elise," moving aside to let us inside. "Why are you here?"

With a gesture toward us, Elise said, "These people are looking for Caleb."

The man glanced at us and his eyes sparked with recognition. Low and steady, he said, "I'm Caleb." Want what?

With a step forward, Damon said, "We need your help." "We are up against The Council of Shadows. We have barely touched the surface of their schemes; they have been controlling everything from the shadows."

Caleb became gloomier. "I've tracked them for years," he said. "They're dangerous and they won't stop until they have total control."

We need information, Ryder said. Details, addresses, anything that will enable us to remove them.

Caleb gave us a long look and then slowly nodded. "All right," he said at last. "We will need to move fast, though. They won't be gone for very long."

The seriousness of our situation became evident as Caleb started to describe his understanding of The Council's workings. An opponent with more reach and resources than we could have ever dreamed existed was before us.

Damon remarked, "We'll need allies," his voice firm. "People prepared to retaliate."

Caleb nodded as well. "I know a couple who might be willing to join us," he said. "But we'll need to go slowly."

The weight of our task bearing down on me, I said, "We can't afford to make any mistakes."

Caleb glanced at everyone of us in turn. His voice firm, "Then we'll need a plan," he continued. "And we'll need to be ready for whatever comes next."

The shadows outside appeared to grow deeper as we crowded into Caleb's hut, murmuring of the wars to come. We were still fighting The Council of Shadows, and our next action would be important.