Chapter 108 Ambition

*One*

"Well, I ask because that's the army Aranck is looking for, but he needs the rest of his disciples to help him. I need to get to the penitentiary and move every single mage out of there and under my protection."

Penitentiary...Diana needed to go to the Wolf Penitentiary. I glanced at Alpha Connor who chuckled ever so faintly. I knew what he was thinking. Sorry, that is one place I don't ever want to go to.

While they were engrossed in their discussion, I slowly backed away from them. My car was parked near the back of restaurant so all I had to do was go through the alleyway to get to the street parallel to this one. While they were busy deciding where to put the mages, I made a run for it. As much as I wanted to find Andrew so he could continue elixir production, I couldn't risk getting arrested and thrown into one of those silver cells. If the High Lord Wolf was meeting them there, that only meant Captain Hathaway would be there with him and it was best to assume if he saw me with the group, he would lock me up and throw away the key.

I stopped near the end of the alleyway to think and decide the best course of action. Should I take my car or ride a taxi instead? I just couldn't leave my car here, especially after what had happened. Where should I go? Should I hide? I had a house in the Hamptons. I should probably go there and take a break from all this mess.

I ran my hands through my hair in frustration. What have I gotten myself into this time? Evil spirits from the time of the previous black wolf are coming back to life, taking the bodies of unsuspecting wolves. They had a leader named Aranck who was just as big as the Chief, but better looking. Aranck had straight teeth while the Chief had crooked pointy teeth. Aranck smiled while the Chief scowled most of the time. If it weren't for the jet black hair and olive colored skin, I would say they were two different people just like Theodora and Twelve.

And what the hell happened to Eric Lockwood? Did he change into one of the members of Aranck's cult? I'll try and call him later. Maybe he was like me...an unchosen. I mean he was old with no magical powers. If I were a spirit, I would definitely not chose him to be my vessel. Diana was right. I would look for a mage or a priestess to be my vessel so I could become powerful. Then maybe I could turn things around for me.

I walked to the end of the alleyway and peeked around the corner hoping Aranck and his buds were long gone. I did stab one of them like five times. If I bump into him here, I'm sure he will extract pay back and even the score. I peeked further out into the street to check if anyone was standing near my car. No one was there. I looked across the street to check if there was someone in a black cloak. There were only people walking along the sidewalk. Phew. It was snowing again and I silently thanked the Moon Goddess for providing me some cover.

I lifted up my scarf to hide my face, placed my hands inside my pockets, bent my head down low and walked quickly to my car. I took out one hand and pressed my car key to unlock the doors. I made sure no one was headed towards me before I jumped into the driver's seat. I hurriedly closed the door and put my seatbelt on. Oh, thank you Moon Goddess! I can go back to my office on Broadway and forget this whole thing ever happened!

I turned on the ignition and lifted my hand to adjust my rear view mirror. There staring back at me through the reflection of the mirror where three men in black cloaks. Startled, I gave out a girl kind of yelp. Aranck, who was seated in the middle with his left eye totally slashed, smiled at me sinisterly while he and the one behind me grabbed my coat and neck before I could get out. The power door locks all moved to lock all of us inside. I kept my gaze on the rear view mirror to help me defend myself if necessary. Aranck held my gaze with his one eye.  He may have only one eye, but it was still the creepy shade of red-orange.

"Theodora's servant. You and Eric Lockwood here are friends," Aranck said, his blood dripping on the leather of the center console. He knows E.L.!

"Eric Lockwood? Where is he? What have you done with him?" I asked him. Aranck laughed and let go of my coat and sat back while his friend kept a tight hold on my neck.

"Why don't you ask him?" Aranck replied. "Gamma, introduce yourself to the rogue."

"Certainly, Master," the one holding my throat against the seat of my car answered. I felt him move forward, bringing his mouth to my ear. "I am Chester, Gamma to Aranck. I am the one who uses Eric Lockwood's body as a vessel, the one you stabbed multiple times with a dagger." I could feel his breath near my ear. "I ought to break your neck for wounding me, but you are bound to Theodora, my Luna. I will tell you this, rogue, Eric Lockwood is stuck all alone in a dark space with no way to get out." Well, at least I know Eric is fine.

"S-sorry about that, Chester," I apologized. He let go of me after I had said sorry. "If I had known you were Eric Lockwood, I wouldn't have stabbed you." I would have still kicked you down the staircase though. Anyone against the wolves, rogue or not, is an enemy of mine. "So how are those stab wounds of yours? Do you need to see a doctor?" I asked him, turning in my seat to face the three of them. I saw a puzzled expression on their face. "Right. You don't know what a doctor is." I paused trying to simplify things. "It's what the humans call a healer." Aranck's good eye widened and his thin lips turned into a smile.

"I have already healed these two. I need a "doctor" for myself and I know where to find one," Aranck said happily. I opened the glove compartment and took a clean hand towel inside and handed it to Aranck.

"Uhm, place the towel on your eye and apply some pressure so you can stop the bleeding." He nodded his head and did what I had instructed him to do without complaint.

I turned to sit properly in my seat and placed my hands on the steering wheel. I could drive them to where they had to go. And to think I had Eric Lockwood with me. I will be their designated driver. Easy-peasy.

"So, where do you want me to take you?" I asked Aranck. He again gave me that truly unnerving sinister grin of his, but it was his friend on his right who answered my question.

"Wolf Penitentiary, rogue," the one on the right of Aranck replied. "We seek mages and it is the nearest place which houses several. In no time at all, the Black Resistance will be resurrected and we will block the black wolf from becoming the Alpha among the Alphas. Once again Aranck and his Luna, Theodora, will reign supreme over the filth known as humans."

Fuck! I should have just gone with Diana and her group. I slowly maneuvered my car unto the snowy street and drove towards the opposite direction. I can't go to the penitentiary. Over my dead body.

"Rogue, maneuver this vehicle towards the right direction or I will kill you. You may be bound to Theodora, but I am Alpha. My word is law," he threatened me.

"Fine. Go ahead and kill me. This car will crash and all of you will die," I thought. I wanted to say the words out loud, but I decided against it. I'll reserve this for another day. Right now, I had to follow them or I'll be a sitting duck. I made a turn at the stoplight and drove towards the penitentiary.

Anyway, Diana and her group would be there. If they see each other onside, I hope Diana makes the decision to stop Aranck and his friends once and for all.

That's the solution I was hoping for.

I drove through the Bronx without GPS 1since I was familiar with the area. Most of my underground transactions happened here since it was close to the Chief's headquarters. I needed to be near an ally to be sure I had protection at all times. This was one reason why the Chief was so expensive to keep on my payroll.

There was a side entrance at the Wolf Penitentiary where I've seen the Chief enter a few times. I decided it was best if I took Aranck there. I expect it was also closer to the infirmary. I've seen the ambulance come out of that entrance as well when Second and I drove past from our transactions... so technically, I wasn't spying

I stopped beside the gate of the side entrance of the penitentiary and pointed at it. "I've seen the Chief go through this gate a few times to enter the penitentiary. You will find a healer inside," I told them. "I'm sorry, but someone like me is not allowed inside. I will wait for you here...well, over there exactly." I pointed at a vacant parking space.

Aranck closed his one good eye and grinned. "Yes, I can sense power here." He threw the bloody towel at me. "I no longer require your services, however it is practical if you stay. Men, come, let us build our army." All three of them stepped out of the car and Aranck, using one hand, magically opened the gates of the penitentiary.

I parked and took out a plastic bag to place the towel inside for future use.

Blood from a vessel of an evil spirit can be just as powerful as the being. Maybe I could give it to Diana. Tiptoe my way into her good graces.
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*Warden*

"Sir, someone has breached the perimeter," one of the Wolf Troops said, barging into my office. I raised a puzzled eyebrow at him.

"Do you know who it is?" I asked. "Does he look familiar?"

"Sir, he is as big as the Chief with same dark hair, but he doesn't look familiar at all," the Wolf Troop answered. "He wants to see our healer. His eye, Sir, has been scratched and is leaking blood. He doesn't seem to have wolf healing properties so, I'm thinking he isn't a wolf." Healer? Does he probably mean doctor? 

What great timing! I had the High Lord Wolf on the way to process the release or transfer of the mages we had in our custody. On top of that the black wolf is on the way there too. I stood up and threw my pen on my desk. I had to fix this before the High Lord Wolf arrived.

I followed the Wolf Troop towards the side entrance of the penitentiary. There stood three men in black cloaks surrounded by a team of my best troops. All three men had one characteristic in common, they all had red eyes. Well, the tallest one had one red eye. The other eye appeared to have been slashed with something sharp.

"I am the Warden of this facility. What seems to be the problem and how did you get inside?" I asked.

"My heir, the Chief, is a prominent figure in your military. I was told I could find a healer here to fix my eye," he answered. I didn't know the Chief had family. His file said he was orphaned with no close relative to speak of.

"Well, if it's a doctor you're looking for, there are two of them through there." I pointed at the sliding doors. I suddenly heard a helicopter coming in from a distance. It must be the High Lord Wolf. "However, I need to arrest you and take you into custody. This is a restricted area. No one without permission can enter the premises. Guards, sieze them!"

The tall man with one eye, raised his hand in the sky and all my men stopped in their tracks. They then turned around and aimed their weapons at me. I raised my hands in surrender. I didn't want to die. The tall man laughed gleefully at the sudden turn of events.

"I don't think so, Warden," he said, sneering at me. Your men will aid me in my quest to defeat the black wolf!"

"Men, stand down!" I ordered the men. "The High Lord Wolf is on his way and will not take your coup lightly. Although I do not enjoy his visits, he is still the leader of the wolves and I, the warden of this facility. I order you to stand down now!"

"So this High Lord Wolf is your leader. Is it true the black wolf is also on her way?" The tall man asked, obviously enjoying himself. I coughed nervously. I was giving him too much information and I didn't know who he was or why he was here other than the healer. Was he the reason why the mages were being transferred so haphazardly?

"That information is strictly confidential. You are not entitled to any information, whoever you are!" I yelled at him. His eye narrowed and again, he raised his hand.

"I am Aranck, leader of the Black Resistance, and you, Warden, I command you to do my bidding. Is the black wolf on her way here?" I found myself answering his questions. I couldn't stop myself. I no longer had any control.

"Yes. Diana Lockwood-Crowne will be here shortly to meet with the High Lord Wolf," I answered politely. He smiled, but his smile did not reach his one red eye which was glinting mischievously.

"See, Warden, that was not so hard. I order your men to stop the black wolf until I have finished with my purpose here. As for you, Warden, you will tie up the High Lord Wolf and threaten to kill him unless she gives in to your demands. Do not, I repeat, do not fail me. I will kill you myself," he warned. "If you are successful, I will make sure, Warden, you will become the High Lord Wolf. I will now have the healer help me with my wound." He clapped and everyone scurried to do his bidding including me. Aranck and his two men went to the infirmary to have his wound tended to.

The High Lord Wolf would have a set of bodyguards with him. I needed a team to disarm his guards and assist me in bringing him to my office.

"I need a team with me to welcome the High Lord Wolf and a team to welcome Diana Lockwood-Crowne. And make sure the mages in maximum security are well guarded, men. If all goes well, you are looking at the next High Lord Wolf."

My men laughed merrily. Finally, I will get the position all wolves in this country wanted. An ambition I thought would never happen.