Chapter 70 Bait

*Fifteen*

My phone was vibrating in my pocket. I took it out and looked at the screen. It was One. I had to pick it up.

"One, my man, sorry, I didn't call you right away," I greeted him.

"Did you find the mage?" One asked.

"Nope, both the warehouse and the mansion are empty. And I can't find any supply of the elixir," I told him.

"Have you been to the basement of the mansion?"

"There's a basement in this place? We haven't found any stairs that lead to a basement. Attic, yes. Basement, no," I said.

"There's a secret door in the laundry room. The last time Second was there, the security code was 11-24-75. I hope he hasn't changed it," One said.

"Okay. Hold on and let me check." The laundry room was near the kitchen. I gestured to one of my men to follow me.

I opened the door to the laundry room and scanned the area. I looked at the floor near the wall where the washing machine was placed against. It had scuff marks. I pushed the washing machine away from the wall just a bit to check if there was anything on the wall behind it. On a portion of the wall was an outline of a square. I pushed it and it slid open to reveal a security panel. Damn. This was well thought of.

I typed in the security code that One gave me and crossed my fingers, hoping the code hadn't been changed. The wall suddenly moved to show a pair of steel doors which opened to reveal an elevator.

"One, we're in luck. I have found the entrance to the basement," I said.

"Call me once you find the mage or any of the elixir. I will promote you if you do," One said and hung up. I placed my phone back into my pocket and gestured to the wolf who was with me to enter the elevator. After he went in and nothing bad happened, I followed him inside. When you're dealing with a mage, you can't let your guard down.

I pressed the button and down we went. I was impressed. The mage upgraded this place. I remember when this place was in ruins. He must earn a lot of money selling the elixir in the black market.

The elevator suddenly stopped and the doors opened to reveal a laboratory. I walked out and covered my nose. The place smelled like a decaying corpse!

"This place smells worse than our trailer," Omega 8 said.

Where was that smell coming from? I walked over to the huge vat at the end of the laboratory which was covered by a huge steel lid. The smell was strongest in this area. There was a short stepping ladder beside it. I took it and placed it near the vat so I could open the lid. I took out my trusty bandana from my back pocket and tied it infront of my face.

"You sure you want to open that?!" Omega 8 asked, surprised.

"It smells like a decaying corpse down here. Whoever was here might have killed the mage. I just need to check if he's in here," I told him.

"Hold on. I need to put something to cover my nose. It fucking stinks!"

"Well, then hurry up! I'm closest to the source. If it smells bad there, imagine what it's like here," I yelled at him. I waited for him to cover his nose with a pair of gloves he had in his pocket.

I touch the lid to check if it was hot. It wasn't. "I'm going to open the lid now. Inhale deeply so you don't breathe in the stench," I told Omega 8. He nodded his head and gave me the thumbs up sign. I inhaled deeply and held my breath. Well, here goes nothing.

I opened the lid and found a slightly bloated, blistery red burnt body of a man who still had his clothes on swimming in a pile of what looked like cooked human skin. It wasn't the mage, but he looked a bit familiar even in his grotesque state. I dropped the lid, rushed down the ladder and backed away from it.

"There's a dead man in there," I said, while coughing and gagging. "It's not the mage, but I think I've seen him before. I think it's Jonathan, Elder Allen's butler."

"The guy who helps kidnap humans?! He's in there?!" Omega 8 said.

"Yeah, cooked apparently." I looked at the lab table near the office and saw some bottles and boxes. "Check if those boxes have elixir in them." I pointed to the boxes. Omega 8 walked to the boxes, picked up a bottle and opened it.

"Eureka! Elixir! About a dozen boxes. One is sure going to be happy," he said. He put the cover of the bottle back on and placed it in his pocket.

"What the fuck are you doing?! Do you know how much that costs in the black market?" I asked him.

"Yep, and it won't hurt if we take one. One doesn't know how many bottles are in these boxes anyway. Here, Fifteen, take one. Come on, live a little. It'll help us when we need to move around. Anyway, we never get anything from One. He can't even give us enough for beers," Omega 8 complained. I stared at him. He had a point.

"Fine. One box is ours to sell. The other boxes, we give to One. I have a couple of buyers who want that stuff. Since the mage is missing, we can sell that for double the usual price in the black market," I said. "Let me check what's in the office first before we head topside with the elixir. You never know the mage might have money in there or maybe more elixir."

I punched in the security code and entered the office. I opened up any drawer or cabinet door I could find. I yanked out the cushions on the sofa. There was nothing. I decided to check the stack of books that were lying on the coffee table. I picked up a rather heavy and thick book. I opened it and in the middle was a couple of bundles of hundred dollar bills where the pages were supposed to be. Now this was what I really wanted. MONEY! I stuffed the money in the waistband of my underwear. No one is going to take this away from me. I glanced at Omega 8 and he was busy placing the boxes of elixir on a hand truck. He didn't notice I found cash.

I opened the other books, but unfortunately, they were real books. I stacked the books neatly on the coffee table, exited the office and went back to Omega 8.

"Nothing inside the office. Let's get these boxes topside," I said. I punched in the security code and the elevator doors opened. Omega 8 pushed the hand truck with the boxes in the elevator and I followed him inside. I, then, pushed the button on the elevator panel and up we went.

I tried to keep myself from smiling as we went back up. I had some cash on me and I was going to nick a box of elixir. At least my men and I wouldn't have to think about cash for a while. We can just lounge around, drink beer and enjoy Christmas.

I was thinking of what to buy for myself when the elevator doors opened. I stepped out into the laundry room followed by Omega 8 who had the boxes in tow. I was about to turn the knob of the door of the laundry room when Omega 8 spoke.

"What happened to the music?" Omega 8 asked. When we left the group, the music was playing loudly from the living room area.

I shrugged my shoulders. "Maybe they turned it off. Come on, let's see what they've been up to," I said. I opened the door and jumped, utterly shocked to see what was waiting for us on the other side of the door.

"Put your hands up where I can see them," a Wolf Trooper said, his gun filled with silver bullets aimed at my head.

I froze. I couldn't understand why were they here and what was going on. Was this a double-cross? Or was this all staged so One could come here? Was the elixir that was left behind bait? Or maybe there was a trip-wire somewhere which alerted Wolf Troops to arrive at the scene?

I heaved a sigh. I was at a loss. Whatever the reason why these Wolf Troops were here, me and my men...we were done for. I knew one day we would be going to prison, I just didn't expect we'd go so soon.

"Show me your hands." I raised my hands in the air. I still wanted to live. I glanced behind me and I could see Omega 8 had also followed and was raising his hands in the air. I heard footsteps coming towards us through the hallway. It sounded like another Wolf Trooper.

"I found these two coming out from the laundry room, Sir," the Wolf Trooper said, still aiming his weapon at my head.

"Good job, Belmont," I heard his superior say. His superior was a tall wolf who had good posture. I couldn't tell who he was with his visor on. Honestly, I didn't care who he was. He was just another bastard who used the law for his own gain. "Escort them to the front of the mansion."

"You heard the man, move it!" The Wolf Troop named Belmont said, nodding his head towards the entrance of the mansion. I inhaled and exhaled deeply and unwillingly turned to walk towards the front of the mansion. There was nothing else I could do. It was either resist and die or cooperate. I still wanted to live. You never know I might be given a pardon one day.

About several steps out in the hallway, I heard a thud. I turned around and saw Belmont on the floor in front of his superior who then bent down and twisted his neck, killing him. I was shocked beyond words.

"Take the cargo of elixir and leave through there," he said, pointing at a door. "This will lead you to the garage that has a door that exits to the fence. At the fence there is a small door that exits into the forest. Head due east about 3 clicks from here. You'll find a car there. Hurry!"

Omega 8 and I didn't need anymore convincing. We wheeled the cargo out the door and into the garage through the door that lead to the fence. Once we were in the forest, we hurriedly walked to where the wolf said we should go. Waiting was an empty car with the keys in the ignition. We packed all the boxes in the car and was about to make our getaway when we heard gunfire. It was safe to assume the rest of my men were assassinated at the mansion.

"Fifteen, let's go. I hear a helicopter coming this way. The main road isn't far from here. We get to it, we're off scot-free," Omega 8 said. I jumped into the car and Omega 8 drove out to the main road. We sped away, thanking our lucky stars the helicopter didn't see us.

One's network has infiltrated the Wolf Troop. The evil among wolves runs deep.

______________________


*Harriet Crowne *

"Mom, are you alright? You seem scared of something," Kate asked. She was seated at the kitchen island, playing around with her tablet.

"I'm fine, dear. Just a bit tired. Go get dressed. We need to find you a ball gown," I replied.

"Sure, Mom. Any chance I can wear jeans?"

"I wouldn't mind, but the High Lord Wolf might not allow you inside the ballroom," I answered.

"Fine, I'll wear a gown, but only for tonight." Kate jumped out of her chair so she could go to her room and get ready for shopping. I leaned on the kitchen island deciding whether I should push through and go to the ball.

I didn't mean to hang up on Ethan. I had to think. Ethan who has been mated to the black wolf is clearly saved from any punishment she may render. However, I am not.

The black wolf has been reborn. This must be the reason why Lucas had hidden his daughter. She was important, more important than his position. When the rumors spread of Lucas's disappearance, every wolf had an opinion. I kept my mouth shut and never made a comment. All these wolves did not know Lucas like I did.

Yes, I made my own speculations and assumptions. I had thought he ran off with his human mate, but even then, that was not a big enough reason for Lucas to leave. He would not turn his back on his pack if he didn't have a good enough reason. Apparently, he left to save the life of his daughter, the one who was blessed with the black wolf.

And now she has come of age. The black wolf and her are now one. The sickness wasn't just a bad reaction to the Blood Moon. It was the black wolf's way of marking the wolves she would eventually punish.

Tonight, all the members of the Council of Wolves will be attending the Christmas Ball. I have already received news that many of them had fallen ill last night. This can only mean, when they meet Diana, they will fall to their deaths.

When I RSVP'd to the invitation via email, I was immediately sent a program of the Christmas Ball. I scanned through it and read that this year, the High Lord Wolf and a special guest will be presenting awards to the Council members. He will also be announcing the nominees for High Councilman. It is very rare for the High Lord Wolf to mingle with the wolves. There lies the bait.

The election for High Councilman is said to happen on New Year's eve. Three positions have been vacated. Two had retired while one had died of old age. Six Elders will be nominated, the longest reigning Elder is automatically included. After the election for High Councilman, the three newly-elected High Councilman may then nominate two wolves each to take their place as Elder. I knew Edward had been meeting with a number of possible nominees for High Councilman in the hopes of gaining a seat as Elder in the Council of Wolves.

Elder Eric Lockwood, I assumed, will definitely attend. I wonder, does he know about Diana? He will have the shock of his life when he crosses paths with Lucas and meets Diana at the ball.

Well, if I die tonight, at least I will die watching Eric Lockwood burn.

It's worth the risk. I've made up my mind.

I'm going.