Chapter 74 : The Trap

The elevator was clanging as it moved down. Rakiza and Theo were leaning against the wall at the back of some regulars. And there was an odd silence among the group. They weren't talking, maybe because they were all deep in thought and sadness.
The elevator door had opened and the clanking had stopped. Theo took Rakiza's hand in his and motioned for her to wait until the rest of the group exited the elevator, and then wait again for the rest of the group to board the wheeled cart that would take them to a large hole in the tunnel. And they were left alone while they waited for the cart to return.
"Are you ready for the consequences?" Theo asked, holding Rakiza's hand.
"Yes," Rakiza stated emphatically, "there's no turning back; if this mission kills me, that's my destiny, and I'm not afraid of it."
"Just keep your weapon hidden," Theo sighed, "and make sure you cover your face with your cape's hood."
"You were worried about me, but please don't be," Rakiza said with a smile. "You must also look after yourself."
"They're coming down. Ajella with a few fighters," Theo said after a brief silence.
"That would be nice," Rakiza said. And they could hear the wheeled cart returning to them. The cart was self-driven. And Theo had seen how things were done.
After a few moments, the elevator began to descend again, and Ajella and her group emerged at the bottom. "Everyone is here."
"All right, it's showtime," Theo said as he led the group to the wheeled cart after splitting them into two groups. The second group will be led by Ajella. It had already been planned. Theo and Rakiza will concentrate on Nikolas' location, while Ajella's group will act as cover fighters. And Lupe will be prepared to transport Nikolas along with Chin. And one accomplished of Lupe was assigned to put poison in the water tank with wolfbane powder ahead of them.
"We just hope that everything goes as planned," Theo told the group. "All right, let's do it." Theo signaled, "Clear your mind for link Ajella," Theo said. Ajella nodded and looked at Theo.
Theo's group was the first to ride the cart, and everything went swimmingly. Rakiza's heart pounded hard as the cart continued to clang as they approached the secret underground of the old publishing house. Rakiza reflected on Lyra's exposure: "The underground was a meeting place for all the night shift workers." She had said, "You must use the Lux Solaris secret entrance with some of the workers; it was possibly open for the night's events for all the vampires in town."
The blueprint was extremely beneficial to them. They'd memorized the routes up to the old publishing house and back to the Lux Solaris Cafe. Lupe was waiting for them to return to the fourth floor of the publishing house at the back door exit.
From a distance, they could hear music as the cart accelerated. It's a modern vampire celebration. "Be prepared; we don't know what lies ahead; there are only thirty of us against them."
The rock music became louder as they approached the event's epicenter. "Cover your face with your hood and let us do our job," they all said, spraying a misdirection scent to mask their true werewolf scent. "We fight as humans as much as possible with our weapons, never shifting unless absolutely necessary."
The wheeled cart abruptly came to a halt, and everyone disembarked and dispersed. There were about a hundred people in the basement. Rakiza had never seen such a massive underground hall.
Theo and Rakiza moved through the crowd. As they pushed their way through the thick dancing crowd, Theo gripped Rakiza's hand even tighter. "They invited their prey," Theo hushed tensely into Rakiza's ears. "This is going to be a bloody night for them."
Rakiza noticed Ajella walking closer to the drinks and into the elevator. According to the blue print they studied, an elevator in the basement was used to transport passengers to the upper level of the old publishing house.
"Ajella was going up for her mission," Theo explained to Rakiza. "We need to get closer to the real human visitors."
Rakiza was looking for Nikolas, but "he wasn't around."
Theo drew Rakiza's jaw to the left. "Take a look at the chair."
"It's an electric chair," Rakiza exclaimed. "They're going to roast Nikolas there." She was stunned.
"Don't worry, we're here to help him, right?" Theo reassured her. "I guarantee you he can't sit in that chair."
As the night progressed, some of the visitors became inebriated. As the unlimited drinks were available for all to enjoy, both men and women were delighted to attend the party. None of them had any idea what would happen to them at the precise time the vampires had set for the feeding.
Theo and Rakiza were then moved closer to the electric chair on the ramp after an hour of fun. Nobody was paying attention to the chair because everyone was screaming joyfully as the alcohol began to consume their minds. The music then changed to a fanfare beat.
The crowd came to a halt as a result of the sudden shift in mood on the ground. About twenty large men in capes formed a human barricade as some special people emerged from the elevator.
The elevator then opened, revealing Tessa Augustus and Nikolas Augustus, who were being held by two large men. Both men were holding Nikolas' arms.
Rakiza felt sorry for him because he was too weak to move. "Something bad happened to Nikolas."
Tessa Augustus ascended a ramp to two chairs arranged in the shape of a king and queen's chairs. They then placed Nikolas on one of the chairs.
Some visitors were taken aback by the mother and son's unexpected appearance. Some people got it, while others didn't.
And then Tessa stood up to announce, "Visitors and friends, thanks for coming tonight. I’m sorry for cutting short your enjoyment, but the time has come to start the ceremony." She paused, "This is not a happy celebration for me, because I'm going to lose my beloved son because of his crime of treason."
The crowd began to wonder. Some were amazed and puzzled by her announcement.
Rakiza's eyes welled up with tears as she looked at Nikolas's pale face. He was so ill that he couldn't even lift his head in an erect position. Theo tightened his grip on her hand.
"Don't let your emotions take over; we have to stick to the plan," he said quietly.
Tessa Augustus' voice became solemn, "As a mother, it is difficult for me to submit my son to death because of the enemy's actions." And tonight, I'm waiting for her to appear in front of me and surrender on my son's behalf. "Maruja, you can come out now."
There was hushed whistling all around. Some were looking for one another, while others were looking for Maruja.
"I know you were in the group, Maruja, and if you love my son, you must come out to present yourself, and save my son!" Tessa's voice became harsh.
Rakiza was frozen in place, feeling the need to save Nikolas, but Theo's hand had gripped her wrist so tightly that she couldn't shake it.
"Come out, come out, Maruja," Tessa Augustus said as she scanned the crowd.
Theo whispered to Rakiza. He said, "Don't look at her in the eyes," but it was too late. Rakiza and Tessa's eyes locked together. And Rakiza knew, for the first time, that she wasn't just Rakiza. She was also Maruja.
"There she is!" says Tessa, pointing to Rakiza.
Theo jumped to draw his weapon, the daggers, and each knife in his two hands. "It's time," he said, referring to Ajella.
Then two huge men approached Rakiza, but Rakiza was quick to point her dagger at the approaching enemies. As a fight was about to break out, Theo and Rakiza took a back-to-back position.
"Stop! Don't touch her! " Tessa yelled, and the two enormous men came to a halt.
Nikolas tried to yell, "Run, Rakiza, run!"
"Stop Maruja!" Tessa yelled at Rakiza. "Do you want me to murder your mother in front of you?"
"This is a trap!" hissed Theo.
Suddenly, the elevator from the top reopened, revealing a horde of trolls dragging a chained woman. Rakiza's mother, Veronica Zanier, was a bait.
"You can now see your mother for the last time, Maruja," Tessa exclaimed.
Rakiza screamed angrily, "Stop calling me Maruja and let go of my mother and your son!"
"You are Maruja, and it is entirely your fault for what happened to your mother and my son; you are to blame for their misery! You lured and bewitched my son, just as you did a hundred years ago! " Tessa gritted, "But now you must give me what I want, and I will release your mother and forgive my son for betraying his people."
"You already have my blood!" Rakiza screamed.
"Your blood is not enough." Tessa yelled. "Your last drop of blood is all I want. That means your life is the cure. "