Chapter 8

Chapter 8

A group of men could be seen vigorously shaking as they bowed respectfully to the Man who was backing them for close to forty-five minutes without bothering to turn back to have a look at them.

They would be courting their death if anyone attempted to speak before he turned around to have a look at them. And finally, after a long while, he turned around before walking to the chair meant for him.

“What did you say again?” The man asked. A man shrouded in mystery, his face forever obscured by a mask. His true features were a secret, known only to himself and a select few. His mask was like a second skin, its dark, metallic surface contoured to his face, its edges seamless and smooth. It gave him an air of menace and danger, the cold, hard material seeming to amplify his authority and power.

His voice, when he spoke, was deep and resonant, his words sharp and precise. But none of the men in front of him could speak which seemed to agitate the anger running through the man's veins.

“I hate My question unanswered,” He yelled banging on the table which seemed to add more to the tension surrounding the room.

“We've searched everywhere for more than a week but she's nowhere to be found, Even some of our brothers were killed,” One of the men finally spoke up not knowing what would await him in the next few minutes.

“Really!” The man said with a darkened expression.

“So you're telling me a weakling killed the men I sent after her? You're telling me she's nowhere to be found? A mere useless human?” The man asked again as he immediately stood up from his seat not without having a small container in his left palm.

The moment the man stood up, the nervousness of the men standing increased by a hundred percent as they couldn't help shaking. They knew if care wasn't taken they would be dead within the twinkle of an eye without any traces.

Their family wouldn't be able to trace their lifeless body and even if they do, they have no power to go against a very powerful old man like him. No one can challenge or go after him, anyone who does that always dies before their time.

A mysterious scary man who would kill without blinking an eye.

“Are you all saying you couldn't find the powerless human creatures after searching for seven good days? How stressful it must have been,” The man said with a cunning smile, by now he was circling the six men.

Finally, he stopped in front of the one who had answered his question which instantly sent shivers down his spine, and he began shaking nervously, it was as if everything was about to go down.

“You must have been so stressed out and tired, isn't it?” The man asked as he stared down at him, sweating profusely despite the air conditioner hitting every spot in the room.

“Am always ready to carry any task for you master, am not tired or stressed out at all,” The man shakily responded, thinking he had done well with his response but little did he know….

“What a pathetic servant you are. I can see you're tired, take this energy drink to replenish your strength,” The man said as he coldly beckoned the small container in his hand at the nervous fellow in front of him.

“Did I offend you?” The man asked when he realized he wasn't making any attempt to take the container beckoned to him.

The other men couldn't help but pity their fellow brothers but what could they do, their lives come first than any other person's. They could only hope they wouldn't be in his situation.

They knew the moment he collected the container, it was nothing but death and not collecting the container meant death. There wasn't any turning point for him.

“No, master. I appreciate your care,” He stuttered fearfully before collecting the container from the man respectfully. As he hoped luck might be on his side.

“Now, giddy up, Man,” He coldly said, giving a darkened venomous smile, not without tapping his back. The other men that knew the man very well knew the venomous smile doesn't come ordinary, and doesn't come without a price to pay.

And just like he was being told, with a shaky hand the man immediately opened the container and took it close to his nose just to perceive it, just that action seemed to agitate the man.

Almost immediately, the man instantly pinned him down and forcefully grabbed the container from his hand, with a darkened expression he poured the contents of the bottle through his nose.

He struggled in pain before dropping on the floor, and of course, the container wasn't an energy drink which the remaining men were aware of.

“What's wrong with him?” The man asked with an innocent expression as if he wasn't aware of what he had done to the innocent person who had just dropped dead on the floor.

The remaining men could only keep their cool while shivering underneath themselves. They knew one of them could be the next person and with a thought like that, it seemed to frighten them more.

“Do you have any reason for not being able to find her?” He asked again, backing them.

“No master, we're unable to find her because we are all useless,” They yelled in unison.

“You all have one week to find her or you consider yourselves and your family members gone,” The man said with a murderous gaze before walking out of the room leaving the remaining men and the dead one inside.

The moment they realized they had left, they all collapsed on the floor breathing for air. It wasn't an easy situation for them.

They all looked at their fellow man who was alive a few moments ago and couldn't help but think it could have happened to any one of them.

~~~~~~

“They seem to be watching our every move,” Basil mumbled after noticing the two Maids that were lurking around the gym but as usual her Miss only smiled at her.

“Ignore them,” Nadine said as she didn't even bother checking them out. She knows she has to put them in their places but she has a lot of things on her mind.

She has tried distancing herself from them but guess they won't stop until she puts them in their place.

“Have you gotten all the details on how the guards work?” Nadine asked, trying to keep herself busy while she was carrying out the exercise.

“Yes, Everything is ready. We're ready to leave whenever you're ready to leave,” She said calmly but Nadine could sense the excitement in her face.

“Are you happy that we're going to leave here soon?”

“Yes, I am,” she responded.

“But you're aware we have nowhere to go. There won't be any good food or good sleep,” Nadine said as she finally stopped her exercise, picking up the dry towel to wipe off her sweat while waiting for her response.

“I don't care. As long as we'll be together, that's enough.” She said,

******
By the time they got back inside the mansion, the aroma that filled up the whole place was something else that Nadine immediately ran towards the dining room, and what met her gaze was different varieties of foods which didn't hesitate in making her salivate.

She was still salivating at the delicacies when she heard the sound of manly footsteps descending the staircase, looking up, Nadine couldn't help but be surprised upon seeing the man.

“When did he arrive?” Nadine wondered as the gym was a little bit closer to the main entrance which was why she was still in confusion but that didn't last long before comforting herself.

As the man descended the stairs, the cold air seemed to follow him, swirling around his feet like a frozen frog. As he reached the dining room the atmosphere grew even colder.

Almost immediately, the man's right hand Beta Alex walked towards him and whispered some words inside his ears that Nadine was unable to hear. She even tried reading the man's lips but it was as if the man was aware she could read lips, Beta Alex did an amazing job of distracting her from reading his lips.

Since the air in the dining room.was more cold than she thought her presence wasn't needed, Nadine wasted no time in excusing herself.

The moment she tried leaving the dining room the man's gaze instantly followed her and didn't hesitate to call her attention in a cold yet majestic way.

“Nadine, come over here,” Diego suddenly ordered. His expression had become quite intimidating. The fire had switched to a glacier again.

“Huh,” Nadine mumbled, retreating from her footsteps in confusion.

“Yes,” The man said as he walked to the already pulled-out chair.

“Don’t keep me waiting, Nadine,” he said, sounding impatient which made Nadine swallow nothing but shock.

She dragged her to the dining table and tried pulling out her chair but the man stopped her with his hand gesture.

“Here, Nadine,” he said, beckoning at his lap.