"For nothing is secret that shall not be made manifest; neither anything hid that shall not be known and come abroad."
Luke 8:17 KJV
Daniel couldn't remember the last time work had gone this smoothly. For starters, everything was moving at his pace. Paperwork was a breeze, so he cleared it as fast and as meticulously as possible. The young Seraphite even managed to arrive for his department briefing earlier than everyone else in the department. Dare I say this is the best Wednesday I've experienced?
"Do my eyes deceive me? Daniel Easton, early?" A deep voice chuckled from the doorway.
"Hey, when have I ever come late, Jermaine? I'm the most punctual bird in our department!" Daniel replied jokingly.
His friend couldn't help but laugh. "If I were to try and recall every single briefing you showed up late for, this meeting wouldn't take place. Still, I'm glad you don't have to walk in awkwardly and sit beside me for a change."
Daniel waved him off and continued to organize his thoughts. He planned to speak with SSA Nika in private about the Seraphite institution's recruitment program and other details of the case.
Shortly after, other special agents began pouring into the hall, taking their seats. Surprisingly, the last agent to walk through the door was none other than SSA Nika. This came as a surprise to Daniel, considering that she was always early. As the Supervisory Special Agent, Nika considered herself a model agent for the others, so it was out of the ordinary for her to come in last.
"Fellow agents, I sincerely apologize for my tardiness; it is my responsibility to lead this department by example, yet here I am falling short."
SSA Nika looked visibly distressed; shadows pooled beneath her eyes. Daniel noticed her dark hair wasn't in its usual tight bun; it was combed straight. She looks so exhausted, almost as though she rushed out the door. He ultimately decided to lead with asking about her well-being before addressing the case strategy he'd planned to open with.
"This week is a very important week for us CBI agents. As most of us can recall, this Friday is the final screening and recruitment for The Ascendants Academy. The Headmaster has extended his invitation to our division. I personally feel he indirectly wants us to stand in as pseudo security for the event, but that's none of my concern," she explained.
A hand shot up from the group of agents. "Yes?" Nika said.
"Concerning the Bloodletter case, aren't we going to address other angles, or are we sticking to Special Agent Daniel's theory?" A young agent asked.
Her eyebrows furrowed at the question as she pondered it. "Great question, Special Agent. Do you have an angle on this case?" she asked.
The young man's face flushed deep red. "No, ma'am, I do not."
SSA Nika flashed the man a wide smile. "Then that is settled. For now, we look at Daniel's approach. Any questions you have on this, you can ask the man himself." She gestured to Daniel.
Another agent raised her hand. "Respectfully, why does the CBI care about a school? Wouldn't it be more productive if we focused on the Bloodletter case rather than the event?" the blonde lady asked.
"It's very simple, actually; the Ascendants Academy isn't just a school. It hones the most spectacular talents from far and wide, producing a new wave of the strongest Seraphites each year. Every major organization sends observers, including the military and other big factions. And besides, it's a one-day event. Focus should primarily remain on the case; that's why attendance is completely optional," Nika finished.
After that response, no further questions were asked.
"Those interested in attending the event, send me an email before Thursday evening. For now, let's focus on making sure the academy's event is a success; we don't need any more public scrutiny. This meeting is adjourned." SSA Nika shut her notes.
Agents slowly began leaving the room after her.
Meanwhile, Daniel waved goodbye to Jermaine and quickly made his way to SSA Nika's office. The door was wide open; she stood behind her desk, staring through the large windows. Daniel knocked softly, drawing her attention back.
"Oh, Daniel, come in. If it's about the sudden responsibility I gave you in the meeting, I'm sorry. But I trust an agent of your caliber shouldn't struggle with explaining your theory to others," she said.
Daniel raised his eyebrows in confusion. This lady is never this talkative; something is definitely up.
"SSA Nika, this is completely unrelated to the case, but are you ok? You seem completely out of it today. Rough day at the office?" Daniel asked.
For a second, the woman's face softened, but then she looked away, swallowing the emotion before it could show. "Your concern is well appreciated, Daniel. But I'm perfectly fine; this is just an off-work day for me. Is that why you came to see me?" she asked.
Daniel shook his head; she was clearly lying. The young man chose not to pursue it any further, considering the entire job was built on secrecy and clearance levels. "Very well then. I'm going to attend the Ascendants' event. Could I also get clearance for my sister, Angelina? I already promised her this because she needs something to lift her spirits."
Nika took her seat, settling in for comfort. "That wouldn't be an issue, but remember: your sister is a mundane, and she's your responsibility. God forbid anything happens to her; the other agents can't be held accountable. I hope I'm clear about this," she replied sternly.
Daniel nodded appreciatively. "Thank you, SSA. When is the next joint meeting with the Research and Forensics Department? Before I start pursuing my theory, I wanted to take a couple of looks at the reports of the murders. To make sure I don't waste our department's resources," he explained.
"I'll contact SSA Maelstrom. We can schedule a meeting with our major agents on this case. Since we are working on your theory, you will attend as well."
"Understood, ma'am. Thank you." Daniel rose, gave a curt nod, and began walking out of the office. A thought crept into his mind, causing him to pause, fingers curled around the doorknob. "If I may have one more request, ma'am."
SSA Nika gave him a nod of approval.
"Could you ask SSA Maelstrom to pass on my greetings to my dad? When he is on important assignments like this, he does not answer his cell or any of his domestic contacts," Daniel requested.
"Of course! He'll be glad to hear from you, Daniel." She beamed.
With that, Daniel shut the door behind him.
Nika released a deep sigh of both relief and sorrow. She let go of the edge of her desk, just realizing she'd been holding onto it. When did I… Her fingers opened slowly. Splinters and coarse sawdust trickled from her palm onto her desk; it had completely crumbled to dust just from the sheer strength.
"Fuck my life," she muttered to herself as she opened her laptop to resume work. Daniel deserves to know.
The woman was dying to share the news of the unfortunate loss of his father, but certain factors prevented her from doing so. It would completely crush Daniel, and he would also lose all morale and focus to close the case at hand. Daniel's cheerful smile flashed through her mind, causing her to shudder. How could she be the one to take that away from him? There was also the issue of clearance.
Nika ran her hand through her hair as she composed an email to SSA Maelstrom. What made the entire situation worse was the secrecy surrounding the project Pearce was involved in. Only a handful of researchers, the SSA of Research and Forensics, and the Sector Chief were involved. She had no clearance to access the information; neither did Daniel. Telling him anything would pull him into a mess that she wasn't even sure she could get herself out of. And Elise, that poor girl, was in the middle of a shit storm stirred up by her superiors. Nika wouldn't be surprised if they had 'detained' her for further questioning and investigation. Sector Chief Sterling-Rowe and SSA Maelstrom. What the fuck are you guys up to?
Across the city, Logzeros Hotel buzzed with light and life day and night. The building was so lively that Tristan considered leaving because of the sheer volume of activity. The demon watched as night turned to day, vampires, other Netherites, even some Seraphites and humans partying to their souls' content till the sun's powerful glare streaked across the sky.
Something about it unsettled him. Just watching them made his skin prickle. The noise gnawed at his hypersensitive ears, and the closeness of their bodies disgusted him. The pounding of their hearts and loud music overwhelmed his ears, while the smell of sweat, saliva, and blood constantly drifted into his nostrils. The ease with which they gave themselves over to something as simple as joy — he didn't understand it — not the laughter, not the reckless abandon, not whatever made a room full of strangers move as if they belonged to it. Classic mortals; not a care in the world for their survival, always immersed in their flesh.
Eventually, he grew weary of watching them and stepped away from the window. Like clockwork, a hard knock echoed across the room. Tristan's gaze snapped towards the door, alert like a sentry at his post. "Identify yourself," he said plainly.
There was a pause for a moment, then a velvety voice replied: "Good morning to you too, Tristan. It's me, Drusilla."
He cautiously let her into his room, not forgetting to shut the door behind her. She wore a black satin night robe, her feet as bare as bone.
"I'm taking it that you didn't sleep?" she asked.
Tristan took a seat at the edge of the king-sized bed. "I do not have time for such trivialities. Besides, we have business to conduct; I'm hoping that is why you are here," he replied bluntly. The demon knew he didn't need to eat, sleep, or drink, but he didn't forget to leave that part out of their conversation.
Drusilla pinched the bridge of her nose, a smile tugging at her lips. "Tristan, sleeping is not a triviality. The last thing I want you to do is fall asleep on duty. I could die while you're taking a nap!" she complained.
Tristan narrowed his eyes at the woman. "I told you; I don't have time for such trivialities—"
Drusilla pressed her fingers to her thumb, snapping them open and shut like a beak. I don't have time for such trivialities," she said, pitching her voice into a mockery of his own. "I don't care, Tristan. As long as you are on my payroll, there are some non-negotiables. Sleep is one of them."
Tristan clenched his fist so tight that the audible cracking of his knuckles could be heard. Why do all mortals long for the cold embrace of death? It was taking everything in him not to attack the woman.
Drusilla noticed his strange behavior immediately and chuckled. "Remember, this is a business arrangement. We are business partners. In fact, you work for me, not the other way around. Just like you expect me to get you into The Ascendants Academy, I expect you to follow my rules, as I am your employer," she explained.
"Rules? You never said anything about rules in our discussion yesterday." Tristan exhaled. As much as it angered him, he respected the fact that the vampire stood her ground. At least she wasn't easily intimidated, although he would have preferred her to be.
"I didn't say a lot of things yesterday. Did you know I have four brothers?" Drusilla smirked.
Tristan just stared at her blankly. "No, I didn't know you had four brothers. How is that relevant to our business agreement?" he asked, with a mix of confusion and annoyance.
The lady just shook her head, muttering to herself. "Never mind that. Walk with me; we have much to discuss," she said, opening the door.
The demon didn't move, expression unreadable.
"Please, Tristan. I promise this is a business-oriented discussion, not something about my four brothers," she coaxed.
With that, Tristan walked out behind her, locking the door. Drusilla led him through the hotel's expansive halls, greeting and weaving through people. Eventually, she stopped at a bar and gestured for the demon to sit beside her, and he did without protest.
A young lady with hazel hair stood behind the counter, greeting them both. "I'll have a glass of warm AB blood. What would you have, Tristan?" she asked.
The question caught Tristan off guard; aside from the flesh, blood, and bones of the monsters he fought — and the rare exception of some human parts — he hadn't given much thought to what he consumed, only whether it strengthened him. He didn't exactly care about the taste; as long as it kept him going, he would eat rotten, maggot-infested flesh without complaint. Then there came the issue of poison. Those Seraphite researchers had so many anti-demon solutions that could neutralize him in the right quantities. Who knows what else these mortals were capable of?
He eyed the selection of drinks cautiously, scarlet eyes narrowed.
"Oh come on, Tristan! For fucksake, you're at a bar! You aren't going to get drugged at a bar, in a hotel you just moved into. Pick a damn drink," Drusilla complained.
Tristan ignored her protest and kept looking at the drinks till his eyes landed on a bottle of apple juice. "Apple juice. I'll take the apple juice," he said.
The bartender blushed a bit at the request; she expected him to ask for a whiskey or tequila. No sooner had he ordered his drink than it was delivered to him with ice at the bottom in a glass.
Drusilla thanked the bartender, and she returned to attend to other customers. "We really need to work on your people skills, Tristan. You are scaring everyone off," she muttered.
Tristan took one last cautious look at his drink before taking a sip. The second the liquid hit his tongue, his eyes widened in shock. He could only describe its taste as overwhelming: flavor and sweetness followed by the comfort of the cold liquid itself as it went down his throat. For the first time in centuries, he wanted something — not out of necessity, but because he genuinely enjoyed it. He immediately gulped the rest of the liquid down while Drusilla just watched him in amusement.
"Someone's thirsty," she chuckled, taking a sip of her own beverage. "How exactly do you plan on getting me into this academy? What will it take?" the demon asked.
"That's not for you to figure out; rest assured, I have already secured you a position at the screening event. It's this Friday," Drusilla replied.
This caused Tristan's brows to furrow in confusion. "Screening event? You never mentioned anything about a test," Tristan said.
The vampire lady shrugged her shoulders. "Of course, there is a screening event. Surely you didn't think I was somehow going to secretly plant you into the most prestigious Seraphite academy in the world, did you?" she chuckled.
Tristan let out a sigh, running both hands through his hair. "Very well. A test is but a minor obstacle for me to overcome," he concluded.
Drusilla gestured to the bartender, and she refilled his glass with more apple juice. "That's the spirit! Besides, if you couldn't beat up a bunch of rich kids at an event, maybe we have to question if you're really fit for this job," she joked.
Tristan just frowned at her, downing the juice in one gulp.
"There you go again with your poor people skills; I was kidding!"
"Well, I don't have time for jokes. I told you what my goal is, and I intend on accomplishing it," he replied bluntly.
Drusilla was tempted to make another joke about his so-called goal, but she decided against it. "Back to our business arrangement, I would like us to address a few things. First off, we need to get you some new clothes. I don't care what you say; I, Lady Drusilla Nocturne, cannot be seen outside with you dressed like that. Tomorrow, we are going to purchase an appropriate wardrobe to match your new profession," she stated.
Tristan didn't care what he wore as long as he didn't attract too much attention. "My appearance is of little significance to me. You may do as you wish," he replied.
"I am also going to entrust you with a black card and a duplicate room key that you can use to access my room whenever you wish. I don't need to remind you that these are off-limits. To everyone you meet, I'm one of three things: your friend, your girlfriend, or your mentor. Pick whichever raises the fewest questions in the moment. Just don't tell anyone you're my bodyguard."
A smirk crept up the sides of Tristan's face. This pathetic little thing in search of protection, my mentor? "Mentor? You possess neither the strength nor the knowledge to instruct me. Anyone who believes that would have to be severely mentally challenged." Tristan chuckled.
Drusilla raised her eyebrow. "So Tristan Ashborne possesses a sense of humor! Maybe there was really something in that apple juice."
Tristan dismissed her claim with a wave, gesturing for her to continue.
"Lastly, we already addressed this, but tone down the violence a bit. Save that for the idiots who are foolish enough to attack me. Don't go looking for fights, here or at the academy, or you will make very powerful enemies that even I couldn't protect you from."
Tristan's thoughts flashed back to the claims of the entranced police officer he spoke to in the forest. "I will make no promises concerning that. If one longs for death by my hands, who am I to reject?" he hissed coldly.
Drusilla shook her head at the vulgar nature of his words. "Very well. We will discuss further details of your responsibilities tomorrow. I'll have a staff member deliver the cards to you, as promised. Have a good day, Tristan."