Nighttime in Eventide.
The 12 Extensions of Krobridge seemed calm on the surface but underneath, in the dark recesses of the black market... a revolution was taking place.
"Finnick, you can’t do this!" Booker remarked, half in anger and half in plea.
Everything he had worked for, everything he had struggled so hard to maintain.
Everything was crumbling before his eyes and there was nothing he could do about it.
Booker couldn’t accept that.
He didn’t want to accept it.
And so, he hoped to appeal to Finnick but it was clear the latter wouldn’t listen.
"Spare my family and we can surely agree on something."
Finnick signed. "You bore me with your repetitive statements, Booker. Accept your fate and don’t be so stubborn."
As he spoke, the noise in the other rooms soon died down, signaling the end of the battle.
Meanwhile, throughout all this, Alex and Nadia remained as spectators, watching everything play out with piqued interest.
Booker’s body trembled as he glanced at the body of his subordinate, laying on the ground.
"The battle is over, Booker," Finnick said. "But I will spare you so you can share the word. From now on, our dukedom rules this extension, both the Vampires and Humans. Do you understand that?"
Taking a step forward, he asked again. "I asked..."
"You bastard!" Booker exploded as he reached underneath his desk and pulled out a shotgun.
Without warning, he pulled the trigger and a loud bang echoed in the office.
Unfortunately, Finnick already expected this as he moved out of the way and rushed over to Booker’s side, faster than the eye could see.
His subordinate was just as fast as he dodged the bullet, only for it to be lodged into the wall behind him due to the power behind the shot and the unique material used to make the bullet, the scent of which did not escape Alex’s keen senses.
Before Booker could fire again, Finnick grabbed his neck and slammed his head onto the table.
A soft grunt escaped Booker’s lips as blood streamed out of his nostrils.
"I will kill you," Booker muttered with bloodshot eyes.
Finnick chuckled. "You missed your chance... I will enjoy breaking you."
Just as he was about to say more, the screeching of a chair being pushed back echoed in the otherwise silent room causing Finnick to glance up only to find Alex and Nadia standing.
"You..." Finnick stared at them briefly before letting go of Booker.
The latter collapsed to the ground but was still conscious.
"You two... you aren’t normal, are you?" Finnick muttered as he met Nadia’s eyes.
As no response came, he added while addressing Nadia. "Especially you."
"Hmm?" Nadia raised a brow in response.
"I smell something hateful off of you," Finnick remarked, taking a deep breath before he continued. "You must be a Devil Wheel Mystic... only your kind have such a pungent stink."
"I beg to differ actually." Alex suddenly said as he took a whiff of Nadia’s scent. "She smells great."
Blushing slightly, Nadia nudged Alex with the latter letting out a slight chuckle.
Finnick’s eyebrows twitched at Alex’s and in extension, Nadia’s casual state.
They were not bothered by everything that had just taken place causing him to grow wary.
"Who are you people and why are you here?" Finnick asked.
Normally, he’d be worried about Nadia since he was well aware of the history of his race, especially when they dwelled in Emet.
But strangely enough, it was Alex that made him even more worried and it wasn’t because he felt dangerous.
It was nothing of that sort.
On the contrary, he found himself drawn to Alex.
The same way the night was beloved by the Creatures of the Night, that was the feeling Finnick got while staring at Alex.
Just what is this?... He couldn’t help but wonder.
A soft sigh escaped Alex’s lips as he spoke up. "We are newcomers in Krobridge and we need information on the city."
"Information?... What kind?" Finnick asked.
Meanwhile, the doors to the seven other rooms flew open, and even more, Vampires poured out of them until the office was crowded with several of the bloodsuckers, all wearing the same red and black cloak.
"The kind that can help us," Alex replied.
"Hmm." Finnick pursed his lips, unsure of what to say in response.
A part of him wanted to avoid Alex due to the strange feeling he got from the latter but another part was tempted to act against Nadia just because of her identity as a Devil Wheel Mystic.
The history between the Devil Wheel and the Creatures of the Night went a long way back and for the most part, it was filled with subservience and blood.
After struggling internally for what seemed like a particularly long period, Finnick muttered. "Clear the way for them."
"Hmm?" A few Vampires, consumed by their bloodlust, couldn’t tell why Finnick would take such an action.
They had the numbers and with the blood they had feasted on, they were stronger than they previously were.
So why was he letting them go?
Unlike them, however, Finnick hadn’t drunk any blood and was quite clear-headed so he chose to listen to his gut rather than take the risk.
"Didn’t you hear me!... I said let them pass!" He said in annoyance.
Alex mused inwardly as he wondered. ’Can he passively sense Evernight?’
Just as he considered what to do next, Booker’s voice was heard.
Both Alex and Finnick glanced in his direction with Nadia feeling overwhelmed by the number of Vampires present in the room.
Ignoring Finnick’s gaze, Booker spoke to Alex. "Help me kill them and I’ll give you anything you want."
"Hmm?" Alex raised a brow. "Do I look like a gun for hire?... What happens in Krobridge isn’t my concern if I decide it’s not."
"Then I’ll make it your concern. All the information you want, I’ll give it for free. My resources, my knowledge... I’ll give you my all!... So please avenge my family." Booker begged as tears welled up in his bloodshot eyes.
Finnick grunted as he moved forward and grabbed the man before lifting him off the ground with one hand.
Glaring at Booker, Finnick growled. "Wanna die?"