"When do you leave?" Nadia asked while having breakfast with Alex in the dining hall.
Alex took a bite out of his pancake as he replied. "Tomorrow. I’ll leave later to get a ticket."
"I’d prefer going than sending a telegram over."
"I know..." Nadia sighed before glancing at Alex.
There had not been a time her heart did not skip when gazing upon his face.
This time was no different.
Noticing her gaze, Alex asked. "Something on my face?"
"No... Be safe, okay." Nadia replied before softly adding. "I’ll be waiting for you."
Alex could only reveal a wry smile in response, unwilling to say more.
Silence reigned afterward with both quickly finishing up their meals.
"Should I come with you?" Anastasia had an excited look on her face as she asked.
Having visited Anastasia in her home, Alex informed her of his travel plans and based on her reaction, she seemed eager to come along.
However... "You should stay here." He couldn’t allow that to happen.
He casually added as he sat across the table from Ana. "Basar can act at any time, your presence is a good way to stall him."
"But he is still moving."
"Cautiously. If you leave, there’s no one else that can stop him if he tries to go on a rampage."
Ana found no reason to refute thus she slumped back in her chair with a disgruntled expression. "No fair. You promised me excitement."
"Quite the contrary. You hope to get excited by staying with me." Alex remarked smilingly before leaning forward. "So if you by any chance feel like you aren’t getting the excitement you hoped for... by all means, endeavor to close the door on your way out."
Anastasia looked Alex over before slowly rising to her feet.
Her aura took on an offensive stance for a moment as she slowly walked over.
Alex however remained poised as he relaxed back in his chair.
"No one has ever spoken so rudely to me, not even the Heads of the Great families."
"Oh really?" Alex muttered as his lips curved at the edges.
Getting within arm’s length, Anastasia looked him over before slowly raising her hands.
A moment later, she excitedly clapped. "Amazing. It’s quite a novel feeling, don’t you agree?"
"Being disrespected?"
"Is that what it is?" Ana revealed a curious gaze. "Quite intriguing."
Alex’s expression changed but he made no effort to share what he was thinking as he got to his feet.
"See you later, Lady Ana."
"Don’t worry, I’ll do as you’ve said and keep watch."
Madeline slowly walked in the dead of the night, her expression calm and her gait steady.
Dressed in a brown jacket with black gloves and heels, she looked quite classy making for a clear contrast with the cemetery she just entered.
Glancing side to side, she saw a few people present, some of whom were cleaners while the others... were Watchers.
Upon taking a bend, she came face to face with one who was wearing a suit of armor with his helmet on.
"Madeline Ann. An Enforcer from BoneHaven." She replied while pulling out her ID.
"State your business."
"I am here to retrieve an item from the Catacombs."
"... Here." Taking out a file, she handed it over to the man who casually flipped through it before handing it back.
"You may go ahead but take note, nothing else should be taken away."
After hearing her response, the Watcher slowly backed away after which Madeline continued on her way until she had gotten to the deepest part of the cemetery where she saw a flight of stairs.
Going down the stairs, she walked over to an arched gate that was being guarded by two Watchers.
"Go in." Came the rough response.
Madeline nodded silently as the gates opened and allowed her entry.
Taking a deep breath, she made her way inside before finding herself in a dark corridor.
The gates quickly closed behind her, plunging the area into absolute darkness.
Madeline’s heart skipped a beat as she waited patiently.
A moment later, flaming tongues appeared on torches hanging on the walls, illuminating the path forward.
She followed the flames, walking through the corridor for a long time with two pairs of footsteps echoing.
Soon enough, she found herself in a great underground hall that stretched as far as the eyes could see.
Inside the hall, several stone tombs were placed with strange inscriptions drawn on them, seemingly keeping whatever was locked in the tombs sealed with no way to be removed.
There was no one in the Catacombs but there didn’t seem to be a need for it as several stone statues with inscriptions were placed at strategic angles.
Gulping audibly, Madeline uttered under her breath. "We are here."
Slowly entering the hall, Goosebumps broke out all over her skin as though the temperature had dropped.
One step at a time, Madeline passed a few tombs before stopping by a pretty large one that was placed somewhere close to the center.
She pulled out a dial from her bag but paused immediately after.
"Promise you will exercise restraint."
No response came but she nodded regardless.
Placing the dial at the center of the tomb where a small crevice resided, she slowly turned the dial, first to the left and then twice to the right and then finally, three times in a full circle.
A clicking sound rang out after which the tombstone popped open.
She pushed the stone away to find an extremely large feathery wing laying within.
Glowing with a strange light, Madeline felt like she was being erased causing her to back away.
Just then, the space beside her distorted, and out of it, Basar appeared.
Before he took a step forward, a loud echo resounded throughout the Catacomb.
As the alarm sounded, the statues in the hall abruptly opened their eyes and glared in Basar’s direction.
Basar immediately grabbed hold of the wing and said. "You did well, Madeline. Your sacrifice won’t be in vain."
As a large stone arrow flew at him, the space Basar was standing in distorted before he disappeared.
With tears in her eyes, Madeline stared at the blood stains on the floor.
"... I doomed them all."