Shadows of Destiny

121 The Assistant

~Leo~

"I can't believe we kicked ass like that," Dominic said, feeling happy about what we had achieved in the

woods.

"I have never felt so strong in my life. Is this what the AgK32 does?"

Dominic asked Erik, who was laughing. I could see the pleasure in Erik's eyes. He looked like someone

that had made a breakthrough in research. It also made me realise we were his guinea pigs. I did not

want to bring it up there until he was alone.

"Leo, did you see yourself? You were like Amelia. You were a blur," Vino said, and I frowned and

looked at Devin, who nodded.

"The way you tore that wolf's belly was epic. One second you are under him, the next you are away

from him, and his guts are on the ground," Theodore said, and I was surprised at myself.

"The AgK32 worked well; with your genes," Erik said, smiling, and I looked at him.

"I know we are the first people to use your stuff," I linked him, and his smile faded. I caught him.

"Do not worry, I won't tell the king but do not try this kind of bullshit on us again. What if it hadn't

worked?" I linked him, and he shook his head.

"It would have worked. I had tested it before but not in a battle," he linked me back, and I dropped the

matter so I do not end the joy of the moment.

"See who I found," Andrew said, and we all looked in his direction. It was a weird-looking guy. I did not

need help to know he was a Stepanov.

"Melvin?" Erik asked him, and the guy looked away.

"Do you know him?’ Sylvester asked Erik: of course he did.

"My former assistant," Erik said, walked to where Melvin was held and punched him in the face.

"What is the meaning of this?" Erik asked, annoyed. It seemed the man had snapped. This could

happen to anyone after facing a near-death experience.

"What are you doing here?" Erik asked him, and the man cowered on his knees; it was clear he did not

have the courage for a confrontation.

"We tracked your cell phone," he said, and I looked at Erik. We had all come with our cellphones.

"Why? Who put you up to it," I asked him.

"Yuri said we should bring Erik," he said, and I took comfort that it had nothing to do with Ighor.

"So you decided to ambush us in the woods. Why not come to the Estate?" Dominic asked him, and he

shook his head.

"The security is strong at the Estate, and we did not know Erik was in the north until the hearing. That

was when we started to track his phone. When I picked his signal, we took a helicopter to the woods

where the signal was, " He said, and I frowned.

"So, where is the helicopter?" I asked him, and he shook his head.

"We jumped off the helicopter. It did not land. We took out the Kappas in your helicopter and lay in

ambush." He said, and I wondered how they could travel with feral wolves and jump off their helicopter.

It seemed impossible and tedious.

"The hounds?" Erik asked.

"Normal warriors, but the collar turns them that way. We improved on the mechanism." He said, and

Erik growled at him.

"You call that improvement? Turning normal people feral isn't an improvement," he said, and I agreed it

wasn't an improvement but madness.

"So this was why you left me to go and work for Yuri, so you can steal my inventions and use them for

evil. That collar was created to control and stabilise feral wolves, not run normal people mad," Erik

said, sounding angry.

"Does Yuri know we are in the woods?" I asked him because he must know we had Ighor. If he did, the

information we got from Ighor would no longer be useful because their position would have been

compromised.

"No. We thought Erik came to run some experiments here. We did not know he was with the King and

Lords. We just wanted to grab Erik." Melvin said, and I relaxed.

"What else do you know about our reasons for being in the woods other than our experiments?"

Sylvester finally spoke.

"Nothing, your Majesty. I have no qualms with you. I was sent here to retrieve Erik, that is all,” He said

quickly with fear.

"And you decided to kill us while you are at it," Sylvester added coldly, and the man shook his head in

tears. I could see his fear.

It was understandable since people close to Sylvester saw him as a monster and feared him. It was a

good image, one I planned on building for myself.

"Very well. Let us take him back with us," Sylvester said.

"You will tell me all you know of Yuri's plans and where we can find him," Sylvester said, and we all

laughed, knowing the torture that would entail.

Devin and Dominic secured the prisoner, and we carried him back to the helicopter. Our clothes were

on the floor, so we sorted them out and dressed up.

We secured Melvin in the helicopter, and Theodore and Marcel became our pilots. Two more innocent

kappas had lost their lives to Yuri's madness. I was counting, and I planned to pay him back.

The ride back to the Estate was silent. I could tell Erik was very angry and had all the right to be so.

Melvin had stolen from him and tried to use his inventions against him.

We landed at the Estate, and the kappas came to the landing spot to take Melvin from us. Sylvester

ordered that they secure the prisoner while we headed into the building.

"The lounge," Sylvester linked all of us. I was looking forward to having a bath and eating something,

but it seemed time was not on our side. A lot needed to be done, and there was little time for it.

"Moonlight, where are you?" I linked Amelia while we moved towards the lounge. I wanted to let her

know I was back and also to find out how she was doing.

There was silence. It took a bit before she responded. She was sleeping, and my link had woken her

up from sleep.

"I just want you to know we're home safely. Go back to sleep, Moonlight. I will join you soon," I said,

and she said it was okay.

Everything going on was mentally and physically draining. Still, we just had a few more hurdles to jump,

and we will be okay.

We got to the lounge, and everyone took their seats. It was clear none of us wanted to be there, but we

needed to have this meeting.

"I want to commend everyone for the performance today. It shows we are ready to take those bastards

down," Sylvester said and looked at Erik.

"I want you to speed up the AgK32 so we can administer it to our warriors. But based on all that has

happened now, I do not trust any Stepanov other than the ones in this mansion." He said and sighed.

"I am saying, Erik, that I will no longer need the Stepanov army. I would rather fight with people I can

trust than people who can turn on me anytime. As things are, your circle is highly compromised. Ighor

and Melvin have shown how vulnerable you are and how much ground Yuri has gained against you in

your clan. I do not need any more surprises. So I will need the cocktail to administer to our warriors

before we go to Gad. I can expect their loyalty. My men and Leo's men will be enough to take them

down,* Sylvester said, and Erik shook his head.

"Please. I know people who do not support Yuri and have a bone to pick with him. It is only fair you let

Stepanovs join in this fight. You have kept your end of the bargain. Please allow us to keep ours. Igor

was an unfortunate fool that claimed to be neutral. He was neither for nor against.

I do not know what happened, and I do not feel sorry for him. As for Melvin, he was a traitor before I

met you. His ideals differed from mine, and since Yuri could not get me on his team, he decided to take

my assistant and steal my things. These men should not sum up your perception of my clan, your

Majesty. Allow me to bring together people I can vouch for with my life. People that have a bone to pick

with Yuri. People I know who will give their life for the cause and those I know will not betray us. Allow

me to do my part, or I cannot accept what you have given because I will feel like a thief." He said, and I

knew honour was part of his reason. Sylvester was silent for a while. It was a difficult situation. Both of

them had a valid point.

"I will think about it and get back to you tomorrow. I want to discuss this with my wife," Sylvester said,

and it was a plausible response. Tamia's view would be different, and he can then decide. Erik was

grateful Sylvester did not shut him down.

"Meanwhile, Kappa Levi and Wilson have brought the deeds to the properties so we can look through

them and have every location searched for the hostages," Marcel said.

It was a good idea, but I doubted it would yield anything. While we waited for the Kappas to bring the

documents, my phone rang, and it was a weird number with an eastern area code.

"Hello," I said, answering the phone.

"Leo," I heard Casper's voice, and I was relieved and scared at the same time.

"Max found us, and we are going back to Mountain. He was badly injured, but he will live. I am just

calling so you will stop worrying about us. Once we get to Mountain, I will let you know," He said, and

as much as I wanted to be happy, I could not shake off the fact that Max was injured.

"May I speak to Max, please," I asked him, and there was silence. Then I heard Max's voice on the

phone?

"I guess we can focus now," he said, breathing hard.

"Save your breath," I said quickly, not wanting Max to trouble himself more than he already had.

"Once we get to Mountain, we will tell you; by the way, Yuri is currently in Gad. I heard one of his men

discussing it when they thought we had been knocked out. I do not know where, but that is where he is.

I will drill Inkabod to get his properties' locations there. Hopefully, it would lead somewhere," Casper

said, and I was glad for the news, but I doubted Inkabod would have that information. There is no harm

in trying, though.

"What about Gordon?' I asked, and he sighed.

"They killed him. Took off his head completely a few hours ago. They believed he was a liability and

must have given a lot away. They believe he was the one that led you to Erik. Apparently, Erik is

essential to them. I do not know why, but they do not want Erik working with you. They took off his head

completely without remorse. We were in a bunker in Hayland.

Imagine them doing that to him on his land. I guess karma came calling," He said, and I already knew

why Erik was important. It was because the AgK32 made their ability common.

No one would want that. Their abilities set them apart from others, so for Erik to create a serum that

could give others that ability, even if it was for a short period, was unfair. Thanks to the broadcast, they

now know where Erik is. No waonder Melvin came for him. We needed to protect Erik.

I hung up and narrated all that Casper had told me. They were all happy for me and wished Max a

speedy recovery. He was indeed a true friend. The fact that Max had risked his life to get those people

back showed the depth of his heart. I was glad he would be getting his pack back after this. I also

hoped to hear good news from Kyle. I did not want any more deaths. Too many lives had been

sacrificed already.

"I guess all we have to do is prepare and gather our troops now," Marcel said.

"Meanwhile, let's try to hunt for Yuri. Once he is out, the others will surrender," Erik said, not wanting

anyone to die.

"No, Erik. The war must be fought. We do not want a situation where another Yuri will spring up. I plan

to wipe all of them out so I can have peace. No more surprises," Sylvester said, and he clearly meant

what he said. I was in support too. We needed to wipe Yuri and his cult out, or another bastard would

come along seeking revenge, and we couldn't have that.