Ezra received the summons to et with Count Griffin just before dawn. The ssage had been brief and to the point, leaving no room for questions. He didn't like the suddenness of it, but he had no choice but to comply.
As the leader of the Matten Coven, his interactions with Griffin had always been laced with formality and a hint of mutual respect. This eting, however, felt different. They wouldn't be eting at Griffin's sanctuary and he was required to co alone.
He arrived at the appointed location, a nondescript building in the heart of the city, just as clock struck midnight. As he entered the building, a sense of unease settled over him. The lobby was eerily quiet, and the receptionist barely glanced up as he walked past.
Following the directions given to him, Ezra took the elevator to the top floor. As the doors opened, he was greeted not by Count Griffin, but by soone else. Soone he knew very well.
"Howdy!" Target waved at him. "How have you been? Co in. Co in. No need to stand there." Target walked forward, a smug expression on his face. He was flanked by a squad of peacekeepers dressed in the whites of the First City police force, their red eyes gleaming in the night.
"Ezra Matten," Target said, his voice carrying a note of satisfaction. "You are under arrest for breaking the Law of Secrecy."
"What?" Ezra's eyes narrowed in confusion but he remained calm. He quickly though through his options. It's Target. This is definitely a setup but he's got the law on his side. Should I fight? No.
A fight here would do more harm than good. He raised his hands slightly, indicating his compliance. "I'll co quietly," he said, his voice steady.
Target's smirk widened as his n moved in to restrain Ezra. They cuffed his hands behind his back with restraints that were clearly designed to suppress a vampire's strength and abilities. Ezra felt the cold tal bite into his skin, the restraints burning his vitality slightly, but he maintained his composure.
They escorted him down to the basent, where a secure transport vehicle awaited. The journey to wherever they were going was swift. The tension in the air was almost like an Aura. Ezra sat across from Target in the dimly lit interior of the transport, the peacekeeper's eyes never leaving him.
"What are the charges?" Ezra asked, breaking the silence.
Target leaned back, a mocking grin on his face. "You'll find out soon enough," he replied. "For now, just enjoy the ride."
Ezra clenched his jaw but said nothing. He tried again, hoping to get so information. "Who reported ?"
Target chuckled, shaking his head. "Nice try, but I'm not falling for that. Let's just say soone with an interest in keeping things... orderly."
Ezra fell silent, his mind racing with possibilities. The ride continued in uncomfortable silence, broken occasionally by Target's offhand comnts and jokes. It was clear that the peacekeeper enjoyed his position of power, enjoying Ezra's discomfort.
They arrived at the T-Max building, the towering structure now with an imposing light as Ezra stared at it through the tiny windows.
The transport vehicle bypassed the main entrance, heading instead to a concealed side entrance. The doors opened to reveal a long, dimly lit corridor that led deep into the building. The air was cool and still, the silence oppressive.
The peacekeepers marched Ezra down the corridor, their footsteps echoing off the concrete walls. At the end of the passage, they entered a small elevator that took them even further down, to the hidden lower levels of the T-Max building.
When the elevator doors opened, they stepped into a high-security area. The lighting was harsh and clinical, the walls reinforced with layers of steel and silver. "Welco to Peacekeeper HQ for First City." Target announced with a flourish. "Pretty sweet, right?" He glanced at Ezra. "This is where we have our secure containnt area for rogue vampires.
This place was designed to hold even the most powerful and dangerous of our kind. Well, up to the third ring. Which you are not. Let's go."
They brought Ezra to a containnt room, the heavy door sliding open with a tallic hiss. Inside, the room was stark and bare, with only a single chair and a set of chains embedded in the walls. The mont Ezra entered the room, his vitality torn from him in an instant. He stumbled at the harsh force. "Wha? What was that?"
"Like I said," Target grinned. "Secure. There's no escaping. Your vitality is gone. No way to regenerate it. You'll be here with a long, long, ti."
Joke's on you. I'm a vitality machine. Ezra grinned inwardly.
Target gestured for Ezra to sit in the chair, and he complied, feeling the weight of the situation settle over him. The peacekeepers secured him in place, the chains cold and unyielding.
Once Ezra was restrained, Target leaned in, his smirk never fading. "Welco to your new ho," he said. "Comfortable, isn't it?"
Ezra t his gaze squarely. "You think this will hold ?" he asked, his voice low and nacing.
Target laughed, a harsh, grating sound. "Oh, it will hold you. And you'll stay here until we decide what to do with you."
Ezra's mind raced, trying to piece together the events that had led him here. The sudden summons, the ambush, the arrest. It all pointed to a well-orchestrated plan. Soone had gone to great lengths to ensure his capture, and he needed to find out who and why.
Ezra stood up, waved to him and left. The door to the containnt room slid shut, leaving Ezra alone in the harsh light. He closed his eyes, focusing on calming his mind and gathering his strength. His vitality was slowly generating in his soul again. The room didn't stop him from creating. It only took away from him when he entered.
A system that would work on most vampires. He wasn't most vampires.
Well, I've faced worse odds before. I should be able to get out of this.
Reviews
All reviews (0)