—Who are you? And how did you get my number? —Yu-Han said into the phone.

  —It was very easy to get it from the girl’s cellphone —the voice on the other side replied—. Long time no talk, Yu-Han. The situation is unfortunate, but there was no other way.

  —Who are you...? —Yu-Han repeated.

  —Have you forgotten the voice of one of your companions from when you were in the Order so easily? —A faint smile could almost be heard from the other side.

  —Spier? —Yu-Han’s eyes widened in surprise as a strange feeling gripped his chest—. Erick Spier… yes, it’s you.

  —Ha, ha, ha… well, Yu-Han. At last you remember your old companion.

  —Where is the girl? If you dare lay a hand on her… —Yu-Han clenched his fists.

  —Calm down, damn it. I’m not a sick bastard like Ephstin. The girl is fine and she’ll stay that way… As long as she doesn’t do anything stupid, I’ll make sure not a single hair on her head is touched.

  —Why kidnap her? And why are you so interested in Damien not finding out? —Yu-Han asked.

  —I don’t know who the hell Damien is. And as for the kidnapping… it’s the only way I could get your attention. If you want her back, come to my mansion, outside Bukrasma. Come with whoever you want, but come. There’s something I’d like to show you —Spier replied in a tone of superiority.

  —If I refuse to go, will you hurt the girl? —Yu-Han asked.

  —I knew that even with the girl kidnapped you’d still try to act tough. Good old Yu-Han never changes —Spier said with a small laugh—. If you don’t come, besides the mistreatment of the girl, you’ll also have to deal with threats like the ones I’ve just unleashed all across Bukrasma… right now. By the way, they’re also heading toward your foundation.

  Yu-Han listened silently.

  —A lot of innocent people are going to die, Yu-Han. People who don’t know what Koa is and believe supernatural beings are just stories… If I were you, I’d hurry.

  He hung up.

  —Boss, don’t you think you gave him all the information and he still refused? —asked Xalgo, whose presence seemed to stretch between the office and somewhere on an upper floor.

  —He’ll come. He just wanted to act tough to learn the full plan… —Spier lit a cigar—. Xalgo, keep an eye on that idiot until further notice, and make sure nothing happens to the girl. Send a few squads through the city and to the foundation—the weakest ones. We must save the strong ones for when the visitors arrive.

  —As you command, handsome boss —Xalgo replied as his presence slid toward the upper floor.

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  —Yianiss… where is Damien right now? —Yu-Han asked.

  —Layla told me he’s with Yulian at his house. Something about planning to go eat. They know nothing about this…

  —Good. Have someone tell Yulian to keep him occupied and not say a single word —Yu-Han ordered—. It wasn’t in Spier’s interest to hide the kidnapping from Damien… so Damien should hear about it from the one truly interested.

  At Yulian’s house, neither of them knew anything about Sarah’s kidnapping yet.

  —Hey, bro… why don’t you invite Sarah to come with us? —Yulian said excitedly—. I think love has returned.

  —I’m not sure… we get along well, but I don’t think it’s like that… —Damien’s mind kept drifting back to what had happened in Apalacide.

  —Come on. If Edward, the one most “bothered” by the situation, got over it, she will too. Go on, call her —Yulian insisted.

  Damien took his phone and dialed Sarah.

  In the room where she was being held prisoner, her phone began to ring.

  —Who is it? —asked Jonathan, who had stayed behind to guard her, if only to torment her with words.

  Sarah looked at the phone silently.

  —I asked you who it is… —Jonathan stepped closer, ready to strike her.

  A shadow took the shape of a scythe and rested against his neck.

  —Idiot… defying the boss’s order again? I should rip your head off right here —Xalgo said—. Didn’t you understand? The girl must not be touched.

  Jonathan was clearly frustrated by Xalgo’s intervention.

  —Ugh, leave me alone. —He moved the blade away from his neck.— Tell me who’s calling, or I’ll assume you refuse to cooperate and report it to the boss —he repeated, pointing at Sarah.

  His idea was simple: if Sarah resisted, he could proceed without being stopped, since it would technically follow Spier’s order.

  —It’s my boyfriend. It’s Damien —Sarah said, showing him the phone with a smile on her face.

  Jonathan was consumed by his own rage.

  —You’re a… —He stopped himself.— Answer the damn phone —he said, his eyes filled with nothing but hatred.— And put it on speaker.

  —Hello, Sarah. We were going out with Yulian and a friend of his, and I wanted to know if you’d like to come with me —Damien said shyly from the other side of the line.

  Yulian listened beside him, hoping for a positive answer.

  —No, Damien. I don’t want to go anywhere with you. In fact, I don’t want to see you again. Go to hell —Sarah replied before hanging up.

  Damien and Yulian stood there, stunned.

  —Bro, relax… maybe it’s just a bad moment and she answered without thinking —Yulian said, placing a hand on his shoulder to comfort him.

  —In every answer given without thinking, there’s a bit of truth, isn’t there? —Damien replied, trying to hide his sadness.— Bro, I should go. I just remembered I have to help at home with something. We’ll talk tomorrow.

  Just as Damien walked out, Yulian received the message about Sarah’s kidnapping.

  Sarah placed the phone back on the bed while tears quietly ran down her cheeks.

  —Well done, little bitch. You answered exactly as I told you —Jonathan said with a malicious smile twisting his grotesque face—. Now give me the damn phone. I want to avoid any calls while I’m not watching.

  —You’re a miserable bastard, Jonathan —Sarah said through her tears.

  —Miserable must be how “your boyfriend” feels right now —he laughed—. I’d love to see the look on his stupid face… Hey, actually, I’ll go find him.

  —Jonathan, stop. —Sarah stood up and began releasing her Koa.

  Xalgo’s blades immediately moved to Sarah’s neck.

  —Miss, I suggest you calm down and return to your bed. Think about your dear daughter —Xalgo said.

  Sarah froze in frustration, but obeyed.

  Xalgo unfolded his presence again and caught up with Jonathan in the hallway.

  —Idiot. You’re not really planning to go find him, are you? —Xalgo asked.

  —It’s to torture his mind… I just took the bastard’s number —Jonathan replied.

  —When does the attack on the foundation begin?

  —I don’t know the exact hour, but it’ll be tonight —Xalgo answered, confused.

  —Good. No matter how strong he is, there’ll be many of those monsters against him—and a few others —Jonathan said, laughing maliciously—. With the disgusting old man coming here… a message from this phone will solve my problems.