Meanwhile, Jervis and Alpha Crucis talked about their ongoing case at a nearby closed restaurant.

  Jervis was looking at the window through the blinds, “Halberstam has always been an asshole, and now the uncrowned princess is learning from him.”

  “I can’t get a hold of Bennett, possibly traveling back home and sulking. But she did leave us with a lot of notes and a web of connections.” Alpha Crucis informed.

  “That’s amazing, but that will be days to sort this out. I know Lord Caliber’s operation is close. I checked with the C.P. yesterday about a substantial increase in missing person cases in the past month.” Jervis insisted.

  "The reason is that young females from rural areas usually come here to do modeling here in London. Coming from broken homes and orphanages. Too many teenagers just lost with no one caring about them..." Alpha Crucis ranted.

  Alpha Crucis spoke from experience, but Jervis didn't want to say, "We did discover something..." He then walked to a table, picked up a folder, and looked through it. "Forensics found a truck with numerous blood stains inside. Tested all females, non-human. The truck was impounded because it was in a no-parking zone in Essex. It was brought to their lot two weeks ago. No registration, of course."

  “Non-human as in several types of nephalem that are not classified in their D.N.A. database," Alpha Crucis concluded.

  "Don't be discouraged. I wouldn't have called you here if I didn't have any good news." Jervis said as he showed a photograph of a small brown-haired, blue-eyed man wearing a purple and blue robe. "I recognized one of the pictures on one of Marco’s boards. This was taken a few days ago! That is Cardinal Marley! Lord Caliber's attorney. We checked his old law firm, Hammer Hann and Sullivan. He worked for a couple of decades ago and defended the worst. He is not so innocent himself. He was disbarred back in 1989. Got his license back, but the firm folded in 2006. Over a year later, he built his private practice, and guess who his first client was? Our law division has just discovered he was named power of attorney as a security countermeasure.”

  "More like his psyche is unraveling, and the Holy Mother sees that," Alpha Crucis said. "So, where is the cardinal?"

  "Cardinal Marley never shows holy robe out in public, but Geoffrey Marlo will be putting on his best suit while presenting the A.S.A. Award tonight at the Novello Theatre," Jervis said with a smile.

  Later that night, the Novello Theatre was packed with celebrities, doctors, and crown prosecutors. During the event, many people were honored by their peers. One was Dr. Geoffrey Marlo's pro bono work providing free legal representation for assault victims. He was sitting at the table with his esteemed colleagues.

  His wife, Meghan, gently nudged her husband, “Geoffrey, I can hear you snoring.”

  The bored Geoffrey looked at his beautiful redhead wife with an unamused expression, "Please, Meghan... They could have given me the award an hour ago. They want to drag this out because of ad revenue."

  With her smoldering dark eyes, Meghan longing looks at him with a smile.

  Then, a waitress poured him a glass with a pitcher of water. He accepted the drink and took a few sips.

  Meghan rubbed his back to comfort him, “I know you don’t like all of the ass kissings, but it’s only once a year.”

  A few moments later, they called for his name.

  Meghan giggled, “Speaking of which, you won again!”

  “Finally...” Geoffrey finished his glass of water and went up the stage with applause. He stepped onto the podium and spoke into the mic, "Thank you! Today, I want to say that the A.S.A. Foundation built ten years ago had one goal: to give those abused a choice."

  A peal of sudden girlish laughter was in the audience. But no one was laughing. Geoffrey was wondering where it came from.

  Steadfastly, he continued, “My mother... My mother used to tell me this powerful quote. There is no life to be found in violence. Every act of violence brings us closer to death. Whether it's the mundane violence we do to our bodies by overeating toxic food or drink or the extreme violence of child abuse, domestic warfare, life-threatening poverty, addiction, or state terrorism--”

  The girlish laughter that was in the audience intensified. Still, it wasn't the audience they began to worry about Geoffrey.

  Geoffrey cleared his throat as he pushed forward, “and as we move forward to women’s and racial tolerance--!”

  The sound of girls laughing hysterically was deafening as it bounced through walls.

  Geoffrey started to fidget and sweat profusely. Adjusting his collar, he tries to keep calm.

  He tried laughing it off, but it didn't help, "okay, enough! You can stop now..."

  Still, he could hear the laughter.

  "No, stop it! This isn't funny!" Geoffrey demanded.

  You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.

  Meghan was concerned as she stood up, “Geoffrey, what’s wrong?!”

  Then the sound turned to blood-curdling screams and loud gasping moans of pleasure.

  He tried covering his ears, but it didn’t work, “STOP IT!” he yelled as he staggered off the stage and onto the floor on his back.

  He coughed, knocking the wind out of him and rolling around in pain.

  He opened his eyes to see an empty theater. No people, no tables, no lights.

  Geoffrey whimpered, “Hello?”

  Then, a sole spotlight was shone on him. Blinded by the lights, he tried to shield himself from the light.

  “Who’s out there?!” He hollered.

  He looked around and behind him to see nothing but darkness. The light was strange, mixed green and blue. The shape of the spotlight was a slanted beta symbol.

  Geoffrey recognized the shape and feared his life, "WHAT DO YOU WANT FROM ME, HUH?! I'M JUST A LAWYER!" he shouted.

  “Since you like throwing quotes around, here is one for you,” Beta Crucis’ echoed voice responded, “The only thing worse than a liar is a liar that is also a hypocrite!”

  Then Geoffrey can hear the sound of snarling beasts surrounding him. His greatest fear was realized when a pair of glowing eyes were fixated on him.

  “I’m surprised you are using your mother as a sound piece for your speeches since your mother hated you.” Beta Crucis’ voice hollered out. "Any time you would 'act like your father,' she would starve you on purpose for days. And when the time was right, she would lock you up in the garage with a light fixed on you and her dogs surrounding you, trained to attack you if you ever stepped out--”

  “Shut up!” Geoffrey yelled.

  "Don't step out of the light, boy. Or my real babies are going to eat tonight!" The voice of an old British woman hollered out with the dogs growling.

  “SHUT THE FUCK UP!” Geoffrey yelled.

  “You know who we are, so let’s cut the bullshit!” Alpha Crucis’ voice spoke out. "Lord Caliber. Where is he, and what is he doing now."

  “I... I represent him!” Geoffrey stammered.

  "Then you know exactly what he does! Stop fucking with us!" Alpha Crucis’ voice shouted.

  The sound of snarling ravenous dogs started to etch closer, leaving Geoffrey almost out of the light.

  "I do real estate and logistics! I close out deals on properties he buys and sells here in England!" Geoffrey confesses.

  “And what does he do with him?!” Alpha Crucis’ echoed voice interrogated.

  “He... He never tells what he does--”

  “So the rape cases settled through your private practice years ago did not involve him?” Alpha Crucis’ voice spoke out.

  Suddenly, a large case file was tossed into the light.

  "About 74 cases settled last year too. Your client has a mighty-sized appetite." Beta Crucis’ voice spoke out.

  Geoffrey stared at the case file as he recognized his handwriting. It was like he saw his past, present, and future; it was more than grim.

  “It’s yours, Cardinal!” Alpha Crucis’ voice bellowed. "Don't believe it? Then go ahead! Pick it up!"

  Hesitantly, Geoffrey approached the file. He bent over and tried to pick up the case files, but a rabid animal lunged at his hand. Reacting quickly, he jerks his hand away. With fear taking over his judgment, Geoffrey mistakenly ran out of the spotlight. He only ran ten steps, and he was tackled to the ground. Realizing his mistake, he crawled back to the light.

  But it was too late as one of the beasts bit down on his ankle and dragged him back into darkness. The Beast didn't take long to tear into him as he fought for his life. Gnawing both of his arms, he tried to break free. Most of the beasts fighting amongst themselves want to have a piece. Slashing at his face, torso, and back, it looked like the claws were approaching him from all directions.

  Struggling to reach his feet, a large beast shoved him down and bit his leg. Geoffrey screamed bloody murder as he felt his femur being broken in half. Rag dolling the leg, Geoffrey's body was being flown from side to side as the lesser beasts scurried away. Refusing to die, Geoffrey punched the Beast's nose a few times without effect. He then located his eye and punched it, letting him go.

  With his adrenaline kicking in, he limped toward the light. Getting closer, the pack of beasts cornered him. With one lunge at him, he dodged and rolled out of the way. Then another tried to pounce him, with Geoffrey kicking him away with his only good leg. Using the rest of his stamina, he quickly rolled back to light for safety.

  His clothes were bloodied and torn. Both of his arms are covered in blood and bite marks. His left leg was a mangled mess. With the adrenaline-wearing, he began to sob in a fetal position.

  "Don't expect any sympathy from us, Cardinal. I read the case files..." Beta Crucis’ voice mocked.

  “I’M SORRY!” he wailed.

  "I DON'T WANT AN APOLOGY! I WANT ANSWERS!" Alpha Crucis’ voice yelled.

  "They--" Geoffrey hiccupped in pain. "He said he had business with a missing witch. Some Wiccan...”

  “WHAT?!” Alpha Crucis’ voice spoke out.

  "I don't know! He was planning to raid around midnight. That is all I know!” Geoffrey sobbed.

  Then there was silence. No laughter, growling of beasts... nothing.

  Geoffrey was afraid even to look as he now heard footsteps. He couldn't get up as the pain took over his body. He was losing too much blood and drifting out of consciousness.

  Then, a figure approached him, casting a shadow on top of him. She was wearing a green uniform of some sort and had animal ears.

  “Do yourself a favor, Cardinal,” she spoke while she knelt, reaching out her hand. “I suggest you find another line of work.”

  Trembling in pain and fear, Geoffrey hesitantly took her hand as she yanked him up.

  Sitting up, Geoffrey took a loud gasp. With his eyes wide open, he could see he was still at the awards ceremony with everyone huddling around him. Geoffrey instantly checked himself out and was okay with no bite marks.

  His wife, conveniently a medical doctor, was checking on him, "Geoffrey, are you alright? You passed out and fell off the stage!" she was greatly concerned.

  Geoffrey was on the verge of tears when he saw his wife. He couldn't answer right away. He staggered back to his feet, confirming that both legs were not broken.

  “Can someone get this man some water!” a man shouted.

  "No, water! I'm just tired." Geoffrey played off.

  "Do act tough around me, Geoffrey..." Not having it, Meghan pulled up a chair and had him take a seat. She shined a flashlight in his eyes. "they are not dilated...”

  "Honey, I'm fine! I just got winded, that's all." Geoffrey tried to console his wife and everyone who could hear him.

  “Even then, you should listen to your doctor!” a familiar male voice chimes in.

  Geoffrey turned around to see Jervis smiling at him.

  It was awkward for Geoffrey, but he tried to laugh it off again, "Yes. But you can see, I am not dead. For now, at least." He deadpans as the audience laughs along with him.

  This also made Jervis laugh, but not because of his boring and dry sense of humor.

  He knew whatever the sentinels had done to him did the trick. Now, they would have to regroup and come up with a strategy and fast.