THE HIDDEN'S ORDER MYSTERY

CHAPTER EIGHT

Ryan was attending the Symphony of Shadows concert. Because the average age of the group's members was over 60, they only performed once a year. Nonetheless, the group put on an excellent performance.

The stage was covered in a constant haze, lit by flickering candles, decorated with rumoured authentic skulls, and adorned with symbols related to dark magic rituals.

Dylan 'Shade' Raven's powerful presence on stage, akin to a Norse deity, echoed through the venue, eliciting screams of excitement from the captivated audience. Moon 'Veil' Blackfyre's ageless presence, Jander 'Midnight' Shadowbane's exceptional bass skills, and drummer Blake 'Obsidian' Nightshade's contagious energy blended harmoniously to create a concert that was both unforgettable and almost therapeutic.

"Beneath blackened skies, we gather round,

In shadows cast by secrets bound.

With each strike of the midnight bell,

Our symphony of shadows swells.

We'll dance on the edge tonight.

Where light and dark collide.

In the shadows' sway, we'll find our way.

Through darkness deep and wide.

We're creatures of the night.

In shadows, we take flight."

Everyone, including Ryan, was singing 'Symphony of Shadows', the group's first hit.

Ryan started remembering during the concert break. It was a long time ago; they were inexperienced and dumb.

'Would Dylan still recall what happened? Will he still be mad at me for rejecting him? Surely not, because he is doing extremely well as a member of the Order, far better than if he had joined the Shadow Cult. On the other side, he might still despise me for fucking his girlfriend, Moon. Who knows?' Ryan wondered with a shrug.

Arabella was cooking at Alex's house. As he was showering, Arabella wanted to start making dinner.

Arabella, not one to brag, could cook anything and was proud of her culinary skills. That night, she decided to make a Greek salad. Arabella hoped Alex would relish the salad, featuring lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers, red onions, bell peppers, Kalamata olives, feta cheese, and Greek vinaigrette. She knew Alex loved Mediterranean food and wanted to impress him with her cooking.

Arabella heard the bathroom door open and, wiping her hands with a handkerchief, went there, saying:

"Alex, dinner is ready!"

Arabella dropped the cloth when she saw Alex wearing only a towel around her waist. Alex resembled an Olympian god with his damp hair, the smell of shower gel, and tattooed muscles. Arabella's heart raced, and a surge of adrenaline made her struggle to keep her composure. She couldn't help but admire how the towel clung to his sculpted physique, revealing just enough to leave her wanting more. Alex flashed her a timid smile and said:

"I hope you don't mind me coming out like this; I didn't realize you were already done with dinner."

Arabella felt her cheeks flush as she stammered out a response, trying to ignore the sudden fluttering in her stomach.

"I hope you like the Greek salad," she said.

"Yes, I'm sure I like it. I am going to get dressed, okay?"

Arabella nodded, her heart racing at the thought of Alex changing in the next room. She took a deep breath, trying to calm her nerves. She dashed to the kitchen. Alex smiled and proceeded to get dressed.

Mitchell couldn't quit thinking about what Theolinda had told him about the order, so he resolved to investigate that morning. He arrived at work half an hour early and, after entering the main building's entrance hall, proceeded to the location where he planned to begin the investigation: the door hidden behind a giant flower pot, from which he could descend to the order's secret meeting chamber. He was aware of its existence since he walked down to search for Matt's body. The door was locked, but Mitchell arrived prepared. A locksmith friend of his had given him many master keys so he could try to enter the door.

Mitchell looked around. There was no one in the building at that early hour. Mitchell moved behind the plant and discovered the hidden entryway. He tried several keys, but none of them worked. Finally, the last of the keys opened the door, but with difficulty.

Inside, Mitchell closed the door behind him with care before descending the hidden staircase. Mitchell was sweating and nervous. He wasn't a guy for action, but curiosity got the best of him.

Mitchell found himself in the enormous room where Matt had been killed. The area appeared neat, with no strange symbols scrawled on the floor. Candles and glasses were neatly arranged on a table. As Mitchell moved across the room, he noticed a gap at the back that led to another room. He let out a cry. Before him stood a massive statue of a man in a tunic. A placard at his feet read: "Marcus Lucius, founder of the Order Sapientae Antiquae."

To the left of the figure was Marcus Lucius' grave, with three lit candles: one white, one red, and one black. Suddenly, a strong voice exclaimed:

"Intruder, what do you want?"