Perverse Thirst: A Ghost Walkers Prelude

Epilogue

With the weakening of the darkness plaguing the city, the sun shined a little brighter the day after Pilo went on his redemption campaign. Bynan called for all the leaders of his protection agencies to meet with him at the Capitol Building. An attack from the High Priestess deserved as much attention as it could get. The seriousness of the threat could be felt throughout the ranks. No one didn't take the high alert with seriousness. Ghost Walkers were taken from city patrols, and placed on the outskirts of the city. Within his main circle, Bynan prepared for another preemptive strike. Last time's failure caused the leaders to exhaust all their energy in making sure they weren't caught off guard again. Only one person, not a member of the coven, had been inside their den, and escaped. Pilo's observations were of value, and team had been gathered to search him out.

Inside the Mayor's mansion, fear had everyone on edge. No one suspected the possibility of killing the Counsel, existed. Pilo entered in their home, and exposed their weaknesses. Trust became a treasure, and they knew the only ones they could lean on were right next to them. The Counsel left behind a group of ten people they had turned. The Mayor felt a responsibility for this mix of cursed men and women. They kept him enticed with the promise they would turn him when his term ended. Coming together, the ten formed a new Counsel keeping the world at a distance until they were able to formulate a plan, and gain strength.

A search for Ladieta came up empty. Underneath the brothel, a group of compelled victims clogged the entryway into a tunnel leading under the city. For days they resisted being moved until Ladieta's control over them gradually wore off. Blood on the tip of the spear, pulled out of her abdomen, would be the only thing found of Ladieta, after her escape. The identities of all the members of her compelled group were not known. There were numerous possibilities of locations for her to end up at. Still in possession of her crown, she made it no secret she planned on using it.

Therion took a back seat to Chloria's leadership, for the sake of not bringing attention to their collusion. He played the role of the submissive, while she gained the trust of the coven. After Pilo's exit, the coven worked with great energy to harness the darkness for Chloria's control. Usually there is a passing of the mantle with a more controlled transition, but the death of a High Priestess brought chaos. Gaining control over the darkness existed in their realm of abilities, but it required a lot of effort. Until all of the darkness could be harnessed, their attack on the city would have to wait.

Pilo and Therion were the last existing original cursed. Everyone else possessing the traits of the curse, had been turned by one of the original cursed, or by another turned individual; except for one. Therion and his fellow wife hunter, conceived a child, shortly after they were cursed. Their child developed as a full blooded child, with the hunger curse. She would develop as no other. After the genocide of his people, Therion took his daughter and hid her within the community. Very few people knew of her existence, and her whereabouts remained a whisper behind closed doors. Finding her had benefits on many levels. For some, her threat needed to be eliminated, and for others, her safety could be used as a bargaining chip against Therion. Details of how a full blooded, cursed person, developed, became an interest of all knowing of her existence.

Another threat to creating a full blooded cursed person, existed in the love between Pilo and Demini. After taking care of Lodsto, they packed up a carriage, and left town. Knowing their safety would be threatened from all the destruction they left in their wake, both of them decided it to be best to lay low, away from the city. They looked forward to enjoying the peace, while they prepared themselves for their return. Knowing Chloria would be distracted, they knew there would be a little time to let the dust settle, before the time for war arrived. For the moment, they didn't want a distraction to their love. They wanted to forget everything, and just be wrapped up in each other. Leaving the city behind, gave them the time they knew they deserved. Nothing about coming back, had them looking forward to returning. In each other's embrace, they tried their best to forget the world.

The fuse had been lit, but no one knew how long it would be before the explosion.