Demon's Reborn

Chap 7

"Again?!" the man wearing a lion mask roared in anger in his cave. "You let that lone woman escape you again?!" the men kneeling before him trembled in fear. "But Lion, the Tiger always appeared out of nowhere when we're about to get our hands on her" one of them voiced out. "That damn block-face. What's his deal with that thief?!" Lion paced back and forth angrily as if attempting to break the concrete floor under his feet. "We need to get that video from her. Next time, include the Tiger on the list" he growled. "Yes, Lion" the men said and got up on their feet relieved that they'll be stepping away from the man's anger. "He's all but talk, he can't even pin down the Tiger himself" one of them muttered under his breath and it didn't take a moment when a bullet dug its way out of his head. His comrades stood away in fear. "Say it once more and any of you would be next" Lion said with threat in his tone.

And also, it's his fault and the vigilantes' that those Moles weren't able to eliminate the remaining members of the main family, he thought. I don't want to upset him anymore, I've got to do something before things gets out of hand.

Three days ago Yleine snuck into the Lion's den unnoticed and took a video tape from the Intel room taking the chance of the absence of the people in charge. She got only spotted when she accidentally run into one of the personnel. The chase started out of the building. Luckily, she can run quicker than the ones chasing her, the only problem is they're armed. Bruised and wounded from countless trips, stumbles, slips, and bumps, slowed her down but that doesn't mean she can't run away from those men who will surely kill her if they had their hands on her.

I can't keep running for long, I need to hide somewhere, she told herself while hiding in a dark part of an alley. She was rather surprised when Luigi appeared out of nowhere. 'What the hell is he doing here?! He shouldn't see me like this!-- "Ahh!" she screamed in pain when they shot her at her arm. The moment Luigi pulled his attention away from her, she took the chance to run away.

"Damn that hurt!" she cursed and pulled out her motorbike from an abandoned public locker with her right arm. She rode on it and inserted the key then darted away from the city. She parked her motorbike at the side of the manor and slipped in at the side door. Before treating her minor wounds and bruises, she pulled out the bullet embedded on her arm with tweezers. She's rather glad it didn't drill too deep. After a shower, she finished up her treatment with ointment compresses and bandage for her arm.

Tonight, she reminisce what happened earlier as she immerse herself in her hot tub. The damned dude got the nerve saying that to me, she argued but she's got her emotions in the blender "Just stay with me. That's all I ask from you". She can't tell whether she's pleased, irritated, upset or enraged. But I'm rather thankful we met each other again today, he saved me from the danger I was supposed to face alone. Who would've thought I'll meet those lions at the park? She rose from her bath and felt the pain at her wrist that received all the shock when she nearly fell from the building. I'll reward myself some rest. I've simply achieved my goals without fail.

Last night, she's contacted the team leader of the Hasfia Massacre Investigation and had him send the complete report of the investigation through the fax machine and permitted the delivery of the current version. Yleine and the team leader has been working together to revise the result of the investigation that won't leave the reader suspicious. And today, she was able to persuade the chief to cooperate with her and answer the General professionally and conceal what should be concealed for the mean time. "Prepare my comeback" she smiled to herself in front of the mirror.

"I see" William said with slow nods after Luigi told him everything that happened considering Yleine. "I strongly believe she didn't tell you everything" William added. Luigi just stared at him waiting for him to speak more. "The lions won't be that persistent if she only got the pin from them. They're already known and won't give a wild goose chase to just retrieve their pin. She must've taken or... stolen something from them" he paused, his eyes met the worried look at the young lad's face. "Don't worry, we'll save him lover boy" William teased and Luigi's cheeks reddened. William smiled in amusement as he shook his head somehow dismayed. "And here I am thinking you love my daughter." Luigi shot a glance of surprise at William.

"You knew?!" "I was once like you son, I can tell by the looks you give her are saying something" William smiled. "How long do you know?" Luigi asked almost a squeak. "Before you even realized how you feel for her" he answered. "Now, do you know where this Yleine is?" William asked. "No, I don't. I'll be off immediately to look for her." "Rest for now son, let fate do its work. Anyway, Lion is also responsible for the ambush at the burial. I don't know if that ambush means a challenge. I've not received any letter yet but I'll make sure they'll be dead meat." "Do you know who Lion is?" Luigi asked but William just shook his head. "He's keeps his identity very well son. Might be your brother" William joked.

"May I go to the intel room?" Luigi asked. "You're allowed to go anywhere in my hotel son" William said and let Luigi go. I'll definitely find her location and the place that poem is talking about and Lion's identity as well, he told himself.

Using all the CCTV recording within the city he tried to track Yleine, but instead of finding where she lives, he found out why Yleine is being pursued by the Lions. She really did steal something from them. Can't she recognize that her pursuers are from the Lions? It's clear on the recording that they've been wearing the same uniform whenever they're after her. Or might she be turning a blind eye on the obvious? Whatever her reason is, she shouldn't be playing tag with those people. It's too dangerous—can she be some undercover agent? Possible. She must be a good actress if that's the case.

Luigi shifted uneasily on his seat when the possibility struck him. He doubts she might be really some undercover agent because if she is, she wouldn't be so careless that she nearly got caught twice or maybe more than twice. What's so interesting with the Lions? They're just some organization composed of people who are good at keeping secrets one might never have the chance to know. Most of the powerful people entrust their secrets in the organization and has one of the toughest security. He cannot imagine how the lady was able to bypass the security. Unless with the help of some inside work with the touch of luck and perfect timing.

Authority is nothing within the place. Threats never work and even if it was made real, the organization stood firm. The employees know that their job means life or death but of course, the organization won't hire someone who's physically, mentally, and emotionally weak. The organization was able to make things through hell with them. But of course, it won't be as solid as it is without the Lion himself. The Lion's identity is the utmost secret that the organization itself does not know, only that he is the founder, a child of military officer and that he's a man feared by many. That's because he kills without a second thought ruling everyone with fear and the weight of responsibility given to each employee. The most dangerous position in the organization is the Moles, in other words, underground workers. Or mostly they're the ones who do the dirty jobs that could lead to death.

One time, the Lion and the Tiger met on an assembly meeting that after the meeting they were teased to have a mock fight to decide which king is stronger. The king of forest jungle or the king of safari jungle. Luigi, although he's just a new name and a protégé of the Hasfia, was able to win against the Lion, who's more experienced. It was more like a one sided beating  than a duel. The defeat brought shame on Lion and ever since that day he's built a wall between him and Luigi. Whenever someone says that Tiger is better than him, it's either death or threat he gives them. Some of his employees curses Luigi under their breath because he's the main reason why Lion became worse than he was before, but that doesn't mean that he's kinder before either.

He stood up and opened one window in the room to welcome some fresh air. He leaned on the wall beside the window pane and stared out into nothingness. But why did they set up an ambush that day? The clan has nothing to do with them in any way imaginable, he thought as he tries to puzzle it out.