Demon's Reborn

Chap 18

"You mean all of these people on this list were all killed?" William asked in anger after seeing the last number on the paper that Luigi gave him. "Even Veronica?!" he exclaimed in disbelief after scanning those names with his eyes. Luigi was surprised to see that William still cares for her. Their marital days were over when his young wife didn't agree for their daughter to join the military. Veronica was nineteen when she was pregnant and William is ten years older than her. Their daughters Venice and Vienna were fourteen when they separated and seven years passed since then.

"So he's gathering a force huh," William gritted his teeth and set the paper down. "Should we crush the meeting place. They'll be having a meeting there in two week," Luigi suggested then their telephone rang. William pressed the answer button and heard a rather unexpected caller. "Can you still remember me?" "Faile?" Luigi asked and strode towards the telephone. "Oh! And Yleine says she miss you." "Hey!" Yleine shouted then Faile's snicker was heard next. "Just tell him already," a huge voice said from their line. "Listen here, Tiger. What I'm about to say is about our dear Miss Venice Hasfia, so listen well."

"Hale, everyone's ready," Dale informed then they proceeded to the hall to meet everyone else. "Hello gentlemen," Hale greeted with his usual cool voice. "Has everyone slept well?" he asked and all he heard are angry remarks about how they were treated and accusations about the Hasfia massacre and ambush, except for those who are already on his side. His brothers are also with him. "Are you all done?" he asked when they're all just muttering to themselves. "The answer to all of that is, yes and I don't care," and before any of them could talk again, the lights in the hall flickered rapidly then went off. It all went back again after a few minutes. And this time, they have an extra guest.

Cale, the first of the four brothers, stood up in shock when he saw Veronica standing at the middle of the long table. "Did you miss me, monsieur?" she asked. She doesn't have her usual glamour since she's only wearing casual clothes and her hair is up on a ponytail. They are about to pull their gun's trigger when they felt the cold ring behind their head. Ninja dressed people suddenly came out and went behind each of the people around the table. Veronica took one of the copies and read it. "A measly reunion for military domination? What a garbage this thing is," she gave the paper back and strode towards the end of the table where Hale is seated.

"The Hasfia never did took such methods to get to the top. They were acknowledged and promoted. They rose up in their own way. You and your brothers are actually on a good start but then you became greedy. You all became greedy just when your names are already starting to bloom. How disappointing," Veronica shook her head in dismay and stopped a meter before the four. Hale is undisturbed while Cale is having cold sweat. Dale and Gale are just sitting calmly like their brother Hale.

"Did you just come here to lecture me?" Hale asked and leaned at the back of his chair, his hands clasped in front of his chest. "No, I came here for your life." Cale's face toughened up with his brothers Dale and Gale pointing their guns at her with no hesitation. Even with the threat behind them. The light upstairs were all turned on showing the close relatives of Hale and their family. "If you pull the trigger, they will die. Including your parents of course," Veronica smiled. Hale straightened up on his chair now after glancing at his parents and signaled his brothers to put down their guns.

"How did you get them here?" Dale seethed holding himself down. "The same way you gathered all these officers here. But don't worry, we didn't kill those who didn't agree to come with us," Veronica assured. "But come to think of it, your number is nothing compared to those who died in the massacre. We should've called your whole clan instead--" she jumped up and flipped in midair then landed behind Hale who tried to shoot her down. Instead of Veronica being killed, one among those around the table did.

A mad woman's laugh echoed in the hall that made heads turn. Even Veronica. The hall was quiet. Hale's brothers took the chance to shoot her down but she keeps on jumping around leading the bullets to the officers. The ninjas went upstairs to secure the family and take them down if necessary. Veronica danced around with her twin blades aiming for Hale and to cut down his brothers too. The lower hall looked like just a portion of a battlefield.

"Hale darling!!!" It echoed in the hall and they turned at the peak of the staircase. Venice is running down barefooted and towards Hale who got rooted on the ground and his eyes are focused on her. She's as beautiful as ever but he also noticed her bandage-wrapped arms and legs. Some are also peeping under her shirt. She jumped at him and gave him a kiss. When she pulled off, Hale saw the blood thirst in those menacing eyes. She easily took the gun from his hand and aimed it towards the people upstairs. She kept firing on different sides until there were no more bullets left. One by one, the unlucky in the crowd were sent to death and Hale can do nothing but stare.