Eternal Undying Chronicles

Chapter 91 Precinct

Nightfall descended swiftly, wrapping the city in a shroud of darkness. Alicarde had left the guys in the faculty library, surrounded by stacks of books and endless pages of lecture notes they were forced to transcribe.

They had tried to lighten the mood by joking around, but the sheer volume of work dampened their spirits. In the end, the group decided they wanted to hang out somewhere else, a decision that Alicarde didn't bother arguing against. Instead, he quietly slipped away, his mind occupied with more pressing matters.

Now, he stood outside Malefica's house, the dim light of the streetlamps casting long shadows across the path. He knocked on the door, and it swung open almost immediately. Malefica stood there, her expression unreadable, though it was clear she had been expecting him.

Neither mentioned the events of the day, it seemed trivial now, a fleeting distraction from the darkness that truly mattered. Alicarde's eyes were cold, reflecting the subtle madness that had been simmering within him, a madness driven by a burning desire for carnage.

Without a word, he followed the witch into her house, the silence between them thick with unspoken thoughts. They entered a room that was dimly lit by a few flickering candles, casting long shadows on the walls.

Alicarde collapsed onto the worn sofa, his body aching from exhaustion. He hadn't slept or even rested properly since being freed from his month-long house arrest. The fatigue weighed heavily on him, but his mind remained sharp, focused on the task ahead.

"We make a move on the precinct tonight," Malefica said, her voice steady and composed. "With that, we will have all the information we need."

Alicarde nodded, relieved that she wasn't still upset about the incident earlier. He was far too drained to deal with her wrath on top of everything else.

"While you were leering at my breasts," Malefica continued, her tone dry, "I figured something out about Zagarath."

Alicarde frowned, silently cursing himself. 'Of course, I just had to jinx it,' he thought.

Aloud, he feigned ignorance, "What are you talking about? I did no such thing."

"I must be wrong then. I am a millennia-old spinster, my age must make me very forgetful," Malefica said coldly.

The witch might not have known, but Alicarde wasn't going to be intimidated by her tonight, so he shot back with a smirk.

"I do my best to support the elderly. I would gladly help you get rid of your problem about being a spinster," Alicarde said.

Malefica sighed deeply, her patience clearly wearing thin. She decided not to stoop to his level, choosing to bring the topic back to the matter at hand.

"Why are the main targets pregnant women?"

"Because baby meat is tender, and Strigoi love it," Alicarde answered bluntly.

"Yes, but why not just go to cradles and take the babies? Why the mothers too? Not just that, I checked the data—more women are being taken from nearby cities, all pregnant women. They can't take too many here or risk drawing too much attention," Malefica's tone was skeptical.

Alicarde's frown deepened. "How far are they taking people from?" His thoughts immediately drifted to his sister, who was studying at a university in the next city over. A wave of cold dread washed over him, hardening his resolve.

"What are they planning?" Alicarde asked, his voice tight with tension.

"I suspect a type of ritual, but I don't have a clue which kind. Each ritual is tailor-made for its own purposes. They all have the same basic template, but what you desire is different, and what you offer depends on what you are trying to achieve," Malefica explained.

"Yeah, I remember now. When I was at the docks, Zagarath's lair had this large magic circle. I thought it was for the ritual that creates more Strigoi, but it was too big," Alicarde said.

"Can you remember what the center of the magic circle looked like?" Malefica asked hastily.

"Nah, not a clue. I don't think I even saw the center," Alicarde shrugged.

"Hmmm, I see. That would have been a big help. You aren't exactly an expert in magic," Malefica said.

"So what do we do?" Alicarde pressed.

"We need to find out what the ritual is for. When they run out of pregnant women, they will either start making more or expand their reach to further settlements."

"Make more how..." Alicarde's voice trailed off as realization dawned on him. "Oh, I see." The thought of what that implied was deplorable, making his blood boil with rage.

"For now, we need to get to the precinct, retrieve the data, and immediately make a move on any priority targets. Remember, we need information, so don't kill them until we get it," Malefica instructed.

"After we have the information, I can do whatever I want, right?" Alicarde asked, his eyes glowing with a dangerous violet hue.

"Yes, you can," Malefica replied coldly. "They do not deserve to breathe the same air as the rest of us."

Alicarde's lips curled into a sinister smile. "Good. They won't."

Malefica nodded, her expression unwavering. "But remember, we still don't know Zagarath's overarching plan. The ritual is merely a part of it. If you find a Strigoi of high enough intelligence in his brood, we capture it."

Raising her hand, Malefica began to cast the spell. Her voice, soft but firm, resonated through the alley as she chanted:

"Shadow and light, weave and conceal,

Grant us faces that others feel.

Let eyes be fooled, let minds be blind,

With this guise, our forms they'll find.

Twist perception, hide in lies,

Reveal us not—False Guise."

The spell settled over them like a cloak, altering their appearance to anyone who might glance their way. Though they didn't physically change, to the human eye, they were now unremarkable officers, blending seamlessly into the night.

"The spell isn't perfect," Malefica cautioned. "It only affects human eyes, not cameras, so we need to be in and out quickly."

"What about you?" Alicarde asked, concern lacing his voice. "If a camera catches you, they could easily track you down."

Malefica lifted her cane with a confident smirk. "I have this. It distorts my appearance, so I look different to everyone who sees me—sometimes a woman, sometimes a man, each with a unique face. It's fine."

Alicarde nodded, understanding. "So it affects cameras too?"

"Yes," she confirmed.

"Then why not use that on us?"

"It only works for me. I can't cast a proper disguise spell with my limited casting power. Besides, I'm more of an offensive witch."

"Offensive? Then why do you need me?" Alicarde asked, raising an eyebrow.

"I can one-shot stronger foes, but against many weaklings, I'm helpless," Malefica admitted, her voice steady.

"Is it okay to tell me that? I mean, why trust me with that information?"

Malefica smirked. "I think you're more interested in grouping me than betraying me."

"Tsk. How dare you levy false accusations against me," Alicarde whispered, a mock indignation in his voice.

"Enough of that. We don't have all night," Malefica snapped.

"Sure. Let's go," Alicarde said, leading the way as they reached the edge of the roof. Just as he was about to jump down, he turned to Malefica and, without warning, swept her off her feet.

"What are you doing?" Malefica demanded, her tone stern, though her cheeks flushed.

"Getting you off the roof," Alicarde replied, ignoring her protests. "We can't have you wasting spells."

Alicarde's grip on her was firm yet gentle as he leaped off the roof. The world blurred for a moment, then steadied as his power, [Flux Field], activated. He could feel the gravitational forces around them shifting, his will bending them to his command. The sensation was like being suspended in water, the pull of the earth no longer a threat but a gentle suggestion.

Their descent was slow, almost ethereal, as they drifted toward the ground. The wind whispered past them, rustling Malefica's hair and sending the hem of her dress fluttering. Her initial tension eased as she realized they weren't plummeting but floating, each moment controlled and deliberate. Alicarde's eyes were focused, his expression intense as he guided their fall.

They landed softly, barely making a sound on the cold pavement below. Alicarde released Malefica, his arms still lingering slightly as he made sure she was steady. She stepped back, brushing herself off with a huff, clearly not amused.

"I could've gotten down fine. I still have a few parlor tricks up my sleeve," she said, her voice imperious, though her gaze betrayed a hint of gratitude.

"Yeah, sure you do," Alicarde said dismissively, stepping onto the road with Malefica by his side as they approached the precinct.

Malefica's eyes narrowed as she scanned their surroundings. "Remember, we stick to the plan. We get in, grab the data, and get out before anyone realizes what's happening."

Alicarde nodded, his expression serious. "And if anyone gets in our way?"

Malefica's eyes were chilling as she replied, "You do nothing. Only retreat. Do not hurt anyone, do you hear me?"

"Whatever you say, mom," Alicarde muttered, rolling his eyes as they moved toward the entrance.