Chapter 8

Franky arriving home disheveled and exhausted rushed into his Father's office to tell him what happened. Not finding him, Franky immediately ringed for their butler Claude the only person that Slade remotely trusted. Claude professionally gliding into the room as always droned on in a monotone voice, dripping with disappointment as he said hello to Franky. Franky, too tired to be mad at the disrespect, yelled at him. "Where is my Father, old man!! He said he would be here when I got back." 

Claude rolling his eyes at the little deviant in front of him replied rudely "He hasn't been back master Frank since he left to deal with that overinflated Cat." Franky, a lot smarter than most people think, actually started to get worried. His father, while not the nicest or loving man in the world was extremely punctual and very protective of his time. 

In a huff Franky pushed past Claude shoving the man into the wall saying get the boys together something is wrong with my Dad. Claude, seriously unhappy with Franky but realizing Franky could be right pressed the intercom button that told the gang to meet in the cellar. As Franky showered, changed and got his knives ready the gang started filtering in and was set by the time he walked through the door.

As all this was going on the Clans throughout the US were in chaos. All the Alphas were missing, the Gathering building was on TV ruined by gunshots, fire, and the resort where the kids were on vacation was blown up and covered in hundreds of feet of snow.

As Lee woke up with a splitting headache and cramps all over his body he realized he was tied to a chair with silver chains. Looking around trying to focus his magic riddled eyes he saw the other four Alphas unconscious similarly tied up. Still a little out of sorts he missed the entrance of the older man from the Gathering. Finally hearing his breathing he looked up sharply and met his eyes.

"Who are you, why have you kidnapped us and why is Slade now in chains?" Hearing Lee speak Xavier sighed, this was the worst part of keeping prisoners for any sort of time. They always ask questions and try to escape. "Well Mister Walker; Billionaire, Family Man, Philanthropist, yada yada yada. My name is Xavier, we'll get to why you are here later and Slade is here because he is a part of the filth I need to get rid of. Tell me, what do you think of your very short term home?"

Not rising to the bait Lee took a couple of breaths and decided to act calm, thinking he could try and take control of this conversation. He was beginning to figure out who this strange man was. "You must be a part of the group that's been harassing our people and making them disappear. What did they used to call you… oh yes I think I remember, the Magic Hunters. What do you want with us, we mean you no harm!"

Unsure and slightly confused on the inside about how he knew this Xavier just stared at the shifter. After a few moments of thinking Xavier decided to answer him with a half-truth and see what information he could attain from this creature before torture.

"Well mister Walker you are more informed than we believed possible but no matter. I am a part of this group you call the magic hunters; how you know this I don't know… You are here because we see you as a threat. Like a powder keg just hidden from sight."

Lee, knowing the Clans had their squabbles, responded to Xavier with facts. "Not once have we been outed or hurt humans. We are peaceful and all we want to do is live and raise our families. We are not dangerous or a "powder keg" as you say. And how do you have a pet Wizard? None of our kind would help you."

"I'd love to believe you Mr. Walker but we will just have to see for ourselves, if you give us all of your information and your people's names we can clear this up. If they are as peaceful as you say we will let you go and you can continue living, if not well let's leave that open."

The others having slowly awakened as the two men talked finally decided to enter the conversation. Alice looking worriedly at her husband, Preston looking toward Barbie and Barbie glaring daggers at Xavier about to speak. "How do we know you are telling the truth" Barbie growled, "Why would we let you of all people judge them?"

Xavier, annoyed with the question pulled a remote out of his pocket and pressed a button. Barbie still tied securely looked to be heavily electrocuted, rocking in her chair screaming, her skin was changing back and forth from skin to fur. The other shifters trying and failing to help started yelling at Xavier to stop.

Xavier holding up his remote answered. "Oh, should I stop? I guess for now. Talk again and this magically connected remote to the collars around your necks will punish you like you just saw. Do something too extreme and I will kill you with a magic jolt to the head. It's actually very useful. Since you asked before Mr. Walker, this is how I control our pet wizard. We've had him for a little over two hundred years now. I love how he never ages. It is very useful."

Lee still angry he hurt Barbie asked again "why did you hurt her? She just asked a question, and what if we don't give you the information? What then?" "Well" Xavier said "If you don't give me the info everybody dies, if you do maybe they won't." Smiling to himself Xavier liked where this was going, so far everything was on track and all he had left to do was lie or torture. His two favorite things!

Done with his questions for today Xavier pressed the button quickly giving everybody a shock and left the room. Lee asking if everyone was alright made himself ask them what they thought they should do next. Not getting anywhere with that he decided to try and find a way out.

Franky during this time had been giving orders to his dad's men, the gang. Telling them something happened to their Alpha made them all interested, Slade wasn't a nice guy but he lined their pockets well and they had a good enough life. Franky not caring whether they wanted to find out if his Dad was dead so they could elect another Alpha or if they actually wanted to find him, split them into groups.

Having them search the city and rough up any shifter they came across Franky was certain he would find his Father. Claude though very doubtful they would find Slade still helped and made sure everyone listened to Franky, He might not like the spoiled little bully but he was very loyal to his Father.