And so it begins...
CHAPTER 23
Four days later...
"Looks like your ready, Victor."Alice.
"I'm gonna say this as politely as possible...I hate you."Victor said exhaustedly
Alice has been cramming the mannerisms of high-class society into him so as not to attract attention, She kept him up for four days.
"That's mean, Victor," She said pouting.
"I barely slept yesterday thanks to you, why would you wake us up by 4:30 am?"Victor said.
"To explain to you all what you're supposed to do and not do during this event"Alice.
"Ugh..."Victor groaned.
"Quit your whining and listen."Anna reprimanded.
"Okay, firstly Victor and Anna you are our inside men, go in there and check this "New" way they claim is capable of removing people's abilities"Alice.
POV: Victor.
They skipped it again, are they doing it on purpose?
"Kelvin you are to secure as many escape routes as possible throughout the entire building, report it to Anna, in case something unexpected happens, make sure you don't get caught, or else you might lose your grace."
"Hey, I have a question."Victor
"Yes, Victor."
"What's 'Grace'?"Victor asked.
Anna's eyes looked slightly distressed but she maintained her composure.
"Oh, you finally ask about that."Alice.
"Well, Grace is where all of you guys' powers come from."Alice.
"Huh??!!"Victor exclaimed.
"Why did no one tell me about this?!"Victor.
"It seemed unimportant at the time."Alice.
"This seems pretty important sha!"
"We don't have time to start going into details, besides we don't know much about it either," Anna said.
you but in exchange, you won't get to sleep in from now till it's time to head out."
"It isn't time to head out yet?! Then why wake us up by 4 am?"
"I wanted to get the explanation of your jobs out of the way first so that you can go."Alice.
"My God, I haven't cried in a while but this is almost bringing me to tears!"Victor.
"Now back to explaining, Briggs, You are going to be the driver, normally putting too many of you in this same mission might prove dangerous and risky but we have no choice."
"Driver huh?"
"Yes, keep the car running at all times, who knows when they might need a quick breakout"
Alice discussed the plan for 30 minutes.
"Hmm..."
"Looks like jane is the only one left out."Victor.
"Heh, it's okay, I'll be fine on my own, just you guys be careful on your mission, okay?"Jane said trying to sound spirited.
"Sure, thing, but first..."
He passed out on the floor due to exhaustion.
"Maybe we pushed him a little too far," Alice said with a smile.
The boys carried him away as they said goodnight.
"Goodnight, "Alice said.
She faced anna who was sitting on a chair on the right and said In a serious tone:
"Aren't you gonna go to bed Annabelle?"Alice
"You know he's going to find out one day."
Alice's irises glowed gold.
"Who going to tell him, you?"
She grabbed Anna by her cheeks
"Listen, little girl, you've done a wonderful job that's why you're still allowed to be here, if you still value him as you said you'll keep doing what we ask."
"Tch, get off!"
She pushed her back.
"When our true ambitions are realised, I'll make sure you are the first one to see it, to see 'paradise' "Alice said with a deranged smile.
"I'll tell Ignatius about this, then you'll see!"
"If it'll help that is, "Alice smirked.
"Meaning?"Anna.
"Nevermind"
She turned back into the chipper version.
"Ooh, looks like you have a little bruise on your face, mind if I heal it?"
She grabbed Anna's hand and held her against the wall while still smiling.
"Stop struggling, it won't sting, silly"
She healed anna's face from the bruised she caused.
"There your all better now."She said in a friendly voice.
She let go
"Goodnight, Anna, sweet dreams."Alice waved.
Anna ran back to her room, the meeting was held in the 5th-floor meeting room and her room was on the 4th she ran through the staircase and bumped into someone.
"Ouch, I'm becoming a bump magnet or what, the last one still hurts, "Victor said.
"Oh, it's you Anna sorry I didn't see you there."Victor said while standing up.
"Here take my hand"
He stretched out his hand to assist her up but she couldn't raise her head because she was crying.
"W-what are you still doing up?"She said with her head still down.
"Oh, I was sleeping but for I was a little, I kinda got too self-aware in my dreams so I couldn't get back to sleep, then I got this weird craving for orange juice and now I'm here, heh."Victor.
"Heh, orange juice was your favourite then too" She muttered.
"Huh? Did you say something?"
"Nothing, I don't need your help dummy, I'm fine!"Anna said as she left hastily without looking back. She left without saying another word.
"Phew thank goodness she didn't yell at me, I was kinda scared there for a moment, anyway I must get to sleep even if I have to knock myself out."
***************
17 hours later.
"Wow, this is a nice car, the agency must pay pretty well."Victor.
"Can you settle down almost there
"Anna
He stared at her.
"And just what are you staring at?"
"Your dress, it's... beautiful"
Her face turned red for a second.
"I guess."
"What a nice way to take a compliment," Victor said sarcastically.
"Hey, guys!!"
"I'm fast and all but let me ride in there too"Kelvin yelled.
Anna winded down.
"Nope, you said you'd get there before we blinked."
"I can but..."
"But what?"
"I want to talk with my friends a little, I've already gone their comeback here like 5 times."
"Then go the sixth, heh."Anna smiled.
"Wow, so she looks this pretty while she's smiling huh? Kelvin, I'm so jealous you can make this happen."Victor muttered.
"Did you say something?"Anna asked.
"Nope, not a thing"Victor.
POV: Victor
Her bloodlust towards me is... different somehow.
More gentle?
No, more like more fragile.
GAH!! why am I so terrible at descriptions?
[Exhale]I'll figure it out later but for now, it's The best word I can use for it is "Worried"
"..."
"Woah! I just heard Alice's voice in my head"
"Hehe, that's because I'm communicating with you here silly."
"Oh."
"Yeah, It was "DAIMOS IS GREAT" right?"
"One question, Alice, how did we get an invite to the thing anyway?"
"You kidnapped them?!
"Won't that raise suspicions?"
They stepped out of the car.
Wow!
"Such a wonderful fountain, I'm gonna go drink from it."
She held his collar
"Down boy, Remember one foul move and we are doomed."Anna
"I-i was kidding."Victor.
"I see guests are already going in let's go."
There were a lot of people in the reception hall, ranging from old-looking politicians to young entrepreneurs, all wearing a mask.
Before they walked in.
"Hey, Anna why are those guys wearing masks again?"
"This is a masquerade ball, you have to wear masks, don't tell me you forgot yours?"
She facepalmed.
"Dumbass!"
"I'm sorry I forgot, not a lot of stuff can stay in someone's head by 4 in the morning."
[Exhales] "Your lucky I brought a spare"
"Thanks, you were prepared that I'd forget huh, heh?"
She looked at him as if he was putting on the mask the wrong way.
"Here, let me help with that"
She took off the mask.
"Jeez, do I have to do everything myself?"
"I'm not a baby you know, I can put it on"
"Quiet and let me."
POV: Victor.
She's so close, why does this feel nostalgic in a way?
Why do I feel I've done this with her?
Such warm memories are filling up my head.
GAH!
Wait, wait, wait!
I'm not in love with her right?!
That doesn't even make any sense, we've never had one intimate moment where I can look back on it in a convenient flashback!
"Hey, stay still will you?"Anna said.
"Oh, sorry"
But I've got to admit...I don't hate this, I kinda wish it'll last longer.
"Okay I'm done," She said.
"What's with that smile on your face?"
"Huh? Oh, uh, er, nothing."
"Okay...weird but that's not out of the usual"
"Hehe, I guess your right, "I replied.
We walked into the recipient hall to wait for our turn.