Garret Manor

The darkness that had taken over Garret Darksoul's office seemed thicker than usual, as if it were sucking all the heat out of the room.

Garret was not a man easily frightened, but the feeling that Victor Shieldman was hunting him made him as uneasy as he had been decades ago.

With his hands still shaking, Garret opened one drawer in his mahogany desk and rummaged through the contents until he found a candle and a box of matches. His hands wouldn't cooperate, and he had to try several times before he managed to light the match.

Finally, the flickering flame illuminated the candle and brought a modicum of comfort to Garret, who took a deep breath before standing up, holding the candle tightly. He opened the office door and peered into the dark, silent hallway. He had to find Thorne and plan a quick exit.

Victor wouldn't come without a plan, and Garret knew his best chance was to escape before the confrontation became inevitable.