Chapter 8: Infiltration

The moonlight shown brightly at dimly lit cathedral, casting a great shadow of the church on the marble floor. Its stained glass windows casting multicolored shadows across the stone floor. A man, his face etched with age and cunning, spoke in a low, conspiratorial tone.

"The sirens were so carefree," he chuckled, a malicious glint in his eyes. "They didn't even notice you had infiltrated their ranks." He wore a triumphant smirk. "Now that we have both taken the shapes of people from both families, our plan proceeds without a flaw. We now have access to two of the orbs!" the man hissed, his voice a guttural growl that echoed in the mind of his counterpart lurking in the shadows of the Montgomery estate.

From beneath a pile of fallen rubble, the other skinwalker emerged, its form still shifting and reforming as it absorbed the last vestiges of one of the bodyguard it had consumed. A wave of triumphant satisfaction resonated through their shared consciousness. "Hahahaha... It's time we end this pathetic charade of centuries bowing to the demands of humans."

Hours before the siren's raid on the Montgomery estate and the werewolves' attack on Damien and Palmer, Edward Ashworth, a man bearing the weight of centuries-old responsibility, stood anxiously. His heart was heavy with a premonition of danger, a feeling that had clung to him like a shadow in recent days.

"With all that's happening recently," his wife, Elizabeth, began, her voice laced with a tremor of fear, "I'm scared, Edward. Why can't they send escorts to you? Why do you have to go alone?"

Edward sighed, turning to face his wife. Her worry was a mirror to his own.

"Elizabeth," he said, his voice gentle yet firm, "the Holy Church itself isn't safe anymore. There are rumors of infiltration. Someone aiding the supernaturals, purifying them to wield holy weapons. We can't risk an escort who might turn on us."

He stepped closer, taking her hands in his. "Besides, this meeting is about more than just the threat. It's about Damien. As the son Elias Montgomery, he's going to have to pick up his father's role as a guardian. He needs guidance, support, especially with all the attention he's been drawing to himself lately."

Elizabeth's eyes softened with concern. "Those poor children," she murmured, her heart aching for the orphaned siblings. "I can't imagine what they've been going through."

"I hope Elias and Jasmine forgive me for neglecting their children all these years," Edward confessed, a pang of guilt echoing in his voice. "But duty demanded secrecy, demanded that I keep my distance to protect them."

He cupped her face gently, his thumb, cold and dry, laced with worry. "I'll leave the house in your capable hands, my love. Lancelot has already tightened security, but be vigilant. We still don't know how the enemies infiltrated the Valencourt's house and stole their orb, even with the holy barrier protecting it. These are dangerous times, Elizabeth."

Elizabeth nodded, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. "You too, Edward. Please, come back to me safely."

"I will," he vowed, pressing a tender kiss to her forehead.

With a heavy heart, he turned and left the study, the scent of aged wood and leather lingering in his wake. He strode through the grand hallways of his home.

He paused at the portrait of his ancestors, their stern gazes seeming to follow him as he made his way towards the waiting limousine.

The car glided silently through the twilight, the city lights blurring past the tinted windows. Edward closed his eyes, a wave of apprehension washing over him. He couldn't shake the feeling that something dangerous was brewing, one big enough to threaten the fragile peace they had maintained for centuries.

The cathedral stood tall and imposing against the night sky, its spires piercing the darkness like silent guardians. Edward, his footsteps echoing in the vast emptiness of the nave, hurried towards the hidden passage that led to the Elders' chamber.

He emerged into a dimly lit room, the air thick with the scent of dry wood and old books. Four figures, their faces etched with the wisdom of ages, and two other men sat around a circular table, one seemingly looking a little bit older than Edward and the other looked like he was in his early thirties. Their expressions a mixture of concern and impatience.

"You're late, Edward," Father Orion, the eldest of the Elders, said, his voice a low rumble that resonated through the chamber. "What took you so long?"

"I apologize, Father Orion," Edward replied, bowing his head respectfully. "Some matters required my attention."

"More important than our meeting?" Lord Gorion, his voice sharp and accusatory, cut in. "The entire world is at stake here, and you prioritize trivialities?"

"Now, now," Father Garghat interjected, his tone calmer and more conciliatory. "He's here now, and that's what matters. Besides, the one we called this meeting for is yet to arrive."

"Isn't that because you reached out to the boy in secrecy?" Father Vasquez challenged, his eyes narrowed with suspicion. "And fueling his hate with the death of his parents just to gain his attention? Where is your holiness?"

"Fueling his hate will make him a stronger protector," Garghat countered, his voice firm. "But those creatures are getting smarter. Walked him blindly into the palm of their hands, making him steal the orb they took from the Valencourt's house so they can trace him to their estate and obtain theirs as well."

"Let's begin," Orion declared, silencing the room with a wave of his hand. "When the kid arrives, we'll decide what to do. We have a serious matter on our hands."

He paused, his gaze sweeping over the assembled figures. "For centuries, the supernaturals have grown more active than ever as we all know. Infiltrating and stealing one of the orbs, eliminating the head of the Montgomery family..."

"How were they able to infiltrate Valencourt's house, even with the holy barrier?" Vasquez questioned, his voice laced with disbelief.

"Isn't it obvious?" The young man, with fiery red hair and piercing blue eyes interjected. "Someone from the church is leaking information to them. How else would they be able to break into their Mansion and wipe out the whole family? Leaving with the orb that no one knows it's whereabouts except himself, Stephen Valencourt."

"You will watch your tone, Silverwood!" Gorion thundered, his voice booming through the chamber. ""Did you consider the fact that he could have been careless enough to leak information to an outsider?"

"Stephen was never careless!" Silverwood retorted, his voice rising with anger. " He was a simple man that always kept to his words. He was a very careful man, more than any of the other families. He's brighter than any of you could ever be so don't you dare insult his memory!"

"Aren't you just letting your emotion get to you, Silverwood? There's no way someone from the church would work with the enemies and we won't find out,"

"Not if the person is within you four elders!", Silverwood replied

"Enough you two!" Orion boomed, silencing the room with a wave of his hand. "This is probably what they want. Conflicts from within, shattering the relationships between the church and the guardians. We'll come back to that, for now, what is taking Damien so long?"

"Hopefully, he's not bringing the vampire," the elderly man with a kind face and gentle eyes murmured with a Latin accent.

"I explicitly told him not to, D'Angelo." Garghat assured them.

Edward, unable to shake his unease, stood up. "I'll try to get in touch with him," he said, excusing himself.

He returned to the cathedral's main hall, the cool air and the scent of incense calming his nerves.

As he dialed Damien's number, a figure cloaked in shadows emerged from the side aisle walking haggardly.

"Hey, are you alright? Are you lost?" Edward asked, approaching the figure with concern.

"No, I'm not lost," the figure whispered, its voice raspy and unsettling. It lowered its hood, revealing a face that twisted into a grotesque grin. "I'm exactly where I want to be."

Edward's blood ran cold. He recognized the creature instantly - a skinwalker, its eyes gleaming with malice. He fumbled for his phone, his fingers trembling as he tried to warn the others. But it was too late. The skinwalker lunged, its form shifting and distorting as it enveloped Edward in a suffocating embrace.

The phone clattered to the floor, its screen cracking as Damien's name continued to flash unanswered.

"Slowly," the skinwalker hissed, its voice now a chilling imitation of Edward's, "everything is coming together."

It picked up the phone, a cruel smile twisting its lips. "How are things going at your end?" it whispered into his mind, its voice resonating with a sinister power. "The sirens were so carefree, they didn't even notice you had infiltrated their ranks. Now we have taken the shape of people from both families. Hahahahahaha!"