THE FOUNDATION 🪨🪨🪨

THE DOWNPOUR WAS HEAVY 🪨🪨🪨

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The leaves rustled violently. The dirt came up in the air, rolling with all might. The boys were thrown out of the dungeon and Draco was set free. This, the sacrifice was nullified.

The court goddess was enraged. This had never happened before. No inmate had ever dared to make null a signed and already accepted sacrifice. Her silver eyes which always glowed were now replaced with a shade of dark red.

***

A smirk tugged at the corner of Deer's lips. This was only the beginning. And her father? He was hers to deal with. With the smirk still on her face, she made her way out of the dungeon.

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They gathered in their usual place - THEM HOUSE.

"What did you find?" Before they could reply, five able - bodied and well - built men ran in.

"Boss!" One who seemed like their leader spoke, "She was taken."

"Who?"

"Our link. By your enemy, Boss."

"What?!" Gascoigne barked.

"How dare you?"

The men were already shivering.

"You know, it's been a long time since I got blood on my hands," Rumminige licked his lips, eyes shining with greed.

"Ouch!" He winced. Tasha had just hit him, "Can you chill, bro? We have more important things on our table."

Gascoigne excused the men and turned back to the team.

"Have you found anything yet?"

"Nope," Levi answered, "All phones and locations off. Tried to hack into the account of those she knows, but nothing is showing."

"Seems like she became pretty smarter than us."

"Rummy!! Can you just keep shut?!"

Leah sighed; she was tired of those two bickering all the time.

"Can you also be chill? You've hit me enough!"

"Can you both stop or get out this instant!!!" Gascoigne thundered.

"Rumminige, Tasha. Come with me," and he made his way out of the room.

"The rest of you know what is expected of you. Adios."

***

Maverick let out a long sigh, "Boss doesn't even trust, so why give us this much work."

"Such bad blood. I'm out."

Leah shook her head, "Don't mind him. As for Boss, I'm with you. Our information doesn't matter to him. He has other trusted individuals, spies, and private investigators who perform much better work for him. I don't know why he still burdens us with tasks and assignments that he already has answers to."

Maverick rubbed his forehead, "So much for wanting my family to have a better life. Tasha and Rumminige don't even rate us."

"Oh. I thought I was the only one who noticed."

"Well, you're not."

"I guess we shouldn't let that bother us.

"You think so?"

"I know so. Now," she jumped to her feet, "Come on. We have a lot of work to do."

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"Mom? Where's Dad?"

"I was about asking you same. Where is your father?"

"And, why would you ask me that?"

"You answer that yourself. Where is your father?"

"I don't know!"

"Now I can't even trust anyone in this house."

"What has this got to do with trust?"

No answer.

"Mom?"

"She's gone."

Rihanna turned, "Ryan?"

He shrugged his shoulders and she jumped on him.

"You know you're crazy, right?"

Rihanna smiled, "I know that."

"And you know there are consequences for what you did back there, right?"

"I know. And whatever it is, I'm ready to face it."

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"Anyone knows who she is?"

"I don't."

"Me, two."

"Me, three."

"We need to get rid of her quickly."

Ralph's eyes nearly popped out of their sockets, "What?!"

"She's a threat to us! Don't you understand?"

"No. You explain to me. How many more do you want us to assassinate? Fine. Eliminate her? We aren't even done with the one at school, not even to talk of the group at the club. Now, this?"

Ferris nodded in agreement, "I was thinking same. What exactly are you doing with all 'em dead folks?"

David sat quietly as usual. He never said anything, except he found a reasonable need to.

"You know what they say? Knowledge comes at a cost," Collins said, strangely calm, "So, I suggest you just do what you're told, and get your asses outta here."

Ralph and Ferris exchanged looks.

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Aarian and Adrian exchanged looks of reassurance one last time before walking into the dungeon's court.

"What brings you both here?" One of the handmaidens asked.

"We are here for answers."

"What kind of answers do you seek?"

"The kind of answers that only the Divine Enchantress can give," Adrian responded with his face down.

"Beware. Knowledge comes at a very great cost."

"Whatever the cost is, we need answers."

Aarian pinched him.

***

"Whatever the cost is?"

"Yes, M'Lady."

"The foundation," Divine Enchantress muttered.

"The foundation?" Both boys chorused in confusion.

"Once upon a time in a far away land......"