Dance of the Damned

Division Three

In the dead of the night, two figures walked to the building in the distance that looks like a museum or theatre with the intricate carvings on the walls and the red door with even more carvings.

But the door would not budge. No matter how hard people tried, it would not open for them and they wondered if this building is even necessary at this point.

It should have been demolished long ago but someone bought the entire plot of land and the building so no one could touch it.

The strange thing is that no one knows who bought the building and the name under the ownership is written in another language so they were unable to find the person.

There have been rumours surrounding the place but no one is sure if they are true or not.

So the rumours became even more outlandish as they spread. From the owner being a dead man to there being a little world inside the mysterious building.

But it is nothing like that, not even close.

The figure walked to the building and turned at the front door, not entering it as they walked to the back and then tapped on a wall.

Pressing a couple of bricks in series, the walls opened up and they entered the pathway, the walls closing behind them.

In front of them is a small cave-like structure with a bright light at the end of it. They walked out of the tunnel and entered a lavishly furnished room.

There were mirrors around along with unused closets, chairs and tables littered all around the room.

The wallpapers were purple and the pillars beige with a fireplace at the corner of the room.

They walked out of the room and reached a hallway with stairs, below the stairs is the same meeting room where they began Operation Egg only a night before.

And just like the night before, people stood beside their chairs, waiting for someone to come in.

The two nodded at each other and the first one wore the mask over his face while the other stood in the corner, out of sight.

Once done, Thunder jumped from the top of the balcony to the table below though no one batted an eye at him.

"Well, that is a very warm welcome, if I have to say so myself." He laughed when Angel clapped for him.

"Always an entrance maker." She laughed like a shrill serene.

"You are late!" Nameless shouted, sitting on his chair in annoyance. "What took you so long?"

"Maybe I like being the centre of attention?" Thunder said, walking to the man on top of the table with a wide grin on his face. "Besides, today is a great day."

"What? What is it?" Angel asked, jumping in her seat.

"You need to calm down." One man with dyed blond hair said to the girl, moving away from her.

"Division Nine Master, Ourd. Leave the kid be." A man in a flowy robe filled with extravagant designs said to the man. "Let her express her excitement as she wishes."

"I agree with the Seventh division master's words," Thunder said, laughing while still on top of the table. "How was your day, Lotus?"

"It was wonderful, darling." The seventh division master said, grinning at them. "And judging by your excitement, I can tell you have wonderful news for us."

"I have something." He shrugged, pretending to not care as he turned to Teri. "Division five master."

"What do you want?" She asked, looking at him with an annoyed expression on her face.

"How was it, playing with Roshi?" He asked, walking to her and crouched right in front of her. "Was it fun? Who did you take with you?"

"I owe no obligation to you to answer your question." She said, turning away from him.

"After playing with Roshi for a night, you think you can act all thou-"

"They are here!" A large man walked into the room, every step he took shook the building as he took his seat at the table.

“Why is the Division Eleven Master so loud all the time?” One man in a mask asked the other woman in a mask beside him. The two have matching flaming red hair.

“Like I would know.” The girl whispered back as they stood in attention.

The boy is, Nepto and the girl is, Lian. They are twins, each division master eight and ten respectively.

"Thank you, Soul," Carvill said appearing from behind him as he walked to the front, silence filling the room immediately as they looked at the man.

Even thunder got off the table and stood by his chair as Carvill walked past, the two sharing a knowing look in their eyes as they passed each other.

“Please be seated,” Carvill said, standing beside the empty chair at the front as everyone took their seats, waiting with anticipation. “Now, I am sure you all know why you were called today.”

“Tell us!” Angel got to her feet, screaming. “I can’t wait any longer. Thunder told me nothing too!”

“Fifth Division Master?” He called as Teri stood up. “Your report please.”

“The first phase of Operation … Eggs was successful.” She said as cheers resounded through the room. She waited until they died down before continuing as she produced a newspaper on the table.

Angel grabbed the newspaper first and read it out loud, “An attack happened on the night of June Fourth, Friday, to the young master of the Pober family, Micah Pober. Witnesses claimed that they saw three men that could be attackers.

“There were others that said they saw just one attacker while others say that there are two. It would appear that the master was not the only one attacked as his driver was found missing.

“Some witnesses claimed that they saw a man ride off with a sack attached to his horse as a red liquid dripped out of the sack.

“Many are saying that this might be the missing driver. But what the people do not understand is why the young master, who is blind as well as sickly, was on his way from the marketplace with a cart of vegetables.

“After asking the storekeepers that the boy visited, they all said that he told them he was on a very important errand.

“People have said that he was covered with wounds, not from the attack and, after tonight’s incident, begin to worry about the young master’s living conditions.”

Angel burst into a laugh as some of the others joined her.

“It is just as Roshi said would happen,” Soul said shouting with happiness.

Teri cleared her throat and began again. “We were able to create contradicting witness reports as well as over-exaggerated claims as you could see.”

“Good job.” He said, nodding at her. “That kid from your division did a good job too. Dragging a body on the streets is something we did not think of but it worked in our favour. You may sit.”

“Thank you.” She said, folding her skirts in front of her as she sat back down.

“Phase one was successful. Now, about the report on phase two.” He turned to the woman quietly sitting in the corner with a hat on to hide the rest of her face as she slowly stood up, hand on the table.

“Phase two?” Lian asked, looking at her brother.

“There was a phase two?” Nepto asked, looking at his sister.

“We were not informed of this.” Nameless declared, annoyed as everyone stared at him blankly. “Why were we not informed? And who is this woman?”

“Are you going to question Roshi’s decisions right now?” Lotus asked, fiddling with the fan in his long, elegant hands. “After everything that has happened?”

“I am merely asking to be informed.” He argued back.

“What you are asking for is to be considered an equal to him,” Corey said, fiddling with her hair. “That is something you will never get.”

“I di-“

“Enough,” Carvill said, frowning at everyone in the room. “Need I remind you all why we are here in the first place? Pay attention.”

He looked at the woman, “Please go ahead.”

“If I can give a bit of a background for you all.” She said, looking around the room. “I have been part of this guild for a long, long time. Ever since it's forming.

"But I have decided to remain unknown. Until now. So let me introduce myself properly first. I am the third Division's Master, Madam Lottie. A pleasure to meet your acquaintance."

As soon as she introduced herself, murmurs filled the room.

"Madam Lottie?"

"Have you heard of her before?"

"I have. But I thought she died."

"Was she not one of the former leaders of the previous Lion?"

"I think so."

"And if I can continue." She said, voice sultry yet firm making everyone fall silent instantly. "The reason I have been away for so long is because of the mission Roshi gave me the day The White Tears of the Lion was reborn."