*Riding down windy less travelled roads in an old beat-up jeep, Rich could see the Rain Forest off in the distance. He had always been a man thirsting for knowledge, and now that everything he knew essentially blown to bits, he couldn’t help but be annoyed. He felt uneasy, a pit in his stomach. Why was he even going along with this nonsense, he could take Katrina, and go somewhere safe. How safe though? He knew nothing of this new world opened before his eyes. What did Rex mean by Ancient blood? Was he talking about Jack? He had never felt these powers before, and the timing, with Jack and the others was oddly suspicious.

  He knew there was something there, if only he could get Eric and the others to come back with him, they could figure it out together. He found himself wishing he had treated them better. Being away from work, he started to realize how consumed he had been with his work, studying the human mind. He cringed at some of the methods he had adopted. Each time he did something wrong, it just became easier, what was wrong with him? He shook it off. This was no time to be thinking about the past. He needed to figure things out. *

  Rich whispered: Katrina, you doing, okay? You nervous?

  Katrina whispered: A little. I can sense some powerful magic. The closer we get, the more I can sense it. It’s not clean magic either, I fear this is something dark and sinister. So corrupt, I can hardly recognize it as magic, something I’ve never felt before. I have no idea what awaits us.

  *Rich shook his head, not really fully believing everything yet. *

  Rich: You can sense magic?

  *Katrina shook her head yes *

  Katrina: Sorry I never told you, I never sensed any in you until recently.

  Rich: Let’s not talk about this too much, we don’t know anything about this guy.

  *He looked toward the man transporting them. He sat in the front completely unaware, listening to a mix of Bob Marley tunes and Makossa music. *

  Driver: We about half an hour away. Depend on road condition. When we get there, I drop you off and leave, okay?

  Rich: Yeah, sure.

  *They continued on the road, arriving near the edge of the Rain Forrest at a little past 530am. They hopped out of the jeep gathering their belongings, the man drove off, quickly disappearing down the road. Rich looked at Katrina. *

  Rich: I guess we just wait?

  *Shortly after saying that a bck truck appeared out of the brush of the rain forest, driving quickly towards them it pulled up to them. A muscur man in a bck trench coat, wearing a bck cat mask with whiskers, and bright catlike neon green eyes behind the mask covering the top part of his face. Underneath the mask, a well-trimmed beard, mostly bck, with two streaks of gray down his chin, with the bck hairs forming a triangle from his lower lip to the tip ending on his chin. He spoke in a deep German accent. *

  Man: Hello Dr. Farrington, and the lovely Katrina. I’ve heard so much about the two of you. I am Caliko. Rex asked me to get you into the Sanctum. Please let us hurry. You can both ride in the back. Do not touch anything, you understand? I don’t care if I owe Rex a debt, you touch my stuff I will kill both of you.

  Rich: You seem awfully confident!

  *Caliko stared at Rich, taking off his trench coat, he id it on the hood of the trunk. His muscles slowly swelling. He smiled at Rich. His canines and incisors began to grow becoming sharper, and longer. *

  Caliko: Care to try me?

  Rich: So, you’re like Rex and I then?

  Caliko Scoffed: Like you and Rex? Please! I’d mop the floor with the both of you. If he didn’t have his fucking goons, he wouldn’t stand a chance. Again, you want to fucking try me? Or, can we get this over with so my debt can be paid?

  Rich: Sure, how much do you owe then? Must be a lot, to risk something like this.

  Caliko: None of your fucking business, now, is it?

  *Caliko retracted his muscles and fangs, and put his trench coat back on. *

  Rich: It’s fucking hot out here and you wear that thing.

  *Katrina nudged Rich in the ribs and whispered. *

  Katrina: Cut it out, we’re not here for your ego.

  *Caliko ignored Rich and hopped in the driver seat, Katrina and Rich hopped in the back and they took off towards the Rain Forest, finally passing the barrier hiding the Sanctum they could see it now. They sat quietly in awe as they headed towards the unknown *

  *Approximately 7 hours prior. The men sat soaking in a rge heated pool. In a rge room, made to look like they were outside in the rain forest. Hot tubs pced randomly throughout the room, cascading water down into the pool. People swimming nude, and walking around, without a care in the world. Every single one of them looked perfect, too perfect. *

  Steve: It must be the rings, right Marco? What’s that really about?

  Marco: Well, I was lying earlier. It really has nothing to do with inner beauty.

  Steve: I fucking knew it!

  Marco: Right, well… Mother Agbor can’t stand ugly people, she is quite vain as you suggested. It’s why many of these people come here in the first pce, at least I believe it’s the reason. Live a few nights as an extremely attractive woman, or man. Part of the allure, I guess. A lot of fucking goes on.

  *He gnced over to a part of the room covered with a canopy, and see through drapes. A rge orgy was taking pce within. *

  Marco: They’re all retively unimportant guests though. Usually, people pay a lot of money to attend one of these parties… but due to your arrival, this was thrown together retively quickly. These people were invited to stay for free, a once in a lifetime chance for most of them.

  Steve: You said not many of these are thrown.

  Marco: They’re not, a few times a year. A single night costing a little over a million dolrs per person, and thousands come. This party has been toned down though, I doubt you would want to see what normally happens. The rich and powerful are quite a disturbing crowd.

  Eric: Why do you do it then Marco? Why do you work for her?

  Marco: Well, it’s good money for one. I have a rge family, and I can support them with this job. Unfortunately, I never see them. They are not allowed to know anything about what I do. I’m not exactly doing this by choice either. At first, I’ll admit, I was. I’ve wanted to leave many times before… but once you’re in, well it’s basically impossible to get out, unless it’s in a fucking bag, with your limbs unattached.

  Eric: Jesus!

  Marco: Yeah. They lured me in with their promises of their non-violent ways, but the people that have left, I’ve never heard or seen of them again.

  Eric: What goes on here?

  Marco: I have my assumptions, but I don’t know exactly. There are parts of this pce I am not allowed. I’d show you, but you’re not even close to being ready to face her, she is deceptively powerful and her power is only growing, I don’t know how but she’s really changed, for the worse. Let’s just do as you said, pretend. Okay?

  Eric: Yeah, you’re right.

  *A nude woman swam up to them bringing the drinks they had ordered earlier. *

  Woman: Here are your drinks, is there anything else I can get you boys?

  *She gave them a seductive look, mostly paying attention to Eric*

  Eric: No that’ll be all, thank you.

  *The men grabbed their drinks, and the woman swam away. Eric seemed quite interested in the woman. *

  Eric: Was she wearing a ring? She’s staff, right?

  Marco: Natalia, no, that’s all natural… quite the specimen, yes?

  Eric: Quite… who is she?

  Marco: She just works the parties usually. She also dances for the guests. Staff are off limits though, unless they choose to partake, which she does not. At least, I’ve never seen or heard of her doing that sort of thing. Although one did try, she ripped his throat out with her bare hands, feisty one.

  *Marco gave a chuckle. The other men looked at him. *

  Marco: What? The guests are usually filthy rich assholes. Can’t bme me for not caring if one of them ends up dead.

  Eric: I saw some men earlier, bck robes, creepy masks…

  Marco: Caliko’s men, he never comes here without them. He is a secretive fellow; he likes to keep things shrouded in mystery. I wouldn’t say him and Mother Agbor are friends, but they respect each other. She pays him a lot of money for his drugs, and he makes her a lot of money. Many people come just to see what new drug await them, it’s my favorite part at least. I’m only allowed to do things like that on nights like this, so it’s an escape from my normal life here, I look forward to it. Caliko isn’t just a drug dealer though, I’ve heard rumors, but again shrouded in mystery. He operates in the dark.

  *Eric could see Natalia at the other end of the pool, eying him. *

  Eric: I’m going to go for a swim

  *He swam off toward Natalia. *

  Jack: I need to piss, where’s the bathroom?

  Marco: Back where we changed.

  Steve: I have to go as well.

  Henry: Me too, what about you Jean?

  Jean: No, I think I’m okay right now.

  *Jean seemed very drunk, he y on the pool stairs, half his body in the water, the other half ying on the ground. Half asleep, he drew on the ground with his finger. The others headed off towards the restroom. Marco, stayed close to Jean, but seeing as he was down for the count, he found a familiar face to chat with. *

  *Eric made his way to Natalia. She watched intently as he approached. As he got closer, he quit swimming, standing up he began to walk, half his body in the water. *

  Eric: Shouldn’t you be working?

  Natalia: I’m on my break.

  *She eyed him, her eyes exotic and enticing. *

  Eric: You use your break to watch me?

  Natalia: You noticed?

  Eric: Of course, I noticed…

  Natalia: You are the special guest after all. I’m just trying to figure out what’s so special about you.

  Eric: I’d show you, but Marco told me you’re off limits.

  Natalia: He did, did he?

  *She moved closer to Eric, she was tall, but still a little shorter than Eric. She looked up at him, seductively. *

  Natalia: For the right person, I might be willing to…

  *Before she could finish her sentence, the grandfather clocks began to chime. A scream of agony from back where Jean was. Eric turned to look, as he did, Natalia grabbed him and began kissing him. He shoved her off of him. *

  Eric: What are you doing? My friend’s in trouble, get off me!

  *Before she could say anything, he dove into a swim and swam as hard as he could towards Jean. He could see Marco attempting to grab Jean, but Jean waved his hand and a forceful wave of water swept Marco backwards and into the nearest wall, smming him hard, he tumbled to the ground, unconscious. Others screamed and ran off in fear. Jean’s agonous screams filled the pool hall. Eric could see Jean getting close to the clock, he swam harder, fear rising in his chest. He felt like he was swimming in mud. As he reached the stairs, Jean mere feet away from the clock, he sprinted, screaming for him to stop. He lunged to grab Jean… but it was too te. As Jean touched the clock, he disappeared. Almost as if he had been sucked in. The clock bells died down, and Eric id there, pounding his first into the ground, causing it to crack underneath. *

  Eric: FUCK!!!

  *Steve, Jack and Henry, ran out of the bathrooms, after hearing the commotion. They found Eric. Laying next to the grandfather clock, halfway knowing what had happened, Steve and Jack were quiet. *

  Henry: What happened?

  Eric: Jean is gone, he touched the clock.

  *Eric stood up, angry. Not wanting to bme himself for what had happened he focused on Henry. In a quick move he lunged at Henry, wrapping his hand around his throat, he lifted him off the ground, then smmed him into the wall, causing the whole wall to shake and crack. Steve and Jack stood paralyzed, they had not seen Eric dispy this type of anger, or strength before. *

  Eric: WHY WEREN’T YOU WATCHING HIM! YOU JUST FUCKING LEFT HIM ALL ALONE WITH MARCO? WHAT WERE YOU THINKING?

  *Eric then threw Henry to the ground. Henry gasped for air, his throat tight from where Eric had just squeezed, he wheezed. Steve and Jack were finally able to come to their senses, they stood in front of Henry. *

  Steve: Don’t Eric, please.

  Jack: Yeah, Eric, this ain’t cool man. This ain’t Henry’s fault. It’s none of our faults.

  *Eric could feel his rage within growing. He needed to get away from them. He stormed off toward the dressing rooms and grabbed his robes. Not even putting them on, he just left, back towards the elevators. As the men attended to Henry, they did not notice, that Natalia had followed close behind Eric’s exit. *

  *As Eric approached his room door, he could hear someone approaching from behind. There before him stood Natalia, still nude, just as he was. *

  Eric: You set me up, didn’t you?

  Natalia: No, I swear, I had no…

  *Before she could finish Eric grabbed her and began kissing her. He grabbed her by the arm and lead her into his room, throwing her on the nearest bed, he wasted no time. He kissed her, she kissed him back. He got rougher, she got rougher. His anger in full force, he was taking it out on her, but she seemed to like it, and gave it back twice as hard. He had been with many women before, in his travels. He was a very attractive man, tall, dark, handsome, well endowed. He was not afraid of an attractive woman. He continued to go hard, as hard as he could. She encouraged him, “Harder!” She would moan. He obliged. They stayed missionary the whole time. Staring each other in the eyes.

  There was a connection there, at least Eric felt it. He knew because all the other women he had ever been with, he felt hardly anything. Becoming somewhat tired, from relentlessly going as hard as he could, he slowed. His thrusts became more passionate, everything he gave, she gave it back two-fold. What sort of extraordinary lover was she? He thought. He had forgotten everything that had just happened, pushed to the back of his mind. He wanted this woman, so badly. It didn’t feel like magic, not that he would know. He could just feel the pure desire. He could see her pupils dited to their full extent, where beautiful blue eyes were before, he saw nothing but wide pupils now, with a small outline of blue. She was aroused. Her moans were intoxicating. He continued his thrusts, with minor adjustments each time, finding the perfect spot. “Oh, right there! Yeah! Just like that! Don’t stop!” She moaned. The perfect thrust narrowed down; he focused in on the rhythm of their bodies. Grabbing her soft, perfect breasts, he rubbed her nipples, then he touched her neck, a slight squeeze, as if choking her.

  Neither receiving the reaction he was looking for, he continued his thrusts, she continued to moan. He wasn’t sure how much longer he could st. He touched her ear, same, she moaned but it wasn’t the spot he was looking for. He reached his arm around her, pulling her body into his thrusts, she moaned harder. “Closer,” he thought, “this better work!” He slowly worked his fingers down the small of her back, brushing ever so lightly as he continued thrusting. Making his way between her cheeks he slowly slid his middle finger in, finding the hole, he penetrated. The tiny bit of blue he was able to make out on her eyes completely gone as her eyes widened and her breath disappeared. She was climaxing, he could feel it, her muscles contracting, eyes rolling in the back of her head, she moaned wildly, and gasped for air. He was more aroused than he had ever been, and extremely self-satisfied. He let himself go.

  Not realizing how much he had held himself back to pleasure her, he came harder than he ever thought possible. His breath disappeared, he could barely let out any words, just “I’m” followed by incomprehensible grunts and moans, as he finished, he fell forward, barely able to stop himself from colpsing on top of her. He rolled to the side. They both y there, catching their breath. They were quiet for a few moments. Eric’s mind clearer, now that he wasn’t focused on sex, but before he could speak Natalia spoke up. *

  Natalia: I’m here on a job, not from Mother Agbor. I have a different employer, I will not tell you who, at least not right now. I was supposed to just watch you, not have sex with you. I just couldn’t help myself. I know you feel it too, don’t even pretend like you don’t.

  *She looked at Eric passionately. He looked at her. *

  Eric: Marco said you killed a man here once, who tried to do something with you.

  Natalia: Yeah, but that was just the cover story. I was sent here to kill him. He was a really nasty man. Sex trafficking, murder, rape, underaged minors involved, and extremely rich and powerful.

  Eric: So, you’re an assassin.

  Natalia: Sure, amongst other things.

  Eric: Does your employer work with Mother Agbor?

  Natalia: No, absolutely not that woman is vile.

  Eric: Why not kill her then?

  *Natalia ughed. *

  Natalia: I wish, that woman is dangerous. I’d end up with my head on a ptter. They’re scared of you, you know? For some reason, they won’t kill you either. I’m not sure exactly why.

  Eric: How do you know?

  Natalia: I have my ways.

  Eric: Why are you here in my room, and don’t say sex?

  Natalia: I didn’t know your friend was in trouble. I felt terrible, like it was my fault everything happened.

  Eric: Truly?

  Natalia: I kissed you on impulse, I swear it. I thought you’d run off and I’d miss my chance… So, I just kissed you. It was stupid really, just something I’ve used before… for an assassination. Grrrr… What am I even saying, I sound like a nutter.

  Eric: So, you love me then?

  Natalia: What? No!

  *Natalia ughed*

  Natalia: Why would you say that?

  Eric: Then you’re here to kill me, you said it yourself, you’ve used it for to assassinate someone.

  Natalia: I used it to get someone’s attention…

  Eric: What’d you want my attention so badly for then? For sex? You just wanted to have sex with me?

  *Natalia seemed very flustered. *

  Natalia: The st man I had sex with died 3 years ago. I was with him a long time. I had a few boyfriends before, but I was broken for a long time after he died. He did the same kind of work I do, and got in too deep on a job. When he died, I just ignored grieving and lost myself in my work. I don’t love you Eric, it’s just the first time I felt anything, in a long time.

  Eric: Just by looking at me?

  Natalia: Jesus! Would you shut the fuck up already! Fine, I take it all back, you’re an asshole!

  *Natalia went to get up, Eric grabbed her arm to stop her, and embraced her. *

  Eric: Me too, I’ve actually never felt anything with the women I’ve slept with. This is actually a first for me.

  *They id, holding each other. *

  Eric: Do you know where my friend went? That clock took him away, or something. One second, he was there, the next he was gone.

  Natalia: I don’t, but I’ve been told there is strange magic here. I can’t personally sense it, but they say it’s a dark and powerful pce. The clocks are rumored to be dangerous. I’ve been told to stay away from them and to never touch them.

  Eric: Hmm, strange. Listen, I don’t fully trust you, yet. Mainly because this honestly seems like one of those too good to be true scams… but I think they were targeting my friend. They said he’s a prophet.

  Natalia: A prophet? No! That can’t be true.

  Eric: He can read things by touching them, does that sound like a prophet to you?

  Natalia: I don’t know, maybe. Who said he’s a prophet?

  Eric: Ahmadou did, when we were headed here, Jean consumed some Magic Tome.

  Natalia: The lost Tome of Enoch!

  Eric: I don’t know

  Natalia: No, it has to be, it was rumored that Mother Agbor had it somewhere, or had recently found it.

  Eric: Okay, what is it.

  Natalia: Enoch was the great grandfather of Noah, the great flood Noah, you know?

  Eric: Okay, and?

  Natalia: His books were removed by Jewish and Christian faiths, because they contained information, they did not want people to know. We have those books of course, but his Tome, well there was only one of those. Rumored to have ancient knowledge of spells. He wrote of the coming of demons and Nephilim. At least that’s what is told. Original text however, talk of falling fragments, of God. Humans who found these fragments would become powerful beings, some referred to as Nephilim and others demons. Demons were formed from corruption, if a corrupted person found a fragment, it twisted them further, hence demon. Also corrupting future offspring. These fragments are usually passed down to blood retives, but if someone does not have children, the fragment wanders, looking for a new person to be blessed, or cursed…

  Eric: That’s insanity, how is it possible this shit stays hidden?

  Natalia: Would you want to drag normal people into this?

  Eric: Well, no

  Natalia: Exactly, and the darker ones all operate the same. They don’t want normal people to know what they can do. It would cause too much unwanted attention. So, it’s sort of like an unspoken rule.

  Eric: Why haven’t I realized my powers until now?

  Natalia: That I don’t exactly know. I have heard talks of something called an awakening. Most people go through it as children though, shown by their parents. If it’s a wandering fragment though, or the child isn’t shown how to tap into their powers, then it has to be this awakening I’ve heard of. Come with me, I know people who can help you.

  Eric: I can’t leave my friends, and currently I have no clue where Jean is.

  *Natalia looked worried, her eyes began to tear up, having fsh backs of losing her previous lover, she couldn’t bear to lose someone else, even if they had only just met. *

  Natalia: Listen I have to get out of here, I have to report what’s going on. My employer suspected you might cause some events to unfold. I need to leave right away.

  Eric: Okay, I understand. When will I see you again.

  Natalia: I don’t know. Bye.

  *Natalia stood up, tears in her eyes she did not want Eric to see she darted off. *

  Eric: Wait!

  *It was too te; she had already left. He jumped up and looked out the door, but there was no sign of where she had gone. Everything rushing back to him, he was frozen. He didn’t know what to do, the alcohol and drugs making him feel like he was spinning inside of an echo chamber. Exhaustion hitting hard, he id down and passed out*