Sylvester acted on a whim, stopping by the inn once more on his way back to the clan. “You never came back, baby. You kept me waiting.” the female bartender of last time said to him with a reproachful look. Sylvester felt like throwing up with the way she was batting her eyelids flirtatiously at him but he managed to keep his expression neutral. “I've been busy.” he replied simply with a smile. She waved his statement off, giggling like a little girl. “Never mind that. Because you have got a cute face and know how to treat a woman, I forgive you…So what can I do for you?” Sylvester mentally gagged as she increased her level of flirtation. Surely, she wasn't expecting him to hop in the sack with someone like her. “Coffee and medium rare steak hamburger.” he ordered. She batted her eyes at him again before going in to get his order. Sylvester froze, his whole body going rigid. Someone was observing him. Discreetly he closed his eyes and released his essence, using his mind eye

Sylvester didn’t allow himself rest for even a moment, pushing forward once his boots landed on familiar soil, weaving through the narrow inner corridors of the stronghold’s forested interior. His target first and foremost was to locate Gerald but suddenly he stopped running. A troublesome thought arrested his movement. Those clones trying to destroy the barrier were strong. Almost as strong as him. And they were many. He looked up at the barrier, noting the numerous cracks in it. Even if the barrier held for another hour, the moment it fell, the clan would be fighting an army built to overwhelm. A direct confrontation would cost lives. Too many. There has to be something I can do. Another thought occurred to him. If I can’t stop them from coming, I can at least weaken their forces before they get in. He turned, glancing over his shoulder toward the almost invisible seam he had slipped through. The barrier was breaking apart. Once the barrier collapsed fully, the man-made so

Sylvester waited till the last group of clones crossed the far side of the camp before he slipped into the narrow space between two supply tents. If he was going to reach Gerald, now was the time but there was one challenge; wearing the second-in-command’s face had been easy enough but acting like him proved to be far more difficult than he had expected. That didn't dampen his determination and he had to hurry up. He was running out of time. His clone was now overly suspicious of everyone and paranoid now. Every little thing that moved was now a threat in his eyes. His suspicion seeped into the air, corrupting it and making it almost impossible for Sylvester to take a single step without worrying that he would be found out by the patrols. Besides that, there was a bigger problem. His clone somehow felt something wasn't right with the second in command. The look he had given Sylvester when he met him made it clear he suspected there was some foul play in the works. Sylvester

His clone had taken the bait. Sylvester realized it the moment he saw the clone storming toward the treeline alone, jaw clenched, aura crackling like black lightning around him, out of control. Exactly as Sylvester expected, even better. He had expected the clone to see him as the biggest suspect but it was the clear the clone was casting his gaze somewhere else, away from Sylvester. Sylvester followed the clone then hid behind a cluster of boulders, watching as his fake searched the woods on his own, his eyes having a crazed look. His entire body was tensed, as if he expected the intruder to jump him any minute. Sylvester nodded in approval, liking how well things were progressing. That's right… let paranoia be your drive. Sylvester slipped silently from his hiding place and followed, carefully keeping a safe distance between them. The forest was quiet and calm, giving a false sense of peace but Sylvester knew better. It was a lie… couldn't be real, not when there

Emily’s days at her mother's home were anything but peaceful. While she delegated Cullen to work with Gladys in the running of the company, she moped around, on edge and anxious, her thoughts constantly turning to Sylvester. She had initially thought the marble and glass mansion tucked safely in the woods would be just the safe haven she needed but she always had the unsettling thought that the fake Sylvester would get to her… and her baby. Worst still, she hasn't heard from her husband and all types of gruesome images plagued her mind. Katrina on the other hand part did her best to settle Emily's fear, constantly reminding her they were well hidden and also to trust Sylvester. He was a grandmaster after all but Katrina's words didn't help one bit. She paced around more than she sat, almost like a caged animal used to being free. She jumped at every sound and every creak of the floor boards or doors sounded like a bell announcing doomsday. At such times, her hands would inst