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BENEATH THE MASK: REVENGE OF SAMUEL HAYES 115
The group moved quickly through the desolate landscape, the weight of what had just happened pressing down on them. The air still held the remnants of the Devourer’s presence, thick and suffocating. Samuel kept a firm grip on Mercer’s arm, making sure he stayed steady.Mercer, though exhausted, still managed to crack a weak smile. “You planning to hold onto me forever?”Samuel scoffed but didn’t let go. “You can barely stand.”Mercer sighed but didn’t argue. His body was covered in bruises, his clothes tattered, and his skin was still marked with faint traces of the dark tendrils that had bound him to the Devourer.Vincent led the way, his gun still drawn, eyes sharp and scanning the area for any threats. Evelyn walked beside him, her hands trembling slightly, though she tried to hide it. Sophia was a few steps ahead of Samuel and Mercer, her grip still tight on the dagger, ready for anything.Thorne, as always, was eerily calm, his presence steady. “We need to move faster,” he said.
BENEATH THE MASK: REVENGE OF SAMUEL HAYES 116
Vincent, still clutching his gun, scanned the perimeter of the room before finally lowering it. "We should be safe here for now."Evelyn rubbed her temples, her fingers trembling. "For now? That's not exactly reassuring. Those echoes... that wasn’t normal. Not even for this."Thorne stood near the doorway, his gaze distant. "It was an aftershock. The Devourer may be bound, but its influence lingers. The echoes were proof of that."Sophia crossed her arms. "Great. So what do we do? Just sit here and wait for another nightmare to show up?""No," Thorne said simply. "We need to sever the last ties."Samuel looked up. "Ties? You mean, there’s still something linking this place to the Devourer?"Thorne nodded. "The remnants of its presence don’t just vanish. The echoes were drawn to us because we disrupted something ancient. If we don’t finish what we started, this will happen again. And next time, we might not be able to outrun it."A heavy silence settled over the room.Vincent finally s
BENEATH THE MASK: REVENGE OF SAMUEL HAYES 117
Samuel stood at the center, his eyes dark with unreadable emotions, while the Brook family loomed over the negotiation table like vultures circling a fresh kill.“I don’t think you understand the weight of what you’re asking, Mr. Brook,” Samuel said, voice calm but edged with steel.Across from him, William Brook smirked, fingers tapping rhythmically against the armrest of his chair. “Oh, I understand perfectly,” he mused. “What I don’t understand is why you’re hesitating. A merger between our companies would be beneficial for both sides. And yet, you seem... resistant.”Samuel’s jaw tightened. This wasn’t just a business deal. The Brook family had been subtly moving against him for months, and now, they were making their power play. He wasn’t going to let them win.“I have no interest in merging with a family that has done everything in its power to sabotage mine,” Samuel said coldly.“You wound me,” William chuckled, leaning back. “This isn’t about the past, Samuel. It’s about the f
BENEATH THE MASK: REVENGE OF SAMUEL HAYES 118
The aftermath of William Brook’s fall left an eerie silence in the grand hall. Smoke curled from the scorched remnants of his body, his power having disintegrated beneath Samuel’s attack. But despite the victory, the tension in the air remained thick, as though the battle had only scratched the surface of something much bigger.Evelyn stepped beside Samuel, her expression unreadable. “You look like you’re expecting another ghost to jump out of the shadows.”Samuel didn’t respond immediately. His senses were on high alert, his instincts telling him this wasn’t over. The Brook family wouldn’t take William’s downfall lightly. If anything, they’d retaliate with fury.“We need to move,” Samuel said, voice firm. “Now.”Evelyn smirked but followed as he strode out of the ruined hall. The moment they stepped into the corridor, the weight of their situation settled. The estate, once a stronghold of wealth and power, now felt like a battlefield.As they walked, Evelyn broke the silence. “So, wh
BENEATH THE MASK: REVENGE OF SAMUEL HAYES 119
The war room was silent except for the crackling of a single candle burning low on the table. Samuel’s eyes remained locked on the parchment Cassandra had placed before him. The names, the locations, the chilling details—everything confirmed his worst fears. The Elders weren’t just watching. They were already moving.Evelyn shifted beside him, arms crossed tightly over her chest. “I don’t like this,” she muttered. “It feels like a trap.”Cassandra’s expression remained unreadable. “It’s only a trap if you’re unprepared.”Samuel exhaled slowly, forcing himself to remain calm. “Tell me everything.”Cassandra leaned against the table, her fingers trailing over the edges of the parchment. “The Elders have been planning your downfall for years, but William’s failure accelerated their timeline. They’re sending enforcers—elites trained to hunt and eliminate threats like you.”Evelyn scoffed. “Threats like us, you mean.”Cassandra smirked. “Yes, well, I’d rather not die screaming.”Samuel’s j
BENEATH THE MASK: REVENGE OF SAMUEL HAYES 120
The air was thick with the scent of blood and dust. The ruins around them stood silent, except for the crackling of flames from the remnants of their battle. Samuel’s heart pounded in his chest as he stared at the parchment in his hands, his name and the names of his allies written in bold ink—targets marked for elimination.Evelyn’s breathing was still heavy, her knuckles white as she gripped her blade. “They were planning to hunt us down one by one.”Cassandra took a step forward, snatching the parchment from Samuel’s grip. Her eyes skimmed over the list, her expression unreadable, but when she spoke, her voice was tight. “This isn’t just a hit list. These are orders. The Elders aren’t waiting for us to make a move—they’re already executing their plan.”Samuel clenched his fists. He had known the Elders wouldn’t take his defiance lightly, but this? This was an extermination.“We need to move.” His voice was steady, but the fire in his chest burned hotter. “If we wait, they’ll wipe u
BENEATH THE MASK: REVENGE OF SAMUEL HAYES 121
The Elder’s smile was infuriating, like he had already won. Samuel’s pulse thundered in his ears, his grip tightening around his sword. The city was burning, the screams of the dying echoing in the night, but all that mattered in this moment was the enemy before him.“You’re late,” the Elder mocked, taking a slow step forward. “I expected you to arrive sooner.”Samuel didn’t respond. He had no words for men like him—those who spoke of fate while they slaughtered innocents.Cassandra moved beside him, blades at the ready, her stance coiled like a viper waiting to strike. Evelyn flanked his other side, her gaze locked on the Elder’s every movement.“Did you enjoy my work at the stronghold?” the Elder asked, his tone almost conversational. “It was a mercy, really. A quick death, compared to what they deserved.”Rage coiled in Samuel’s chest, but he forced himself to stay still. If he let anger rule him, he’d lose.Instead, he lifted his sword. “You talk too much.”The Elder chuckled, sha
BENEATH THE MASK: REVENGE OF SAMUEL HAYES 122
Samuel barely had time to catch his breath before the city’s alarm bells rang out again, their sharp cries piercing the night. He turned, scanning the battlefield, and his stomach twisted.Reinforcements.A fresh wave of enemy soldiers poured in through the broken gates, their banners emblazoned with the crest of the Brook family.“Damn it,” Cassandra hissed, still clutching her ribs. “They just keep coming.”Evelyn, despite her broken wrist, straightened. “They must have planned for this. The Elder was just a distraction.”Samuel tightened his grip on his sword. “Then we hold the line.”But deep down, he knew they were outnumbered.And the enemy knew it too.A familiar figure emerged from the ranks—a man draped in crimson armor, his golden hair gleaming under the moonlight. His icy blue eyes locked onto Samuel with a smirk that sent a shiver down his spine.Lucian Brook.One of the Brook family’s most ruthless commanders. And Samuel’s sworn rival.Lucian strode forward, sword resting
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“Mr. Hayes, there’s a report of an attack at the oil refinery…”Samuel Hayes, in the middle of a yoga session, opened one eye. A whisper reached his ear, and the name mentioned was Brian.“Huh, such a nuisance. Him again, always him. Is there no one else in my life?” Hayes grumbled.His eyes scanned the three subordinates who looked terrified, clearly affected by Samuel’s disturbed expression.“Y—Yes, Mr. Hayes…”“I wasn’t speaking to you. Why are you scared? By the way, since you spoke, I want you to call Melanie,” Hayes replied.Ronald’s heart pounded erratically. How could he summon someone who had long been missing and presumed dead?“But… Mr. Hayes, Miss Melanie--”“How many times have I told you Melanie is not dead? Are you doubting me?”Ronald fell silent, his eyes pleading to his two teammates for help in making Hayes see reason—but no one dared oppose him. Samuel’s word had the weight of law.Hayes’s decisions had never failed, but this time, they were clueless. The last sigh
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Samuel’s breath felt heavy, as if the air itself had thickened around him. Lucian’s words coiled in his mind, each syllable pressing against something deep inside him, something he wasn’t ready to face.But he couldn’t let this man—whoever or whatever he was—control the conversation.Samuel squared his shoulders. “You talk like you know everything, but if you really did, you wouldn’t be wasting time playing cryptic games.”Lucian’s lips curled slightly. “Ah. So you do have some fight in you.” He exhaled slowly. “Good. You’ll need it.”Cassandra tensed beside Samuel, her fingers twitching toward her knife. “I’m getting real tired of this guy’s riddles.”Evelyn didn’t move, but Samuel could feel her measuring Lucian, weighing his every word. She finally spoke. “You mentioned a choice. But you haven’t actually offered one.”Lucian chuckled, slow and deliberate. “Sharp. I like that.” His gaze returned to Samuel. “I told you—the temple was only the beginning. What you unleashed doesn’t jus
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Samuel settled into his role as the hidden force behind Valora’s growing network of power, he couldn't shake the feeling that everything was leading to a major confrontation. The influence of Black Talon was far-reaching, but the global organizations that had begun to take notice of him were even more dangerous. It wasn’t just about controlling Valora anymore; it was about reshaping the world itself. But Samuel was patient. He’d been raised to play the long game, and every move he made was calculated to bring him closer to that ultimate goal.Evelyn, a former military strategist, was one of the first to join Samuel's "Council of Shadows." With a sharp mind and unparalleled tactical ability, she had been one of the few who understood Samuel’s vision. She saw the potential in him—not just as a leader of Valora, but as someone who could dominate the global stage."You're not just playing with the city," she said one evening, studying the digital maps of Valora. "You’re aiming for somethi
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Samuel gazed at the gloomy sky of Valora. A city that was once full of hope now lay shrouded in darkness. Every corner, every alley, every towering building that once stood proud, now only carried memories. Valora, a city of prosperity, was now caught in the grip of secret syndicates that controlled everything from the shadows.As he stood before the towering building that would now become his new home, Samuel took a deep breath, releasing the tension that had long plagued him. Moving to this city wasn’t an easy decision. But after everything that had happened in the past, he knew Valora was the right place to start over.With a new identity carefully concealed, Samuel was determined to rebuild his strength from the ground up, change his destiny, and perhaps, one day, change this city itself.Months after settling in Valora, Samuel began uncovering the hidden legacy of the "Old Master," a legendary strategist known for his extraordinary ability to foresee the future. One evening, as h
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\The road to the Vale of Remnants wasn’t marked on any map. It was hidden, buried beneath centuries of secrecy and natural camouflage. Eli had given them a tattered scroll, ink faded but still legible, containing coordinates only someone with the sigil could decipher. As they left the last paved road behind, the air grew heavier, laced with static. Trees loomed taller here, their twisted trunks like sentinels watching every move.Samuel sat in the backseat, staring out at the encroaching forest, his mind reeling. The Mark of Ascendance pulsed under his sleeve with quiet insistence, as if reacting to their proximity to the boundary. Every time he blinked, he saw that throne again—ancient and immense, its surface etched with glowing veins of light and shadow.Joey drove in tense silence. He had stopped cracking jokes two hours ago, when the GPS died and the radio began spitting out bursts of static mixed with those same whispered voices Samuel had been hearing. Sarah sat beside him, ey
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The handshake lingered longer than it should have, and when Marcus finally let go, Samuel wiped his hand on his coat, as if trying to rid himself of something foul. The warehouse hit had gone clean, precise, but that didn’t matter now. Callahan’s warning refused to quiet in Samuel’s head. The real players—the ones who truly run this city—are still out there.Back at the safe house, the atmosphere was no warmer than when they had left. Olivia was asleep on the couch, her breathing shallow but even. Rafael stood by the window, watching the street, while Evelyn leaned against the wall, arms crossed, the lines of tension etched deeper into her face.“You okay?” Samuel asked, stepping beside her.She didn’t answer at first. Then, quietly, “We just shot a man in cold blood, and I don’t feel a thing. That’s not normal.”Samuel glanced at her. “Normal left the building a long time ago.”Rafael spoke up. “We’ve stirred something up. Marcus might be useful, but he’s no ally. He plays sides, not
163
'Hey, how about now? I am hungry'.There really was no other choice but to send a message to Gelael and go out with him. I couldn't possibly have to whine to Adrian, he might get really angry with me, because earlier he had offered to buy food straight away.Luckily, in no more than five minutes, Gelael arrived. I immediately got down and opened Gelael's car door when I saw that he had come with his friend. I immediately closed the front door and moved to the back. Unlucky! It's really embarrassing."Eh, sorry Emma, I forgot to tell you that I invited my brother, his name is Bon," said Gelael, Bon then extended his hand towards me."Emma," I said, shaking Bon's hand."Where are you going, sis?" Bon asked Gelael."Whatever, just a place to eat, a relaxed cafe, something delicious, if possible with live music," said Gelael.I sent a message to Gelael.'Why didn't you say that you would invite your brother, I was embarrassed because I suddenly opened the front door''Why should you be em
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"Why did you bring your brother? That's really cool," I asked."He was the one who wanted to come, he said he was bored at home, lazy about being told by his older brother, so I just invited him, do you feel bothered?" Gelael asked back."No, it's up to you, whoever you want to invite," I answered.Gelael smiled, he kept looking at me, I became uncomfortable."What now?" I asked Gelael."Nothing, I'm just happy to see you again, forgive all my stupidity yesterday, I think I was possessed by the ghost of a woman, that's why I acted so annoyingly," said Gelael."There's no need to discuss it any further, just assume that if you're crazy, I understand," I said.Gelael laughed, he looked back at me while supporting his chin. A very annoying pose for me, I ignored it and immediately played with my cellphone.Adrian sent photos of the food being served at Sandra's house, lots of it. It looked like they were having a luxurious party, Sandra was also seen smiling holding a lobster. I'm gratef
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“Why, just because I said something wrong earlier? "I'm sorry, I didn't mean it, don't be angry like this, we can discuss other things that are more interesting," replied Gelael."What else can I discuss with you?" I asked."What, I don't know either, there are many things I could tell you but you won't hear them, you understand what I mean," said Gelael, he looked at me sharply."Yeah, thank you, I don't want to hear it one bit," I answered.Gelael raised his eyebrows, he then opened his cellphone. Likewise with me. I also kept myself busy by opening my cellphone.I looked around, people seemed to be chatting with each other, sharing stories, laughing, and making memorable memories. Meanwhile we were both just busy with our own affairs. There are no more words, no more stories that we can talk about, it's all over.Likewise with this relationship, it should be completely over, it cannot be forced. Between the two of us we still have wounds and hopes, I have wounds that have not yet h