Chapter 169: A Series Of New Steps

Ezra's heart sank as he pieced together the sequence of events.

Whoever had attacked the Blackthornes had done so with a kind of brutal efficiency, leaving no trace of their current whereabouts.

The signs pointed to a coordinated assault, one that had been planned meticulously.

He moved quickly, exiting the warehouse and heading back through the shadows towards his mansion.

As he neared the house, he moved with caution, ensuring he wasn't being followed. He slipped through a side entrance and made his way to the secure room where he found Gen and Olivia waiting.

They looked up as he entered, their expressions a mix of relief and concern.

"What are you guys doing here?" Ezra hissed. "Who's watching Natalia?"

"Red." Olivia answered, her voice tense. She studied his face quietly before asking. "What happened?"

"We can't talk here." Ezra said, his voice low. "It's too risky. We need to go somewhere quiet."

Gen nodded in agreement. "Where do you have in mind?"

"Olivia?" Ezra turned to her.

Olivia closed her eyes, thinking on where they could go. "I've got it." She breathed.

She held their hands and took a deep breath, focusing her vitality.

With a muffled flash, the world around them shimmered and blurred, the familiar surroundings of the secured room dissolving into a cascade of colors and light.

In an instant, they found themselves standing in the tranquil grove, the air filled with the scent of pine and the gentle rustle of leaves.

The grove was serene, bathed in the soft glow of moonlight filtering through the canopy above.

The only sounds were the distant calls of nocturnal birds and the faint whisper of the wind. It was the perfect place for a private conversation.

Ezra looked around, appreciating the secluded setting. "Good choice."

Gen nodded, her eyes scanning the perimeter to ensure they were truly alone. Satisfied, she turned to Ezra. "So, what did you find?"

"The safehouse was a trap." He responded, his tone grim. "There was a Chimera waiting for me, a tattoo monster designed to kill. I defeated it, but the Blackthornes... they're gone."

"Just like that?" Gen frowned.

"Did they betray us?" Olivia asked.

"No." Ezra answered. "There was a battle, and they've been taken."

Gen's eyes widened with shock. "Taken? By who?"

Ezra shook his head. "I'm not sure. But it was carefully coordinated. We need to find out who did this and where they've been taken."

Ezra turned to Gen, his expression firm. "Gen, I need you to find the Blackthornes. You're the only one who can do this discreetly without drawing too much attention."

Gen nodded, her sharp eyes reflecting her determination. "I won't let you down, Ezra."

"Good. Right now, we know they were taken by a highly coordinated force." Ezra began pacing as he spoke. "The signs point to someone with a lot of resources and knowledge of the Blackthornes' defenses."

"That means we're looking at covens instead of subjects. Maybe even one of the counts. We need to find out who has them and where they're being held."

"Wait. You'll be needing this." Olivia stepped forward, handing Gen a small device. "This is a communicator. Keep it on you at all times. We'll be able to track your location and stay in touch."

"Good thinking." Ezra nodded to Olivia. "We need to be prepared for anything."

Gen slipped the communicator into her pocket, her mind already racing with possibilities. "I'll start with our network of informants. The Black Spider is gone but it did leave us with an information network. Someone must have seen or heard something. I'll follow every lead, no matter how small."

Ezra placed a hand on Gen's shoulder, his gaze intense. "Be careful, Gen. We don't know who we're dealing with yet. Trust no one and stay hidden. Your safety is paramount."

"I'll find them, Ezra." Gen gave a determined nod. "But how will you explain my disappearance to Natalia?"

"Why lie?" Ezra chuckled. "We'll tell her the truth. You're searching for the Blackthornes. She doesn't have to know we're searching for ourselves and not Griffin."

"I'll leave immediately." Gen grinned, then turned to Olivia. "Give me a lift?"

"Where to?" Olivia asked.

Gen told her and they disappeared in a flash. In a few seconds, Olivia returned.

Ezra crossed his arms. "Now, there's something I need you to find, Olivia."

"The Ascension well?" She asked.

"Yes." Ezra nodded. "There's no need to wait for the Blackthornes. We're the only vampires with unrestricted access to Southside. Let's use this advantage while we still can."

Olivia stood thoughtfully. "Do we know what the well looks like?"

"Not yet." Ezra gave a frustrated sigh. "All we know is that the well contains a liquid like water and can be moved and hidden. It was also once an actual well."

"At least that narrows it down." Olivia crossed her arms. "We could have used the Black Spider for this."

"Fuck the Silent Hand." Ezra spat. "Making everything harder than it needs to be."

"Don't worry." Olivia gave a small smile. "I'll find it, one way or another. We can't let Griffin get to it first."

"We can't." Ezra agreed, his tone serious. "We need the well. It's the key to shifting the balance of power in our favor."

Olivia nodded, her eyes gleaming with determination. "I understand. I'll head to Southside immediately."

"Good." Ezra nodded, then Olivia teleported away.

Ezra stood alone for a moment before looking around. "Where in the heavens am I?"

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Ezra stumbled through the front door of his home, looking every bit like he'd hiked through a forest.

His clothes were torn in places, dirt and leaves clung to his hair, and there was a noticeable scratch running down his left cheek.

Red, lounging on the sofa with a book in hand, looked up and raised an eyebrow. "Ezra, you look like you've been wrestling with a bear. Where on earth have you been?"

Ezra sighed and sank into a chair opposite her, wincing slightly as he did. "Did you know there's an army of snakes living this close to First City?"

Red's brows climbed high on her forehead. "I... didn't know that."

"We're safe now." Ezra shuddered, his gaze distant and his voice low. "We're safe now."