Chapter 415 - 'Five for the Price of One

The audition proceeded, Aceline stood in a lonesome room with a camera directed at her face. Obnoxious lighting made opening one's eye hard, similar to a cloudless summer day. *The Casefiles of Blair Riley,* a mystery detective type movie. The story was based around the detective Blair Riley. Since the heroine would play the detective, the whole film depended on the actress's ability. It would either make or break it. Heart and soul into the script; Aceline impersonated, channeled the character, and gave an applause-worthy performance. 

Formerly a crime-novel, the writer sat in the company of the director. The way she spoke, moved and acted had him in shock. Aceline became the personification of Blair. Glimmers of sweat had her forehead light with the same vigor of an athlete. 

"Director," said the writer, "-Lady Aceline is the perfect choice for Blair. I will not allow any other to have the role," the firmness showed the resolve. Unsureness changed to certainty upon those words, the reluctant director's way of perception evolved. Her ten minutes felt as if an hour – those behind the cameras were speechless. Normally, the would-be cast members performed – each video would be judged and scrutinized for every little detail until someone fit the role. Today was the exception, she made good on her word.

"How did it go?" asked Staxius waiting in the lounge close to the entrance.

"I was chosen," said she with a smile – a legion of footsteps approached. Their gazes in the long corridor were reminiscent of a wolf pack; red and filled with the will to devour. The managers were the ones most angered, as for the idols, neither could have cared less. Some were quick to jump on their phones, and one by one, soon, transport would come.

"Mr. Haggard," came the producer.

"What's the matter?" inquired he.

"It's a matter of schedule." 

"Lady Aceline is going to stay at Lekdo. There's not much the lady has to do these days. Do phone her beforehand; just to make sure, I'll have three guards be at her side, is that acceptable?"

"Yes, Sir," nodded he still afraid. 

"Come on, Aceline, let's head back."

"Sure," cup in hand, she gulped the drink and headed outside. The duo left without wasting time. Three members of Phantom would come to act as her bodyguards. The extra security was in preparation for any would-be problem. The issues of the underworld remained, the Lerado. 

"I can't believe it," said she shaking from the knees.

"Why not?" Lekdo came in sight. 

"Getting chosen as the main-actress, the main-character for a Detective story with a similar case to my murder must be fate."

"Sure, it is," he smiled, "-fate is a lady none of us dares to defy."

Inside, the room previously occupied by Emi would be taken by Aceline. The guards would arrive in a day or so, tis was what Éclair predicted. 

'Aceline's returned. Doesn't matter if people know she's alive or not. The movie is going to be out in a year or so since it's short. Fate said she, my scheming is being handed to fate. She doesn't realize that the writer was forced into selling his script to Ecliprises per my orders. From director to producer, everyone has been handpicked and they don't even know it. She should be fine working at the broken relationship. If whoever tried to kill her comes in sight, Phantom will make sure they die,' a warm-cup of coffee cooled whilst basking in the landscape of Melmark. The penthouse was worth the money. 

"Time to head out," shut tight, cup on the counter, suit jacket on, keys in hand, and lights off; time had come to meet the Lerado. 

Four hours on the road led to a quaint little village named Tash. Farther away from the capital and closer to the port – the flat-landed meadows came upon a gentle hill on which raised the village. Small with few buildings amidst which a prominent slated-roof building stood true. A church to Goddess Syhton. The roads leading up were curved beside which ran a stream of pure dazzling water. Climbed to the top, he faced an entire change of scenery; the sea and port came in view though, far, far away. One could even see the enormous mountains, called guardians, of Marrowy; yet, in this case, the guardians were farther away than the port. 

"Éclair, call Mallie Lerado," ordered he parked outside the church. Purposefully built the highest out of the rest; it was common belief that higher one was, closer they would be to the goddess. 

'It's fascinating,' each step echoed around the prior building – a statue stood with her face, or rather, eyes blindfolded. The weapon of choice was a staff on which held a star surrounded by a ring. The robe spiraled around to cover the chest, legs, and thighs, to keep her dignity. The sculptor must have been very talented since the robe itself was in a way, magically hovering. 

"Good afternoon, good sir," hailed a nun.

"Good afternoon," replied he, "-how long has the church been active?" 

"Why do you ask?" hands pressed, her way of hunching over to hear his words felt closer to a bow. 

"Curious, I didn't know Goddess Syhton being worshipped in Alphia. Do pardon my rudeness, it's just that I've only seen her being worshipped back home, in Hidros."

"Seeking for knowledge isn't a sin," she smiled, "-the church was built per our apostle's wishes. She said, 'people of Hidros will one day go abroad to find their calling and purpose. Tis our duty to give them a home in case of hardship, Goddess Syhton's children must never be allowed to suffer,' those were her words."

"Her journey to spreading the words of the Goddess holds true," giving a nod to the statue, "-I must get going. May the goddess always shine her light upon thee." 

"May she enlighten thy path, majesty.

'She knows,' he turned with a grin. 'Goddess Syhton is Hidros's primary goddess. People can pray to other deities but tis her who most pray for we have an apostle.'

"Mr. Haggard."

"Yes?" glanced to the left, a lady stood with a parasol and a bloodstain jacket.

"Why did you come to Tash all of a sudden?" from resting against the walls, she pushed to stand with a frown.

"I've come to do my duty," said he strongly.

"What duty?" her eyes rolled, "-what duty might that possibly be?" now facing a flower-bed, "-look at them," she pointed, "-so pretty, yet, if I were to take a step inside, they'd die without a second thought."

"Die, yet, another will take its place," he refuted, "-nature isn't as weak as to be stopped by a single action of a man. Remember, if it wasn't for her, we'd be dead, that goes double for you. A dulled, weaken analogy is nothing but words of complaint from a powerless leader." 

"HOW DARE YOU," 

"Don't," he held her arms, "-don't you dare raise thine hand," he slowly added pressure, "-if thee wants to direct the anger, choose thy own weakness, not I. The means to succeed were handed on a silver platter. The Jefferson's were alienated from the drug cartel, how can you stand there playing the victim whilst others are out there trying to survive. The Lerado mustn't fall!" 

"Let me go," she pulled, "-I've had enough. The words of encouragement were nothing but thee trying to control me," she eyed the floor.

"What then?" hands on her shoulders, "-what then, are you going to give up? What if I told you, you were a pawn, what then, lay down and thy husband and child's death be in vain?"

"DON'T BRING MY FAMILY INTO THE CONVERSATION!"

*SMACK,* "-then stop being a bitch and take responsibility. Mallie Lerado, I'm sorry to say this, thou art nothing but a worthless pawn. A PAWN I'D RATHER GET RID THAN TO LEAD AROUND." Fair to crimson, her cheeks outlined where Staxius had just slapped.

"Is that it…" asked she holding onto the stinging face.

"Yes, that is it, and I care not. Choose, Lady Lerado – choose carefully and think about who was there. Who was it that helped you, who was it that gave a new purpose, who was it who made enemies of others, who was it, tell me, WHO WAS IT?" 

"Y-you," 

"LOUDER."

"YOU, SHADOW, IT WAS YOU, OK."

"Good," he smiled, "-stop blaming yourself. The underworld isn't a place for the faint of hearts. Make the decision, will thee back out and choose a life of repentance?" he faced the church, "-or will you come with me to have revenge."

"The choice is obvious," *clop, clop, clop.* 

"Good decision; if not, you would have been killed."

From the church, they headed below where the village rested. There, after passing a few buildings and fewer people – came a secluded area with an alley. EDO-4 managed to squeeze inside. There, the place was as if a castle, enclosed by the houses around. The place was once where the village leader and his family lived. Now, it was headquarters to Lerado – a new group needed a new location. Pulled to the right; the enclosed space was used as parking. Many o' cars and vans rested patiently.

"Welcome to Lerado," said she energized, "-this place would have been filled with members transporting merchandise."

"Did the incident halt the operations?" asked he following her footstep.

"More or less," they climbed a short set-of-stairs to a house, "-we're on the brink of being wiped," m.o.a.ns escaped the door. The roughness of gun-powder, explosives, metal, and blood. 

"Few of our injured members are staying in the upstairs – sorry for the noise," quick to head into a more or less secluded room, "-I presume Godfather Renaud sent you?"

"Yeah," he sat, '-her attitude took a turn for the better. I guess she needed a waking call.'

'Ahhhhh…..my leg,' the agony of which the men endured crept into their haven.

"I'm sorry about the noise," she pinched her forehead, "-I tried to get a doctor…"

"Being so far from the capital must be hard, and I'm certain the village doctor wants no business with your faction."

"Pretty much," she confirmed.

"I can't speak with all this noise. How many are there?"

"Seven, never mind, six, one died yesterday." 

"Fine…" he stood, "-give me a moment."

"WAIT," her pitched raised, "-please don't tell me you're going to kill them."

"What do you take me for, a murderer?" 

"N-no…"

"Just stand still, I'll be right back."

'Their screams are pathetic. People who are injured must be killed or die trying to kill another. They need to be strong, not complain.' 

*Boup,* the first door barged open.

"W-who a-are you…" 

"Shut up," *Box of Alche,* with no tact to restrain, he summoned healing potions a shoved it deep in their mouth. The liquid escaped from the nose for the man coughed in desperation. The same treatment went around the other room.

'The last one,' thought he kicking down another door. '-A child?' petite, frail, and tired, the chest showed signs of a gunshot. 'How the hell is he alive?' 

"W-who a-are you?"

"No one," he replied coldly, "-tell me, boy, can you breathe or feel any pain?"

"I only feel pain," slow and tedious, "-w-what d-does it m-matter…"

"I see," a pistol rested on his counter, "-tell me, boy, what do you want?"

"F-for the pain t-to s-stop." 

"Consider the wish granted," loaded with the safety off, "-may thy soul find salvation." *BANG, BANG, BANG, BANG.* 'The box of Alche ran out of uses. It's a shame the last one had to be a kid.'

"W-WHAT DID YOU DO?" screamed Mallie who ran inside the room, "-DON'T YOU HAVE A HEART?" 

"No," returned he coldly, "-why was a kid allowed on the battlefield in the first place? This is on your shoulder – I will not take the blame for giving the kid salvation." 

"Y-you c-could h-have t-tried…"

"Five for the price of one."