The Contractor's Conquest

Chapter 13: The Order

The battlefield was heavy with tension. Arthur, bloodied but determined, held his ground, while Lukas stood frozen, the assassin's overwhelming aura pinning him in place. Just when it seemed all hope was lost, a sharp, commanding voice cut through the suffocating silence.

"Let them go," it said, firm and resolute.

The blond assassin turned toward the source, his golden eyes narrowing as they landed on a cloaked woman stepping forward. It was Elyra, Sylas's mother, her expression cold as steel.

"And who might you be, woman, to think you can order me?" the assassin growled, his tone dripping with contempt.

Elyra didn't answer. Instead, she raised her hand, summoning a faint light. The air grew heavy, charged with an ancient power. Slowly, a symbol began to materialize in her palm, glowing with golden and crimson hues.

"I, Elyra, invoke the favor of The Order," she declared, her voice cutting through the battlefield like a blade.

The assassin's confident smirk vanished, replaced by wide-eyed shock. "That emblem..." he muttered, his voice trembling. Reluctantly, he dropped to one knee, bowing before her.

Elyra's gaze remained icy. "Tear the contract," she commanded.

The assassin hesitated, his jaw clenching in frustration, but eventually, he pulled out a parchment marked with intricate sigils. With a snarl, he tore it in half, the sigils fading as the contract disintegrated into ash.

"The contract is annulled," he said through gritted teeth. The emblem in Elyra's hand dissolved into light.

Rising to his feet, the assassin's demeanor shifted to barely contained rage. "This target will no longer be hunted by us," he spat. "But it's only a matter of time before another assassin is sent. What will you do then?"

Elyra's lips curled into a faint smile. "I've prepared for that."

From within her cloak, she pulled out a second emblem, this one far more intricate than the first. She held it aloft, then pressed her palm against it, letting her blood drip onto its surface. The emblem flared with light, so intense it forced everyone to shield their eyes.

A towering figure began to materialize—a man with streaks of gray in his dark hair, his posture regal and imposing. His eyes held an intimidating brilliance as his ethereal form solidified.

Victor Duskbane.

The assassin's face paled, recognition dawning on him. "T-That's—"

"Silence," Victor said, his voice a deep rumble that silenced the battlefield. His sharp gaze swept over everyone before settling on Elyra. His expression softened, but his tone carried a mix of sternness and sorrow.

"Elyra," he said, "after eighteen years, you finally call on me?"

Elyra didn't flinch. Her tone was cold and direct. "I didn't summon you for pleasantries, Victor. This is a deal."

Victor's sharp eyes narrowed. "You know the cost of summoning me. What is it that you want?"

Elyra gestured toward the assassin. "My family is under threat. Neutralize it."

Victor turned his gaze to the blond man, his aura intensifying. The assassin dropped his weapon, trembling.

"You dare to oppose House Duskbane?" Victor's words were like thunder, reverberating through the air.

The assassin stammered, "I... I didn't know. Forgive me!"

Victor's gaze didn't soften. "Ignorance is no excuse. You've insulted the bloodline of one of the founding families of The Order. Retribution is in order."

The assassin fell to his knees, his head bowed. "I-I will leave immediately. Please spare me!"

Victor ignored his plea and turned back to Elyra. "The favor is granted. But as per the terms, a price must be paid."

Elyra's cold facade cracked for a moment, her eyes flickering with hesitation. "Name it."

Victor's voice softened, but his words carried an undeniable weight. "Return to the family, Elyra. Your father has worried for you all these years. It's time."

Elyra's lips pressed into a thin line. "That wasn't part of the deal."

"It is now," Victor replied, his tone firm. "You know the rules. The Order does nothing for free, and I cannot grant this favor without compensation."

Elyra looked away, her hands clenching into fists. "Fine. Once this matter is resolved, I will return."

Victor's expression softened, but only slightly. "Good. Then it's settled."

Turning to the assassin, Victor's aura grew suffocating once more. "Inform your client that this target is no longer to be pursued. Should they defy The Order, they will face consequences far worse than death."

The assassin nodded quickly, scrambling to his feet. "Understood! I will relay the message immediately!"

Victor gave one last, lingering look at Elyra before his ethereal form began to fade. "Don't keep us waiting," he said, his voice carrying an unspoken warning.

As the light from the emblem dimmed, the battlefield was left in silence. Elyra turned to Arthur and Lukas, her expression unreadable. "Let's go," she said, her tone leaving no room for argument.

---

Somewhere far from the battlefield, within a tranquil chamber bathed in soft golden light, the real Victor sat in quiet contemplation. The room exuded elegance, with shelves lined with ancient tomes and a large ornate window overlooking a garden of luminescent flowers.

Victor's sharp eyes remained fixed on the scrying crystal before him, its surface rippling with faint light. He leaned back in his chair, fingers drumming against the polished oak table as his thoughts churned.

"This cannot be mere coincidence," he murmured, his voice low but tense. "A target tied to the young miss... and The Order accepting the contract? It reeks of manipulation."

His gaze darkened, a rare flicker of concern crossing his usually composed features. "The factions within The Order are beginning to move. Some are testing boundaries. If this continues unchecked, it could spiral into chaos."

Victor stood, his tall frame exuding an air of authority as he strode to a smaller table on the side of the room. Resting upon it was an intricately crafted emblem bearing the crest of House Duskbane.

"I must inform the family head immediately," he decided, picking up the emblem. His grip tightened around it, his mind already racing with the implications of the attack. "This isn't just about Elyra anymore. The power struggles within The Order are escalating, and they could endanger the entire family."

The tranquil room suddenly seemed heavier, the weight of Victor's realization hanging thick in the air.

"Whatever their game is, they will regret involving her." His voice was steady, but the cold determination behind it was unmistakable.

He turned to the window, gazing out at the luminous garden. For a fleeting moment, his expression softened, but it quickly hardened again. "Elyra... you've been away for far too long. It seems fate is forcing your hand."

Victor's cloak swirled behind him as he left the serene chamber, his steps purposeful. The message to the family head could not wait.