The couple introduced their newfound addition to the family, and they were warmly welcomed. They were all getting along, and Skylar was very pleased with the bonding they were sharing. Vincencio leaned closer and whispered.
"Between Lina and Irina, I sensed a strong bond between them," Vincencio whispered lowly, and only Skylar could hear them, and added his guess. "A beta and Alpha perhaps?"
"A knight, Hubby." Skylar corrected him, and he was shocked. Something was swirling around deep inside Skylar like a gut feeling that she must do tonight. It was pulling her crazy, and she must comply or it will bother her for the rest of the night. "Monica…"
"Knight?" He was confused, but when he turned to look at his wife, he saw how bloody her eyes had turned. "Wifey, your…"
"Don't worry. I'm still in control of my bloodlust. Stay with them for a while, I need to speak with my team for a second." With a low and icy voice, Skylar said quickly, cutting off his curiosity before continuing, "It's about my night hunt with her."
"If that's so, I'll occupy them, but please settle them before they notice." He sighed but understood her well.
"Always." She smiled and pecked a lingering kiss on his temple before walking toward her workshop.
***
Skylar strode differently as she went inside her workshop, where Medina and Joey were waiting with Josh on the holographic projector. They felt her intimidating aura scream differently from her usual. Skylar carried herself more lethally than she used to be, and her expression was clearly unreadable, making them stand from their chair and pay respect.
"At ease." Skylar coldly said and sat on the couch before they did. "Report."
"SRF had stopped watching her five blocks away from the Rose Net Café Bar when Monica entered the old establishment, the JS Suits, which previously belonged to her parents." Medina started the report as the projector showed the CCTV footage from the last two nights. They watched Monica's movement before adding, "The reason SRF stopped was because that establishment belonged to them. In short, whenever Monica entered one of their properties, they stopped watching her. But it doesn't mean they were not watching, and Monica, I think she knew, and she was using them."
"But it won't last, Alpha Lar. They were preparing her coffin. Based on what I've gathered so far, they were preparing coffins for anyone who betrayed or wronged them. The last time they mass-killed those types of people, they were all inside the cargo container filled with a high concentration of acid, and even bones weren't found. It was a clean kill."
"Hmm, it makes me want to try that out on the rest of my prey," Skylar muttered amusingly upon hearing that report from Josh.
"Boss, focus." Joey chuckled, reminding their boss about the task at hand.
"Sorry." Skylar apologized when she noticed a strange coffin showing on the projector. "Based on this coffin's structure, it is for a single person, but also…hm, they were preparing two…Josh, pause it and zoom over the second coffin."
"Found something interesting, boss?"
"Not just interesting, it has something to do with vampires." She said coldly, finding it a little strange.
"And you know because?"
"We told you she's awakened." Joey reminded Josh.
"I remember, but not that part."
"The coffin looks antique." Medina noticed when she jolted over the familiar presence joining their meeting.
"That's a Prison Coffin. That type of vampire coffin is built with enormous magic to seal or imprison a monstrous vampire in history." Irina joined their meeting and shared what she knew about the design of the coffin. "It contains poisons and ash mountain spikes, which were inspired by Iron Maiden."
"That's deadly."
"Irina, do you think it has something to do with the nomad vampire that Night Hound was worried about?" Skylar asked coldly but carefully, making Irina nod with possibility.
"It could be the same person…" She answered honestly before wondering about something she was curious about. "…but Mom, be honest with me, who's the boss of SRF, because honestly, only the royal vampire family can get hold of the Prison Coffin?"
"Someone you'll know afterwards." Skylar smiled before kissing her temple and added, "Go back inside and make sure they won't be shaken about my absence tonight."
"Don't worry, I planned on staying since I don't want to be alone at the penthouse tonight." Irina smiled back and kissed her cheek before pecking Medina's lips. When they were alone again, Medina earned a teasing grin from Joey and Josh.
"Not a word." Medina glared in warning, but none of us was saying anything aside from laughing.
"Let's deal with the coffin later, but tonight, Josh, prepare my venue for Monica and make sure not to let the SRF interfere with us." Skylar firmly commanded.
"Affirmative. And boss, Monica's movement as of this noon is something about the past."
"Then, let's bring it to her." Joey grinned in excitement.
"Joey, prepare my ride tonight, and it should be fast. Medina, Josh, I need everything to be in place and well-designed for her tonight." Skylar firmly instructed, and they immediately complied. Joey immediately excused himself to prepare what needed to be done, leaving Medina curious.
"Are you sure it has to be tonight? I mean, you're with them." Medina asked for assurance, and Skylar nodded.
"Med, it's time for the Silent Rose to be heard as Night Rose." She answered with conviction and gave her a timeline and coordinates of Monica's transaction around the MG's tuft alongside SRF. "Night Hound gave me that. Use it well."
"Noted." She responded with respect before adding, "You and Night Hound…what exactly are you two now?"
"Night Hound is my husband." Skylar simply answered.
"Wow…"
"HE'S YOUR WHAT?!" Medina exclaimed, very surprised to hear that, but seeing her boss's gentle expression, she understood it before sighing, "Joey will flip."
"I can imagine."
"Cloe will be pleased to witness that." She added, making them chuckle.
"Same here, boss."
"Sky, are you sure?" Medina asked one more time for assurance.
"Med, I'm still changing, but awakened vampire, and he's the key to keeping me from losing it again." With a heavy sigh, she admitted, and Medina understood what she was trying to say. She witnessed them once, but she could not forget it.
"Are you saying you're dreaming it again?" Medina asked with worry before adding, "Does he know about your hazy dreams that sometimes made you berserk?"
"Not yet, Medina, but it's crawling under my skin now, which scares me." She sighed heavily, looking at Medina, who was slightly vulnerable.
"He'll understand. Just tell him what you know about your dream and what it means to you." She gently said, patting her shoulder, supporting her.
"I know he does, and I'll tell him later before my hunt." She decided firmly.
"What time are you hunting tonight?" Medina wondered.
"Early, around nine. I'll be at the venue Josh prepared. But I'll change it to the Black Tower Prison when it's time." She answered, briefing her idea before adding, "No police should be involved unless it is needed. Are we clear?"
"Affirmative." She answered before asking, "By the way, does he know about your rank before?"
"No, but I bet he could tell by the way I command you." She answered honestly, and Medina nodded before continuing, "Go back there. I'll prepare something on my own."
"Okay, I also don't want Stark to stare too much at my Irina," Medina said with a hint of jealousy in her tone.
"Do I hear your possessive side now, Medina?" Skylar teased as soon as she caught it.
"Not a word to her." She warned and glared.
"It's safe, unless I'm teasing you." She grinned mischievously.
"Skylar." She warned again.
"I get it. Just go." She chuckled and waved her hand, dismissing Medina.
***
As Skylar was done preparing for her night hunt, she joined the fun, but when the night ticks, everyone retired for the night until it was time. Skylar straddled over Vincencio's lap when they were alone in their bedroom, and he knew something was up. He just gently held her in place, waiting patiently for what his wife was about to say.
"Have you noticed my rank during my service?" Skylar softly wondered while playing with his hair.
"By the way you commanded Joey and Medina, I think you're around a commander or a general," Vincencio answered honestly.
"You're right, I'm a chief general of my troop, which has been called Silent Rose, and Monica is supposed to be included in our troop. But after her betrayal and killing me, they kicked her out and cut ties with her. Ever since then, the Silent Rose has been managed by Medina, Joey, and the Presley Siblings while I'm gone." She briefly explained before adding, "And I'm telling you this because you'll be meeting them later on."
"Do they know me?" He wondered softly, placing a butterfly kiss around her shoulder up to her neck, adoringly.
"They do, but not personally." She answered and slightly pushed him away. "Vince, I'm ending Monica to save her, and to do that, please go to the Black Tower Prison and meet Silas. Just mentioned Rose Slayer, and who are you to me? He'll take you to my grave and playground."
"Why did he take me there? What do you want me to do there?" With curiosity, he asked, trying to read his wife, but her bloody eyes were suddenly unreadable, and her thoughts were surprisingly locked.
"Retrace my death." She softly said, catching Vincencio off guard. He was speechless, but more importantly, he froze. "You'll move when I leave the house's perimeter. Let's meet there, my love."
"Sky, don't…" He hoarsely said, trying to move, but he can't because Skylar made him so. Skylar was using her vampire's power subconsciously because she didn't want Vincencio to stop her or follow her night hunt since it was about Monica. She didn't want him to get entangled with her past.
"Don't move, Hubby. It will kill you." Skylar's voice sounded different when she spoke coldly at him before turning to his wolf, "Vin, take it from here if he's being stubborn."
'I will be careful and see you there.'
"I love you both." Skylar smiled painfully before kissing Vincencio's lips as if it would be their last time to be together, and Vincencio didn't like the feeling. He was groaning and pleading, but could not move, and his wolf was not helping either. "Calm down, you'll still be there. I just don't want you to get involved with this any further."
***
Before the clock hit ten in the evening, Rose Slayer blended in the darkness and waltzed inside with familiarity. The old, ruined establishment of the previous Rusco, Twilight Collection Museum, was once filled with luxury, jewelry from ancient times, and paintings from well-known artists, but not anymore.
"I didn't expect that I'll be coming back here like this…" Rose Slayer mumbled under her breath as she walked, knowing the place inside out.
It was filled with ruins where Rose Slayer could hear explosions and gunfire like she was taken back in time, where a war between a mafia and a soldier took place. The ruined walls still had their burned marks and a few decayed human bones from both parties. It was the same building where the general had to make a grave decision and end his reign in one betrayal.
"If I didn't hesitate to know what changed you, you won't betray me like that." She whispered with disappointment from her old self. But this time it will be different. "I'll bring you back even if I have to corrupt you by my light."
Rose Slayer made a turn where her old body received fatal injury, but at the moment, two familiar shadows stood in a confrontation, making her listen. She hit herself, making sure they won't notice until she speaks, Monica.
"So, are you here to collect my life like what you did to my parents?"
"Collect your life like them? I'm not like that, sweetheart. Your debt is different from your parents."
"I don't have any debt with you. You're the one who took me in and made do your dirty bindings, Boss Rico."